China’s world No. 1 and hot favorite Zhang Yining became the first player to reach the women’s singles fourth round at the world table tennis championships yesterday.
The Beijing Olympic gold medalist was in good form as she demolished Daniela Dodean of Romania to move a step closer to regaining the title she won in 2005.
She led a Chinese onslaught as Guo Yan, Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yue, Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen all advanced.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Guo Yan lost a game for the first time this week but still easily beat Park Young-sook of South Korea, while Li outclassed Elke Schall of Germany, again in five games.
Defending champion Guo Yue brushed aside Huang Yi-hua of Taiwan, while Ding defeated Wu Jiaduo of Germany and Liu saw off Japan’s Mikie Tasei.
Also joining the Chinese contingent in the fourth round is Krisztina Toth of Hungary, Yu Meng Yu of Singapore, Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa and Czechs Renata Strbikova and Iveta Vacenovska.
Li Jiao of the Netherlands also made it through after a tough match against Sun Bei Bei of Singapore.
In the men’s singles, Chinese world No. 1 Wang Hao beat Thomas Keinath of Slovakia in the third round.
Three-time world champion Wang Liqin struggled to beat Adrien Mattenet of France, while Ma Long comfortably won against Zoran Primorac of Croatia.
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