Taiwanese paddlers Lin Yun-ju and Chen Szu-yu yesterday won the mixed doubles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Tunis, beating South Korea’s Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yubin 11-6, 13-11, 11-9 in just under 29 minutes.
After winning the first game comfortably, the Taiwanese duo faced stiffer competition in the second, fighting back from a 4-1 disadvantage to tie the game 8-8, 9-9, 10-10 and 11-11, before clinching the game with a decisive backhand drive.
Although Lin and Chen started the third game strong, at one point boasting a 7-4 lead, Lim and Shin were determined to keep their title hopes alive, with the pairs eventually equalizing at 7-7 and then 9-9.
Photo: screen grab from the World Table Tennis Web site
A strong forehand strike ended the game 11-9, handing Lin and Chen the victory.
The match was particularly challenging for Lin, who has had ligament inflammation in his left hand since April, after an injury sustained in the WTT Champions Xinxiang semi-final in China, from which he was forced to withdraw.
The title in Tunis was the second won by the duo, who also won in their debut together at the WTT Contender Almaty in September last year.
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