Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-22 23:45:02

(BEIJING, August 22) — The third Table Tennis gold medal match of the tournament was contested Friday at the Peking University Gymnasium. Zhang Yining of China won gold in the Women’s Singles competition over her teammate Wang Nan. China has claimed all three medals in Women’s Singles at Beijing 2008, with Guo Yue winning bronze. It is China’s second medal sweep in Women’s Singles; their first was at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games.

Zhang has participated in four Olympic events (two Singles and two Team) and won the gold medal on every occasion. Wang, despite losing to Zhang in the final, is the most successful Table Tennis player in Olympic history, with four gold medals and one silver.

Now all eyes are on the Chinese trio of Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin to see if they can continue China’s triumph at the Peking University Gymnasium in Saturday’s Men’s Singles competition.

The three top-seeded players have duly booked their places in the semifinals with outstanding performances.

It was the player who joins the illustrious trio in the penultimate stage, however, that attracted the most attention.

Jorgen Persson of Sweden beat Zoran Primorac of Croatia in a contest between the two oldest European-born players in the tournament. Persson is 42 years old, Primorac is three years younger.

Persson retired from international Table Tennis in 2005 but returned two years later, motivated by the possibility of competing in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The Men’s Singles world champion in 1991, Persson, despite competing in all six Olympic Games when Table Tennis has been staged, has never won an Olympic medal. The closest he got was at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, when he lost to Liu Guoliang of China in the bronze medal contest.

Wang Hao defeated a spirited Ko Lai-chak of Hong Kong; Wang Liqin overwhelmed surprise quarterfinalist Tan Ruiwu of Croatia; and Ma Lin proved too fast for the man against whom he had experienced problems in the Men’s Team event, Oh Sang-eun of the Republic of Korea.

Updated: 2008-08-22 22:27:10

(L-R) Wang Nan, Zhang Yining and Guo Yue pose with their medals. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(BEIJING, August 22) — Defending Olympic champion Zhang Yining of China once again secured her title Friday night at the Peking Univeristy Gymnasium with a commanding 4-1 win over teammate Wang Nan. Zhang has participated in four Olympic events (two Singles and two Team) and won the gold medal on every occasion.

Despite losing to Zhang in the final, Wang Nan became the most successful Table Tennis player ever in Olympic history with four gold medals and one silver.

Zhang Yining celebrates her win. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Teammates and training partners on the Chinese national Table Tennis team, Zhang and Wang were very familiar with each other’s style going into the match. For the world’s top-ranked players, the duel came down to a battle of acumen over skill.

But after a challenging contest, Zhang finally prevailed. Wang made several mistakes in the second and third game which provided Zhang a two point lead at 3-1. In the fifth crucial game, Zhang sealed the deal with an incredible 11-3 win over Wang.

China claimed all three medals in the Women’s Singles at Beijing 2008, with Guo Yue winning bronze after beating Singapore’s Li Jiawei 4-2. It was China’s second medal sweep in the Women’s Singles event; their first was at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Altogether China has won 11 out of a possible 12 gold medals in Women’s Table Tennis.

Updated: 2008-08-22 21:46:48

Three Chinese national flags are being hoisted up. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Chinese Zhang Yining beat teammate Wang Nan 4-1 to win the Women’s Singles gold medal at the Olympic Games here on Friday.

Earlier, Chinese Guo Yue downed Singapore’s Li Jiawei to claim the bronze.

Zhang Yining poses with her medal. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Zhang Yining poses with her medal. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

(L-R) Wang Nan, Zhang Yining and Guo Yue (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Zhang Yining returns the ball. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Zhang Yining plays a shot. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Zhang Yining (R) and Wang Nan wave to spectators. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Updated: 2008-08-22 21:04:14

Guo Yue of China competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Women’s Singles bronze medal in the Olympic Table Tennis tournament on Friday, August 22. Wang Nan, 2000 Olympic Singles champion, will take on defending Olympic champion Zhang Yining in the all-Chinese final late Friday night.

Guo Yue of China competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Guo Yue of China competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Li Jia Wei of Singapore plays a shot. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Li Jia Wei of Singapore plays a shot. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Guo Yue of China celebrates. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Updated: 2008-08-22 20:56:39

(BEIJING, August 22) — China starts as the clear favorites to add to their gold medal tally as the final places in the Men’s Singles competition in the Table Tennis events are decided.

The only man standing in the way of China’s clean sweep of all three medals is the 42-year-old Jorgen Persson of Sweden. He has rolled back the years to reach the final day of action in the Peking University Gymnasium.

Persson had a chance of winning an Olympic medal eight years ago in Sydney. But he lost in the bronze medal match to Liu Guoliang of China who is now the head coach of the Chinese Men’s Table Tennis team.

Yet again, Liu Guoliang will be trying to cause the Swede’s downfall. He will be sitting courtside as the coach to Wang Hao, World No.1, who Persson will face in the semifinals.

In the lower half of the draw it is an all China contest with Ma Lin, seeded No.2, facing Wang Liqin, seeded No.3. The meeting of these two is a callback of the Men’s Singles final at the 2007 World Championships where Wang Liqin recovered from a 3-0 deficit to claim victory over Ma Lin. Wang has won more of their previous world ranking tournaments over Ma.

The two losing semifinalists will compete for the bronze medal, for the winners it is gold or silver.

Updated: 2008-08-22 17:47:29

(BEIJING, August 22) — Saturday’s Men’s Singles Semifinal will mirror Friday’s Women’s semifinal with three Chinese players competing. Winners of Friday’s quarterfinals: three Chinese paddlers World No.1 Wang Hao, No. 2 Ma Lin and No.4 Wang Liqin together with Jorgen Persson of Sweden will fight for the Men’s Singles gold medal.

Wang Hao smashed the dark horse Ko Lai-chak of Hong Kong 4-1 in the first match of Friday’s quarterfinals. Top seed Wang remains irresistible and is right on course to take the Olympic gold medal he lost four years ago in Athens.

The match between the two sixth-time Olympians: Zoran Primorac of Croatia and Jorgen Persson of Sweden was spectacular with many long rallies and smashes. Both demonstrated excellent form in the match but Persson was “a little bit more aggressive” and eventually won 4-1. It was eight years ago since this 42-year-old Swedish man was last seen in the Olympic semifinal.

It took Wang Liqin of China only 22 minutes to beat Tan Ruiwu of Croatia 4-0 and qualify for the semifinal. But for his teammate Ma Lin, it was a much harder 4-0 win over Oh Sang-eun of the Republic of Korea. Ma’s good serve and spinning balls cost Oh many mistakes. Luck seemed to favor the host country’s player by giving him a net-cord ball in the last rally that finalized his victory.

Wang Hao will play Persson and Wang Liqin will face Ma Lin in the semifinal to be held Saturday at the Peking University Gymnasium.

Updated: 2008-08-22 15:17:02

Wang Nan of China competes. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Olympic veteran Wang Nan beat Guo Yue 3-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 in an all-Chinese semifinal of the Olympic Women’s Table Tennis Singles event on Friday.

Wang, dual Olympic champion in 2000, will meet defending champion Zhang Yining of China in the final.

Wang Nan of China competes. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)
Guo Yue of China competes. (Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Wang Nan of China competes. (Photo credit: Xu Jiajun/Xinhua)