Second-seeded Wang Chuqin of China cruised into the round of 16 at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha, Qatar with a straight-games win over Wong Chun-ting of China's Hong Kong. After edging a tight first game 12-10, Wang stayed patient to seal the second 11-6 when Wong hit wide. He then turned up the aggression to claim the next two games 11-5 and 11-7.
Wang will next face France's Simon Gauzy, who knocked out China's Lin Gaoyuan 4-2 on the same day. Earlier, China's Liang Jingkun made his own statement, powering past Portugal's Marcus Freitas 11-8, 11-2, 11-5, 16-14 to set up a clash with England's Tom Jarvis in the last 16.
On the women's side, Wang Yidi dominated Egypt's Hana Goda in four games. An 11-7 opener was followed by a tense 12-10 second game, before Wang's lightning-quick attacks closed out the match 11-4 and 11-7. She now faces either Romania's Andreea Dragoman or France's Prithika Pavade.
China's Chen Xingtong also joined the last 16 after a marathon five-game battle with Serbia's Izabela Lupulesku, winning 11-1, 11-5, 11-9, dropping the fourth 9-11, then sealing victory 14-12. Next up for Chen is Brazil's 19th seed Burna Takahashi.
With star power on both sides of the net, the stage is set for high-octane showdowns as the championship tension ramps up in Doha.
Reference(s):
Wang Chuqin continues to progress at World Table Tennis Championships
cgtn.com
