The defending champion, China’s Wang Hao retained his Men’s Singles
title at the Tournament of Champions in Changsha on Sunday 11th January
2009 beating national team colleague, Wang Liqin in a five games final.
Wang Hao succeeded 11-5, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-7, having one round earlier defeated Ma Lin in six games.
He beat Ma Lin 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7; the player he had beaten in the final in December 2007.
It was yet another fine effort from Wang Hao but for Chinese eyes the pleasing factor was the performance of Wang Liqin.
Only Satisfactory
The most successful male player in the history of the ITTF Pro Tour, Wang Liqin has not enjoyed the best of form in recent time.
Perhaps, that is an unkind statement.
He
is the reigning World champion whilst at the Beijing Olympic Games he
won gold in the Men’s Team event and bronze in the Men’s Singles. For
most mortals that would be regarded as outstanding success.
Excellent for Most Humans
For
Wang Liqin it is perhaps just satisfactory; the only major Men’s
Singles title he has won since September 2006 when he emerged
successful at the Volkswagen Open Japan, is the Men’s Singles World
title in Zagreb in 2007.
Again, for the majority of the human
race, that would be regarded as immense success; for Wang Liqin it is a
prized possession but he would no doubt expect more.
Thrilling Duel
In Changsha, he won a thrilling semi-final duel again Germany’s Timo Boll in what was the match of the tournament.
Wang
Liqin recovered from a two games to nil deficit and the very brink of
defeat to win 9-11, 9-11, 13-11, 4-11, 15-13, 11-6, 11-9.
Once
again when it was close the Chinese player prevailed and often I am
asked why? One reason is surely that they have such good technical
skills; that is not to say that there is anything lacking in Boll’s
play.
Balance of Power
It
was the 13th meeting in world ranking events for Timo Boll and Wang
Liqin; it was the seventh time the latter had won; meanwhile for Wang
Ha and Wang Liqin, it was their 20th meeting and a ninth win for Wang
Hao; however, the more notable statistic is that he has now won the
last seven encounters.
In Changsha it was Wang Hao who prevailed, for Wang Liqin it was better news, a confidence boosting performance.
Source: www.ittf.com
