China’s Wang Hao beat Germany’s Timo Boll to clinch gold at the
Liebherr Men’s World Cup in Liège on Sunday 18th September 2008, thus
reversing the verdict of three years earlier and retaining the title he
had won one year ago in Barcelona.
Wang Hao won 11-8, 11-3, 14-16, 11-7, 11-9.
In
2005, on the one previous occasion that the tournament had been staged
in the Country Hall Ethias in Liège, the two had met in the final with
Timo Boll being the winner on that occasion.
It was the ninth time that the two had met in world ranking events,
it was the sixth time that Wang Hao had won; meanwhile, in the Liebherr
Men’s World Cup it was their third meeting.
Timo Boll had famously won in 2005 but one year ago in the semi-finals, Wang Hao had prevailed in Barcelona.
Attacked Backhand
Wang
Hao captured the first game, as he has done in the past he directed his
opening attacks into the body of the German thus minimising the
opportunities for Timo Boll to unleash his fast forehand topspin; the
stroke which had earlier in the day caused the downfall of Ma Long.
The
first game under his belt Wang Hao played with confidence in the second
game; he continued the policy of attacking the Timo Boll backhand to
dominate proceedings.
A two games lead was established.
Third Game
The
third game was a closer affair with the two players level at 5-all;
Wang Hao established a two points lead but at 9-all it was parity and
at 10-9 it was game point to Timo Boll.
Wang Hao saved the
game point and saved two more whilst also having two game points
himself; however, on Timo Boll’s fourth game point in all it was
success for Germany.
The match deficit was reduced to one game.
Stung
The reverse stung Wang Hao into fast action; he won the first three points of
the fourth game.
Timo
Boll reduced the arrears to 7-8 but won no more points as Wang Hao
played error free to move into a three games to one lead.
Fifth Game
Against
Ma Long earlier in the day Timo Boll had recovered from a three games
to one deficit; the question was could he do it again?
The
German gave his best but Wang Hao scented gold, he was not to be
denied; attacking over the table he was lethal; Timo Boll directed his
forehand topspin towards the body of Wang Hao whenever possible.
Fast
counter topspin rallies, desperate lobbed defence by Timo Boll but
above all consistent attacking play by Wang Hao was the order of the
day.
Championship Point
At
10-8 he had match point, championship point; he rushed with his
favoured backhand topspin over the table, Timo Boll saved the point but
he could not do it again.
Wang Hao won the next point playing deftly near the net.
The
Chinese star jumped for joy, as twelve months earlier in Barcelona he
was the victor; the World No.1 was the World Cup winner; it was gold
for Wang Hao.
Source: www.ittf.com
