Wang Liqin versus Ma Long is the mouth watering prospect at the semi-final stage in the Men’s Division of the Chinese Super League.
Following the draw made on Tuesday 11th November 2008, Shanghai Guanshengyuan meets Ningbo Beilun Haitian, whilst Zheshang Bang confronts Luneng Zhongchao Cable.
Ma Long is the number one player for Ningbo Beilun Haitian, whilst the top player for Shanghai Guanshengyuan is Wang Liqin, the reigning World champion.
Lining up alongside Ma Long will no doubt be Oh Sang Eun and Wu Hao; whilst for Shanghai Guanshengyuan, Ko Lai Chak and Xu Xin are the players most likely to complete the line up.
Zheshang Bang versus Luneng Zhongchao Cable
Meanwhile, Ma Lin, Jun Mizutani and Yang Zi are the leading players for Zheshang Bang with the likely representatives for Luneng Zhongchao Cable being Tang Peng, Zhang Jike and Liu Yang.
Survival
The leading four teams following the first stage of proceedings meet to contest the title in both the Men’s and Women’s Divisions, whilst for those finishing in the lower places it is a battle for survival.
In the Men’s Division following the conclusion of first stage matches the teams in danger are Bayi Industrial and Commercial Bank, Jinzhou Bank and Haining Leather City.
They will all play each other to determine who suffers the drop.
Impressive Teams
All three field impressive teams with none other than Wang Hao, the current world no.1, on duty for Bayi Industrial and Commercial Bank, he is supported by Xu Ke and Li She whilst for Jinzhou Bank the team comprises Lei Zhenhua, Xu Hui and Zhai Yiming with the possibility of Zhou Bin being included.
The two teams finished the first stage of proceedings in seventh and eighth places respectively with Haining Leather City being the team to finish at the foot of the table. The names in their team underline the immense strength of the Chinese Super League; both Li Ping and Hou Yingchao are in the team alongside Chen Jian and Sha Chenbin.
Guo Yan versus Li Xiaoxia
A confrontation between Wang Liqin versus Ma Long is the mouth watering prospect in the Men’s Division whilst in the Women’s Division it is the possibility of Guo Yan versus Li Xiaoxia at the penultimate stage.
Guo Yan joins forces with Tie Yana and Rao Jingwen for Shanxi Datuhe & ECUST in their contest against Luneng Lu’an Group’s Li Xiaoxia, Feng Tianwei and Peng Luyang; whilst in the counterpart semi-final it is Bayi Industrial & Commercial Bank in opposition to Liaoning Ansteel.
Cao Zhen, Yang Yang, Mu Zi and Wen Jia form the Bayi Industrial & Commercial Bank squad whilst for Liaoning Steel it is Guo Yue, Dang Ye Seo and Chang Chenchen.
Facing the Drop
Tough matches for the top prize and tough matches for the drop where four teams are involved.
Following the draw to avoid the drop: Guangdong Zhujiang Yijingwan will meet Datong Yungang∙Yanbei Hotel, whilst Jizhong Energy confronts Jiangsu Zhongchao Cable.
The team which finishes in fourth place will be relegated.
Teams
Guangdong Zhujiang Yijingwan is led by Liu Shiwen with Cao Xingni, Zhou Fanfang, Cai Sai and Zhou Mo in support whilst for Datong Yungang∙Yanbei Hotel, they can select from Jiang Huajun, Feng Yalan, Li Xiaodan, Wu Yang and Yang Feifei.
Meanwhile, for Jizhong Energy who finished at the foot of the table following the first stage of proceedings, they have Niu jianfeng, Jia jun, Bai Yang and Wu Qiong available with their adversaries, Jiangsu Zhongchao Cable, having Fan Ying, Yao Yan, Zhang Xiaoyu, Wang Xuan and Wang Ting at their disposal.
New Schedule
The second stage matches will now commence on Friday 28th November 2008.
Source: www.ittf.com
