Top Seeds Reach Men’s Doubles Final
May 25, 2007

Semi-Final sadness for Chang Yen-Shu and Chiang Peng-Lung  Photo By:Rémy Gros

Courtesy of ITTF The top two seeded pairs both reached the final of the Men’s Doubles event at the Liebherr World Championships in Zagreb on Friday May 25, 2007. Number one seeds, Chen Qi and Ma Lin beat Hong Kong’s Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching while second seeds Wang Hao and Wang Liqin defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chang Yen-Shu and Chiang Peng-Lung to make it an all-Chinese final. Chen Qi and Ma Lin won 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 while Wang Hao and Wang Liqin prevailed 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5.

Repeat
The contest involving Chen Qi and Ma Lin versus Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching was a repeat of the Men’s Doubles final at the Olympic Games in 2004 and at the Asian Games in 2006.

In the former meeting the Chinese pair won, in the latter it was victory for Hong Kong.

Second Game
“I guess the second game was the most important, that was the game that turned the match”, said Chan Kon Wah, the Hong Kong coach. “We led 8-5 or something like that and we missed two or three really good chances.”

The Hong Kong pair let opportunities go begging. “If we had won the second game, maybe it would have become different”, Chan Kon Wah continued. “Basically I’m happy with the bronze medal; it’s the first in doubles since 1983.”

Reflexions
Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching had proved very competitive and they could be pleased that they had another medal to their credit.

“We lost the final of the Olympic Games but we beat them in the final of the Asian Games”, said Chan Kon Wah. “Normally Chen Qi and Ma Lin win, technically they are better and there are no weaknesses; I don’t think it’s a great advantage having penholders for doubles, just look at Wang Liqin, he’s good at doubles and he’s not a penholder!”

Power
True, Wang Liqin is good at doubles; in Zagreb, he’s in the final of both the Mixed and Men’s Doubles events.

Partnering, Wang Hao the duo proved too strong for Chang Yen-Shu and Chiang Peng-Lung. The ability of Wang Hao to return service with topspin using the reverse side of the racket and imparting sidespin on the ball caused problems.

Body
Like Ko Lai Chak and Li Ching, both Chang Yen-Shu and Chiang Peng-Lung are penholders. The tactic exploited by the Chinese was to attack the body of the Chinese Taipei duo time and again.

The policy forced Chang Yen-Shu and Chiang Peng-Lung into a passive role and prevented them playing their strong forehands.

In six games, Wang Hao and Wang Liqin prevailed; the power of their attacks devastating and a final assured that will see the top two seeded pairs in action.