World Team Cup: China Captures Women’s Team Gold
October 8, 2007

Zhang Yining (CHN)

Courtesy of ITTF China duly confirmed their billing as the favorites for gold when they won the women’s crown at the World Team Cup in Magdeburg, Germany on Sunday October 7, 2007. They beat a spirited Korean team by three matches to nil but there were moments of concern.

Zhang Yining had to save one match point against Park Mi Young to secure victory, before Guo Yue beat Lee Eun Hee and the partnership of Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia overcame Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young to end proceedings.

Welcome
Ping and Pong, the two mascots at the World Team Cup in Magdeburg alongside a group of female cheerleaders welcomed the players into the arena for the final of the women’s event; the two thousand strong crowd no doubt wished a German team had entered but no-one received a warmer welcome than Zhang Yining.

The crowd in the Bördenlandhalle was delighted to welcome the world’s number one female player, the reigning Olympic champion.

Improving
She was the first into the arena where her adversary was Park Mi Young; a player who is climbing the World Rankings; a defensive artist with an ever improving forehand drive that has enabled her to effect changes in her play to reap success.

The improvement was very much in evidence in her encounter with the lady who has occupied the number one spot of the ITTF Women’s World Rankings since January 2003.

Mistakes
Park Mi Young, to her credit tried to attack with the forehand whenever possible; in so doing she made mistakes and, when successful, Zhang Yining could counter attack with comfort; the attacks of the Korean not being the most powerful in the world.

Park Mi Young Responds
The opening game saw Zhang Yining take control but in the second game she made errors as Park Mi Young’s defensive play was of the very highest order. The Korean was “Miss Patience”; it was her quite determined resolution that enabled her to gain parity as a few rushed forehands from Zhang Yining resulted in errors. Park Mi Young won the second game 11-8.

Confidence
Winning the second game success boosted the confidence of Park Mi Young and in the third game her attacking play, combined with stone wall defense, caused Zhang Yining problems. She led 10-8 and at the first opportunity seized the advantage; Park Mi Young was one game to the good.

Faultless
Undoubtedly, Park Mi Young was playing the “game of her life”; her attacking play which had faltered in the opening game was now faultless.

At 8-all in the fourth game, the two were level; Chinese national team coach Shi Zhihao called “Time Out”. The next point went to Park Mi Young, the next two points were shared, it was 10-9 to the Korean, match point. Zhang Yining responded, the won the next three points. It was parity.

Crisis Averted
A crisis averted Zhang Yining controlled the early stages of the fifth game. She went ahead 5-2; Korean coach Hyun Hyung Hwa called “Time Out”. It was to no avail. Zhang Yining was in control. She played error free to win the game 11-2 and give China the early lead.

Zhang Yining succeeded 11-5, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-2.

Lead Extended
A close opening contest China extended their lead with Guo Yue accounting for Lee Eun Hee.

Undoubtedly, two of the fastest players in the world of female table tennis; Guo Yue’s ability to attack quickly after the service reaped dividends; for Lee Eun Hee returning the service in a fashion that prevented Guo Yue attacking proved to be a bridge too far.

Guo Yue captured the first two games in style, in the third Lee Eun Hee went ahead 6-4 but controlled topspin play from Guo Yue won the next three points. The Koreans called “Time Out” but it was only a temporary reprieve.

The reigning World champion won 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.

In Control
Five minutes later Guo Yue was back in action; this time partnering Li Xiaoxia in the doubles contest against the Korean defenders Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young.

The partnership of Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia is becoming stronger by the week; in Yangzhou two weeks earlier they had beaten Wang Nan and Zhang Yining in the final of the Women’s Doubles event at the China Mobile Asian Championships. In Magdeburg they showed they were equally comfortable against the backspin style of play as they were in Yangzhou against the topspin style.

Consistent
In the first game they were the model of consistency, consistent topspin play and then when the chance arose a fast attack to end the point; in the second game they experienced more problems.

Korean Response
At 8-all the two teams were level. Shi Zhihao, the Chinese coach called “Time Out”, the next four points were shared. It was 10-all; then 11-all with the Koreans saving game point; a stroke of luck for China as a Li Xiaoxia forehand clipped the top of the net and rolled over, un-returnable. Game point to China and playing with great caution it was duly converted.

A crisis averted, the third game saw a fighting display from the Koreans; they went ahead 5-2 as Li Xiaoxia in particular made errors. However, from the moment onwards the errors were reduced and the reigning Asian Women’s Doubles champions prevailed.

Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia won 11-3, 13-11, 11-7.

It was gold for China; they had retained the title they won in 1995 the last occasion the World Team Cup had been held.

Click here to view more results from the 2007 World Team Cup.