Zhang Yining Strikes Gold in Kuwait
March 17, 2008

Zhang Yining, immaculate against the equally splendid Li Xiaoxia Photo By: Ayoade Ademakinwa

Courtesy of ITTF Zhang Yining stamped her authority on proceedings in the final of the Women’s Singles event at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open on Sunday, March 16, 2008, beating her national team compatriot, Li Xiaoxia, in straight games to capture gold. In the contest between the two players who occupy the first and second places on the current ITTF Women’s World Ranking list, the player whose name appears at the very top underlined indelibly why she holds that status.

The reigning Olympic champion secured victory by the margin of 16-14, 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8.

History
Li Xiaoxia and Zhang Yining had met on fourteen previous occasions with the lady ranked number one in the world very much in the ascendancy.

She won the first nine encounters before Li Xiaoxia posted a success; that being just over one year ago when she defeated Zhang Yining at the quarterfinal stage of the Women’s Singles event at the Liebherr Qatar Open.

However, the next three meetings all went to Zhang Yining; she won when the pair met in the very same hall as they confronted each other in March 2007 at the quarterfinal stage of the Women’s Singles event at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open and she won when they crossed swords at the Panasonic China Open and at the China Mobile Asian Championships.

Three wins in a row for Zhang Yining but not a fourth. In their final duel of the year, Li Xiaoxia succeeded at the semi-final stage of the Women’s Singles event at the Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals and as she had done when winning in Qatar earlier in the year, progressed to capture the title.

Little to Choose
Both players are of a similar style, right handed shakehand grips, fast forehands, consistent backhands, adroit in every department of the game.

Predictably in the first game there was little to choose between the two young ladies honed in the Chinese school of coaching.

Zhang Yining established an 8-6 lead, she maintained the lead to 10-8 but then Li Xiaoxia recovered to win three points in row and to lead 11-10; Zhang Yining leveled but again at 12-11 and 13-12, she had save game points. At 14-13 she held a game point of her own, now Li Xiaoxia leveled but she could not do it a second time. The first game went to Zhang Yining 16-14.

A close game won, Zhang Yining was in confident mode; in the second game she sped into an 8-3 lead and never relinquished the advantage.

She won the game 11-4 and was two games to the good.

Third Game
A rapid fire start had been the scenario in the second game but not in the third game for Zhang Yining; Li Xiaoxia responded; she established a three point lead at 8-5.

A recovery appeared imminent but Zhang Yining had other ideas. She was faultless; her attacks, her movement, her precision, her control of the highest order; she won the next six points to move one game away from the title.

The level of her play was breathtaking.

Mountain to Climb
Li Xiaoxia now had a mountain to climb; she climbed a few steps, she went ahead 7-5, 9-7 and at 10-8 held two game points. Zhang Yining saved the first but she could not the save second.

The deficit had been reduced.

Confidence
Winning the fourth game was a confidence boost for Li Xiaoxia; in the fifth game she accelerated into a 5-1 lead; the early advantage was vital. Zhang Yining never gained parity as fast and furious exchanges were the order of the day.

Li Xiaoxia won the game 11-7 and another step up the mountain had been scaled.

Outstanding Rallies
Table tennis of the very highest quality was now on offer, the rallies were of the highest level. The speed of the play, the reactions of the two athletes was quite outstanding.

There was little to choose between the two stars with Zhang Yining gradually seizing the advantage.

Victory
She went ahead 7-6; then she won the next two points, Li Xiaoxia reduced the arrears to 9-7 but the next point went to Zhang Yining. It was match point.

Li Xiaoxia saved the first match point but not the second. Zhang Yining won the game 11-8 and was the champion, the winner of the Women’s Singles event at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open 2008.

WOMEN'S SINGLES

Final: ZHANG Yining (CHN) vs. LI Xiaoxia (CHN) 4-2 (16-14,11-4,11-8,9-11,7-11,11-8,-)

Semi-Final:
ZHANG Yining (CHN) vs. WANG Nan (CHN) 4-0 (11-9,11-2,11-7,11-1,-,-,-)

GUO Yue (CHN) vs. LI Xiaoxia (CHN) 1-4 (6-11,11-7,2-11,10-12,8-11,-,-)

MEN'S SINGLES

Final: SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) vs. CHEN Qi (CHN) 4-0 (12-10,14-12,11-7,11-4,-,-,-)

Semi-Final:
SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) vs. MA Long (CHN) 4-3 (7-11,4-11,11-8,11-8,9-11,11-9,11-8)

YOON Jae Young (KOR) vs. CHEN Qi (CHN) 3-4 (6-11,11-8,9-11,2-11,12-10,17-15,9-11)

WOMEN'S DOUBLES
Final: WANG Nan (CHN) & ZHANG Yining (CHN) vs. LI Jia Wei (SIN) & SUN Bei Bei (SIN) 4-2 (9-11,11-4,11-8,14-16,11-4,11-3,-)

MEN'S DOUBLES
Final: MA Lin (CHN) & WANG Halo (CHN) vs. CHEN Qi (CHN) & ZHANG Jike (CHN) 4-0 (11-6,11-9,12-10,11-7,-,-,-)

 

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