Ma Lin has proved he is still one of the world's best at the ITTF Pro Tour Kuwait Open, capturing two titles in men's singles and doubles event.

 

Earlier in the proceedings he had won the Men's Doubles title with Chen Qi and the victories ended what has been a somewhat barren spell on the ITTF Pro Tour for the Chinese star.

 

In the final of the Men's Singles event he beat Chen Qi in six games 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8.

 

The victories in Kuwait are the first successes for Ma Lin on the ITTF Pro Tour since September 2004 when he won both the Men's Singles and Men's Doubles titles at the Panasonic China Open. In 2005 he competed on only two occasions on the ITTF Pro Tour.

 

However, in Kuwait he excelled. In the Men's Doubles event with Chen Qi, every match was won by the margin of four games to nil whilst in the Men's Singles, he was never extended to seven games.

 

Against Chen Qi he started the favorite by virtue of the fact that he is the more experienced player, has a better record of success on the ITTF Pro Tour and possesses a higher World Ranking. Ma Lin proved that.

 

Women's singles title went to Jiang Huajun representing Chinese Hong Kong while Olympic and world champions Wang Nan and Zhang Yining maintained their doubles title.

 

(CRI English February 25, 2006)