After sweeping aside all the rivals on Wednesday, the Chinese
men's and women's table tennis teams both reached the team
quarterfinals at the Asian Games.
Hong Kong of China sent both teams into the last eight too, with
its women beating Vietnam and Kuwait and the men's side overcoming
Bahrain and Macao of China.
Chinese paddlers proved themselves too strong for their
opponents as they lost only one set in both the men's and women's
matches.
Ma Lin gave up a set to India's Subhajit Saha Wednesday evening,
but summed up himself to win 3-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-1.
"It's not surprising at all since everybody could lose
concentration," said the four-time World Cup winner who plays all
four events here - the men's team, singles, doubles and the mixed
doubles.
"My opponent is not strong and I lost a set because of my own
mistakes," added Ma.
The Chinese women's team didn't break a sweat on the opening day
of table tennis competition, but they are expected to meet real
challenge from the Hong Kong side in their final group clash on
Thursday.
Chinese women's head coach Shi Zhihao said that his players had
an easy day as they beat Kuwait and Vietnam in straight sets.
"Real challenge will come tomorrow," Shi said after Guo Yue, Li
Xiaoxia and Guo Yan trashed Vietnam in 46 minutes.
Earlier, the Chinese trio of Wang Nan, Chen Qing and Li Xiaoxiao
had beaten Kuwait 3-0.
Shi said he didn't feel pressure from Hong Kong, runner-up to
China in the 2006 world team championships.
"I don't feel heat, since the top two finishers from the group
will both advance to the next phrase," he said.
Japan and South Korea have qualified for the women's
quarter-finals from Group C, while the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea and Singapore joined the women's last eight from the
three-team Group D.
The other Group D team Macao has been shown the door out after
losing two matches.
In the men's play, Japan booked a quarter-final berth by winning
two Group A matches.
Chinese Taipei rallied to a 3-1 win over Singapore with Chiang
Peng-lung finishing as the sole loser of the team, beaten by Gao
Ning 8-11, 15-13, 11-4, 11-5.
(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2006)