Wang Nan Beats Koyama at Japan Open Table Tennis TourneyWorld champion Wang Nan of China overcame a scare to beat Japan's Chire Koyama in the women's singles quarter-finals at the Japan Open table tennis tournament in Kobe on Saturday.Wang, who defeated Koyama in last year's final, staged a comeback from 16-19 down in the final game to seal a 18-21, 21-14, 21-16, 16-21, 21-19 victory over Koyama. In the semi-finals Sunday, top-seeded Wang will take on Ryu Ji- Hye of South Korea, a 21-19, 21-19, 21-13 winner over Sun Jin of China. The other semi-finals will be played between Atlanta Olympic silver medallist Chen Jing of Chinese Taipei and 1998 Asian champion Li Ju of China. Third-seeded Chen defeated China's Yang Ying 20-22, 21-17, 21- 18, 21-14, while Li downed fellow Chinese world silver medallist Zhang Yining 21-17, 21-18, 21-16. In the men's singles quarter-finals, China's world and Atlanta Olympic champion Liu Guoliang retired a back problem in the third game to give the victory to his teammate Ma Lin. On Sunday, Ma will take on world number one compatriot Kong Linghui, who defeated Liu Guozheng 21-14, 21-17, 21-12 in an all- Chinese match. Cheung Yuk of Hong Kong, China scored a 21-18, 21-17, 20-22, 21- 19 victory over Chuan Chin-yuan of Chinese Taipei to set up a semi- final meeting against 1998 Asian champion Wang Liqin of China. Wang, second seed, eliminated the last European player, Daimien Eloi of France, 21-18, 21-13, 21-15. |
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