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Liu Guozheng Salvages Team China
Liu Guozheng Salvages Team China
Seven times pulling himself from the brink of doom, Liu Guozheng salvaged Team China and teammate Kong Linghui as the Chinese men carved out a cliff-hanging 3-2 victory over South Korea on Saturday.
Kim Taek Soo had chances to kill the match in two separate sets of the fifth and deciding rubber, but to the horror of the electrified South Korean fans could not finish any of them off.
China fought their way to the men's team final of the 46th World Table Tennis Championships, which earlier saw defending champions Sweden fall a victim to the unfancied Belgians.
"Liu Guozheng saved my life," said Kong Linghui, who lost both his two matches in a marathon semifinal that lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
"I would regret for my life if China lost because of me," added the Olympic champion.
Chinese head coach Cai Zhenhua, whose right hand was trembling so much that he once dropped the microphone on the table, told the post-match press conference that it was the closest and most nerve-racking match he had seen in his 11-year reign as China head coach.
"I am so happy, really happy. Forgive me. I can't express my feeling in words," said Cai.
Li Furong, a world champion in the 1960s and the top Chinese table tennis official, said this was the most spectacular game he had seen since he started to play the game 40 years ago.
The Chinese head coach paid due respect to South Korea, saying there was no loser today.
"There are two victors today -- China and South Korea," Cai said. "I admire the South Korean team very much."
It was an agonizing defeat for South Korea, whose star player Kim Taek Soo wasted seven match points before bowing out to Liu Guozheng's determination.
Kim, who won the first set 21-16, had three match points in the second set but allowed Liu Guozheng to catch each time and eventually win 24-22.
The third and final set was a see-saw game to 15-15 until Kim pulled away to 19-15. But Liu clawed back to make it 19-all.
Kim took the next point but Guozheng caught up yet again.
The next three times Kim held the match point, the 20-year-old Chinese matched him again.
And when Liu finally had his first match point, he didn't let go and finished off the Kim 25-23.
Liu had earlier given China the lead after nipping Oh Sang Eun in the first match but World No. 2 Kong Linghui then lost to Kim Taek Soo in straight sets.
In the third match, World No. 3 Ma Lin routed Ryu Seung Min 2-0, putting China 2-1 ahead. But Oh Sang Eun made it 2-2 by crushing Kong in the fourth match.
Kim Taek Soo, a player whose dedication and attitude is an example to all, admitted an opportunity had been lost.
"It was a really good opportunity to beat China and it's very disappointing," he said, staring at the floor and talking quietly.
Kim paid tribute to his 21-year-old opponent: "He's young but he was able to concentrate very well. He's a great player."
South Korean coach Ahn Jae Hyung was quick to point out that his team didn't lose confidence from the defeat.
"Someday we will beat China," said Ahn in Chinese, who married former Chinese world champion Jiao Zhimin.
"We are on the same standard with the Chinese and they had better luck today," he added.
Chinese official Li Furong said bluntly that China now had no technical or tactical edge except stronger nerves.
"Today's match showed we only had a mental advantage," he said. "Technically and tactically, we have nothing better."
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