Jiangsu wins 1st-ever men's table tennis team title
(CRI)
Updated: 2005-10-16 11:30

Ping pong player Chen Qi and teammates from Jiangsu surprise themselves and thrill home fans in Wuxi by winning the host province its first-ever National Games team title for men.

"Jiangsu entered the top three almost every time we competed int he domestic competitions for the past years, but this is the first time we won the men's team title at the National Games. It's a historic breakthrough," said Jiangsu's coach Yang Chuanning.

Rising star, Olympic men's doubles' gold medalist Chen Qi took the first game for Jiangsu by defeating Liu Yang 3-2.

Wang Hao from the Chinese Army, who won the singles silver at last year's Athens Olympics, kept his unbeaten run to nine games in the team event with a 3-0 victory over Shan Mingjie to tie it 1-1.

After Li She losing 3-2 to Qin Zhijian, Wang Hao went out on his 10th singles in the event. However, he lost to Chen Qi 3-1, and the championship as well.

"The loss on the third singles really upset me. I won't say I have any advantage over Chen. I just tried to concentrate and do my best," Wang said.

Leading 2-1 and 10-7 on the fourth set, Chen gave up two championship points before he nailed down the last one.

"Shan, Qin and I are the best line-up in China, I believe," Chen said.

"Chinese domestic table tennis competitions are of higher standard than the Olympic Games, and the gold medal of the National Games is the most prestigious one in China," coach Yang said.