SPORTS> China
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SPORTS> China
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China sweeps singles title of 2008 ITTF Pro Tour Grand Final
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-15 09:35 MACAO - China's paddlers took a sweep of the single event in the 2008 ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals here on Sunday. Ma Long won his first gold after beating teammate Wang Hao 4-0 in men's final while Guo Yan defeated Guo Yue 4-2 to claim the women's title in the all-Chinese finals.
Ma won 13-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5. The 20-year-old eliminated China's top paddlers Wang Liqin and Olympic champion Ma Lin to enter the finals. He launched a strong challenge to another Chinese top paddlers Wang Hao in the final and claim the victory in less than an hour. "I can't say I have already stronger than those teammates, although I won them here," said Ma, "They didn't have a good training after Beijing Olympics but I did. They are strong and I am still a young player." "The title is a boost for me, especially when I will take part in the world championships next year in Japan," added Ma. In women's finals, Guo Yan defeated Guo Yue 4-2 to get her first title in the year. Dropping two sets, Guo Yan managed to extend her winning stream after fending off ferocious charges of veteran Guo Yue 13-11,9-11,15-13,11-5,12-14,11-8. She won Singapore's Wang Yuegu in the semifinals to book the place in the final early on Sunday. "I am encouraged by the title, " said Guo Yan, "I had lost several times in the finals and was blamed that I could not play well in the key competitions," "But this title encouraged me that I could do well in the final. My next goal is a good finish in the world championships next year." she said.
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