03/30/2013       World Team Classic

In the tension packed atmosphere of Guangzhou’s Tianhe Stadium, Japan booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Team event at the Times Property World Team Classic, following full distance five match win over Korea.

Fielding the same outfit that had secured the silver medal in the Women’s Team event at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Japanese trio of Kasumi Ishikawa, Ai Fukuhara and Sayaka Hirano prevailed against a spirited Korean Team; a team with a new look.

Only Seok Hajung remained of the London 2012 Olympic Team; in Guangzhou her colleagues were Yang Haeun and Seo Hyowon.

 03/29/2013       World Team Classic

China and Chinese Taipei concluded the second day of play, Friday 29th March 2013, at the Times Properties World Team Classic in Guangzhou with semi-final places reserved in the Men’s Team event.

Taking no chances whatsoever, selecting the players who occupy the top three places on the current World Rankings and choosing the winners of the Men’s Doubles title at the GAC Group 2011 World Championships in Rotterdam, for the third match of the fixture, China prevailed in a most imposing manner.

Opposing the nation they had faced in the Men’s Team final at the London 2012 Olympic Games but with different personnel on show, China posted a three-nil win over Korea.

 03/29/2013       World Team Classic

China and Singapore, the respective top two seeds, booked their places in the semi-finals of the Women’s event at the Times Property World Team Classic in Guangzhou, following quarter-final wins on the evening of Friday 29th March 2013.

One day earlier China had finished in first place in their group without ever being tested.

It was no different in the quarter-final duel against Germany; the trio of Li Xiaoxia, Liu Shiwen and Ding Ning proved themselves to be a step ahead.

 03/29/2013       World Team Classic

Never has it happened before; in the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, history was made on Friday 29th March 2013.

In the morning, Australia stunned Poland to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s event at the Times Property World Team Classic; in the afternoon Egypt and Brazil followed suit in the Men’s event.

Egypt beat Singapore to be followed by Brazil overcoming Sweden; in both duels the victors recovering from the precipice of defeats.

Five continents were thus represented in the quarter-finals; in addition to the traditional masters of the sport – Europe and Asia – Africa, Latin America and Oceania were present and they were there by right.

 03/29/2013       World Team Classic

Winners of the Women’s First Division title at the Liebherr World Team Championships, just under one year ago in Dortmund, Australia caused one of the biggest upsets to date in the Times Property World Team Classic in Guangzhou.

In their concluding group stage fixture on the morning of Friday 29th March 2013; they beat Poland, the eighth seeds, in a contest that lasted within seconds of three and a half hours.

A true team effort, the result meant Australia secured second place in the group behind Singapore with Poland suffering elimination.

 03/28/2013       World Team Classic

China dominated proceedings on the opening day of play, Thursday 28th March 2013, at the Times Property World Team Classic in Guangzhou.

Simply both the Men’s and Women’s Teams were sheer class, a class apart.

Three-nil wins, with not a single individual game conceded was the order of the matters, as top place in the group in both competitions was secured with clinical efficiency.

An embarrassment of riches was available for Liu Guoliang and Kong Linghui when making their Men’s and Women’s Team selections.

 03/28/2013       World Team Classic

Austria produced the upset of the Men’s event at the Times Property World Team Classic in Guangzhou to bring the first day of play, Thursday 28th March 2013, to a close.

Occupying the fifth seeded position in the draw they overcame Korea, the third seeds, by three matches to one with Robert Gardos the backbone of victory.

He beat the athletic Lee Sangsu in the second match of the fixture in a full distance five games duel (11-7, 11-4, 11-13, 8-11, 11-3) before partnering Daniel Habesohn to doubles success over Jung Youngsik and Seo Hyudeok.

The Austrians posted a straight games win (16-14, 13-11, 11-8), underlying the reasons why they are the current European Men’s Doubles champions.

 03/28/2013       World Team Classic

Totally focused on the task in hand, Lee Ho Ching remained in control of her emotions to cause the one upset of note on the opening day of play, Thursday 28th March 2013, in the Women’s event at the Times Property World Team Classic in Guangzhou.

She beat Park Youngsook in five games (7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5) to secure victory for Hong Kong over Korea, the third seeds.

Lee Ho Ching was the heroine; Jiang Huajun was the mainstay of victory.

In a most impressive manner, Jiang Huajun accounted for Seok Hajung in the opening match of the fixture (13-11, 11-7, 11-8), before in the third match, partnering Tie Yana to victory over Park Youngsook and Yang Haeun (7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5).

 03/28/2013       World Team Classic

It was success for the top four seeds, as matters commenced in the Men’s event at the Times Property World Team Classic in Guangzhou on Thursday 28th March 2013.

No great problems for China, Korea and Japan but for Germany, the second seeds, there was a real scare.

They were extended the full five match distance by a determined Brazilian trio formed by Thiago Monteiro, Casuo Matsumoto and Gustavo Tsuboi with Bastian Steger eventually emerging as the European country’s saviour.

He beat Cazuo Matsumoto in the second match of the contest (11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4), before in the concluding contest of the duel, winning a tension packed encounter in opposition to Thiago Monteiro (11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9).