2/15/2009 2009 Kuwait Open

China’s Ma Long, playing in typically uninhibited aggressive manner, regained the Men’s Singles title at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open on Sunday 15th February 2009 beating top seeded compatriot, Wang Hao in the final.

The winner in 2007 but beaten in the semi-finals in 2008 by Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, the 20 year old Chinese star made his intentions clear from the very start of the final.

He attacked relentlessly winning 11-5, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8.

 2/15/2009 2009 Kuwait Open

Winner of the Girls’ Singles crown at the ITTF World Junior Championships in 2005; China’s 19 year old Ding Ning graduated on Sunday 15th February 2009. She won the Women’s Singles title at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open.

At the final hurdle she beat compatriot Guo Yue, the no.2 seed and reigning World champion in six games.

Ding Ning won 11-6, 9-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7.

 2/15/2009 2009 Kuwait Open

China’s Chen Qi and Ma Lin underlined their status as the most potent Men’s Doubles force on planet earth when they secured gold in Kuwait on Sunday 15th February 2009.

Winners of the Men’s Doubles crown at the Olympic Games in 2004 and the reigning World champions, they beat compatriots Hao Shuai and Ma Long in four straight games to capture the top prize.

They won 11-5, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7 with breathtaking brilliance.

 2/15/2009 2009 Kuwait Open

China’s Guo Yue and Zhang Yining added to their collection of trophies by winning the Women’s Doubles title at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open on Sunday 15th February 2009.

They beat Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun and Tie Yana in a hard fought final succeeding in six games.

Guo Yue and Zhang Yining, crucial members of China’s gold medal winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, won 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3.

 2/15/2009 2009 Kuwait Open

Another devastating display by Ma Long, the power from his awesome forehand very much in evidence, saw him reserve his place in the final of the Men’s Singles event at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open, following a six games semi-final win against Ma Lin early in the afternoon of Sunday 15th February 2009.

Ma Long took no prisoners as he attacked with ferocity from the very first point to the very last.

He won 11-9, 11-13, 11-1, 11-4, 5-11, 11-4.

 2/15/2009 2009 Kuwait Open

A semi-final victory over Germany’s Timo Boll saw China’s Wang Hao reserve his place in the final of the Men’s Singles event at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open on Sunday 15th February 2009.

In a penultimate round duel full of high class exchanges, the Chinese star illustrated the reasons why he stands currently at the top of the ITTF Men’s World Rankings; his attacking skills and athletic abilities being very much to fore throughout the duel.

He won 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7.

 2/15/2009 2009 Kuwait Open

Guo Yue, seeded no.2 booked her place in the final of the Women’s Singles event at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open on Sunday 15th February 2009 with a six games win over compatriot, Guo Yan, the no.4 seed.

The reigning World champion was tested and had to recover from a two games to nil deficit whilst also enduring a nail-biting sixth game before securing victory.

She won 4-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5, 19-17.