China win 21st crown in style (2018 Halmstad)
Women’s Teams: Final
Off to a slow start but it’s China that once again comes away with the women’s team title on the World Team Championship stage, prevailing 3-1 over Japan.
Producing a stunning display to see off Liu Shiwen (11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8, 12-10), Mima Ito provided the Japanese team with a glimmer of hope in the early stages of the match. However, victories for Ding Ning (11-6, 12-10, 13-11) and Liu Shiwen (11-6, 11-6, 12-10) over Miu Hirano and a third success courtesy of Zhu Yuling against Kasumi Ishikawa (11-4, 11-7, 11-8) sees China over the line. Congratulations to 21-time women’s team champion of the world, China!
Germany edge Korea Republic in thriller! (2018 Halmstad)
Men’s Teams: Semi-final
What a cracking tie we’ve just been treated to here in Halmstad with Germany edging past Korea Republic in an epic men’s team semi-final.
Pushed the full match distance, Germany’s success was in part down to brilliance from Timo Boll who contributed two wins from his encounters with Jeoung Youngsik (12-10, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5) and Lee Sangsu (9-11, 11-8, 3-11, 13-11, 12-10). In the final fixture, Patrick Franziska also emerged victorious over Lee (11-6, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9) to set up a repeat of the 2014 final with China.
It’s a double team win for China! (2014 Tokyo)
Men’s Teams: Final
Successful in the women’s team draw, China has replicated the feat in the men’s team event with a 3-1 victory over Germany in the Japanese capital.
Ma Long put China on the way with his straight games beating of Timo Boll in the opener (11-6, 11-9, 11-9), but the German response was excellent as Dimitrij Ovtcharov battled past Zhang Jike (13-11, 11-8, 11-6) to level the scores at 1-1. A setback but that’s all it transpired to be for Team China as Xu Xin and Ma proved too strong for Patrick Franziska (11-5, 11-2, 11-8) and Ovtcharov (12-10, 11-5, 11-2). The trophy goes to China once again.
China complete clean sweep in final (2014 Tokyo)
Women’s Teams: Final
It was a superb win for Team China in the women’s team final against Team Japan, as they completed a 3-0 overall victory.
Ding Ning started the proceedings with a 3-1 (11-5, 8-11, 11-2, 11-5) win over Yuga Ishigaki, before Li Xiaoxia defeated Kasumi Ishikawa in straight games (11-8, 11-7, 11-7). Finally, Liu Shiwen wrapped up the gold with a strong show of forceful shots, as she beat Sayaka Hirano 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-5).
Zhang makes a stunning recovery for the win! (2009 Yokohoma)
Women’s Singles: Final
Well, she was not going down without a fight – and it turns out she is not going down at all! Zhang Yining has turned her fate backwards and managed to win 4-2 (12-10, 11-3, 11-2, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9) against Guo Yue here in the women’s singles final.
The ghosts of 2007 seemed to have caught up with Guo as Zhang just turned the dial up in terms of intensity from the third game on. There was a barrage of forehands coming Guo’s way and it was not long before Zhang equalized the scores and then took the lead, and the gold, for good.
Guo leads Zhang in a re-match (2009 Yokohoma)
Women’s Singles: Final
Playing the same final from two years ago in 2007, Guo Yue has taken a 2-0 (12-10, 11-3) lead over Chinese teammate Zhang Yining.
Guo looks in the mood to avenge her defeat the last time these two met in a World Championship final and Zhang will have to really do something special to avoid that fate.
Wang Hao secures gold in style (2009 Yokohoma)
Men’s Singles: Final
In a battle of the two Wangs here at the 2009 World Table Tennis Championships in Yokohoma, it was to be cagey final match for the gold medal – or so we thought.
Wang Hao beat his Chinese compatriot – and three time World Champion – Wang Liqin in straight games (11-9, 13-11, 11-5, 11-9), to be crowned World Champion for the first time. This came after a very strong start by Wang Hao, who simply was in top gear while it looked like Wang Liqin never took off.
Just A-Maze-ing! (2005 Shanghai)
Men’s Singles: Quarter-finals
What a turn around! We will be talking about this one for ages, I’m sure! In what will go down as the comeback of all comebacks, Michael Maze has just defeated 4-3 Hao Shuai (5-11, 8-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6). At 7-10 down in the fourth game, Micheal Maze has someone managed to overturn this entire match and drop everyone’s jaws at the same time.
As Hao Shuai sent a service forward, Maze returned to the forehand, but Hao rushed and made an error trying to finish the point quickly with a forehand top spin. As the next point proved with a long rally, Maze was never really out of this after all. Using his lobbing from the backhand technique, he returned using a small amount of sidespin. This continued as Maze served, Hao returned to the forehand, Maze played a forehand top spin but as he tried to recover he slipped, he fell on his backside. Maze returned the ball with his backhand, but again Hao missed again. The rest that followed, is now certainly famed history for everyone in this arena!
Maze is in trouble! (2005 Shanghai)
Men’s Singles: Quarter-finals
Welcome back to the 2005 World Table Tennis Championships here in Shanghai! It has been a cracker of day but certainly not a happy one so far for Micheal Maze, who finds himself three games down, facing China’s Hao Shuai.
Winning the first three games 11-5, 11-8 and 11-7, Hao has shown no signs of slowing down and this could very well end quickly for Maze. Is there anything the Dane can do?
Invincible Waldner claims Championship (1997 Manchester)
Men’s Singles: Final
What a tournament this has been for Jan-Ove Waldner! The Swedish athlete has completed perhaps the most historic campaign at a World Championships, here in Manchester.
After seeing off Belarusian star Vladimir Samsonov in straight games (21-12, 21-17, 21-13), Waldner has gone the entire tournament without a single loss of a game! This is a feat for the ages, and the Swede has certainly earned himself the ‘Legend’ status in table tennis!
Deng claims impressive gold (1991 Chiba)
Women’s Singles: Final
The Chinese superstar has shown her class in an effortless win over Li Bun Hui from DPR Korea, without losing a single game!
Deng was at it from the start, winning 21-13 in the first game before Li pushed her to 18-18 in the second. However, it was to be for naught, as the Chinese athlete found her feet and completed the 3-0 win (21-13, 21-18, 21-14)
