SHANGHAI, May 6: Wang Liqin won the men’s singles title at the world table tennis championships on Friday, giving China a clean sweep of all five gold medals to reaffirm its status as the sport’s most powerful force. Wang, the world No.1, beat Ma Lin in six sets for his second singles crown, pumping his fist in the air before embracing his team-mate after coming back from a set down at the Shanghai Sports Gymnasium.

It was a welcome boost for China’s men whose dominance was under threat after they failed to take the singles title at the last world championships in Paris two years ago and then lost the Olympics crown in Athens. All that was history on Friday, as Wang and Ma, the world’s top two players, ended the last hope Europe or Asia had of getting their hands on the trophy.

Wang had earlier Friday torpedoed the dream of South Korea’s Oh Sang Eun in the semifinal, while Ma took care of giant-killing Dane Michael Maze in emphatic fashion, sending him packing in straight sets.

“Today’s final was of the highest level of competition. Ma had many chances and his level of play was very good but Wang’s first and fourth sets were outstanding,” said Chinese men’s coach Liu Guoliang.

“On the surface the match was not very exciting, but the struggle between them was very intense.” Ahead of the men’s final Wang Nan and Zhang Yining gave China the women’s doubles title, toppling teammates Guo Yue and Niu Jiangeng in five sets.

It was a successful defence by the top seeds and handed 27-year-old Wang her 18th major title, equaling the record set by the legendary Deng Yaping. China had already won the women’s singles (Zhang Yining), the men’s doubles (Kong Linghui and Wang Hao), and the mixed doubles (Wang Liqin and Guo Yue). The clean sweep gave them a symbolic 100 world championship golds.

Wang and Zhang never looked troubled in their final despite Zhang struggling with a shoulder injury. She was coming off her business-like win in the singles fina on Thursday, which she dedicated to he team—mmates who are struggling together with me,” she said.

“Before this championship I considered myself a young player. Now my burden is heavier and heavier, the challenge is bigger and bigger. There is still a long way to go with many things to learn.”

Wang hinted that this was her last major championship.

“I guess it’s my last worlds and big competition,” she said after fans bombarded her with red roses.

Meanwhile, Sydney Olympic champion Kong Linghui, a former world No.1 who was expected to retire after Shanghai, said his doubles success here with Wang Hao had spurred him on to aim for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

“The cheering fans gave us huge support. I will see whether I can participate in the Beijing Olympics,” he said.

With the tournament ending Friday, International Table Tennis Federation president Adham Sharara described it as the best ever despite complaints about the standard of umpiring, the balls and the conditions in the arena.

“It’s the biggest world championships in terms of the number of athletes and officials involved and that means huge input by the organisers,” he said, and pointed to the massive crowds that watched the action daily as signalling success.

He argued that organisers quickly responded to complaints, including turning the air conditioning off after players, led by Wang Liqin, said it was too windy and affecting their game.

Other players, including deposed world champion Werner Schlager of Austria, said the ball was too soft and not fit for international competition.

Results

Men’s singles final

Wang Liqin (CHN ) bt Ma Lin (CHN) 11/9, 3/11, 8/11, 11/9, 11/9, 11/7;

Singles semifinals

Wang Liqin (CHN) bt Oh Sang-eun (KOR) 11/7, 12/10, 11/2, 9/11, 11/6;

Ma Lin (CHN ) bt Michael Maze (DEN) 11/7, 11/6, 11/9, 11/9;

Women’s doubles final

Zhang Yining/Wang Nan (CHN ) bt Guo Yue/Niu Jianfeng (CHN) 11/4, 11/5, 10/12, 11/9, 11/5;

Women’s doubles semifinals

Zhang Yining/Wang Nan (CHN) bt Tie Yana/Zhang Rui (HKG) 11/9, 11/4, 9/11, 11/8, 11/13, 11/6

Guo Yue/Niu Jianfeng (CHN) bt Bai Yang/Guo Yan (CHN) 11/4, 12/10, 11/6, 11/9. —AFP