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Olympic Table Tennis Recaps: 31 July (Day 12)

Men's Singles Semifinals

It's a Battle of Countrymen in Men's Singles Gold Medal Match

It was a perfect match. Ranked 5th in the world, Germany's Joerg ROSSKOPF battled LIU Guoliang (CHN), 6th best in the world, for a spot in Thursday's gold medal match. ROSSKOPF opened the first game playing with confidence and taking a 3:1 lead. A string of six unforced errors mid-game gave LIU the lead. The German tied it at 15 points, but committed four consecutive unforced errors. LIU won the first game, 21:17. ROSSKOPF got his unforced errors under control in the second game and won it. In the third and fourth games, ROSSKOPF's lack of confidence caused him to commit numerous unforced errors, giving the games to LIU. LIU went on to win the match three games to one. He advances to tomorrow's gold medal game.

The second men's singles semifinal game pitted WANG Tao (CHN), 3rd ranked player in the world, and 1992 Olympic men's double gold medalist and this year's doubles silver medalist, against an aggressive Petr KORBEL (CZE). KORBEL, ranked 31st, opened the match by winning the first five points. He held the lead for the first half of the game, but committed several unforced errrors allowing WANG to tie it at 10. KORBEL fought back to take a 19:13 lead. His lead slowly slipped away and WANG took the game 23:21. WANG quickly won the next two games to seal a spot in tomorrow's gold medal game.

Final Score: LIU Guoliang (CHN) d. Joerg ROSSKOPF (GER), 21:17, 18:21, 21:18, 21:18; WANG Tao (CHN) d. Petr KORBEL (CZE), 23:21, 21:07, 21:16.


China, Chinese Taipei take Table Tennis Medals

China takes Gold, Bronze in Women's Singles Medal Round

Defending Olympic women's singles gold medalist DENG Yaping (CHN) fought for her life in today's gold medal round against CHEN Jing (TPE). Jumping out to easy wins in the first two games of the match, DENG struggled in the third game. The two battled to a tie at 15 points apiece when a disruption in the stands halted play. An altercation between a spectator and a volunteer information guide resulted in the arrest of both. Play quickly resumed after order was restored and DENG took the next point. The momentum went CHEN's way, though, as she won the third and the fourth games. In the fifth and deciding game, DENG came out strong, taking an early 11:02 lead. A number of unforced errors by CHEN sealed the game and the gold medal for DENG.

In another contest of teammates, China's QIAO Hong challenged LIU Wei in the women's singles bronze medal match this afternoon at the Georgia World Congress Center. Women's singles silver medalist and women's doubles gold medalist in 1992, QIAO faced a tough battle against LIU, ranked 4th in the world. QIAO, the world's second-best player, jumped out to an early lead, winning the first match 21:17. LIU rallied in the second game, jumping out to a 12:15 lead. She went on to win the game, 21:15. Again in the third game, LIU jumped out to an early lead. This time, however, QIAO came back strong, took the lead at 13:11 and never looked back. She won the next two games to take the match and the bronze medal.

Medallists: DENG Yaping (CHN), CHEN Jing (TPE), QIAO Hong (CHN).

See story.

"We both tried our best and we both tried hard. It was an excellent game," said DENG Yaping (CHN) after defeating CHEN Jing (TPE) to take the women's singles gold medal.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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