World No. 2 Ma Long of China swallowed a full-set defeat at the hands of Japan's Maharu Yoshimura in the second-round group match at the WTTC Asia Continental Stage here on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After sharing the spoils with Yoshimura in the first six sets, Ma slipped away 11-3 in the deciding set. The legendary Chinese paddler will compete in position games on Wednesday to vie for a World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals spot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite Ma's shock defeat, China has secured four men's and five women's singles berths at the World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) Finals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sun Yingsha, Chen Meng, Wang Yidi and Chen Xingtong all claimed straight-sets victories in the women's singles, while their fellow Chinese teammate Wang Manyu rallied past Choi Hyo-Joo of South Korea 4-1, reports news agency Xinhua.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I just focused on myself in preparation and hoped to give full play to my tactics in the match," said Olympic champion Chen Meng.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wang Manyu admitted that she had many unforced errors in the first set. "My opponent played with aggressiveness. Down 3-7 in the second set, I felt huge pressure but managed to fight back, and then I felt a bit relieved," she commented.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Other action saw men's singles world No. 1 Fan Zhendong sweep Harmeet Desai of India in straight sets. Wang Chuqin got past Iranian Noshad Alamiyan 4-1, and Liang Jingkun defeated Ho Kwan Kit of Hong Kong, China 4-2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wang revealed that before the match he had consulted teammate Lin Gaoyuan about his experience of playing against Alamiyan, who shocked Lin 4-2 in the first round of the 2022 Table Tennis Asian Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Alamiyan has quality serves, backhand and defense. You have to fit into his rhythm as soon as possible, otherwise, you will fall behind very quickly," commented Wang.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Xiang Peng, the only Chinese player who needed to start from the first round, beat Amir Hossein Hodaei of Iran 4-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
China secured the full quota in the men's, women's and mixed doubles events of the worlds on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Xiang Peng, the only Chinese player who needed to start from the first round, beat Amir Hossein Hodaei of Iran 4-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n