The World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash has witnessed a remarkable display of dominance by homegrown talent, as Chinese paddlers secured all spots in both the men's and women's singles semifinals. Friday's quarterfinals at Beijing's Shougang Park set the stage for thrilling all-Chinese clashes that have captivated fans nationwide.
In the men's singles, Lin Shidong will face Xiang Peng for a place in the final. Lin showcased his skill with a straight-sets victory over Denmark's Anders Lind, winning 12-10, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7. Xiang Peng, meanwhile, battled through a grueling seven-game match against Sweden's Truls Moregard. After an intense back-and-forth, Xiang emerged victorious with a decisive 11-5 win in the final game.
On the other side of the draw, Liang Jingkun edged out compatriot Lin Gaoyuan in a tightly contested six-game match, finishing 1-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3. Liang will meet veteran Ma Long in the semifinals, who delivered a commanding performance against Brazil's Hugo Calderano, securing a 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 win.
\"Today's match was smoother than I had expected,\" Ma Long told reporters. \"Hugo has improved a lot in recent years and has been performing consistently well. The competition today went better than I thought.\"
Reference(s):
Home paddlers take all spots in both singles semifinals at China Smash
cgtn.com
