Chinese table tennis stars Lin Shidong and Wang Manyu clinched the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions Frankfurt in Germany on Sunday, showcasing China’s dominance in the sport.
Men’s Singles Final: Lin Shidong, the No. 2 seed, secured his victory over Sweden’s Anton Kellberg with a 4-1 win (11-5, 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8). Lin’s sharp serves and rapid attacks gave him a strong start, winning the first two games swiftly. Kellberg displayed resilience in the third game, saving two game points and narrowing the gap to 10-9, but ultimately conceded. The Swedish paddler fought back to take the fourth game, outperforming Lin in extended rallies.
Adjusting his tactics, Lin improved his service game in the fifth set, scoring four consecutive points that proved crucial to his final victory. “I focused on increasing the variation in my serves to disrupt his rhythm,” Lin commented after the match.
Women’s Singles Final: In an all-Chinese final, top seed Wang Manyu defeated compatriot Wang Yidi, the No. 2 seed, in a six-game battle (11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8). The match saw both players exchanging leads, with Wang Yidi leveling the score twice in the first four games. She began the fifth game with a commanding 6-1 lead, leveraging improved returns. However, Wang Manyu responded by enhancing her serves, narrowing the deficit to 8-7 before turning the game in her favor.
Trailing early in the sixth game, Wang Yidi rallied to tie at 6-6, prompting Wang Manyu to call a timeout. Returning with renewed focus, Wang Manyu managed to outlast her opponent, sealing the victory and lifting the trophy.
“We’re thrilled with our performances here in Frankfurt,” Wang Manyu said. “Competing against a fellow national team member is always challenging, but it pushes us both to improve.”
The victories by Lin Shidong and Wang Manyu highlight China’s continued excellence in table tennis on the global stage.
Reference(s):
Chinese paddlers bring home titles from WTT Champions Frankfurt
cgtn.com
