Wang Hao suffers early exit with Ma, Chen
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-09-01 15:41

Second-seeded Wang Hao suffered an early exit at the 17th Asian table tennis championships as the men's singles Olympic silver medalist was nailed down by unseeded Japanese Mizutani Jun 4-2 at the third round of 32 here on Thursday.

Taking the first set 11-8, the 22-year-old, tagged as one of the top pen-hold players in the world, was given a difficult time at the second, being forced to tie-breakers before winning 14-12.

Mizutani, nobody even in Asian table tennis, was not upset with the 2-0 down, however, keeping to his own rhythm of the game and taking all four sets 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 to upset the fourth-ranked Wang who failed to show signs of that brilliant from his former international appearance.

"It's unbelievable. If only Wang stood up, he could not have been trounced like that," said Liu Guoliang, head coach of China's men's team who coached Wang as an advisor during the match.

Chen Qi and Ma Long, both from China, were also ousted after surprisingly losing their games to anonymous players from South Korea and Japan, and Liu concluded it to an unsturdy mind and weak nerve.

"There's nothing about techniques, tactics or physical conditions. For Chen and Ma's defence, the umpires had handed them several penalty costs on serves, but Wang Hao has no excuse," said the former player, who reigned the world table tennis in 1990s as a "grand slam" winner of Olympics, World Championships and World Cup.

Liu took it for the loses that the players had been busy with the domestic championships of China's table tennis Super League before leaving for Jeju and had not prepared well for the biyearly tournament.

"Whatsoever, they should blame themselves for the defeats and make self-questioning thoroughly," he added.

Chen Qi was eliminated by South Korean Choi Hyun Jin 6-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-3, 12-10, 11-7, while Yoshida Kaii, a Chinese-born paddler now playing for Japan, saw off Ma Long 13-15, 10-12, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9, 14-12.

Other two Chinese players, Wang Liqin and Hao Shuai made easy throught to the last 16 as the world champion and top-ranked Wang crushed Chan Koon Wah from Malaysia 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4, and Hao Shuai breezed past Sakamoto Ryusuke from Japan 11-7, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8.

Close

David Beckham at training session with England Owen displays his jersey of New Castle Gianluigi Buffon and Alena Seredova

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
New Orleans mayor: Katrina may have killed thousands         Baghdad bridge stampede kills 965         Talks fail, US limits some China textile imports         Corruption behind coal mine woes targetted         China Southern Airlines to buy 10 Boeing 787s         Typhoon nears: batten down the hatches	Wang Hao suffers early exit with Ma, Chen       Yao Ming signs $75m contract with Rockets       Hewitt, Clijsters, Sharapova advance at US Open       Real snap up Ramos, Tottenham sign Jenas and Lee       USA Cycling defends champion Armstrong       China gets on high horse with fun-loving gymnasts