AYG Table Tennis: China beat DPR Korea in clash of socialist republics to take gold

Story by Chan Hui Mui/Red Sports. Photos by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports.

Toa Payoh Sports Hall, July 4, 2009 – The two socialist republic nations of East Asia, China and DPR Korea, faced-off in the Asian Youth Games (AYG) Table Tennis mixed team final. Powerhouse China lived up to their domination of the sport to scoop the gold after two matches.

China’s Chen Meng and Cheng Jing Qi finished off their Korean opponents, Kim Song I and Kim Jin Su, in 3 games to 0 and 3 games to 1, respectively in the girls’ and boys’ singles events.

In the girls’ singles, Chen Meng took a healthy 6-1 lead in the first game. Though Kim Song I picked up a few points in an attempt to catch up, but Chen Meng was too strong for her and wrapped up the set easily.

In the second game, Kim Song I got off to a better start and kept the score margin narrow. Kim broke away at 5-4 and collected 5 consecutive points to take game point at 10-4. Chen attempted a late-comeback but Kim held on to take the second game 11-5.

Despite the win, Kim went into the third game in an erratic mode after taking the first point. Chen scored 9 straight points to tame the Korean 11-3.

Relishing on the quick victory, Chen stormed to a 3-0 lead in the fourth game before Kim called for a timeout, which helped little.

Kim scooped a point after the timeout but Chen responded with 4 consecutive points to take a 6-point lead. Kim eventually surrendered 4-11 as Chen put her country 1-0 up.

Unlike his compatriot in the girls’ singles, China’s Cheng Jing Qi did not have an easy first game.

Both Cheng Jing Qi and Korea’s Kim Jin Su exchanged smashes throughout the game but Cheng held on to take the first game 12-10.

Cheng must have received wise advice from his coach as stormed to a 9-0 lead in the second game and cruised to win the game 11-2.

Kim Jin Su tried to break Cheng’s domination as he followed him closely before his coach called for a timeout when he was 3-4 down. The timeout went in favour of Cheng instead as he picked up 4 straight points.

After Kim Jin Su returned 2 straight points to narrow the deficit, the Chinese coach called for a timeout, which proved to be timely as Cheng Jing Qi duly wrapped up the second game in a score of 11-6 as China bagged the mixed team gold medal.

Cheng Jing Qi was confident that China will sweep all the gold medals in AYG Table Tennis, he said, “We have an advantage because our competitors may feel intimidated even before the game because of China’s domination of the sport.”