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SCMP Sport

Sun Yingsha won the women’s crown at table tennis’ China Smash, but her fellow Olympics star Ma Long was beaten by teenager Lin Shidong in the men’s final in Beijing on Sunday.
Lin produced a stirring comeback to beat six-time Olympic gold medallist Ma and in doing so claim his own maiden WTT Grand Smash title.
The 19-year-old found himself 3-1 down in games, but roared back against the legendary Ma, 35. He has now won 16 straight singles matches to take three consecutive tournaments, having triumphed at WTT Contender Almaty and WTT Champions Macau.
“Tonight, Ma Long and I put on a very exciting match,” he said after pocketing a US$100,000 winner’s cheque.

The youngster had lost the only prior international meeting of the pair, in Singapore last year, but took the opening game 11-4 at the Infinity Arena.
Ma asserted himself thereafter, winning the next three 11-7, 11-5, 13-11. That seemed to bring the best out of Lin and he stormed back, prevailing 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 in the next three to edge the best-of-seven-games contest 4-3.
Earlier, Sun lived up to her status as women’s world No 1 as she saw off Wang Manyu 4-2. It was the her fifth international clash with Wang this year and she has won them all.
An 11-6, 12-14, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7 triumph brought Sun’s first WTT Grand Smash singles title of the season and the second in her career, after Singapore success last year.
“This is the first time a WTT Grand Smash event has come to Beijing, and I’ve created wonderful memories on my home ground,” Sun said.
“I truly enjoyed every match here in Beijing and I’m immensely grateful to all the fans who came here to support us.”
The finals concluded the 11-day WTT China Smash and added to Chinese success in the women’s and men’s doubles finals on Saturday.

Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun took a five-set victory in the men’s against compatriots Lin Shidong and Lin Gaoyuan.
Chen Xingtong and Qian Tianyi overcame Sun and Wang Yidi in four sets in an all-Chinese women’s affair.
“We waited a long time for the doubles title and didn’t give up after being two sets down,” Liang told mainland Chinese media.
“This is my first doubles trophy pairing up with Liang at the WTT events,” Wang added. “We kept concentrating on the skills and tactics to turn the tide.”


Asian Table Tennis Championships: milestone for Doo Hoi-kem, but record low for China

Asian Table Tennis Championships: China women’s coach Ma Lin rapped for skipping ceremony

Sun Yingsha triumphs at China Smash table tennis, Ma Long beaten by Lin Shidong

World Table Tennis China Smash: Ma Long beats Brazil’s Hugo Calderano to reach the last 4

ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)

Lin Shidong (right) takes a selfie with Sun Yingsha at the China Smash event in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

Lin Shidong hits a return to compatriot Ma Long during the men’s singles final. Photo: AFP

Sun Yingsha battles with Wang Manyu in the women’s singles final in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

World Table Tennis China Smash: No 3 Wang Yidi loses in first round to unranked Fan Siqi

Fan Siqi celebrated defeating compatriot Wang Yidi at the WTT China Smash on Sunday. Photo: WTT

Wang Yidi will be 31 at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 and faces pressure to hold her spot. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Ma Long hits a return to Brazil’s Hugo Calderano during their singles quarter-final that Ma said went “more smoothly than I thought”. Photo: AFP

Brazils Hugo Calderano, the highest-ranked non-Chinese player at China Smash, lost in straight sets. Photo: AFP

Ma Long and his two sons enter the stage before his round of 32 match on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Sun Yingsha triumphs at China Smash table tennis, Ma Long beaten by Lin Shidong

Teenager Lin launches comeback to overcome six-time Olympic gold medallist