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Lars Hamer

The Galaxy International Convention Centre in Macau was sent into rocking raptures on Friday evening as a sell-out partisan crowd saw China’s world No 1 Sun Yingsha progress to the semi-finals of the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup.
Sun beat Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-ching 4-1 in the quarter-finals to set up a match against compatriot and world No 4 Chen Xingtong on Saturday.
The Olympic mixed doubles champion dispatched her 11th-ranked opponent with ease, winning seven points in a row on her way to sealing the first game 11-6, before prevailing 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9.
After the match, Sun said that the love of the fans in Macau had pushed her to fight for every point.
“I think that, on the court, if they’ve been cheering for me or cheering for the Chinese team, it’s more of a motivation,” she said.
“Every time I play, I hear so much cheering and support. Of course, I think it can make me go all out to play for every point in the game.
“When everyone comes to the stadium, no matter if it’s Macau, Shenzhen or even other cities, if they are cheering for me, I can cherish every point in the game.”
A sell-out crowd, dominated by Chinese table tennis fans, filled the 16,000-seat arena for the tournament, which started on Monday and concludes with the final this Sunday.
Sun, popularly known as Sha Sha by her fans, is looking to defend her World Cup crown. Earlier in the day, her Paris mixed-doubles partner, Wang Chuqin, who is seeking his first in singles, scraped into the semi-finals by shading a tough battle with Benedikt Duda 4-3.
Wang and world No 17 Duda shared the first four games before the German appeared to gain momentum in the fifth when he took a 7-3 lead.
But world No 2 Wang rallied to rescue the game, not dropping another point as he took it 11-7.
Duda hit back, taking the next 11-7 to force a decider that Wang edged 12-10.

Wang, who saved match point in the final game, was full of praise for his German counterpart.
“I was really on the back foot during today’s match,” Wang said. “I failed to capitalise on opportunities in the second game and lost it. After the third, the match got into Duda’s tempo … [and] he has been much stronger lately.
“Remarkable changes can be noticed in his speed and shot quality, and I didn’t expect such high quality. But, somehow I clawed my way into a win by gritting my teeth and fighting for every point.”
In Saturday’s semi-final, 24-year-old Wang will face the winner of the match between Japanese paddler Tomokazu Harimoto and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano.
After Sun stepped off court, Lin Shidong, the men’s No 1 paddler, dispatched Sweden’s Truls Moregardh 4-0.
Earlier in the day, Liang Jingkun beat Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic 4-2 to become the first Chinese player to book a place in the last four. He will play Lin at 8.15pm on Saturday.


Ex-Chinese table tennis head Liu Guoliang tipped to leave federation role to focus on WTT

Departure of table tennis chief comes at a critical time

Fan Zhendong expected back in action soon, after naming of ‘mentor’ Wang Liqin as CTTA head

Table tennis finals set to serve Hong Kong well

ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)

China’s Sun Yingsha into ITTF World Cup semis, joining Olympics partner Wang Chuqin

Sun Yingsha moved a step closer to defending her World Cup crown in Macau. Photo: Xinhua

Benedikt Duda fights back against Wang Chuqin in their quarter-final. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong Sports Stars: golden Olympic duo Vivian Kong, Cheung Ka-long win top awards

Cheung Ka-long poses with his prizes at the Sports Stars Awards on Thursday. Photo: Elson Li

Badminton doubles pair Tse Ying-suet (left) and Tang Chun-man with their award. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong’s men’s football team pose at Thursday’s ceremony. Photo: Elson Li

American’s ‘craziest experience’ at North Korea marathon, completes record task

Cameron Mofid in Pyongyang, North Korea – the 195th country he has visited. Photo: Cameron Mofid

Cameron Mofid after completing the 10km run at the Pyongyang International Marathon. Photo: Cameron Mofid 

Denmark’s Claus Randrup was surprised by how much they were able to explore the city. Photo: Claus Randrup

Sport

China

World No 1 Sun beats Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-ching after her fellow Olympics mixed-doubles champion pulls through in titanic struggle


World No 1 Sun beats Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-ching after her fellow Olympics mixed-doubles champion pulls through in titanic struggle.


Wang Chuqin

Sun Yingsha