Xu Xin Wins and Shows that China’s Next Generation is Ready to Take over

Created on Tuesday, 08 December 2009 11:03

The winner of the Men’s Singles event at the East Asian Games in Hong Kong is Xu Xin. After gold in the Team and in the Men’s Doubles with Zhang Jike, the only 19 year old Chinese won his third title. In the Final Xu beat his partner from the Doubles event Zhang Jike in six games.

After the left-handed penholder player had already won two gold and two bronze medals at the recently concluded Asian Championships in India, he demonstrated again his strength.

Change of Generations?
On his way to the gold medal, Xu Xin eliminated among others Japan’s Jun Mizutani. In the final against his 22 year old compatriot Zhang Jike, Xu Xin prevailed 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-3, 10-12 and 11-4.

The Chinese teenager crowned an almost perfect year. The former U18 world number one advanced nearly 100 places in the ITTF world ranking and currently stands on no.18. This year, Xu Xin won the World Team Cup with China, received his first medal at World Championships (silver in the Men’s Doubles) and won no less than three Pro Tour titles in the Men’s Doubles.

Obviously China’s men are able to dominate table tennis events also without their Olympians and whenever Ma Lin and Wang Liqin consider to retire, the next generation is ready to take over the command.

Inner-Chinese Women’s Final
The Women’s Singles event was also in Chinese hands. Yao Yan, born in 1988, beat her compatriot Wen Jia, born in 1989, in seven games 3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8 and 13-11.

The other gold medallists on the last day of competition for table tennis were Japan’s Ai Fukuhara and Kasumi Ishikawa in the Women’s Doubles as well as Hong Kong’s Ko Lai Chak and Tie Yana in the Mixed Doubles event.

Source: www.ittf.com

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