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Sunday, September 24
Waldner stands in way of China sweep
Reuters
SYDNEY, Australia -- Top-seeded Kong Linghui of
China moved on Sunday into the men's singles Olympic table
tennis final where he faces former champion Jan-Ove Waldner of
Sweden, who stands in the way of a Chinese gold medal sweep.
Kong beat former world champion Joergen Persson of Sweden
21-12, 13-21, 21-16, 21-13 to advance to Monday's final, while
Waldner, the gold medalist in Barcelona, beat China's Liu
Guoliang 21-19, 21-16, 21-19.
On Sunday, China's Wang Nan beat her doubles partner Li Ju to win
the women's table tennis Olympic gold and silver medals. China had already won the men's and women's doubles golds.
Waldner said the crowd support and the presence of King
Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden helped him get past Liu,
the gold medalist in Atlanta.
"The support of the crowd and the Swedish royal family were
very important to me," he said.
But he added it would be tough to beat Kong.
"If he plays me like he did against Persson, he will be
very hard to beat," he said.
Kong and Persson split the first two games before Kong's
attacking style gave him the upper hand in the final two
games.
"I was changing my attack all the time. There were no
consistent tactics. I had to attack all the time because I had
to be in control of the game to win," said Kong, who teamed up
with Liu to take the doubles silver in Sydney.
The pair won the gold in Atlanta four years ago.
Persson said he was pleased with his play but added that
Kong's backhand put him under pressure.
"This was a very strong competition...I am pleased with my
performance today, but Kong was just a little better with his
backhand," he said.
Kong said he would have preferred to meet his doubles
partner in the final.
"Psychologically speaking, it is easier to compete against
Liu Guoliang because the gold will be in Chinese hands," he
said.
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