China's Zhang Yining returns the ball against compatriot Li Xiaoxia during the women's singles final at the 18th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Yangzhou, a city of east China's Jiangsu Province on Sept. 23, 2007. Zhang won the title 4-1. (Xinhua Photo)
China's Li Xiaoxia returns the ball against compatriot Zhang Yining during the women's singles final at the 18th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Yangzhou, a city of east China's Jiangsu Province on Sept. 23, 2007. Li lost 1-4. (Xinhua Photo)
World No. 1 Zhang Yining dumped Li Xiaoxia 4-1 to be crowned women's champion at the Asian table tennis championships here on Sunday.
With powerful strikes and precise judgment, seasoned Zhang seized the first three sets with a 3-0 lead. The 19-year-old Li geared up to fight back and took the fourth set 11-5.
But Zhang did not leak any more chance for Li to turn over the table and swiftly wounded up the deciding set 11-3, pulling off a 4-1 win.
This time I was quick to find my touch and played aggressively to dominate the match, said Zhang.
Li said the lack of confidence led to a setback in her performance, which is her main weakness whenever competing in international games.
Earlier in the day, Zhang demolished Guo Yan 4-1 to take on Li in the showdown who wiped out grand-slam winner Wang Nan in the semi-finals.
At the 17th Asian table tennis championships in Seogwipo, Lin Ling from Hong Kong trounced her teammate Lau Sui Fei to claim the title, the first time for Hong Kong to win women's singles title at the Asian tournament. Lau eliminated Niu Jianfeng of China 4-2 to book a place into the final.
