Newly combined team of Ma Long and Wang Hao were beaten 4-2 by the Hong
Kong duo of Li Ching and Ko Lai Chak, while Olympic champions Ma Lin and Chen Qi
made an easy through into the men's doubles final in the table tennis tournament
of the Doha Asian Games here on Wednesday.
"They played a better game," commented the 18-year-old Ma Long, an Asiad
debutant from the star-packed Chinese team.
Suffering a sluggish start, Ma Long and Wang Hao were down 0-3 before
managing to come back 11-9, 14-12 in the following two sets.
But the Hong Kong pair played with more sturdy-handed. After trading points
from 7-7 tie to 14-all, Ko and Li called a timeout before taking the sixth set
16-14.
"We failed to play with a clear strategy and came into game slower than our
opponents," said Ma Long.
Chinese coach Wu Jingping said: "Ma and Wang did not play to their tactics
and let the match go under control of the Hong Kong pair."
Ko and Li, having won the first Olympic table tennis medal for Hong Kong in
Athens four years ago after losing only to Ma and Chen, will face the Chinese
pair again in Wednesday evening's final.
