China's Olympian Ma Lin was brushed aside by teenage prodigy Ma Long in the
Olympic table tennis men's singles warm-up here yesterday.
After downing triple world champion Wang Liqin 3-2 in the team event Monday,
Ma Long continued his scintillating form to beat more decorated penholder Ma Lin
4-2.
Ma Lin, who struggled hard to fend off Ma Long's charge, failedto seize his
chance and dropped the last three sets despite a 2-1 lead.
Ma Long was downed 3-0 by world No. 1 Wang Hao later, who sealedtheir short
encounter 12-10, 13-11, 11-6.
Earlier in the evening, a seesaw match was staged between Wang Hao and
7th-ranked Chen Qi who wowed the crowd with their cross-court rallies. Chen Qi
tried valiantly to halt Wang's onset but was denied 2-4 in the end.
The trio of Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Wang Liqin as well as substitute Chen Qi
will show up for the men's events in the Beijing Olympic Games next month.
Veteran Wan Liqin also had a tough time against 82-ranked Xu Hui before
prevailing 4-3 in the afternoon.
The warm-up acted as a final test for the Chinese squad in the run-up to the
Beijing Games. The challengers who overpowered the Olympic squad would be
allowed to attend the table tennis worlds next year.