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China's Ma Lin loses to teenager Ma Long in Olympic table tennis warm-up
30/7/2008 10:52

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.



Xinhua