Hong Kong prospect Wong Chun-ting boosts Olympics bid with first pro table tennis victory
23-year-old beats Japanese rival to win Czech Open
Promising Wong Chun-ting won his first men’s singles champion on table tennis’ professional tour, consolidating his position as a core player for the Hong Kong team at next year’s Rio Olympic Games.
Wong secured a six-game victory 11-3, 13-15, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8.
“I felt confident today in the rallies”, said Wong, who will turn 24 next week. “Also my first attack was more aggressive than in the past.
“The fourth game was crucial, I was struggling, I came back to win the game. If I have lost that game I would have been 3-1 down and in that situation it would have been a totally different match.
“I think the fact that I won that game shook him and also affected his confidence.”
He has been playing in the China Super League after the World Championships which has made him a stronger player mentally
Now ranked 18th in the world, Wong can join forces with Tang Peng and Jiang Tianyi, the two other men’s players, to challenge in Rio. Head coach Chan Kong-wah said after the worlds that Wong, who can play both singles and doubles, could give him more options in the team event at the Olympics.
“He has been playing in the China Super League after the World Championships which has made him a stronger player mentally,” said the coach.
“He is fast and his pen-hold grip style of play – but attacking like the more popular shake-hands grip – is outstanding.”
Wong said his experience in the China Super League helped.
“When I played Yoshimura in Spain I had real problems returning his service; it was the same today at the start of the match; gradually I found some answers”, said Wong. “I think here I was in a better condition than in Spain; not just physically but also mentally.”
Hong Kong also returned with a silver medal in the women’s doubles after Doo and veteran Tie Yana were beaten in the final by Jeon Ji-hee and Yang Ha-eun of South Korea in the final 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5).
Tie also lost to Jeon in the singles semi-finals 4-0 to settle for a joint bronze medal while another veteran Jiang Huajun pulled off a surprising 4-1 win over second seed Feng Tianwei of Singapore in the second round, but was stopped by Polina Mikhailova of Russia in the next stage.
