Hong Kong's Tang Peng reaches quarter-finals at world table tennis championships
City's No 1 paddler now faces a tough task up against Ma Long of China at tournament in Suzhou
Hong Kong's Tang Peng recovered from an early setback to battle into the quarter-finals of the men's singles at the Table Tennis World Championships in Suzhou on Friday.
Tang, ranked No 13 in the world, lost his first game 11-1 to South Korean Lee Sang-su, but stormed back to win the next four 11-7, 11-8, 14-12 and 11-9 to seal a 4-1 victory.
However, Tang now faces a daunting task against world No 1 Ma Long of China in the quarter-finals.
"We know each other so well, since we were once together in the Beijing team," said Tang. "[Ma] should be able to skip the normal practice of studying footage of an opponent the night before and so will I.
"Ma and his colleague Zhang Jike - the defending champion - are in a class of their own, but I will still give my best and put up the best possible fight."
In the women's singles, Jiang Huajun of Hong Kong lost to reigning Olympic champion Li Xiaoxia, of China, in straight games, ending her campaign in the round of 16.