Advertisement

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

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Hong Kong's Tang Peng, ranked No 13 in the world, has lived up to expectations to reach the quarter-finals of the men's singles at the Table Tennis World Championships in Suzhou. Photos: Xinhua

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.

Advertisement

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.

Ma [Long] 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
Hong Kong's Tang Peng

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."

Advertisement

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.

Hong Kong's Jiang Huajun fires back a return to China's Li Xiaoxia in the women's singles. Li was too good, winning in straight games.
Hong Kong's Jiang Huajun fires back a return to China's Li Xiaoxia in the women's singles. Li was too good, winning in straight games.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Wong Chun-ting, now ranked No 18 in the world, can look forward to the Rio Olympic Games next year with confidence after his top effort at the championships.
Advertisement