Zhang retains world crown

Defending champion Zhang Jike of China retained his men’s singles title at the World Table Tennis Championships in Paris on Monday after defeating compatriot Wang Hao in the final.

Fourth seed Zhang prevailed 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-7 in a rematch of last year’s Olympic final to secure a fourth major title in a row. Zhang completed a career grand slam when he pipped Wang to the Olympic crown in London last August, adding to the world title he won two years ago in Rotterdam and the 2011 World Cup, with Wang also the losing finalist on both of those occasions.

Ma Long took top honours at last year’s World Cup in Liverpool, an event in which Zhang did not take part.

Having raced into a two games to love lead in the French capital, Zhang was pegged back by Wang in game three and the contest appeared to be heading for two-all only for Zhang to fight off four set points in the fourth frame to re-establish a two-game advantage.

Wang, the 2009 champion, then took the following game to preserve his title hopes but it proved to be merely a stay of execution as Zhang wrapped things up in game six at the first time of asking.

AFP