Olympic champion Kong eliminated by Schlager
By Zhao Rui and Chen Xiangfeng
Updated: 2004-12-11 09:20

Former world and Olympic champion Kong Linghui was eliminated in the first round of the 2004 ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals while world No 1 Zhang Yining led all Chinese women paddlers into the quarter-finals on Friday in Beijing.

Kong, the 2000 Sydney Olympic champion, bowed out to reigning world champion Werner Schlager of Austria after a seven-game thriller, becoming the first Chinese player to exit from the event.

"I am a little bit disappointed, losing in the first round," said the 29-year-old veteran. "I have to say that I haven't made good preparations for the tournament because I didn't participate in enough matches over the past months."

Kong, ranking No 16 in the ITTF standings, had a wonderful start as he dominated the first two sets, but later lost his feeling on the table before being edged by experienced Schlager in the deciding seventh set.

"I didn't adjust myself well when he levelled the match to 3-3 and failed to deal with his two key serves in the last moment," Kong said.

It was Schlager who defeated Kong at the final of the 2003 World Championships in seven games and the two will face again in Saturday's doubles.

"I still have strong confidence in beating him despite the past two loses, anyway, I must concentrate on the coming doubles match," Kong said.

"In contrast to our young players, I am getting less active these years, but I will try my best to make a better showing."

He denied reports that he is planning his retirement.

"I have never considered to quit and I am eagerly looking forward to next year's World Championships."

Schlager will face world No 1 Wang Hao, who came from behind to defeat 2003 World Cup runner-up Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece 4-2.

In earlier action, China's promising star Chen Qi was as hot as he played at the Athens Olympics, where he clinched the doubles gold medal, brushing aside Leung Chu Yan of Hong Kong 4-2.

"There is always something for you to get used to in the first match of a tournament," said the 20-year-old Olympic champion. "I was a little intense at the beginning but I soon got a rhythm and played at my level."

He is set to meet teammate and top-seeded Wang Liqin, who overcame an opening scare to conquer Jean Michael Saive of Belgium 4-2.

Another Chinese title favourite Ma Lin followed Chen's winning style later with a comfortable 4-1 win over Peter Karlsson of Sweden while Chen Weixing of Austria lost to Michael Maze of Denmark 4-3 despite levelling the score after losing the first three games. Maze will take on Ma in the second round.

German sensation Timo Boll won a quarter-final position with a convincing 4-2 victory over Lucjan Blaszczyk of Poland. His next opponent will be Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, who crushed Chuang Chih Yuan of Chinese Taipei 4-1.

On the women's side, Olympic champion Zhang started slowly in the opening match of the day, losing to Pavlovich in the first set and having to trail 10-11 in the following.

Under the cheers from local fans, she later found the range and regained her dominance of the game.

"Yes, I was a little nervous in the first two sets and was impatient when I was behind," Zhang said.

Zhang will take on fellow teammate Wang Nan in the quarter-finals. Wang progressed with another come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Lee Eun-sil of South Korea.

Facing the eye-catching encounter against Zhang once again, Wang was calm.

"She is in very good form. But I think the important thing is who will play better on the table," said the former world No 1.

Defending champion Niu Jianfeng also took one step closer to the final after beating Tie Yana of Hong Kong 4-0.

Niu faces European champion Tamara Boros of Croatia in the quarter-finals. Boros overpowered Germany's Kristin Silbereisen 4-0.

Teenager Guo Yue joined her compatriots, thrashing Li Jia Wei of Singapore 4-0 and faces Kim Kyung-ah of South Korea next. Kim was a 4-3 winner against Song An Sim of Hong Kong.

Another quarter-final will see Lau Sui Fei of Hong Kong face Liu Jia of Austria. Lau saw off Svetlana Ganina of Russia 4-3 while Liu disposed Zhang Rui of Hong Kong 4-2.

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