Wang Hao, Zhang Yining win singles gold at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Wang Hao didn't "choke" this time as he ruined Wang Liqin's run for his fourth, or third straight, men's singles gold medal at the world table tennis championships here on Tuesday.

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Twice Olympic champion Zhang Yining came back from two sets down to beat defending champion Guo Yue for the women's singles top honor.

China swept all the gold and silver medals in the eight-day championships, leaving only three bronzes to be split up by the Hong Kong team, South Korea and host Japan.

It was China's fourth, or third straight clean-sweep of the world championship golds. The overwhelming success made Chinese table tennis boss more worried than joyous.

"I am concerned about the future of table tennis," said Cai Zhenhua, chairman of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA). "I hope not only does China enjoy table tennis, but also the whole world."

Wang Hao wins mens singles gold at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Wang Hao beat his teammate Wang Liqin 11-9, 13-11, 11-5, 11-9 to win the men's singles event at the world table tennis championships here on Tuesday.

The top-seeded Wang Hao, twice runner-up at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, dashed Wang Liqin's dream to win his fourth, or third straight singles gold at the world championships.

Wang Liqin, whose victims included China's Olympic singles gold medallist Ma Lin, withered after losing the first two sets with the narrowest margin.

Ma Lin and Ma Long, both from China, picked bronze medals.

The Chinese national team claimed 17 medals out of 20 at the Yokohama worlds, while the Hong Kong team, South Korea and host Japan each took one.

Medal winners at table tennis worlds

Following are the medal winners at the world table tennis championships which ended In Yokohama on Tuesday:

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Chinese hopeful knocked out in Table Tennis World Championship

Fans saw a major early upset in the Table Tennis World Championship in Yokohama, Japan. Yao Yan lost to lesser- known Park Young Sook from South Korea in the first round of the womens' tournament.

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The tears after the match showed just how much this early defeat affected the 21 year old Chinese hopeful Yao Yan.

Playing against Park Young Sook of South Korea, Yao bounced back from two sets down to level the match at three-all. But the 18th seed failed to keep up the momentum in the deciding set, and lost the match on the decider.

In contrast to Yao's nervous start, Park was more relaxed and did a good job in returning Yao's serves, which are notoriously deceptive.

The head coach of the Chinese women's team said Yao was simply not fully prepared.