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Olympics: China looks for gold sweep in table tennis

Dunya News

China faces South Korea in Wednesday's final and South Korea may be an afterthought for China.

China has taken three gold medals in table tennis at the London Olympics and the mens team is an overwhelming favorite to deliver the fourth the final one and the sweep.China faces South Korea in Wednesdays final, which ends play in table tennis with singles gold medalist Zhang Jike and silver medalist Wang Hao leading the way. The third player is Ma Long, who may be the best of the three.Most fans believe the real final was in the semifinals on Monday when China struggled early, but held on to beat Germany 3-1 probably the strongest mens team in the tournament after China. It is unfortunate how the draw worked out, but we felt that was the final, said German player Timo Boll, regarded as the games best non China-born player.Germany faces Hong Kong in Wednesdays bronze medal game and, in effect, will be facing China again. All three Hong Kong player were born in mainland China, but failed to make the China team and moved to Hong Kong.Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and has its own Olympic team, and a separate political and legal system based on its long history as a British colony.German coach Jorg Rosskopf suggested there may be very few openings against China. Always against the Chinese you get a small, small chance, but it is a long, long way to beat them, he said.China has won 23 of 27 gold medals since pingpong entered the Olympics in 1988. The men can make it 24 of 28, the kind of dominance thats expected back home where table tennis is the national pastime.South Koreas best known player is Ryu Seung-min, who upset Wang Hao of China in the 2004 Olympics to take singles gold. It was the first of three straight losses for Wang in the gold-medal singles final, including this years final.It is so difficult to beat the Chinese, Ryu said. I think back then (in 2004) players felt they had a chance. But I have the feeling now that players go into matches thinking they are already beaten.