DAY 14 6th MAY
Wang Liqin on top of the World
Wang Liqin (CHN) has already for some time been nr. 1 on the men's World Ranking - now he is also a World Champion. He didn't look like one in the first two games of the final in men's singles against the Olympic Champion Kong Linghui (CHN). Kong was controlling the match forcing Wang to make errors that he normally doesn't do. But down 2-0 Wang stepped forward to show why he has been destroying all opponents during the last year and evening to 2-2 he took all confidence out of Kong. Wang Liqin took the last and decisive game easily to become a World Champion and it will now take a long time before Kong or anybody else can push Wang Liqin away from the nr. 1 place on the World Ranking.

"Being down 2-0 I kept on mentioning to my self the technical details that I know I can do. In that way I convinced myself that I could turn the match around. Afterwards I have to admit that when I was hiding my face in my towel I was crying", says the new World Champion.

Kong Linghui of course felt he was close to winning. "In the 3rd game though my mind was elsewhere. I will still be around but it is good to see Wang and the other young Chinese becoming so strong". He agrees that the Chinese are mentally stronger that the Europeans/other Asians.

"It is probably correct that they get kind of scared when they are close to winning against us. We have to remember though that it was the opposite ten years ago. When the Europeans were dominated we got scared in the close matches".

Chinese again
China also took the last World Championship - in women's doubles. The final was a repetition of the Olympic final between Li Ju/Wang Nan (CHN) and Sun Jin/Yang Ying (CHN) - and the result was the same. Li Ju/Wang Nan won without major problems.

"We of course already knew them very well and we studied their style on video as well. So being well prepared we did the job" says Li Ju".

After losing both the Olympic and the World Championship finals Sun Jin/Yang Ying haven't given up being nr. 1.

"I think we had our chances in this match, so we are not talking about a mission impossible. We just didn't do it today", says Sun Jin.

DAY 13 5th MAY
Wang Nan again
The Olympic Champion did it again. In a close final she beat her fellow country woman Lin Ling 3-1 to take the World Championship in women's single. Wang Nan lost the 1st game but after that there were never any doubt. Wang's game was too consistent for Lin Ling who did not reach the level that she reached in earlier matches in this tournament.

"Lin Ling did the hard job beating all the strong players from other nations in her half, she is a great player. In the final though I felt in control and after the 1st game I raised my level", says the World Champion Wang Nan, who can still take "the double" as she did in Sydney. Tomorrow together with Li Ju she is in the semi final in women's doubles.

"Though I won both the Olympics and the World Championship I still have goals. The important thing though even when you're a champion is to take any match any tournament serious. This is my goal".

The men's doubles final was a repetition of the Olympic final - same players: Yan Sen/Wang Liqin against Kong Linghui/Liu Guoliang (both CHN) and same result. Yan Sen/Wang Liqin took the World Championship. In Sydney it was a very close match - this time Yan/Wang won 3-0 without major problems.

The men's singles final tomorrow will be a matter between the Olympic Champion Kong Linghui and the World's number one Wang Liqin.

Wang Liqin in the semi final overcame Chiang Peng-Lung (TPE). Kong Linghui already in the quarter final showed the exit to the last European Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) and in the semi final Kong beat Ma Lin (CHN).

DAY 12 4th MAY
First World Champions
The first World Champions were crowned today with Yang Ying/Qin Zijian (CHN) beating Oh Sang Eun/Kim Moo Kyo (KOR) in the final in the mixed doubles. The Chinese won 3-0 but it wasn't just a cake walk. Especially the 3rd decisive game were very close.

Oh Sang Eu/Kim Moo Kyo beat Liu Guoliang/Su Jin (CHN) in the semi final but Yang/Qin was just one Chinese pair too much for them.

Only Samsonov is left
Vladimir Samsonov is the only European left after Friday's matches in men's singles. Samsonov overcame surprisingly easy the Swede Jan-Ove Waldner winning 3-0. "I was playing my very best and perhaps Waldner was not on top - compared to Sydney where I lost to him", says Vladimir Samsonov who will now in the quarter finals meet the Olympic Champion Kong Linghui. Kong beat Patrick Chila (FRA).

Also in men's singles the Chinese are dominating, but Kim Taek Soo is still in after overcoming Zoran Primorac (CRO), and Chiang Peng-Lung (TPE) can still become a World Champion as well after beating the young German Timo Boll.

Another aging Swede Jörgen Persson is out. He lost 3-1 to Wang Liqin. "I had my opportunities but I missed them. The World Championships in 2003 in Paris? I might be there", says Persson. Quarter finals will be played on Saturday.

In women's singles the two European hopes lost in the quarter finals. Mihaela Steff (ROM) couldn't resist the young DPR Korean Kim Yun Mi and Liu Jia (AUT) played a good match but lost against Lin Lin (CHN). Semifinals and the final will be played on Saturday.

DAY 11 3rd MAY
When it's close the Chinese win
The Chinese table tennis top seems just to have an excellent mental strength. Every time a match is close, the Chinese step forward and take it home. In men's doubles CHIANG Peng-Lung and Chang Yun-Shu (TPE) took the Olympic Champions WANG Liqin/YAN Sen (CHN) to the 5th and decisive game. Once again though the Chinese took it home 21-19! WANG/YAN will in the final face their fellow countrymen KONG Linghui/LIU Guoliang who beat KIM Taek Soo/OH Sang Eun (KOR).

In men's singles people start looking forward to some classic meetings in the round of the last 16. Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) and Jan-Ove WALDNER played a dramatic quarter final at the Olympics - with Waldner as the winner. They will meet again on Friday.

The other great Swede Jörgen PERSSON will have to try to stop the World's nr. 1, WANG Liqin (CHN). PERSSON on Thursday overcame Jean-Philippe GATIEN (FRA) winning 21-19 in the 5th and decisive game. The last 2 points PERSSON took by luckily hitting the net - and the table, of course.

The Olympic gold winner KONG Linghui (CHN) was in serious trouble against the young Dane Michael MAZE. The Dane took the match to the 5th game, but KONG's experience showed to be decisive. The defending World Champion LIU Guoliang is still in the tournament as well.

In women's singles 2 Europeans are still in when the quarterfinals will be played on Friday. On Thursday Mihaela STEFF (ROM) beat KIM Moo Kyo (KOR) and LIU Jia (AUT) beat JING Jun Hong (SING). The Olympic bronze medallist CHEN Jing (TPE) lost easily 3-0 to LIN Ling (CHN).

DAY 10 2nd MAY
The floor is getting hot
The Koreans still have a chance to make up for the painful defeat against China in the semi final in the men's team event. KIM Taek Soo/OH Sang Eun on Wednesday qualified for the semi final in the men's doubles. At the other end of the table on Thursday they will find KONG Linghui/LIU Guoliang (CHN). KIM/OH beat the Olympic bronze medallists Jean-Philippe GATIEN/Patrick CHILA (FRA) in a thrilling five games match. The Koreans were up 2-0 but the French came back and evened to 2-2. In the last game though the Koreans were all the time some points ahead and the French pair had to realize that there will be no medals this time.

In the other semi final CHIANG Peng-Lung/CHANG Yun-Shu will meet the Olympic Champions WANG Liqin/YAN Sen (CHN)

In women's doubles Akiko TAKEDA/Mayu KAWAGOE (JPN) is the only not Chinese pair in the semi finals. They face YANG Ying/SUN Jin (CHN). In the other semi final WANG Nan/LI Ju will meet ZHANG Yining/ZHANG Yingying.

Also the semi finals in mixed doubles turn out to become a Chinese matter. Still though OH Sang Eun/KIM Moo Kyo (KOR) can destroy the party.

In singles the European men until now are actually doing quite well. 21 out of the remaining 32 players in men's singles are Europeans. All the favourites are still there. In women's singles the only European hopes are Mihaela STEFF (ROM) Krisztina TOTH (HUN) and LIU Jia (AUT).

DAY 9 1st MAY
Exit for the World's best
A high ranking is not a guarantee for success. The World's nr. 1 man, WANG Liqin and the World's nr. 1 woman WANG Nan, from China, were paired together in mixed doubles and seeded as nr. 2 - but they lost already in the 3rd round to KO Lai Chak/WONG Ching (HKG). The European Champion Peter KARLSSON (SWE) and nr. 16 in the World Christophe LEGOUT (FRA) also had to realize that a high ranking is no guarantee. KARLSSON was knocked out by a Chinese teenager ZHAN Jian in the first round of the men's singles event. Karlsson said he didn't reach his normal standard and had difficulty lifting his game. He lost 22-20, 6-21, 21-19, 21-17.

"This was my first match for almost a week. It would have been easier if I had seen more action in the team events. Obviously Zhan had warmed up well in the qualifying rounds and playing against a seeded player like me he had nothing to lose. Why I wasn't in the Swedish team? Ask my coach".

Christophe Legout was another early seeded casualty losing to Brazil's world no 287 Thiago Farias Monte Monteiro. "He kept coming at me like a boxer and the best I could do was to stay away from the table and try to return his shots", says Legout. "Legout is the highest ranked player I have ever beaten. All I can say is that I have never played better in my entire life", says Thiago Monteiro (BRA)

DAY 7 29th APRIL
China took back the title
China today took back the Swaythling Cup, the trophy of the men's team World Championship that they lost to Sweden last year in Kuala Lumpur. China in the Final beat Belgium 3-0. Belgium reached their peak in the semi final beating Sweden, but in the final they couldn't seriously challenge the Chinese.

Jean-Michel SAIVE (BEL) had opportunities in the first match against MA Lin. SAIVE had 15-13 in the 3rd game but the Chinese took a time out, and when he came back to the table he won 8 points in a row to win the match.

After that the Belgians couldn't do anything though both Philippe SAIVE against LIU Guozheng and Martin BRATANOV against KONG Linghui did quite well.

"Of course I am disappointed - if I had won the first match who knows what could have happened. Chinese can also get nervous", says Jean-Michel SAIVE adding that being 2nd in the World is great. "No one expected us to go that far".

Martin Bratanov - No. 105 on the World Ranking - could hardly believe that he is now a member of the No. 2 team in the World: "I think I'll have to wait a couple of days before I really understand what I did together with my team mates".

MA Lin (CHN) admitted that he were in trouble in the first match against SAIVE. "Normally SAIVE doesn't give me that much trouble, but carrying the responsibility of the Chinese team is heavy, so perhaps I got a little nervous".

KONG Linghui was disappointed that China did not have the opportunity to play Sweden, the defending World Champion: "I am sorry they lost in the semi final, it would have been important for us if we could have beaten them after the defeat in Kuala Lumpur", says KONG.

The individual World Championships already started. Finals will be next weekend.

DAY 6 28th APRIL
Irish Men Finish 52nd
Iceland bt Ireland 3-2
Adam Hardarson lost to Brian Fitzgerald 18-21, 21-14, 8-21, Gundmundur Stephensen bt Eoin Byrne 21-15, 21-17, Markus Arnason lost to Colum Slevin 8-21, 13-21, Gundmundur Stephensen bt Brian Fitzgerald 21-13, 21-15, Adam Hardarson bt Eoin Byrne 21-18, 21-14

Irish Women Finish 53rd
The Irish Women finished on a high beating South Africa 3-0 and Mongolia 3-1. Excerts from this match were shown on Eurosport. This places both the Irish teams in almost identical rankings.

China Women World Champions
The Chinese female players just seem to be coming from a different planet. In the women's team final against DPR Korea they once more showed that they have capacities that nobody can match. China again won 3-0, not easily but easy enough to let everybody now that they could never lose this final.

Wang Nan first beat Kim Hyang Mi. Then Zhang Yining overcame Kim Hyon Hui - not without problems since Zhang had to go to the 3rd game against the best Korean. And Li Ju finished it of by beating Tu Jong Sil.

China's women became World Champions without losing one single individual match - and with all 5 best Chinese players sitting at the table at the press conference after the final it is very difficult to imagine somebody else than one of those 5 becoming the new World Champion in singles.

China's Men Reach Final
The answer to the above headline is: Nobody knows. In the semi final in the men's team event at the World Championship the Korean team almost had it. At 2-2 in the decisive match Kim Taek Soo had seven (7) match points against Liu Guozheng, but the last point was impossible to get for the Korean.
Already in the 2nd game Kim Take Soo had 3 match points - and lost. In the 3rd game it was close all the way, but again Kim Taek Soo came first to 20. He even had the service, but in this case it did not seem to be an advantage. Every time Kim had the service he lost the point - every time Liu Guozheng had the service he lost the point as well. Until 23-23. Liu Guozheng after hanging in there with the edge of his little finger nail he turned things around and won the match for China 25-23.

"You really feel the pressure when you have to play the decisive match- but I stayed in there, and I am really happy for the team that I made it", says Liu Guozheng (CHN)

Sweden Loose to Belgium
The other semi final presented a big surprise. Belgium beat the reigning World Champion Sweden 3-1. Persson gave Sweden a bad start losing to Philippe Saive 21-19 in the 3rd game. That proved to be decisive. Belgium suddenly was on top, Jean-Michel Saive lost to Jan-Ove Waldner, but Martin Bratanov gave the Swede Fredrik Hakansson his first defeat in the tournament - and then Persson was on the floor again to keep the Swedes alive. He couldn't. He lost to Jean-Michel Saive and Belgium is in their first World Championship final ever with a team presenting only one player in top 40 on the World Ranking (J-M Saive (Nr. 13). That's team spirit.

"Actually my role has been less important than normal here in Osaka. Three of my team mates won matches, and I did not even play the match against Nederlands. Can we become World Champions? - Yes if China miss the bus", says Jean-Michel Saive laughing and of course adding that Belgium is going to give it a try Jorgen Persson (SWE) was not surprisingly disappointed:" We have been looking forward to the re-match against China, but today Belgium was a better team. I had my chances in the first match against Philippe but I wasn't good enough to take them.

DAY 5 27th APRIL
Sweden can now see China
The men's team event at the World Championships is likely once more to become a matter between Sweden and China. Sweden on Friday overcame a difficult obstacle beating Austria 3-0, and the Swedes are now favourites in the semi final against Belgium.

In the other semi final China will have to overcome Korea to get the opportunity to "repair the damage" from the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur where Sweden surprisingly took the World Championships away from the Chinese.

Austria first of all had to rely on Werner Schlager - but he failed. In the first game against Jorgen Persson he could not at all make his game get going, and in the 2nd game Schlager was down 17-8. He came back though to 18-18, but then Persson showed what he is made of. He took the game and the match and since also Waldner and Hakansson won, the Swedes are now only one match away from the final.

The Chinese beat Germany 3-1 with Wang Liqin losing to a high performing Timo Boll.

Jean-Michel Saive did his duty to Belgium winning his 2 matches against Italy, and Martin Bratanov (BEL) secured the victory overcoming Piacentino Valentini (ITA).

Korea-France became a thriller going to the last match. Though Kim Taek Soo lost his 2 matches the Koreans stayed alive, and Christophe Legout (FRA) and Oh Sang Eun were the ones to decide the match. Oh Sang Eun took the first game easily, the opposite happened in the 2nd game with Legout to even the match. Oh Sang Eun sometimes has problems to stay cool, but this was not the case this time. He won the 3rd game 21-16, to take the match and the team match.

DPR Korea advance from Korean meeting
The 2 Korean teams in the women's event met today at the World Championships to decide who should have the opportunity to meet China. DPR Korea proved to be the right team to challenge the Chinese. The North Koreans won 3-1 leaving no doubt that though they have not been much on the international scene the last years they have a very competitive team. It was an emotional meeting between the two Koreas with a big crowd of Japanese-Korean spectators not knowing who they should cheer for.

China in the other semi final once more seemed invincible. They beat the Japanese team 3-0.

The final will be played on 28 April 18.00 Japanese time. Before that Sweden-Belgium and China-Korea will play the semi finals in the men's team event. DAY 4 26th APRIL

Korean summit
The table tennis World was hoping that the 2 Koreas would come to the World Championships with a unified team. They had to give up the plans and now instead the two Koreas meet in the semi final in the women's team event to decide who will have the chance to try to stop China.It is going to be an emotional meeting between the two Korean teams. Already during the last days they've been cheering for each other, and a big group of Japanese-Koreans has been cheering on both teams waving the special flag that the two federations were using when they marched into the Olympic Stadium in Sydney together.
"It doesn't matter who will win now that we are sure to have a Korean team in the final. They are our sisters, and should they beat us I will cheer for them anyway", says Ryu Ji-Hye from South Korea.
Ryu Ji-Hye and her team mates beat Singapore 3-1 in the quarter finals. DPR Korea had a 3-0 win against Chinese Taipei.

Japan supported heavily by the home crowd overcame Romania 3-2. Mihaela Steff (ROM) kept the hope alive winning her two matches, but it was not enough. Japan will face China. The strong Chinese team beat Hungary 3-0 without major problems. The semi finals will be played on Friday evening.
Friday afternoon the men are playing quarter finals as follows: Sweden-Austria, China-Germany, Belgium-Italy, Korea-France.

DAY 3 25th APRIL
The 4th day of the World Championships and the Irish men's team are to play either Mongolia of Pakistan after a closely fought battle against the Bulgarians. Column Slevin won the first set against the top Bulgarian but ended up losing the third 22/20. Jonathan Cowan also took his opponent to a third set but with the same result. Brian Fitzgerald who has been playing at his best form was also unable to defeat his opponent. After being undefeated in the opening group Ireland are heading towards a top 50 ranking, over 10 places above their previous result of 59.

The Women's team had a very tough opening group including the Austrians who will certainly finish within the top 12. They recorded their first win against Butan taking a 3-0 victory, this however was reversed against Brazil loosing 0-3. The Irish women will be up against South Africa on the 26th and will need to win all their matches to in order to finish 53, fourteen places above their previous result of 67. The style of two of the Irish women, Andrea Glover and Michelle McGreevy has proved very similar and has ment that Linda Mountjoy has been playing in a postition where she can play the fourth game in the series.

DAY 2 24th APRIL
IRISH MENS TEAM TOP GROUP
The Irish mens team took their third win in a row against Venezuela 3-2. It was a close run match with Ireland winning the first but then loosing the next two. As they have topped the group the lads go on to play Bulgaria in the next round and fingers crossed Indonesia. Kick off against Bulgaria is at 12.30 Japan or 4.30 am Irish Time.

Vs Venezuela,C.Slevin bt E.Rondon 21-14, 21-7. B.Fitzgerald lst A.Giannini 15-21, 16-21. E.Byrne lst J.Pino 20-22, 15-21. C.Slevin bt A.Giannini 21-19, 21-10. B.Fitzgerald bt E.Rondon 21-16, 21-18.

The Irish Women continued to find things very tough this time against Estonia, the women went down 3-0.

Vs Estonia. L.Mountjoy lst M.Morozova 21-9, 15-21, 12-21. M.McGreevey 12-21, 13-21. A.Glover lst G.Vali 9-21, 11-21.

JURY RULES IN ENGLAND'S FAVOUR
The Jury at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships have ruled in favour of the English team and have ordered that the match originally awarded to Wales to be replayed. In the women's team competition the original playing schedule was amended, but owing to an error the English coach did not receive the new version telling that the match between Wales and England was rescheduled. Cosequently the England team did not arrive at the expected time, and the match could not be played. Initially Wales was declared winner, but the jury has decided that the match will be played at 12.30 on 24 April

AND IT CONTINUES.....
It has been a roller coaster ride for the English women's team at the 46th World Table Tennis Championships in Osaka. After having a walkover result awarded against them for failing to turn up for the match against Wales, the English who had their appeal upheld were in turn awarded a walkover today. The Welsh side, who were against playing the match did not turn up thus conceding top spot in the group to England.

The floor is getting hot
World Championships in Osaka, Japan, reach quarterfinals in the team event
Several favourites in the men's team event really felt the floor burning today before they managed to get through to the quarter finals.
Korea was.virtually beaten but came back to overcome the Czech team 3-2 with OH Sang Eun winning the last match.
France was in trouble as well against Belarus. At 2-2 Jean-Philippe Gatien was down 1-0 against Evgueni Chtchetenine but the French won.
Germany also had to go to the last match before beating Poland 3-2. Timo Boll (GER) secured the victory beating Tomasz Krzeszewski in 3 games. Germany in the quarterfinal will meet China who beat Nederlands 3-1.
"Bad luck", says Jorg Rosskopf (GER), " with this team and this tournament format we have a fair chance against anybody - except China" .
This doesn't mean though that the Germans are not going to give it a try. "Why give up in advance - we have a 10 percent chance to beat them".
Austria and Chinese Taipei had a dogs' fight. At 2-2 though Werner Schlager went to the table and he beat the young Chuan Chi-Yuan in two close sets to let the Austrian team advance to the quarters.
Italy surprised everybody, especially the Japanese home crowd, by beating Japan 3-0.
The men's quarterfinals will be played on Friday.
On Thursday the women's teams will play the following quarterfinals: Korea R-Singapore, Japan-Romania, China-Hungary, DPR Korea-Chinese Taipei.


DAY 1 23rd APRIL
World Championships Osaka Japan.
The 46th World Table Tennis Championships started today (23nd April) with a lavish opening ceremony at the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium.

Prince Akishi of the Japanese Royal family who is honorary patron of the Japan Table Tennis Association declared the Championships open.

In his speech earlier, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) President Adham Sharara expressed his delight in the size of participation in the 46th WTTC. "It warms my heart and makes me proud that out of the 186 member associations, 128 are represented here," he said, adding that the Osaka championships is the biggest ever World Championships held in Asia and second in the world.

IRELAND MOVES UP A DIVISION
The Irish Women's team has moved up to the second division on the with-drawl of the Portuguese from the event. This raises the Irish women above the men's team who won their first match 3-0 against New Caladonia in the 3rd Division. The Women played a very strong Danish Team and were defeated 3-0. The men then played Cyprus who also won their first match 3-1 to decide who will top the group, Ireland comfortable cruised passed Cyprus 3-0 leaving them with every chance of toping the group. If that happens then it is likely that they will have to play the Bulgarians. The match against Venezula takes place tommorrow. The women had a very tough match against the fancied Austrians and lost 3-0 to finish the group bottom.

Mens Results:
Vs New Caladonia: B.Fitzgerald bt L.Villemunot 21/8, 21/7. J.Cowan bt G. Arnaud 21-1, 21-9. E.Byrne bt J.Lao 21-5, 21-8.
Vs Cyprus: C.Slevin bt A.Tziambos 22-20, 15-21, 21-17. J.Cowan bt G.Geroudis 21-10, 21-11. B.Fitzgerald bt E.Evceniou 21-1, 21-1.
Womens Results:
Vs Denmark: A.Glover lost P.Finnemann 12-21, 11-21. L.Mountjoy lost J.Jensen 13-21, 11-21. M.McGreevey lost M.Skou 17-21, 11-21.
Vs Austria: L.Mountjoy lost J.Herozig 10-21, 8-21. A.Glover lost J.Liu 12-21, 4-21. M.McGreevey lost A.Mayrhofer 5-21, 18-21.
Irish Men's Draw: 3rd Division: Group R: Ireland Venezuela Cyprus New Caledonia
Irish Women's Draw: 2nd Division: Group N Austria Ireland Denmark

IRISH CAPTAIN TO ILL TO TRAVEL
The Senior Men's Captain Con Higgins was "devastated" that he was unable to travel to Japan for the Championships. Con has been looking forward since it was confirmed that the 46th Championships were to be in Japan. He fell ill during a trip to Galway and consulted a doctor on his return to Cork; he was diagnosed with Acute Pneumonia and was told that he would not be able to fly out the next day. Due to booking restrictions it was not possible to replace him and the team will play without a captain. It is hoped that with the vast experience of senior player Column Slevin that the rest of the team will be well supported. Con will miss the All Ireland Schools finals as well for the first time in many years. I'm sure we all wish him a speedy recovery.

ENGLAND WOMEN IN TROUBLE 23/4/01
The English women's team met unexpected trouble - because they did not show up to the match against Wales. The match was scheduled to be played 9.30 AM but due to some misunderstanding the English team believed that the match was to played in the afternoon. However, although England was scratched, the match might still be played later this afternoon.

It all depends on whether their opponents Wales will agree to play even though the Welsh were already announced as winners. Should the Welsh refuse, England can still fall back on their protest claiming to have been misinformed about the playing schedule