China set to sweep TT titles

China, who already claimed the men's and women's team crowns, steamed ahead in their bid to win all the individual titles at the World table-tennis championships on Thursday.

Top-ranked Wang Liqin and partner Yan Sen won a hard-fought battle against Taiwan's Chiang Peng-Lung and Chang Yun-Shu to set up an all-Chinese men's doubles final against Kong Linghui and Liu Guoliang.

Wang and Yan were taken to five games before prevailing 21-18, 21-10, 15-21, 17-21, 21-19 in their semifinal.

Kong and Liu demolished South Korea's Kim Taek-soo and Oh Sang-eun 21-18, 21-11, 21-16.

All five Chinese players contesting the fourth round of the women's singles won through to the quarter-finals without dropping a game.

World number one Wang Nan fended off determined North Korean Kim Hyon-hui, while Lin Ling, ranked 14, demolished Taiwan's Chen Jing.

"I discussed until late in the night with my coach to convince myself that I could beat her," Lin said. "And when I could see that my approach was working, it made me really happy."

Romania's Mihaela Steff, ranked ninth, remained in the fray with a tough 15-21, 21-7, 21-18, 14-21, 23-21 victory over South Korea's Kim Moo-kyo, ranked 17.

"She was too good returning my forehand services," Steff said. "I had to try something, so I started serving with my backhand, though I haven't done that for years."

Five of China's six contenders in the third round of the men's singles also came through, though Wang and Kong, who will be on opposite sides of the net in Saturday's doubles final, were both taken to five games by European opponents.

Wang eventually beat Lucjan Blaszczyk of Poland and Kong overcame Michael Maze of Denmark.

Veteran Swedes Jan-Ove Waldner and Jorgen Persson also reached the last 16, Waldner beating Peter Franz of Germany 3-1 and Persson defeating Frenchman Jean-Philippe Gatien 3-2.

Waldner next faces eighth-ranked Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, who overcame Hong Kong's Cheung Yuk 21-16, 14-21, 21-16, 21-19.

"It's going to be very close but I feel that I have a psychological advantage over him," Waldner said. "I beat him the last two matches -- the last in the Olympic quarter-final."