Ma Long in action during the World Team Table Tennis Championships men's round of 16 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, October 6, 2022. /CFP
Team China advanced to the men's round of eight at the 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships after defeating Team India in straight sets in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday.
A day earlier, Chinese table tennis great Liu Guoliang was appointed International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) deputy president. World Table Tennis, the commercial and events platform of the ITTF, also announced Liu's appointment as chairman of its board.
Liu was the first Chinese male player to claim major titles from the Olympics, World Championships and World Cup, and started his coaching career in 2003. He has been the president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association since 2018, and was elected to the ITTF Executive Committee in 2021.
(L-R) Wang Chuqin, Ma Long and Fan Zhendong pose for a photo before the World Team Table Tennis Championships men's round of 16 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, October 6, 2022. /CFP
In the round of 16, Fan Zhendong, Ma Long, Wang Chuqin all took 3-0 victories from Harmeet Desai, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manush Utpalbhai Shah, respectively.
After easing past the first game, world No. 1 Fan resisted Desai's comeback in the second game and left Desai no chance in the decider.
Gnanasekaran forced Tokyo Olympic champion Ma to a 12-12 tie in the first game, which Ma claimed at 14-12. Ma responded with an 11-0 run in the third game to expand China's leading edge, followed by Wang sealing the deal for China.
The defending champions will next face Team Sweden on Friday.
Later on Thursday, the Chinese women will play in the quarterfinal round against Team Portugal.
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