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2019.04.27 21:36 GMT+8

Liu Shiwen wins first women's singles title at World Table Tennis Championships

Li Xiang

China's Liu Shiwen defeated her compatriot Chen Meng in the women's singles final at the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, claiming her first women's singles title at the World Championships. Earlier on the same day, Ma Long/Wang Chuqin from China beat Ovidiu Ionescu (Romainian)/Alvaro Robles (Spanish) to win men's doubles championship.

Liu's victory marked the 13th consecutive women's singles championship won by Chinese players at the World Table Tennis Championships and the 25th women's singles title claimed by the country. Liu herself became China's 15th player to win the honor at the World Championship.

China's Liu Shiwen celebrates her victory after defeating her compatriot Chen Meng 4-2 in the women's singles final to win her first women's singles title at the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest, Hungary, April 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

Before Budapest, 28-year-old Liu only had four Table Tennis World Cup championships under her name. The last two times she entered the World Championships final, Liu lost to her compatriots Li Xiaoxia and Ding Ning.

Even though Chen Meng, Liu's opponent in the final, made the final for the first time, she had already won seven of her contests against Liu and kept a five-straight-win record before Budapest. However, Liu did not let the title go this time. Though she lost her first game, Liu came back in the following competition and even swept Chen with an 11-0 in Game 5 before pocketing the final victory.

China's Ma Long (L) and Wang Chuqin hold their trophy after winning the mixed doubles final at the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest, Hungary, April 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

Earlier on Saturday, Ma Long/Wang Chuqin brought home China's third straight men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships – the 18th for the country – after defeating the Romanian/Spanish team Ionescu/ Robles 4-1 in the final. In addition to the mixed doubles championship won by Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen on Friday, China already pocketed three titles in Budapest.

The finals of men's singles and women's doubles will take place on Sunday.

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