by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Not seeded, in the final of the Women’s Doubles event, Chen Xingtong and Li Jiayi ended the hopes of the host nation; they beat the partnership formed by Hungary’s Georgina Pota and Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm, the no.2 seeds (11-4,11-6, 9-11,11-8) to arrest the title.

Later, in an all Chinese Women’s Singles title deciding contest, Chen Xingtong, the no.14 seed, overcame Wen Jia, the no.10 seed and twice winner on the ITTF World Tour to secure the top prize. A five game verdict was the outcome (13-11, 8-11,11-9,11-9,11-9).

Impressive performances, it was the same from Fang Bo and Zhou Yu as they captured the Men’s Doubles title; the no.5 seeds, at the final hurdle they accounted for the Brazilian partnership of Hugo Calderano and Gustavo Tsuboi, the no.2 seeds (11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8).

Three titles for China, the fourth was guaranteed; just as in the Women’s Singles final, it was an all-Chinese affair. Yan An beat Shang Kun in six games (13-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8) to secure his second ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title in a unique final.

It was the first time ever that two players, who had been required to compete in the qualification tournament, had contested the final.

Yan An became the third qualifier to win and ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles event. He follows in the footsteps of Korea’s Lee Sangsu who won in Slovenia in 2010 and Masato Shiono who succeeded three years later on home soil in Japan.