World number one Wang Liqin of China breezed past Christophe Legout of France 21-18, 21- 10, 21-9 to win the men's singles title at the British Open table tennis tournament Sunday in Chatham, England.

In the first game Legout could challenge Wang only losing 21-18. But in the second even when Legout could play some killing topspins Wang was attacking on them leaving the French dizzy and down 19-5 before losing 21-10.

Again in the third game Legout was making several devastating backhand topspins that would have left any other player frozen, but not Wang. Wang was returning "killers on killers" to take the match 21-9.

"In the first game I was playing 120 percent - and I got 18 points. In the last two I was without chance. He is just too good," Legout said. "I just could do nothing. We had met twice before the match and each of us had one win and one defeat. But now he is much better."

Wang, also men's doubles gold medallist in the Sydney Olympic Games, said he did not think that match would be so easy. "I think that may be because I have made full preparation. After the first game, I felt confident that I could win the match."

In the women's singles final, Yoshie Takada of Japan scored a hard-won 17-21, 21-12, 16-21, 21-15, 21-19 victory over women's doubles winner Kim Hyon Hui of the DPR Korea.

Kim Hyon Hui paired with teammate Kim Hyang Mi to win the women 's doubles event by beating Japanese tandem Nishii Yuka and Nishii Miyuki 21-18, 21-13.

The men's doubles title went to Germany's Timo Boll and Z F- Konnerth, a 21-16, 11-21, 21-18 winner over Japanese pair Iseki Seiko and Tasaki Toshio.

(People's Daily 02/12/01)