Ma Lin has proved he is still one of the world's best at the ITTF
Pro Tour Kuwait Open, capturing two titles in men's singles and
doubles event.
Earlier in the proceedings he had won the Men's Doubles title
with Chen Qi and the victories ended what has been a somewhat
barren spell on the ITTF Pro Tour for the Chinese star.
In the final of the Men's Singles event he beat Chen Qi in six
games 11-9, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8.
The victories in Kuwait are the first successes for Ma Lin on
the ITTF Pro Tour since September 2004 when he won both the Men's
Singles and Men's Doubles titles at the Panasonic China Open. In
2005 he competed on only two occasions on the ITTF Pro Tour.
However, in Kuwait he excelled. In the Men's Doubles event with
Chen Qi, every match was won by the margin of four games to nil
whilst in the Men's Singles, he was never extended to seven
games.
Against Chen Qi he started the favorite by virtue of the fact
that he is the more experienced player, has a better record of
success on the ITTF Pro Tour and possesses a higher World Ranking.
Ma Lin proved that.
Women's singles title went to Jiang Huajun representing Chinese
Hong Kong while Olympic and world champions Wang Nan and Zhang
Yining maintained their doubles title.
(CRI English February 25, 2006)