Nanyang, China, May 29 (IANS) Reigning world champion Liu Shiwen was China’s first Olympic squad member to suffer an exit in the country’s table tennis Olympic simulation tournament, losing 0-4 in the women’s singles quarter-finals here on Saturday.
The 30-year-old, a record five-time world cup winner and a member of China’s Olympic squad at 2016 Rio Games, lost to her 22-year-old rival He 4-11, 14-16, 6-11, 8-11.
He will next play the winner of the match between world No. 1 Chen Meng — who will spearhead China’s challenge in the Olympic women’s singles — and former Hong Kong Open champion Wang Yidi in the semi-finals.
In men’s singles, the world top paddler Xu Xin comfortably beat Liang Jingkun 11-9, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10, and now faces either his men’s doubles world title-winning partner Ma Long, or his younger team-mate Xu Chenhao in the semi-final.
–IANS
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