Chinese Fan Zhendong defends men’s singles title at Asian TT meet

Wuxi (China), April 16: Defending champion Fan Zhendong overcame Jeong Sang-eun's giant-killing run, beating the Chinese-born Korean 3-0 in the men's singles event of the Asian table tennis championships here on Sunday.

The World No.2 denied a late comeback from the 27-year-old Jeong and rounded up the final 11-5, 11-5, 11-8, though the latter played some real brilliant table tennis with powerful forehand in the third set, reports Xinhua news agency.

It has been the eighth in a row men's singles trophy for the all-time leading China, which has won 20 titles of the event out of 23 editions of the continental tourney.

Fan came to the last hurdle of his defending campaign after racing against the loud crowd to beat local favourite Zhang Jike 3-1, while Jeong beat off another dark horse Koki Niwa 3-2 to reach the final.

In women's doubles category, Zhu Yuling and Chen Meng, the 2013 winners, took the title, beating their fellow Chinese duo of Wang Manyu and Chen Ke in the final.

The long-term partners, having been denied a two-point odd on 9-7 in the fourth set, nailed down two points in a row to wrap up the final 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 against Wang and Chen.

With the victory, China improved the glory collection of women's doubles titles at the biennial continental tournament to 15 after a six-title run had been snapped by DPR Korea's Kim Hye Song and Ri Mi Gyong.