Chinese men clinch teams’ title

Press, 26 January 1981, Page 6

Chinese men clinch teams’ title

PA Auckland The Chinese won the men's teams table tennis title at the New Zealand Games at Auckland last evening, to cap the success of their countrywomen earlier in the day. The men won, 5-1, and the women. 5-3. Japan was the losing team in both finals. Japan won the opening men’s match-—Kiyoshi Saito downed Chuanning’ Yang in three games —but then Zhenhua Cai brought his powerful left-arm forehand into action to race away from the Japanese No. 1. Hiroyukii Abe. One match all, and few could pick the outcome. Some vital leads were; squandered by the Japanese in) the next two rubbers, to allow their opponents to iiit the front,! 3-1. First, Kenichi Sakamoto held a 20-17 lead in the first game against Jiallang Jiang only to be overtaken. Jiang romped away in the second game after this! reprieve. Cai, after easily winning the' first game against Saito, found. 1 himself trailing, 10-17, in the I second. Saito, who had flashed his penholder grip forehand all over- the table in brilliant style,' suddenly found points hard to [score . Cai grafted away in admirable fashion and finally levelled at [2Q-all. Spme delightful rallies, land a’ few laughs even in such a crucial time, followed before Cai took the game for the match ■ at 27-25. I.

d Yang had a two-game victory s over Sakamoto, and then it wa< e left to the 16-year-old achoolboy, d Jiang, to upset. Abe in three s games and clinch the champion, r ship. It was the match of the even. : ing, for both men never thought e of safety tactics in .thrilling rallies. s New Zealand has played g 1 modest part in this tournament ' although the men came fifth in t the six-team event. I New Zealand 1, Australia 5 ! (Australian names i Skeate beat Temperley, 21-IIL ■ 21-9; Carlyle lost to Lee, 20-22! 23-21; 17-21: Pinkewich' beat ' I Griffiths. 21-16. 21-17; Skeate beat i[Lee. 23-21; 21-17; Pinkewich beat i Temperley. 21-16, 21-9: Carlyla • beat Griffiths. 22-20, 21-13.' China 5, Japan 1 7 (Chinese names first) Yang lost to S’aito, 21-16: 16-21 S 19-21; Cai beat Abe, 21-18, 15-21! ; 21-13; Jiang beat Sakamoto, 22-20, 21-11; Cai beat Salto, 21-?. 27-25; [ Yang beat Sakamoto, 21-23, 21-7; Jiang beat Abe, 18-21, 21-19. 21-14, I Canada 1, Indonesia,; 5 | (Indonesian names first) Normandin lost to Rachman, 11-21, 13-21; Joe lost to Dacosta. 14-21, 21-13. 17-21;. Polisoij beat Supit, 22-20. 21-18; Joe :lodt to Rachman, 21-23, 12-21; Nprman. din lost to Supit, 14-21,. 14-21; Polisois lost to Dacosta, ’ 16-21. 21-18, 9-21. . j Final piaclngs: China, 1; Japan 2; Indonesia, Jr'AUstralfa, 14; New Zealand 5; Autttalia, 6.