Victory boosts Chen's hopes
FORMER Chinese international Chen Jing gave her buildup towards next year's Atlanta Olympics a boost when she beat former teammate Liu Wei of China in the final of the Palmolive Optima Asian Women All Star table tennis tournament at Southorn Stadium last night.
Chen, who won the gold medal for China in the women's singles at the 1988 Seoul Olympics but now makes Taiwan her home, destroyed world number four Liu 21-15, 21-14, 21-12 for her second tournament win in three weeks.
The 27-year-old China-born Chen is one of a growing number of former Chinese internationals who have turned their back on China.
Chen, who emigrated to Taiwan almost three years ago, is the second high-profile player to have enjoyed success for an adopted country, following in the footsteps of former Chinese world champion He Zhili, who won the gold medal at last year's Asian Games for Japan under the name of Chire Koyama.
Last night, the left-handed Chen provided too many guns for ice-cool Liu, who pipped Hong Kong's Chai Po-wa in five gruelling sets in the semi-finals.
'This is a good win for me, especially as I am now building up for the Olympic Games,' said Chen, who won the European Open three weeks ago.
'I always had the match in control and I knew Liu Wei's game inside out because I have played a lot of games with her, both in competition and in practice.' Chen had the easier route to the final after defeating Hong Kong's Chan Tun-lui - who was brought down to earth after her earlier heroics against world number two Qiao Hong - 21-17, 21-18, 21-19 in her semi-final.
