Guo strikes gold in women's singles
Youngster Guo Yue of China emerged the new queen after she came from behind to lift her first women's singles title in a thrilling seven-game final at the world championships last night.
The 19-year-old, who had trailed 3-1 in the all-Chinese final, stormed back to beat compatriot and doubles partner Li Xiaoxia 4-3 at Dom Sportova. That completed Guo's world championships double after she combined with Wang Liqin to win the mixed doubles final on Friday.
Earlier in the day the Liaoning player beat China number one Zhang Yining, in a surprising 4-0 victory.
Despite being crowned with her second world title in two days, Guo said she would not think too much about it as she still had the doubles semi-finals to play. She and partner Li will meet Korean pair Park Mi-young and Kim Kyung-ah today.
'It is great to be the world champion, I feel very happy,' said the youngster, whose victory took her a step closer to being included in China's three-member squad for the Beijing Olympic Games.
'I will not think too much about what will happen next year. My job is to do well here in Zagreb and then I will see where I can go from here.'
Guo admitted she played too conservatively when down 3-1 in the final, but she adjusted her tactics with a more attacking play and it worked.
In another final, China collected a third gold medal when Olympic champions Ma Lin and Chen Qi beat teammates Wang Liqin and Wang Hao 4-2 in the men's doubles.
Also yesterday China's domination of the men's singles continued as three players from the mainland marched into the semi-finals.
World number one Ma Lin had little difficulty routing Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus 4-1, Wang Hao hardly broke sweat in a 4-0 win over Hyuk Joo-se of South Korea and Wang Liqin, who is bidding to become just the second three-time men's singles champion, defeated compatriot Hao Shuai 4-0.
Ma will face Wang Hao in one semi-final while Wang Liqin meets Min Ryu-seung of South Korea.
