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January 9, 2009

Golden Girl has Male Adversaries

Zhang Yining Photo By: Ayoade Ademakinwa

Courtesy of ITTF China’s Zhang Yining, the reigning Olympic champion, was the player to delight the crowd at the 2008 Killerspin Spinvitational tournament held from Saturday to Monday December 27-29th; not only did she overcome all female opposition in predictable style, she also handed out the same punishment to her male adversaries.

The efforts of the current queen of table tennis were greatly appreciated in a tournament that is quite unique, most innovative and is organized to support good causes.

Staged in Chicago’s McCormick Place, the Killerspin Spinvitational supported good causes; in 2008 the beneficiaries were Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy and Best Buddies.

Organizations
Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), is a voluntary nonprofit making body organized and founded by parents of children with epilepsy; while Best Buddies aims to improve the lives people with intellectual disabilities by providing one to one friendships and integrated employment.

Sports Festival
The Killerspin Spinvitational was part of Chicago Mayor Daley’s three day annual Sports Festival; an event that attracted over 90,000 spectators with a television arena on the concourse staging the table tennis event.

Support for the spectacular was received from the Mayor’s Office, the Chicago Park District, and the McCormick Place staff.

Danish Star in Form
Winner of the Men’s Singles event was China’s Chen Qi who overcame Denmark’s Michael Maze in the final having earlier ousted India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta and Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus.

Highlight
However, the highlight for the spectators was the series of challenge matches, which involved Zhang Yining not only competing against female opponents but also against male adversaries.

She beat Hungary’s Georgina Pota in the female challenge before overcoming celebrated male opponents in the guise of former Yugoslav international Ilija Lupulesku and current Chinese international, Lei Zhenhua.

Killerspin Spinvitational
Quarter-Finals
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Sharath Kamal Achanta (IND) 6-11, 12-14, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6; Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Chen Weixing (AUT) 11-6, 4-11, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10, Kalinikos Kreanga (GRE) bt Lei Zhenhua (CHN) 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9; Michael Maze (DEN) bt Lucjan Blaszczyk (POL 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7

Semi-Finals
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Vladimir Samsonov 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7; Michael Maze (DEN) bt Kalinikos Kreanga (GRE) 11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-6

Fifth Place Matches
Sharath Kamal Achanta (IND) bt Chen Weixing (AUT) 13-11, 7-11, 12-10, 4-11, 12-10; Lucjan Blaszczyk (POL) bt Lei Zhenhua (CHN) 11-9, 11-5, 11-8

Third Place
Kalinikos Kreanga (GRE) bt Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) 6-11, 11-3, 12-10, 13-11

Final
Chen Qi (CHN) bt Michael Maze (DEN) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-3

Women’s Spinvitational
Challenge Matches
Georgina Pota (HUN) bt Lee Soo Yeon (KOR) 11-3, 11-1; Huang Kang Kang (SIN) bt Biba (SRB) 11-8, 11-8; Lee Soo Yeon (KOR) bt Biba (SRB) 8-11, 11-7, 11-8; Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Georgina Pota (HUN) 11-8, 11-8

Battle of the Sexes
Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Ilija Lupulesku (USA) 11-8, 11-5

USATT Open Singles
Final: Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Lei Zhenhua (CHN) 12-10, 11-5, 11-6
Third Place: Chen Weixing (AUT) bt Mark Hazinski (USA) 12-10, 11-2, 11-8

USATT Open Singles Women’s Singles
Final: Zhang Yining (CHN) bt Georgina Pota (HUN) 11-3 10-12, 11-2, 6-11, 11-4