Chinese paddlers secure 11th straight women's crown

Mu Zi, during her match against Feng Tianwei

Suzhou (China), May 1 (IANS)

China has nailed its 11th straight women's singles title at the World Table Tennis Championships as its players swept the semifinal berths here on Friday.

Mu Zi ousted the biggest threat to Chinese, Singapore's World No.4 Feng Tianwei 11-5, 11-2, 11-9, 11-5 while Li Xiaoxia came from two sets down to nip Japanese teenager Mima Ito 9-11, 14-16, 11-2, 11-7, 13-11, 11-2, reports Xinhua.

In an all-Chinese match, Liu Shiwen beat Zhu Yuling 11-3, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 while top-ranked Ding Ning outlasted Wu Yang 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 7-11, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8.

Chinese women have monopolised the event since 1995 with Deng Yaping winning twice in a row, Wang Nan three times in a row, Zhang Yining twice, Guo Yue, Ding Ning and Li Xiaoxia once.