Hao Shuai clinches gold at Panasonic China Open

Monday, September 15, 2008

Hao Shuai upset the formbook to win the Men’s Singles title at the Panasonic China Open in Shanghai on Sunday 14th September 2008 beating Chinese compatriot, Wang Hao in the final.

The hard working left hander had grown in confidence as the tournament progressed and after losing the opening game against the top seed in the final, he went from strength to strength.

Hao Shuai beat Wang Hao 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8.

Few Appearances
Against the odds was certainly the end result; Hao Shuai had played in only one ITTF Pro Tour Tournament in the past twelve months, the Volkswagen Open China and he had not excelled.

He had lost in the round of the last sixteen.

Dropped Down Rankings
Furthermore, he was seeded eight as to Wang Hao at one; he had fallen from a high of eight on the ITTF Men’s World Rankings in February 2007 to a current position of twenty and he had never beaten Wang Hao in a world ranking event.

Past Results
Wang Hao had won in September 1999 at the semi-final stage of the Boys’ Singles event at the Asian Junior Championships and had won in December 2003 when the pair met in the final of the Men’s Singles event at the Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals and in December 2005, in the same event and in the same round at the Asian Cup.

In Shanghai, at the 2008 Panasonic China Open, Hao Shuai upset the odds.

Men’s Doubles
The silver medal for Wang Hao in the Men’s Singles event and it was the same in the Men’s Doubles competition.

Partnering Chen Qi, the pair suffered in the final against colleagues Ma Lin and Wang Liqin.

Ma Lin and Wang Liqin won 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7.

First Title
It was the first ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Doubles title for Ma Lin and Wang Liqin as a partnership.

ITTF Press Release

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Hao Shuai clinches gold at Panasonic China Open

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