Olympic rematch for men’s singles, Li retains Olympic glory

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China's Zhang Jike celebrates after wining a point against compatriot Xu Xin at the semi-final game at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Paris May 19, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - Defending champion Zhang Jike will fight for the men's singles title against Wang Hao in a rematch of the last year's Olympic final at the World Table Tennis Championships to be held here on Monday.

Zhang, the fourth seed, crushed top seed and teammate Xu Xin 11-8, 11-2, 11-9, 12-10 while Wang beat second seed Ma Long in the other all-Chinese semifinal 11-9, 11-7, 11-3, 7-11, 12-14, 11-3.

Zhang outplayed Wang to win the gold medal in last year's London Olympic Games.

The women's doubles champion was also secured by Chinese players.

Li Xiaoxia, who just won the women's singles title, paired with Guo Yue to defeat Feng Tianwei and Yu Mengyu from Singapore 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8.

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Li Xiaoxia of China reacts after her victory over compatriot Liu Shiwen in their women's singles final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Paris May 19, 2013.??[Photo/Agencies]

Li and Guo will take on Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen, who defeated another Chinese duo Chen Meng/Zhu Yuling, 11-8, 11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9.

Ding and Liu will look to avenge their defeats to Li in the singles.

Li eliminated Ding, the defending champion, in the semifinals and beat Liu in the finals en route to the women's singles title.