Chinese women reach world table tennis final

Chinese women team beated China's Hong Kong 3-0 in the world table tennis championships. (Photo credit: Lee/China Foto Press)

GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Unstoppable Chinese women on Friday swept into the final of the world table tennis championships after beating China's Hong Kong 3-0.

The defeat shattered Hong Kong women's dream of snatching their third consecutive silver in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. Hong Kong was the team runner-up at the last two worlds in Doha and Bremen.

Third-ranked Guo Yue got off to a flying start, with little difficulty in taking a 2-0 lead over Jiang Huajun, singles champion in the 2007 Asian Cup.

The Chinese star appeared to be heading for a comfortable win but made unforced errors against the determined opponent, who is well known for her four victories over world number one Zhang Yining in international competitions.

Guo dropped the third set 11-7 but came back to dominate the fourth, winning the whole match 3-1.

She said later that she should not have relaxed her efforts after taking a lead over seventh-ranked Jiang.

The encounter between fourth-ranked Wang Nan and tenth-ranked Tie Ya Na, singles runner-up in 2006 Doha Asian Games, proved to be a lopsided affair, with the Grand Slam veteran prevailing 11-2,11-9, 11-4.

Fast-attacking Zhang quickly followed her teammates' lead, brushing aside Lin Ling's attempt to cause a bit of trouble and winning 16-14, 11-3, 11-4.