Fired-up Liu wins second gold in table tennis worlds

Liu Shiwen(L) of China reacts during the women's singles final match between Liu Shiwen of China and her teammate Chen Meng at 2019 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest, Hungary on April 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Tao Xiyi)

Liu Shiwen gave fellow Chinese Chen Meng an 11-0 beating en route to winning the women's singles title at the World Table Tennis Championships on Saturday.

An all fired-up Liu, who didn't concede a point in one set of her semifinal against more heralded teammate Ding Ning, beat the 25-year-old Chen 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-0, 11-9.

It was Liu's second gold in Budapest following her mixed doubles victory pairing up with Xu Xin on Friday.

"This is my sixth World Championships and third singles final," said the 28-year-old. "If I had lost this time, I might not have a second chance."

With a 2-2 tie, Liu used her speed and backhand attacks to unsettle Chen, who had been desperately looking for a point but it never came.

By nailing the match point, Liu threw her racket and raised her arms, then buried her face in the towel, crying.

"I deserve this championship, but it came just a bit too late," said Liu.

Liu owed her belated victory to the Chinese team. "Without support from our team, I could never be what I am today."

With four World Cups to her name, Liu had been missing the Olympic and world championships singles title.

Liu reached the semifinals in her world championships debut in 2009, the year when she won her first World Cup. But she was dealt a heavy blow in the 2010 World Team Championships when she lost two games in the final against Singapore, which ended China's nine-straight-time grip on the title.

"The championship came too late, but it came eventually. It is a perfect reward to all my hard years," said Liu.

As for 11-0 inflicted on Ding and Chen, Liu said: "No rule says a player should give away a point when his or her rival fails to win anything. Trying hard on every point means respect for the game and your rivals."

Chinese Ma Long, who is seeking his third straight singles at the world championships, clinched a semifinal against compatriot Liang Jingkun with a score of 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 14-12.

Ma will vie for the gold with Sweden's Mattias Falck, who edged out South Korean An Jaehyun 8-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-9, 2-11, 11-5 in the other semifinal.