China claims four titles at WTT Contender Muscat
Xinhua
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MUSCAT, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese paddlers reached all five finals before capturing four titles as the World Table Tennis Contender Muscat tournament concluded on Saturday.

Photo: Agencies

In a back-and-forth men's singles final, Wen Ruibo continued his impressive run with a seven-game victory over German veteran Patrick Franziska for his first singles title on the WTT Series.

Following his runner-up finish at the WTT Star Contender Doha last week, Wen, 19, came out of the blocks winning the opening three games 11-5, 11-8, 16-14, only to see sixth seed Franziska storm back to level the match 11-9, 11-8, 12-10.

The deciding game was also intense throughout, as Wen had to save a championship point to triumph 14-12.

Shi Xunyao beat fellow Chinese He Zhuojia in straight games in the women's singles final, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9.

Chinese pair Lin Shidong and Huang Youzheng took the early initiative in the men's doubles final against Germany's Benedikt Duda and Franziska, moving two games ahead 11-6, 11-6.

Despite seeing three match points slip away on the way to a 13-11 third-game loss, Lin and Huang regrouped in the fourth game to seal the win 11-5.

China's Qin Yuxuan and Zong Geman dominated the women's doubles final, brushing aside Doo Hoi Kem and Ng Wing Lam of Hong Kong, China 14-12, 11-8, 11-1 in 25 minutes.

On Friday, Indian duo Manush Shah and Diya Chitale won the first title of the Muscat event after edging China's Huang and Shi in a five-game thriller, 11-5, 5-11, 11-5, 5-11, 13-11.