Ha Noi bounce to national gold
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Ping pong: Hanoian Tran Tuan Quynh shows off his top form at the National Table Tennis Championship as he helps the capital's men's team win the title. — VNS Photo Quang Thang |
HA NOI — Ha Noi beat the Army in the final match of the men's team to bring home the gold medal at the 28th National Table Tennis Championships, Nhan Dan (People) newspaper Cup.
Before reaching to the final, Ha Noi with their national leading players Doan Kien Quoc, Tran Tuan Quynh, Nam Hai and Huy Hoang easily crushed the Police team 3-0 in the first semi-final. Meanwhile, the Army team also performed well with a 3-0 victory over Hai Duong in the second semi-final.
Dinh Quang Linh represented the Army in the first confrontation with Hanoian Quoc. Quang Linh defeated the nation's leading table tennis star Quoc, who played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics 3-0 though an outstanding first match performance.
The Army took the lead 1-0, but Nguyen Thanh Luan couldn't continue their good start. Luan was defeated 3-1 by experienced Hanoian player Tuan Quynh.
In the third match, Duong Van Nam raised Army hopes when he crushed Nam Hai 3-1 to put their key player Quang Linh meet Tuan Quynh of Ha Noi in the fourth match.
If the Army beat Ha Noi, it would have been the most impressive win of the event.
However, Quynh performed perfectly, taking Quang Linh down in a 3-1 win.
The two sides had to play a fifth decisive match. In this match, Kien Quoc struggled to beat Thanh Luan 3-1 to help Ha Noi to an eventual 3-2 victory.
In the women's competition, HCM City beat the Army 3-1 to win gold.
The tournament continues today with the finals in the doubles events for men and women.
Fifteen teams from around the country are taking part in the event, which is part of the 6th National Sport Games, held in the southern city of My Tho, Tien Giang Province.
The event, featuring the country's best players, is co-organised by Nhan Dan newspaper, the National Sports Administration and the Viet Nam Table Tennis Federation. — VNS