Intense competition is the order of proceedings in the Chinese Super League following the first stage of matches played between Saturday 4th October and Sunday 9th November 2008.
In the Men's Division only one point separates the top five teams, whilst in the counterpart Women's Division only one point separates the top four teams.
Furthermore every team has lost at least two matches and every team has at least one victory.Close Fight at Top
The Men's Division sees Shanghai Guanshengyuan (Wang Liqin, Ko Lai Chak, Xu Xin, Gao Xin, Zhang Yang) in top place level on points with Luneng Zhongchao Cable (Tang Peng, Zhang Jike, Liu Yang, Guo Keli, Zhou Xin) in second place whilst just one point adrift there are three teams separated only by match ratio.
Ningbo Beilin Haitan (Ma Long, Oh Sang Eun, Wu Hao, Cui Qinglei) occupy third spot with Zheshang Bank (Ma Lin, Jun Mizutani, Yang Zi, Zhang Chao and Wei Yantao) in fourth place and Sichuan Quanxiang (Hao Shuai, Qiu Yike, Li Ching, Xu Ruifeng) fifth.
Three Teams Locked in Combat
Meanwhile, in the Women's Division three teams are locked at the top of the list with the same points.
Shanxi Datuhe & ECUST (Guo Yan, Tie Yana, Rao Jingwen, Liu Juan) lead with Liaoning Ansteel (Guo Yue, Dang Ye Seo, Chang Chenchen) in second place and Bayi Industrial and Commercial Bank (Cao Zhen, Yang Yang, Mu Zi, Wen Jia) third.
Luneng Lu'an Group (Li Xiaoxia, Feng Tianwei, Peng Luyang and Li Nan) are ion fourth place.
No Easy Ride
Close competition and the results underline the strength of Chinese table tennis; every match is tough.
Ma Long and Wang Hao are the most successful male players; the former has lost only two of his 13 matches being beaten by Ma Lin and Xu Ke, whilst Wang Hao has experienced three defeats in his 14 appearances. He has suffered at the hands of Zhang Jike, Hao Shuai and Chen Qi.
Ma Lin Struggles
Similarly, Wang Liqin, the reigning World champion, has witnessed three defeats. He lost to Wang Hao, Ma Long and Qi Yike but consider the plight of Ma Lin, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games gold medallist. He has lost six matches.
He has been beaten in six of his 15 appearances.
Most Successful Women
In the Women's Division, the two most successful players are Zhang Yining and Li Xiaoxia; they have experienced reverses on three occasions. Zhang Yining has lost to Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yan and Yang Yang whilst Li Xiaoxia has been beaten by Ding Ning, Cao Xingni and Li Jia Wei.
Playing System
Intense competition and one of the reasons is the playing system; finish the first stage of matches in fifth place, one point adrift of the top placed team and any chance of winning the title has evaporated!
After the first stage of matches the top four teams contest the title on a group, the teams finishing in fifth and sixth places progress to the second group whilst teams seven to ten (seven to nine for men) play for the last three positions.
The second stage matches will be played between Wednesday 3rd and Sunday 14th December 2008.
Order of play
It is a change from previous years as is the order of play in the fixtures. A fixture consists of five matches as follows: A v X, B v Y, Doubles, A v Y, C v Z with no player allowed to compete in more than two matches.
Teams - Men
Ningbo Beilun Haitian (Ma Long, Oh Sang Eun, Wu Hao, Cui Qinglei Coach: Liu Guodong)
Zheshang Bank (Ma Lin, Jun Mizutani, Yang Zi,, Zhang Chao, Wei Yantao Coach: Chen Jian)
Sichuan Quanxing (Hao Shuai, Qiu Yike, LI Ching, Xu Ruifeng Coach: Chen Hongyu)
Bayi Industrial & Commercial Bank (Wang Hao, Xu Ke, Li She, Yang Xiaofu Coach: Wang Tao)
Jinzhou Bank (Lei Zhenhua (Xu Hui, Zhai Yiming, Zhou Bin Coach: Yu Shentong)
Haining Leather City (Li Ping, Xiang Xiao, Sha Chenbin, Hou Yingchao, Jin Enhua Coach: Xiang Xiao)
Jiangsu Jiangnan Cable (Chen Qi, Zhu Jiang, Lin Chen, Shan Mingjie Coach: Yang Chuanning)
Shanghai Guanshengyuan (Wang Liqin, Wang Jialin, Ko Lai Chak, Xu Xin, Gao Xin, Zhang Yang Coach: Wang Jialin)
Luneng Zhongchao Cable (Tang Peng, Zhang Jike, Liu Yang, Guo Keli, Zhou Xin Coach: Gu Qincheng)
Teams - Women
Beijing Shibo Guoji (Zhang Yining, Ding Ning, Peng Xue, Liu Kailun Coach: Zhou Shusen)
Liaoning Ansteel (Guo Yue, Dang Ye Seo, Chang Chenchen Coach: Gu Zhenjiang)
Guangdong Zhujiang Yijingwan (Liu Shiwen, Cao Xingni, Zhou Fangfang, Cai Sai, Zhou Mo Coach: Yang Huajie)
Luneng Lu'an Group (Li Xiaoxia, Feng Tianwei, Peng Luyang, Li Nan Coach: Tang Cheng)
Founder (Li Jia Wei, Chen Qing, Liu Chun, Gao Xi Coach: Zhang Hui)
Shanxi Datuhe & ECUST (Guo Yan, Tie Yana, Rao Jingwen, Liu Juan Coach: Zang Yuying)
Jizhong Energy (Niu Jianfeng, Jia Jun, Bai Yang, Wu Qiong Coach: Liu Lili)
Bayi Industrial&Commercial Bank (Cao Zhen, Yang Yang, Mu Zi, Wen Jia Coach: Dai Lili)
Jiangsu Zhongchao Cable (Fan Ying, Yao Yan, Zhang Xiaoyu, Wang Xuan, Wang Ting Coach: Wang Yonggang)
Datong Yungang Yanbei Hotel (Jiang Huajun, Feng Yalan, Li Xiaodan, Wu Yang, Yang Feifei Coach: Coach: Bu Bangmin)
Men's Team - Positions (After 1st Stage)
1. Shanghai Guanshengyuan 14 pts
2. Luneng Zhongchao Cable 14 pts
3. Ningbo Beilun Haitian 13 pts
4. Zheshang Bank 13 pts
5. Sichuan Quanxing 13 pts
6. Jiangsu Jiangnan Cable 12 pts
7. Bayi Industrial&Commercial Bank 10 pts
8. Jinzhou Bank 10 pts
9. Haining Leather City 9 pts
Women's Team - Positions (After 1st Stage)
1. Shanxi Datuhe & ECUST 16 pts
2. Liaoning Ansteel 16 pts
3. Bayi Industrial&Commercial Bank 16 pts
4. Luneng Lu'an Group 15 pts
5. Beijing Shibo Guoji 13 pts
6. Founder 13 pts
7. Guangdong Zhujiang Yijingwan 13 pts
8. Jiangsu Zhongchao Cable 12 pts
9. Datong Yungang∙Yanbei Hotel 11 pts
10. Jizhong Energy 10 pts |
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