DOHA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Olympic mixed doubles champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha split up for a while to dispose of their respective singles rivals at the world table tennis championships on Monday.
Second-seeded Wang never looked troubled as he defeated Brazil's 77th-ranked Leonardo Ilzuka with a performance of clinical precision, winning his second round game 11-3, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 over 24 minutes.
Minutes later, world No. 1 Sun took to the court against Pyon Song Gyong from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Despite resistence in the third set, the 24-year-old star wrapped it up 11-2, 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 over 30 minutes.
Wang and Sun will unite late in the day to take on Brazil's World Cup holder Hugo Calderano and his girlfriend Bruna Takahashi in the mixed doubles second round.
Wang, men's singles runner-up in 2023, and Sun, defending women's singles champion, are pairing up for their third world mixed doubles title. ■
