MALMO, Sweden, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese paddlers Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi and Kuai Man advanced to the women's singles semifinals at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Europe Smash Sweden on Saturday.
Top seed Wang Manyu defeated Chinese Taipei's Peng Yu-Han 4-1 in the quarterfinals. Looking ahead to the semifinals, Wang said she expected a tougher opponent and would make sure she was fully prepared and ready to "play more freely and fight for every point."
Wang Yidi swept compatriot Shi Xunyao 4-0 to reach the last four. Despite the straight-game win, Wang Yidi called the match closely contested and said she "may have had a little more luck." She added she hoped to stay calm, maintain a steady rhythm and play at her own level in the semifinals.
Kuai edged Japan's Hina Hayata 4-3 in a seven-game thriller, prevailing 11-8 in the decider.
Kuai said frequent meetings with Hayata left both familiar with each other's games. She credited decisive play and timely tactical adjustments for the win and pledged to "give it everything" against Wang Manyu in the semifinals.
China's Chen Yi lost 4-0 to Japan's Miwa Harimoto and missed out on a semifinal spot.
In the men's singles quarterfinals, Slovenia's Darko Jorgic beat Egypt's Omar Assar 4-2, while Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto swept France's Alexis Lebrun 4-0. Japan's Sora Matsushima edged Sweden's Elias Ranefur 4-3, and France's Felix Lebrun beat Brazil's Hugo Calderano 4-1.
Also on Saturday, Lebrun brothers claimed the men's doubles title with a 3-0 win over Wong Chun Ting and Chan Baldwin of Hong Kong, China, while Japan's Miwa Harimoto and Hayata won the women's doubles final 3-1 over Doo Hoi Kem and Ng Wing Lam, also from Hong Kong, China.
The men's and women's singles champions will be decided on Sunday. ■
