18th September, 2015
Hosts of the 11th African Games, Congo is currently topping the medals table in table tennis event of the Games.
Nigeria and Egypt, which used to alternate leadership in the doubles event were upstaged by Congo, the new rising force in the sport.
The Congolese are currently parading some of their adopted Chinese players that have won all the doubles events, where Nigeria and Egypt held sway in the past.
Congo won the mixed doubles with the duo of Wang Jinan and Yuheng Li. They also won in men and women’s doubles. Han Xing and Li defeated Egypt duo of Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly, 3-2 while the pair of Hu Bin and Wang Jinan defeated their Egyptian opponents.
An elated Li told newsmen after the match having beaten some of the continent’s top players she could sleep very well.
“I am so happy and I am sure I can sleep very well tonight. Having played against top teams from the quarter-final stage, the final was not that easy.
“It was a very difficult match and I am happy that I am picking my second gold medal at the African Games. I am now relaxed to play in the singles as I am not familiar with some of the top players in this competition,” she said.
Xing, admitted that it was difficult playing African players. “I had many problems playing well in the team event because I was a bit nervous.
“But in the doubles, my partner really gave me confidence, while our coach was always urging us to go on. This really helped us and I am now gaining my confidence back. I hope I can reproduce the performance in the singles.
“I am looking forward to becoming the new champion of the African Games,” he said.
Team Nigeria won gold medal in men’s team event, while Egypt also won gold medal in the women’s team event.
The events have entered the round of 16 in women’s category, and the round of 32 in the men’s events.
The final of the singles would be played on Saturday.