Home > News > LONDON 2012  > Li edges out Ding to claim gold - London 2012 - Table Tennis

LONDON 2012

Options

Li edges out Ding to claim gold - London 2012 - Table Tennis

01/08/2012

Li Xiaoxia caused an upset against Chinese compatriot Ding Ning to claim gold in the women's Singles Table Tennis competition.

Much of the focus heading into the battle was on 22-year-old Ding, who last year won the World Cup and World Championships.

That meant she needed to emerge victorious at the Games to complete a Grand Slam, following in the footsteps of the great Zhang Yining.

But world number three and second seed Li had other ideas, with the 24-year-old's added power proving too much for Ding, who had to settle for silver after losing a tense encounter 4-1 (11-8, 14-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4).

Singapore's Feng Tianwei scooped her second medal by overcoming Japan's Kasumi Ishikawa to take bronze.

Feng prevailed 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3), adding to the Team silver won alongside Li Jiawei and Wang Yuegu in Beijing 2008.

Li said afterwards: 'I'm very excited. This has been my dream since being a little girl. I dreamed of being an Olympic champion.

'We are the same level but today I performed better than I expected.'

Discover the best photos of London 2012

  • London 2012 Madness in Olympic StadiumCeremony – 16

    London 2012 - The British ska band Madness perform their hit Our House during the closing ceremony in Olympic Stadium on August 12, 2012.

  • Flying sax man

    London 2012 - The saxophonist from the band Madness performs his solo while flying through Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony on August 12, 2012.

  • Ray Davies of the Kinks

    London 2012 - Ray Davies of the Kinks sings “Waterloo Sunset,” a love letter to London, at the closing ceremony on August 12, 2012.

  • Acrobats perform on London's "skyline"

    London 2012 - Acrobats, dancers, and performers give the eye much to behold in Olympic Stadium during the closing ceremony on August 12, 2012.

  • Scooters deliver Kaiser Chiefs

    London 2012 - Motor scooters from London's mid-60's mod subculture deliver Ricky Wilson to the stage to sing The Who's "Pinball Wizard" during the closing ceremony.

  • British fashion acknowledged at closing ceremony

    London 2012 - As the David Bowie hit "Fashion" plays aloud, a parade enters of British supermodels sporting haute couture designs during the closing ceremony.

FEATURED NEWS