Liu Shiwen wins World Table Tennis Cup; equals record held by Zhang Yining and Wang Nan

Liu Shiwen won the World Women's Cup of Table Tennis at Sendai by beating Kasumi Ishikawa of the host nation in straight sets. By winning the title again, she equaled the record that is held by Wang Nan and Zhang Yining.

Shiwen beat Ishikawa in straight sets, in a match that saw Ishikawa overawed by the occasion of her first major final.

In one of the most sensational results at the quarter final stage, Petrissa Solja had beaten local superstar, Ai Fukuhara 4-3 coming back from the dead from 0-3 down, and deuce in the fourth.

World Cup Final (Women) Result:

Finals:
Liu Shiwen beat Kasumi Ishikawa 14-12, 11-2, 11-9, 11-2

Semi finals:
Liu Shiwen beat Petrissa Solja 11-8, 12-10, 11-3, 11-3

Kasumi Ishikawa beat Li Jiao 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 15-13, 11-5

Photo courtesy of the ITTF.

Sharath Kamal to play in Morocco Open

Sharath Kamal is seeded fourth at the 2011 Morocco Open Hassan II ITTF Pro Tour even at Rabat.

The tournament starts on July 14th and boasts of an impressive line up headed by Vladimir Samsonov. Kasumi Ishikawa is the top seed in the Women's section.

Men's Top seeds

SAMSONOV Vladimir   BLR  SAIVE Jean-Michel   BEL  FREITAS Marcos   POR  ACHANTA Sharath Kamal   IND  MACHADO Carlos   ESP
Women's Top seeds
ISHIKAWA Kasumi   JPN  HIRANO Sayaka   JPN  WANG Yuegu   SIN  YU Mengyu   SIN  SUN Beibei   SIN