Source: Xinhua

04-29-2009 08:38

YOKOHAMA, Japan, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen-year-old Japanese Koki Niwa beat Khurshed Salibaev of Tajikistan in an impressive fashion at the world table tennis championships here on Tuesday.

"Koki, Koki, Koki" was chanted in unison by Japanese supporters as they gathered around table three to pay homage to their rising star.

Niwa did not disappoint. In four straight sets (11-5, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5) he delivered the goods in the men's singles.

It was a most comprehensive display by the young man making his world championship debut, having earlier in the year impressed on his opening venture on the ITTF Pro Tour at the Qatar Open in Doha.

Niwa, playing a similar game with Japanese star Jun Mizutani, delighted in the Swedish city of Helsingborg in November 2008 when as the youngest player in action, he won the boys' singles title at the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals.

Niwa was one of six young players who have benefited from the ITTF Global Junior Program, to make a fine start to their exploits in the men's singles event on the opening day of play.

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Editor:Zheng Limin