China ruled the Millennium 2000 Thai Boon Roong Women’s World Cup Table Tennis, taking the top three places at Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium.
The tournament ended late Sunday night with last year’s champion being upset by the woman she beat in 1998 in front of more than 3,000 “very excited” table tennis enthusiasts, said Meas Sarin, secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.
Li Ju, 24, beat Wang Nan three games to one, winning the $28,000 grand prize. Wang Nan, two years younger than her rival, had been ranked the top in the world. She took home $14,000. Third place winner Sun Jin won $9,000.
Meanwhile, Cambodia’s two entries were eliminated in the first round of the 16-person competition, which began Friday. Thoun Tha lost 0-2 to Luxembourg’s Ni Xia Lian, while Keo Vanny lost 0-2 to Korea’s Ryu Ji Hye. Keo Vanny took 15th place; Thoun Tha, 16th.
“It’s OK,” said Meas Sarin. “They still each got $1,000.”
The tournament was the first of its kind to be hosted in Cambodia, and boasted $200,000 in prize money. The tournament is regarded as one of the most lucrative in women’s table tennis. Phnom Penh-based tycoon Teng Bunma sponsored the event.
The players were also exposed to some of the riches of Cambodia, Meas Sarin said. Speaking by telephone Sunday night over the blaring music of a traditional cultural performance at a post-competition party, Meas Sarin said the players had also had a chance to visit the National Museum, the Royal Palace, and, for a few, Angkor Wat.
The athletes leave Cambodia today, richer.
(Additional reporting by Brian Calvert)
