China's Guo Yue wins women's singles gold

ZAGREB, May 26 (Reuters) Guo Yue won the women's singles gold medal at the world table tennis championships today after beating fellow Chinese Li Xiaoxia by four sets to three in the final.

World number four Guo staged a spirited comeback from three sets to one down to claim her first world championship title after she had dislodged 2006 winner and top seed Zhang Yining in the semi-finals earlier in the day.

The final produced a thrilling battle of Chinese teenagers in which the 19-year-old Guo recovered from a slow start to beat 18-year-old Li 8-11 11-7 4-11 2-11 11-5 11-2 11-8.

Li had also made an upset in the semi-finals, defeating world number three compatriot Guo Yan to finish on the podium in her first world championship at senior level.

REUTERS SSC BST2129