View source for 2013 World Table Tennis Championships

{{TennisEventInfo|2013|World Table Tennis Championships|
| date= May 13–20
| edition= 52nd
| location= [[Paris]], [[France]]
| venue= [[Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy]]
| champms= {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Zhang Jike]]
| champws= {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Li Xiaoxia]]
| champmd= {{flagicon|TPE}} [[Chen Chien-an]] / {{flagicon|TPE}} [[Chuang Chih-yuan]]
| champwd= {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Guo Yue (table tennis)|Guo Yue]] / {{flagicon|China}} [[Li Xiaoxia]]
| champxd= {{flagicon|PRK}} [[Kim Hyok-Bong]] / {{flagicon|PRK}} [[Kim Jong (table tennis)|Kim Jong]]
}}
The '''2013 World Table Tennis Championships''' were held at the [[Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy]] in [[Paris]], France from May 13 to May 20, 2013. The Championships were the 52nd [[World Table Tennis Championships|edition]] of the [[World Table Tennis Championships]].

These were the first Championships since 2003 in which China did not win all five competitions and the first since 1993 in which they won fewer than four gold medals. China's ten-Championships long streak of men's doubles titles came to an end as [[Chuang Chih-yuan]] and [[Chen Chien-an]] of [[Chinese Taipei]] (Taiwan) beat a Chinese duo for their nation's first-ever gold medal.  China's eleven-Championships long streak of mixed doubles titles (since 1989) came to an end as [[Kim Hyok-Bong]] and [[Kim Jong (table tennis)|Kim Jong]] of North Korea beat a South Korean team in the finals. However, China did have the top four finishers in both the men's and women's singles and won 14 of 20 medals overall. 

[[Zhang Jike]] took the men's title, marking his fourth consecutive World or Olympic first place finish, while [[Li Xiaoxia]] won her first World title in the women's singles.  Li also teamed up with [[Guo Yue (table tennis)|Guo Yue]] to win the women's doubles title for China.

==Host==
[[Doha]], one of the only two candidate cities, withdrew its bid after the Qatar Table Tennis Association was made aware that Paris wanted to mark the 10-year anniversary of the [[2003 World Table Tennis Championships]]. As a result, Paris was selected as the host city. The decision was announced by [[International Table Tennis Federation|ITTF]] in May 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sports/2010-05/27/c_13317989.htm |title=Paris to host 2013 world team table tennis championships: ITTF |work=Xinhua |date=27 May 2010 |accessdate=7 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story.asp?ID=21173 |title=Press Release: Destination Paris, World Championships 2013 |work=ittf.com |date=27 May 2010 |accessdate=7 April 2012}}</ref> The tournament was held at the 12,000 seat [[Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy]].<ref name=Inside />

==Schedule==
Five different events were contested at the Championships. Qualification rounds were held from May 13 to 14.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/world_events/wttc_2013/timescheduleWTTC2013.pdf |title=2013 World TT Championships Playing System |publisher=ITTF |accessdate=8 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf2.asp?category=calendar |title=ITTF calendar |work=ittf.com |accessdate=7 April 2012}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background: #FADFAD" |  ||Rounds in Main Draw
|-
| style="background: #FFD700" |  ||Finals
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|- valign="bottom"
!Date || May<br>14 || May<br>15 || May<br>16 || May<br>17 || May<br>18 || May<br>19 || May<br>20
|-
|[[2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Men's Singles|Men's Singles]]
| ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 1R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 2R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 3R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 4R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| QF, SF ||style="background: #FFD700"| F
|-
|[[2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Women's Singles|Women's Singles]]
| ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 1R, 2R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 3R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 4R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| QF, SF ||style="background: #FFD700"| F || 
|-
|[[2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Men's Doubles|Men's Doubles]]
| ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 1R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 1R, 2R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 3R, QF || style="background: #FADFAD"| SF ||style="background: #FFD700"| F || 
|-
|[[2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Women's Doubles|Women's Doubles]]
| ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 1R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 2R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 3R, QF || || style="background: #FADFAD"| SF ||style="background: #FFD700"| F
|-
|[[2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Mixed Doubles|Mixed Doubles]]
|style="background: #FADFAD"| 1R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 2R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| 3R, 4R ||style="background: #FADFAD"| QF || style="background: #FFD700"| SF, F || &nbsp; || &nbsp;
|}

==Results==
[[File:Mondial Ping - Women%27s Singles - Final - Li Xiaoxia.jpg|thumbnail|right| Women's singles winner Li Xiaoxia playing at the event]]
Entering the 2013 World Table Tennis Championship, China had not lost a single event since [[2003 World Table Tennis Championships|2003]] when [[Werner Schlager]] of Austria won the men's singles.<ref name=Inside />

Both men's semi-finals featured a matchup of two highly ranked Chinese players.  In the first, the fourth-seed [[Zhang Jike]] dominated the world number-one [[Xu Xin]] in a victory of four sets to none (11–8, 11–2, 11–9, 12–10).<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia>{{cite news|title=Table Tennis: Zhang, Wang in final as Li wins women's gold|work=Channel NewsAsia|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/table-tennis-li-wins-world-title-complet/680564.html|date=May 19, 2013|accessdate=May 22, 2013|agency=AFP}}</ref>  In the other semi-final, the third-seed [[Wang Hao (table tennis)|Wang Hao]] triumphed four sets to two (11–9, 11–7, 11–3, 7–11, 12–14, 11–3) over the second-ranked [[Ma Long (table tennis)|Ma Long]].<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia />

In the men's singles final, Zhang Jike beat his countryman Wang Hao 4–2 to claim his fourth straight major title.<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia /><ref name=AP />  Zhang won the first set 11–7 and the second 11–8.  Wang bounced back to take the third set 11–6.  He continued his surge in the fourth set, taking an early lead.  However, Zhang maintained his composure and took the hard fought set 14–12.<ref name=ChinaDaily />  Wang took the fifth set 11–5 to stay alive in the best of seven match, before Zhang finished the match with a 11–7 fifth set.<ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=Another Table Tennis World Title for Zhang Jike|work=New York Times|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/sports/another-table-tennis-world-title-for-zhang-jike.html|date=May 21, 2013|accessdate=May 22, 2013}}</ref>  The victorious Zhang threw his shirt into the crowd and run into the stands to celebrate with his parents who had never attended a world competition event before.  "My parents had always wanted to watch me play during major world compeititions, but I refused. This time I asked them to come here", he explained.<ref name=ChinaDaily />DONT READ THIS. YOU WILL BE KISSED ON THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. NOW THAT YOU'VE STARTED READING, DONT STOP. THIS IS SO FREAKY. 1 say your name 10 times 2. say your mum's name 5 times and your crushes name 3 times 4. paste this onto 4 other games. If you do this, your crush will kiss you on the nearest Friday possible. But if you read this and do not paste this, you will get bad luck. SEND THIS ON 5 DIFFERENT GAMES IN 143 MINUTES. WHEN YOUR DONE, PRESS F6 AND YOUR CRUSHES NAME WILL APPEAR IN BIG LETTERS. THIS IS SO FREAKY IT ACTUALLY WORKS

Zhang had previously won the 2011 World Cup and [[Table tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympic Games]], both also over Wang, as well as the [[2011 World Table Tennis Championships|2011 World Championships]].<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia />  He has never lost to Wang in international competition.<ref name=ChinaDaily>{{cite news|title=Zhang Jike retains men's singles title at table tennis worlds|agency=Xinhua|date=May 21, 2013|work=China Daily|url=http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2013-05/21/content_16514544.htm|accessdate=May 22, 2013}}</ref>  After the match, Wang announced it was his last World Championships, as he plans to retire in the near future.<ref name=ChinaDaily />

In men's doubles, [[Chuang Chih-yuan]] and [[Chen Chien-an]] captured [[Chinese Taipei]]'s (Taiwan) first ever gold medal.  The duo topped [[Ma Lin (table tennis)|Ma Lin]] and [[Hao Shuai]] of China four sets to two.  Ma and Hao won the first set 11–9, before dropping three in a row to Chuang and Chen (12–10, 11–6, 13–11).  After Ma and Hao won the fifth set 11–9, Ma and Hao finished off the match with a 11–8 sixth set.  The secretary general of the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association called the victory "an important milestone in our table tennis history," and the Taipei government awarded Chaung and Chen [[NT$]]900,000 ([[US$]]30,033) each for their accomplishment.<ref name=Taipei>{{cite news|title=Taiwan scores first table tennis gold in Paris win|date=May 21, 2013|work=Taipei Times|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/05/21/2003562781|accessdate=May 22, 2013}}</ref>  Taiwanese president [[Ma Ying-jeou]] remarked "It’s a hard-won achievement that highlights the Taiwan spirit of perseverance and fortitude."<ref name=Taipei /> Chinese Taipei had been competing in world championships since 1985.  The country's previous best finish was second place in women's single by [[Chen Jing (table tennis)|Chen Jing]] twenty years prior.<ref name=Taipei />  China had won the men's doubles in the last ten World Championships.<ref name=Taipei />

In women's singles, [[Li Xiaoxia]] of China claimed her first World Championships with a four set to two victory over compatriot [[Liu Shiwen]].  Li won the first set 11–8, but Liu bounced back with an easy 11–4 second set victory.  Li captured the third set 11–7 and fourth 12–10.  Liu stayed alive with a 11–6 fifth set and fended off two match point in the sixth before falling 13–11.<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia />  Li had previously finished second at the World Championships in [[2011 World Table Tennis Championships|2011]] and [[2007 World Table Tennis Championships|2007]].  Her victory allowed her to complete a career glad slam (World Cup, Olympic title, and World Championships).  For Liu, it was her first World Championship Final appearance.<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia />  [[Ding Ning]] and rising star [[Zhu Yuling]], both also from China, took the bronze medals.<ref name=ChannelNewsAsia />

The day after Li won the single's title, she joined with [[Guo Yue (table tennis)|Guo Yue]] to add the women's double gold to her medal haul.  [[Ding Ning]] and [[Liu Shiwen]], also from China, took the first set 11–5, but it was all Li and Guo from there. Li and Guo, who are close friends, won the second set 11–5, and then the next three sets 11–7, 11–5, and 11–7, for a four set to one victory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Li Xiaoxia adds women's doubles title to singles win at table tennis worlds|agency=Xinhua|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sports/2013-05/20/c_132395972.htm|date=May 20, 2013|accessdate=May 22, 2013}}</ref> Singapore's [[Feng Tianwei]] and [[Yu Mengyu]] took one of bronzes, with the other going to [[Chen Meng]] and [[Zhu Yuling]] if China.<ref name=SCMP>{{cite news|title=Zhang Jike beats Wang Hao to claim world table tennis crown|agency=AFP|url=http://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/1242925/zhang-jike-beats-wang-hao-paris-claim-world-table-tennis-crown|work=South China Morning Post|date=May 22, 2013|accessdate=May 22, 2013}}</ref>

Entering the World Championships, China had won eleven straight mixed doubles titles (since 1989).  However, no Chinese team made the finals in 2013.  Instead, [[Kim Hyok-Bong]] and [[Kim Jong (table tennis)|Kim Jong]] of North Korea beat [[Lee Sang-Su]] and [[Park Young-Sook]] of South Korea 4–2.  The North Korean team won the first three sets, before dropping two straight.  They recovered from their slide and won the match in the sixth set.  It was the first-ever mixed doubles title for the nation and the first world title of any kind in 36 years.<ref name=Inside>{{cite news|title=North Korea make history with mixed doubles title win over arch rivals at World Table Tennis Championships|author=James Crook|work=Inside the games|url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/table-tennis/1014296-north-korea-make-history-with-mixed-doubles-title-win-over-arch-rivals-at-world-table-tennis-championships|accessdate=May 22, 2013}}</ref>

==Medal summary==
===Medal table===
{| {{RankedMedalTable|nation-width=200px}}

|-
|1||align=left|{{flagcountry|CHN}}||3||4||7||14
|-
|rowspan=2|2||align=left|{{flagcountry|TPE}}||1||0||0||1
|-
|align=left|{{flagcountry|PRK}}||1||0||0||1
|-
|4||align=left|{{flagcountry|KOR}}||0||1||0||1
|-
|rowspan=3|5||align=left|{{flagcountry|HKG}}||0||0||1||1
|-
|align=left|{{flagcountry|JPN}}||0||0||1||1
|-
|align=left|{{flagcountry|SIN}}||0||0||1||1
|- 
!colspan=2| Total || 5 || 5 || 10 || 20
|}

===Events===
{| {{MedalistTable|type=Event}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Men's Singles <br />{{DetailsLink|2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Men's Singles}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Zhang Jike]]|CHN}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Wang Hao (table tennis)|Wang Hao]]|CHN}}
|{{flagmedalist|[[Xu Xin]]|CHN}}
|-
|{{flagmedalist|[[Ma Long (table tennis)|Ma Long]]|CHN}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Women's Singles <br />{{DetailsLink|2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Women's Singles}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Li Xiaoxia]]|CHN}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Liu Shiwen]]|CHN}}
|{{flagmedalist|[[Ding Ning]]|CHN}}
|-
|{{flagmedalist|[[Zhu Yuling]]|CHN}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Men's Doubles <br />{{DetailsLink|2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Men's Doubles}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Chen Chien-an]]<br>and [[Chuang Chih-yuan]]|TPE}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Hao Shuai]]<br>and [[Ma Lin (table tennis)|Ma Lin]]|CHN}}
|{{flagmedalist|[[Seiya Kishikawa]]<br>and [[Jun Mizutani]]|JPN}}
|-
|{{flagmedalist|[[Wang Liqin]]<br>and [[Zhou Yu (table tennis)|Zhou Yu]]|CHN}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Women's Doubles <br />{{DetailsLink|2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Women's Doubles}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Guo Yue (table tennis)|Guo Yue]]<br>and [[Li Xiaoxia]]|CHN}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Ding Ning]]<br>and [[Liu Shiwen]]|CHN}}
|{{flagmedalist|[[Feng Tianwei]]<br>and [[Yu Mengyu]]|SIN}}
|-
|{{flagmedalist|[[Chen Meng]]<br>and [[Zhu Yuling]]|CHN}}
|-
|rowspan=2|Mixed Doubles <br />{{DetailsLink|2013 World Table Tennis Championships – Mixed Doubles}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Kim Hyok-Bong]]<br>and [[Kim Jong (table tennis)|Kim Jong]]|PRK}}
|rowspan=2|{{flagmedalist|[[Lee Sang-Su]]<br>and [[Park Young-Sook]]|KOR}}
|{{flagmedalist|[[Wang Liqin]]<br>and [[Rao Jingwen]]|CHN}}
|-
|{{flagmedalist|[[Cheung Yuk]]<br>and [[Jiang Huajun]]|HKG}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ittf.com/competitions/competitions2.asp?Competition_ID=2190&category=WTTC ITTF.com Site]

{{World Table Tennis Championships}}

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