Defending Champion Remains on Course

Defending gold medalist Jan-Ove Waldner of Sweden and world champion Kong Linghui of China advanced to the second round of men’s table tennis with straight-set victories.

Kong, who captured the men’s world title last year, defeated Taiwan’s Chiang Peng-lung, 21-19, 21-14. Waldner downed Ilija Lupulesku of Yugoslavia, 21-18, 21-16.

Jim Butler of Augusta, Ga., was eliminated from the group won by Russia’s Dmitry Mazunov and David Zhuang of East Brunswick, N.J. was ousted in a group taken by Canada’s Wen Huang.

In women’s play, defending champion Deng Yaping, seeking another Olympic sweep, advanced to the doubles final with Qiao Hong to set up an all-Chinese gold-medal match. They defeated Kim Moo-kyo and Park Kyoung-ae of South Korea, 21-15, 19-21, 21-15, 21-19.

In the other semifinal, Liu Wei and Qiao Yunping eliminated another South Korean pair, Park Hae-jung and Ryu Ji-hae, 21-13, 16-21, 22-20, 21-11.