World-class Table Tennis

WORLD-CLASS TABLE TENNIS hardly resembles the game played in basements around the globe. Featuring smashes barely visible to the naked eye, curling spin shots, and amazing defensive blocks, the World Table Tennis Championships pits the best players in head-to-head competition. At the 2003 event, Austria’s Werner Schlager rode the momentum of a surprising quarterfinals comeback victory to win the men’s title.

In the quarters, Schlager faced defending world champ Wang Liqin of China. The powerful Chinese player quickly dispatched Schlager 11–5 in the first game. In the second, Schlager mixed up his spins and shot selection to knot things with his 11–5 victory. Four games were needed for either player to advance, and the third match stayed close. With the score tied 8–8, Liqin erupted for three straight points to win 11–8. Liqin built a 7–1 lead in the fourth, but Schlager stormed back with a few backhand winners and tied things 10–10. But with 15,000 fans cheering Liqin’s name, he claimed the game 15–13—one away from victory. Schlager showed some fight by winning the fifth game 11–9. In the sixth game, it appeared as if the defending champ would continue as his topspin forehand earned him a 10–6 edge over Schlager. One point away from defeat, Schlager nailed three amazing shots—including a topspin winner on top of Liqin’s topspin. When Liqin blocked a shot into the net, Schlager earned a 13–11 win to set up a deciding seventh game—which Schlager claimed 11–5.

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POINT After coming back from the brink of defeat to beat the defending world champion, Werner Schlager rolled to the championship. He defeated Linghui Kong of China in the semifinals, and then he bested Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk in the finals.

Nothing beats a comeback win. And there’s never been a sweeter come-from-behind victory than when Jesus Christ triumphed over death. Satan thought he’d won when God’s Son was nailed to a cross. But Jesus rose from the dead to defeat sin and Satan for all time!

GOAL! Next time you think there’s no way you can win, think about Jesus’ amazing victory. This Christmas thank God’s Son for coming to earth and dying so you could have everlasting life.