Table tennis: Li sisters advance to fourth round

12.30am

ATHENS - New Zealand table tennis sisters Li Chunli and Karen Li breezed through to the fourth round of the Olympic women's doubles competition today with a four games to one victory over a German duo who eliminated them four years ago in Sydney.

The New Zealanders grabbed the initiative from the outset at the Galatsi Olympic Hall, overpowering Nicole Struse and Elke Wosik 11-6 11-7 in two quickfire opening games in the best-of-seven elimination clash to grab a psychological advantage.

The Germans showed more resistance at the start of the third game but the sisters finished strongly, peeling off the last five points to take the game 11-7.

Needing one more game to wrap up the match, the New Zealanders gave their opponents a 6-0 head start in the fourth and could not quite bridge the gap.

They levelled at 8-8 but then gave up two match points as the Germans eventually prevailed 12-10.

However, the German fightback was shortlived with Li Chunli sealing the match when a strong forehand was returned into the net to give the New Zealanders an 11-6 margin.

Their reward is a tough match against the tournament's eighth seeds Hyang Mi Kim and Hyon Hui Kim of Korea in the late session tonight (0600TuesNZT).

The Koreans are yet to play in Athens having been given an bye through to this round.

- NZPA