Kim wins singles title at Japan Open

KOBE, Japan: South Korean Kim Kyung-Ah stormed back from a loss in the doubles to win her first women's singles Pro Tour title at the Japan Open table tennis tournament on Sunday.

The eighth-seeded Korean, whose previous best finish was finalist to world champion Wang Nan of China here last year, gunned down second seed Mihaela Steff of Romania 12-10, 11-4, 8- 11, 6-11, 14-12, 11-9 in the final.

Kim, who received the winner's check of US$10,000, earlier put an end to Chinese qualifier Wang Shan's excellent Pro Tour debut with a 13-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5 win in the semifinals.

It was sweet salvation for Kim after she and Kim Bok-Rae failed to defend the women's doubles title, losing to former Chinese players Jing Jun Hong and Li Jia Wei, now representing Singapore, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, 15-13.--AFP