by sportswriters Cao Jianjie and Wang Zijiang

DOHA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha won their men's and women's singles matches respectively and combined to join the mixed doubles semifinals at the World Table Tennis Championships on Thursday.

Second-seeded Wang survived a massive scare against France's Simon Gauzy to go through to the men's singles quarterfinals while top-seeded Sun fended off an onslaught from South Korea's Shin Yu-bin to claim a last-eight spot.

They paired up to win a mixed doubles clash 3-1 against Japan's Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto after overcoming a slow start.

China's table tennis team will not repeat its gold-medal sweep from the Paris Olympics, as third-seeded Lin Gaoyuan and Lin Shidong were eliminated from the men's doubles in four sets, by the sixth-seeded pair from Chinese Taipei, Kao Cheng-Jui and Lin Yun-Ju.

It marks the first time since 1975 that China has failed to reach the semifinals of the men's doubles event at the World Championships.

Lin Shidong had to put the historical loss aside as the world top-ranked player disposed of Sweden's Anton Kallberg 4-0.

Lin will next play against his teammate Liang Jingkun, who edged out England's Tom Jarvis 4-2.

Wang found himself slow to get in form as he faced 43rd-ranked Gauzy. Jolted awake while two sets down, Wang played a very aggressive game with subtle maneuvers on the table and clinched the match 4-1 over 52 minutes.

"I suddenly felt this could be my last game if I didn't turn the tables," said Wang. "I calmed myself down, not thinking about winning or losing. I just focused on tactics and skills."

The turning point came when the Chinese let out a loud shout while leading 5-2 in the third set. "I let off steam with that," he said.

Gauzy rated his performance nine out of 10.

"Wang was not at his best at the beginning, while I was," said the 30-year-old. "It's hard to handle his power and speed."

Wang will now face against 13th seed Lin Yun-Ju, who shut out eighth seed Patrick Franziska of Germany 4-3.

In women's singles action, Sun Yingsha held her nerves in 4-2 victory over Shin and China's second seed Wang Manyu took the better of Romania's Bernadette Szocs 4-0.

Chinese Wang Yidi whitewashed Prithika Pavade of France 3-0 while her compatriot Shi Xunyao suffered a 4-2 beating by sixth-seeded Hina Hayata from Japan. ■