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WORLD TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
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New Zealand’s Karen Li was one of the Oceania coaches on duty at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Vrsac, Serbia in late October 2006; some seven months later she was in the playing role at the Liebherr World Championships in Zagreb with her elder sister, Li Chunli occupying the coach’s role.
Furthermore, Karen Li showed that none of the skills that have taken her to the latter stages of Commonwealth competitions have deserted her. 
Partnering Annie Yang, the duo progressed successfully through the preliminary stages of the Women’s Singles event.
Chinese Origins
Both originate from China, Karen is from Guangxi in the south and has been in New Zealand for eleven years, whilst Annie Yang comes from the north. She is from Changchun and has been in New Zealand for eleven years.
Annie Yang is one of two players at the Liebherr World Championships in Zagreb; the other is Wang Hao; the number four seed in the Men’s Singles event; in fact both Annie Yang and Wang Hao are from the same club.
Playing Style
Also, there is one similarity, both are penhold grip players but that’s where the likeness virtually ends.
Wang Hao is powerful and the master of the topspin with the backhand from the reversed side of the racket. Annie Yang is petite, there is no chance she can unleash the awesome power of her compatriot; she would have to jet propelled.
Combination
She uses short pimples on the forehand and reversed rubber on the backhand; in fact her style of play is very similar to that of Karen Li.
Karen Li is right handed, a shakehands grip player who uses the same combination of racket coverings as Annie Young, short pimples on the forehand, reversed rubber on the backhand. “I think that’s one reason why we are good at doubles”, said Karen Li. “I think the fact that our styles are similar is a bonus.”
Classic
Furthermore, they form what is generally regarded as the classic doubles combination; the left handed penhold grip player and the right handed hand shakehands grip exponent.
“Undoubdtedly, playing with a left hander helps me a great deal, I don’t have to move so much!” smiled Karen Li. “Also, the fact that she’s a penholder means she’s good near the net, good at returning the ball short, good at creating angles.”
To the Fore
Certainly those skills were very much to the fore in Zagreb on the morning of Monday 21st May 2007 and the quiet reserved Annie Yang was equally delighted to be partnering Karen Li, or did I detect a sense of fear?
“I just do as I’m told”, she said. “Karen’s the boss!” Well I don’t think she could have a more caring boss!
Caring
Karen Li looked after the Oceania girls at the World Cadet Challenge in Serbia last year like a shepherd looking after a flock of sheep, I’m sure she would be an outstanding primary school teacher.
Annie Yang, who plays for Marly le Roi in the south west of Paris near Versailles, undoubtedly has great respect for Karen Li as both do for the coach. Li Chunli.
She guided the pair safely through the opening stages.
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