Xu, Yang end six decade drought for cross border pairs

China`s Xu Xin and Yang Ha-eun of South Korea have teamed up to become the first cross-border partnership to win the world mixed doubles table tennis championship for 61 years.

The pair beat Japan`s Kasumi Ishikawa and Maharu Yoshimura 4-0 at the world championships on Friday, becoming the first mixed nationality winners of the title since Czechoslovakia`s Ivan Andreadis and Hungarian Gizella Gervai at Wembley in 1954. 

Xu played through a shoulder injury he sustained in his men`s singles match earlier in the day but was quick to deflect Yang`s assertion that his performance had been heroic. 

"The injury definitely affected my play," the 25-year-old lefthander said. "I am glad that our partnership worked out well despite my injury. 

"I am neither a hero, nor a warrior, but I made sure that I give my best. As long as that is the case, I think the outcome matters less compared to the process and efforts."

The world championships in Suzhou, China conclude on Sunday.