体坛英语新闻：China paddler Ma Long set to win first major singles at World Cup

LIVERPOOL, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's Ma Long said he will not let the chance to slip off his hand after two failed attempts because he has been mentally tougher by winning the Olympic champion.

The world No. 2 helped China win the men's team title alongside world No. 1 Zhang Jike and former World Cup winner Wang Hao.

"I think the Olympic Games has boosted my confidence," Ma said. "The World Cup features only 16 players. We are all familiar with each other. I think the one who is mentally the strongest will win the title."

Ma, who finished third twice in 2009 and 2010, was drawn in Group A with France's Adrien Mattenet, Chuang Chih-Yuan of Chinese Taipei and local player Paul Drinkhall.

The withdrawal of Olympic singles champion Zhang also gives Ma a precious chance of winning his first singles title at major international competitions. Zhang, also the reigning World Cup champion, pulled out citing personal reasons after becoming world' s most successful player in the London Oympics.

Ma's biggest potential threat would come from his teammte Xu Xin, ranked third in the world. Xu, who failed to enter the Olympic Games, was drawn in Group B with Belarusian veteran Vladimir Samsonov, Marcos Freitas of Portugal and England's wild card entry Liam Pitchford.

Xu must beat Samsonov, the 2009 champion, to avoid an early meeting with Ma in the quarterfinal or semifinals.

"I don't think the draw is a problem," Xu said. "It's a good draw. I will try my best to win the title."

Germany's Timo Boll, world's best player outside China, was in Group C with Oh Sangeun of South Korea, Jiang Tianyi of Hong Kong, China and Adrien Mattenet of France.

Boll's fellow German Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the bronze medalist at the London Olympic Games, was drawn in Group D with South Korea's Joo Saehyuk, Denmark's Michael Maze and the player who will win the Intercontinental Cup on Friday.