Chinese Wang Liqin pushed aside Swedish veteran Jan-Ove Waldner for the men's singles bronze medal in the table tennis tournament of the Olympic Games on Monday.

The 26-year-old Wang, men's double winner in Sydney four years ago, dictated the match despite the first game loss before he beat Waldner, 13 years his senior, 4-1 (10-12, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7 and 11-9).

1992 Barcelona Olympics singles champion Waldner looked anxious during the 24-minute match before he surrendered the victory to his Chinese rival with a missed service.

Waldner will be back home without a medal from the Games after he was also shut outside of the doubles' semi-finals by Michael Maze and Finn Tugwell of Denmark on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2004)