3-1 in the third round singles tie, one of the surprises of the tournament so far, AFP reported. The North Korean, rated 59 and playing in her first world championship, said her opponent "seemed to be a little bit nervous about her technique" in the decisive fourth game.
"I am very happy, Li Ju played very hard in the first game, but I was just thinking: 'Try to beat her'," said the teenager, who is rated only fifth in her own country.
China suffered another reverse, albeit a minor one, in the men's singles second round on Wednesday afternoon, when Yan Sen was beaten by Belgium's Philippe Saive.
However apart from these stumbles, the Chinese bid for a clean sweep of gold medals at the Osaka tournament appeared to be continuing as planned.
In the men's singles, table tennis's dominant nation had six players through to the third round, as well as five in the women's singles last 16 and no fewer than three of the four women's doubles semi-final spots.
World number one Wang Liqin and Sydney Olympic champion Kong Linghui, seeded one and two, both coasted through to the men's singles next round, as did third seed Ma Lin.
In the women's singles, world number one Wang Nan also continued her attempt to add a second world title to her Sydney Olympic gold medal.
Wang swept aside Slovakia's Eva Odorova 3-0, and afterwards Slovak team captain Vladimir Mihocko admitted his protege could do little to alter the course of the match.
"I told her to try her best, but the Chinese player's serve was very difficult, always different," he said.
The Chinese men and women have already triumphed in the team events here, having won all the table tennis golds at the Sydney Olympics.
Swedish two-time world men's singles champion Jan-Ove Waldner, who won his singles tie against Roko Tosic of Croatia on Wednesday, said he wanted another nation to take at least one title.
"I hope for the sport someone from another country, maybe in Europe, can win something. I think it would be good for the sport if they did," he said.
And the 35-year-old double world champion said he might be the person to do just that.
"If I am playing good, for me I feel that I am not afraid to play the Chinese, although I cannot say what they are feeling. But that does not matter."
Waldner, considered one of the greatest players ever to pick up a paddle, also said the current world championships might be his last.
The Barcelona Olympic gold medallist said he was "considering" playing in a tournament over the summer, but after that might retire.
And while refusing to absolutely rule out one more world tournament, he admitted the next event, in Paris in 2003, was probably too far away.
"I don't know for certain if it will be my last championships, it is difficult to say for sure. But 2003 is a long time to go, maybe too long," he said.
North Korean teenager stuns China's world no. 2 (2001-05-03)China seeking to maintain table tennis dominance (2000-08-10)2 (11285)
