by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
She overcame Russia’s Maria Dolgikh in a tense seven games duel (11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5) to bring smiles to the supporters of the green and gold; especially to the brow of Jens Lang, the Performance Director and National Head Coach for Table Tennis Australia.
Only Way
“Patience, it was the only way she was going to win”, said Jens Lang who was clearly proud of his charge.
“It was not easy to maintain focus for seven games”, he added. “There was all the noise from the Brazilian crowd with Gui Lin playing on the next table.”
On the adjacent table, Gui Lin beat Galia Dvorak in six games (11-1, 5-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-9, 11-6).
“Earlier today we had lost matches where we had a chance but did not take the opportunities”, added Jens Lang. “Experience was vital; in such circumstances, younger players may have panicked and lost.”
Mentally Tiring
A gruelling contest; it was tired Jian Fang Lay at the end of the contest.
“Tired mentally, I had put the ball on the table 20 times to win a point”, said Jian Fang Lay. “She was not that happy when I played using the pimples, I have long pimples.”
Zhang Mo
Success in seven games for Jian Fang Lay, it was the same for Canada’s Zhang Mo who eventually overcame the Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova (14-12, 14-16, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-3).
“I won the first game, I did feel under pressure, in the second game I went ahead 8-3 and lost”, explained Zhang Mo. “At the start of the seventh game I told myself that I must play my game and be positive.”
Opening Round Wins
Success for Gui Lin, Jian Fang Lay and Zhang Mo in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event for Poland’s Katarzyna Grzybowska-Franc, the Czech Republic’s Iveta Vacenovska and Romania’s Daniela Monteiro-Dodean, in addition to the United States duo of Lily Zhang and Wu Yue.
Katarzyna Grzybowska-Franc and Daniela Monteiro-Dodean ended Indian hopes; Katarzyna Grzybowska-Franc beat Manika Batra (10-12, 11-6, 14-12, 8-11, 11-4, 14-12), Daniela Monteiro-Dodean overcame Mouma Das (11-2, 11-7, 11-7, 11-3).
Meanwhile, Iveta Vacenovska overcame Colombia’s Lady Ruano (11-8, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8), Lily Zhang accounted for Gremlis Arvelo (11-3, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7), before Wu Yue brought the morning to a conclusion by beating the Slovak Republic’s Eva Odorova 93-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8).
