Answer to Korean woes, Cho Daeseong guides colleagues to surprise top place

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The no.6 seeds, they opened their account in the most impressive manner possible. They recorded a three-one success in opposition to the Indian trio formed by Ronit Bhanja, Ananth Devarajan and Siddesj Pande.

Set Tone

Man of the moment was Cho Daeseong; he accounted for both Ronit Bhanja (11-6, 14-12, 11-9) and Ananth Devarajan (11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-3) with Hwang Jinha adding the one further success. In the third match of the contest, he overcame Siddesh Pande (11-7, 11-7, 11-8). The one win for the defeated was recorded by Ananth Devarajan; in the second match of the engagement, he overcame Park Gyeongtae (11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6)

The result set the tone for the day; the Koreans ended the day unbeaten, the Indian trio suffered two further defeats.

Ananth Dvarajan

They experienced a three-one reverse at the hands of the Chinese Taipei ‘B’ combination formed by Li Hsin-Yang, Chin Mao-Cheng and Chuang Chun-Yu; before a three matches to one outcome was the verdict in opposition to Chinese Taipei ‘C’.

Defeats for India but Ananth Dvarajan could stand tall; as against Korea ‘A’, he enjoyed success. In opposition to Chinese Taipei ‘B’ he accounted for Li Hsin-Yang (11-8, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7), before losing to Chin Mao-Cheng (11-9, 11-5, 11-7).

Also, against Chinese Taipei ‘C’, he was very much the man in form. He emerged the one winner for India beating Cai Ruei-Fing in the third match of the fixture by the very narrowest of margins (4-11, 15-13, 12-14, 12-10, 11-9).

Most Impressive of All

Impressive from Ananth Dvarajan but no player was as impressive as Cho Daeseong; he remained unbeaten throughout the whole day, being the hand that guided Korea ‘A’ top spot in the group.

In opposition to Chinese Taipei ‘C’ he beat both Lin Yung-Chih (12-10, 11-5, 11-4) and Cai Ruei-Fong (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8); later when facing Chinese Taipei ‘B’, he accounted for Chin Mao-Cheng (11-3, 11-5, 11-7) and Li Hsin-Yang (11-7, 11-6, 11-5) in the three-two overall victory.

Main Draw Place

Defeat for Chinese Taipei ‘B’ but it was their only reverse of the day; in their opening contest they recorded a three-one success over Chinese Taipei ‘C’ and thus secured second position in the group and a place in the main draw.

Teams finishing in first and second places in each of the three groups advanced to the main draw.

Leading Outfits Advance

Notably in each of the two remaining groups, the leading outfits reserved main draw places.

Japan with Takuto Izumo, Masaki Takami and Aoto Asazu, the top seeds, duly finished in first place in their group, as did the Chinese Taipei ‘A’ Team trio of Huang Chien-Tu, Lin Yun-Ju and Feng Yi-Hsin, the second seeds.

Respective second places went to the Chinese Taipei ‘D’ trio of Lin Huan-Hsun, Lai Chi-Chien and Hu Chung-Wen, in addition to the combination formed by Singapore’s Poh Shao Feng Ethan and Tay Ming Han Maxxe who joined forces with Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chun-Hsiang.

Cadet Boys’ Team

First place in their respective groups for the top seeds in the Junior Boys’ Team event; it was the same for in the Cadet Boys’ Team competition.

The Chinese Taipei duo of Huang Hung-Chou and Tai Ming-Wei, the top seeds duly ended the day in first place in their group as did the Hong Kong ‘A’ partnership of Wong Han Lam and Chan Yee Shun, the second seeds.

Play in both the Junior Boys’ Team and the Cadet Boys’ Team events conclude on Thursday 25^th August.