by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Imposingly she beat the host association’s Chen Ting-Ting, the no.13 seed, at the quarter-final stage (11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8); a young lady who impresses.
A model of technical perfection, Chen Ting-Ting had ousted India’s Archana Girish Kamath one round earlier (11-4, 14-16, 11-5, 11-2, 4-11, 11-8).
Vote of thanks
Conversely, the appearance of Mak Tze Wing was not necessarily to be predicted.
She commenced her journey as the no.5 seed and to some extent she owes a vote of thanks to Chinese Taipei’s Wu Yi-Hua. Not seeded, in the opening round, she accounted for Japan’s Yuko Kato, the no.4 seed and the player who currently leads the ITTF World Junior Circuit Standings having won in France, Sweden and Portugal.
Impressively Wu Yi-Hua emerged successful in five games (13-11, 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 13-11).
Success against Yuko Kato but it was a different story one round later at the quarter-final stage when facing Mak Tze Wing; the 18 year old from Hong Kong showed no charity to record a straight games win (11-6, 14-12, 11-9, 12-10).
Su Pei-Ling
A semi-final place against expectations for Mak Tze Wing, it was even more contrary to predictions for Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling.
Occupying the no.11 seeded position in the competition, she overcame compatriot Fang Sih-Han, the no.8 seed in the opening round (6-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6), before accounting for Japan’s Kana Takeuchi, the no.3 seed in the quarter-finals (12-10, 11-9, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6).
Japanese success
Defeat for Japan but there was success in the round of the last eight. Miyu Nagasaki, the no.2 seed, accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Lee En-Chi, the no.12 seed (8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4) and surprise opening round winner over compatriot, Chen Ying-Chen, the no.7 seed (9-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10).
In the penultimate round Minnie Soo Wai Yam meets Su Pei-Ling, Mak Tze Wing opposes Miyu Nagasaki.
Hope of silverware alive
Progress to the penultimate round for Miyu Nagasaki; in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, her hopes of silverware are also very much alive.
She has advanced to the quarter-final round where she meets Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Chiao-Hsin; the pair being in the same half of the draw as Chang Ju-Chia and Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Yau.
Strong representation from Hong Kong, it is the same in the opposite half of the draw where Lee Ka Yee meets India’s Prapti Sen and Leung Ka Wan opposes Pearlyn Koh.
Also prominent
Similarly at the semi-final stage of both the Junior Girls’ Doubles and Cadet Girls’ Doubles events, Hong Kong is to the fore.
In the Junior Girls’ Doubles event, Mak Tze Wing and Minnie Soo Wai Yam meet the host association’s Jhou Sin-Yi and Liang Yu-Chieh; in the opposite half of the draw an all Chinese Taipei affair witnesses a clash between Chien Tung-Chuan and Huang Xuan-Chun who face Kuo Chia-Yun and Wu Yi-Hua.
Similar scenario
Meanwhile, at the semi-final stage of the Cadet Girls’ Doubles event it is the same scenario; one pair from Hong Kong, three from Chinese Taipei.
Lee Ka Yee and Wong Chin Yau fly the flag for Hong Kong; they meet Chen Ci-Xuan and Yen Chia-Hsuan. In the adjacent half of the draw Chen Yu-Chih and Hsu Chiao-Hsin meet Cai Fong-En and Jhou Ting-Yu.
Proceedings in Taipei City conclude on Sunday 28th August.
