by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The no.22 seed, she employed her defensive skills to good effect to beat Mima Ito, the no.2 seed and the player who had been the backbone of Japan’s success three days earlier in the Girls’ Team event; in a hard fought duel Kim Yooujin emerged successful in seven games (11-8, 10-12, 2-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4).
A surprise defeat for Mima Ito and there was one more for Japan; China’s Sun Yizhen, a player with no current World ranking, accounted for Hina Hayata, the no.3 seed. Furthermore, victory was posted in a most impressive manner, a five games success was the order of the day (12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3).
Two shock defeats for Japan; however Miu Hirano and Miyu Kato steadied the ship. Miu Hirano, the top seed, overcame Russia’s Valeria Shcherbatykh, the no.25 seed (11-3, 11-9, 12-10, 11-13, 12-1); Miyu Kato, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yu-Chin, the no.32 seed (11-7, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9).
Surprises and there were more; Daria Trigolos of Belarus, the no.17 seed, defeated Romania’s Andreea Dragoman, the no.17 seed (11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 11-1, 11-5, 12-10); whilst Shi Xunyao, like Suin Yizhen from China and the no.26 seed, ousted Marie Migot of France, the no.16 seed (11-9, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7)
Good form from Daria Trigolos and Shi Xunyao; it was the same from Crystal Wang of the United States, the no.23 seed; she upset the order of merit. She ended the aspirations of Russia’s Mariia Tailakova, the no.14 seed (11-8, 11-6, 12-10, 11-2).
Notable casualties but for four other prominent names it was success in the second round of affairs.
Hong Kong’s Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.5 seed, beat Romania’s Tania Plaian, the no.44 seed (11-9, 11-5, 5-11, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10); Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.6 seed, beat Amy Wang of the United States, the no.34 seed (6-11, 11-9, 10-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7).
Likewise, Tania Plaian’s colleague, Adina Diaconu, the no.7 seed, overcame Chinese Taipei’s Wu Yi-Hua, the no.49 seed (11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, 11-1); Korea’s Kim Jiho, the no.8 seed, overcame Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, the no.18 seed (11-8, 11-3, 11-9, 11-4).
The third round and quarter-final matches in the Girls’ Singles event will be played later today.
