by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The absence of Ding Ning very much opens up the top half of the draw and could it provide Japan’s Miu Hirano another chance to seize a moment of history.

Two months ago in October, the withdrawal of China’s Liu Shiwen opened the door at the Seamaster Women’s World Cup in Philadelphia; it meant no Chinese player was on duty.

A very similar situation has now occurred in Doha; the top half of the draw in the Women’s Singles competition is now bereft on Chinese adversary.

Miu Hirano meets Hong Kong’s Tie Yana at the quarter-final stage; the winner opposes Han Ying.

Earlier today in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event, Miu Hirano beat Singapore’s Feng Tianwei and thus repeated the success she had enjoyed over the Singaporean in Philadelphia.

At the Seamaster Women’s World Cup in the contest for third place, Feng Tianwei bea Tie Yana.

Does that add up to a potential podium finish for Miu Hirano?