by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The win meant not only did he record his first ever win over Yuto Muramatsu in an international tournament; additionally, he became the only Korean to progress to the second round of the Men’s Singles event.

Although now some year ago, on the ITTF World Junior Circuit in 2010 in both Chengdu and on home soil in Korea, Yuto Muramatsu had beaten Lim Jonghoo; two years later at the Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Championships in Hyderabad he repeated the feat.

One surprise outcome but in the remaining contests that brought the second round to a conclusion, it was success for the higher rated player with Chinese Taipei enjoying notable progress and Japan experiencing a further defeat.

Chen Chien-An, the no.13 seed beat Kazuhiro Yoshimura (11-6, 11-9, 11-9, 14-12); whilst Chinese Taipei colleague, Chuang Chih-Yuan, the no.2 seed, overcame Sweden’s Anton Källberg (6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-1, 11-9). In the one remaining opening round contest, Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, the no.5 seed, overcame Germany’s Benedikt Duda (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9).

Meanwhile, as matters concluded in the first round of the Women’s Singles event; results went as predicted.

Japan involved in all four contests, it was two wins and two defeats. Kasumi Ishikawa, the no.2 seed, accounted for Singapore’s Zhou Yihan (11-6,13-11, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10); Hina Hayata, the no.12 seed, overcame Korea’s Song Maeum (11-4, 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10).

Conversely, Miyu Maeda was beaten by Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, the no.3 seed (13-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6); Natsumi Nakata experienced defeat at the hands of Singapore’s Zeng Jian, the no.13 seed (11-8, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9).

The second rounds of both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events will be played later in the day.