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2017 ITTF Challenge, Zagreb Open

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Challenge Series

Against expectations, first places for Vivien Scholz, Aleksandra Vovk and Lam Yee Lok

02 May 2017

Germany’s Vivien Scholz and Slovenia’s Aleksandra Vovk, alongside Hong Kong’s Lam Yee Lok, emerged as the three players guaranteed a place in the main draw in the Under 21 Women’s Singles event at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Zagreb Open when play concluded on Tuesday 2nd May.

They completed their first phase matches without defeat to reserve places in the second stage of a competition where only first position in the group guarantees progress; the winners of each of the 16 groups join the 16 seeds in the opening round.

A successful day for Lam Yee Lok (Photo: Andrej Matic)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Furthermore, all three commenced play as the lowest rated in their respective groups.

Vivien Scholz accounted for Hungary’s Leonie Hartbrich (11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-3) and Marie Migot of France (15-13, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8).

Similarly Aleksandra Vovk overcame Croatia’s Maria Vukelic (13-11, 11-9, 15-13) and Russia’s Valeria Shcherbatykh (4-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8) whilst Lam Yee Lok ended the hopes of Klara Cakol, like Maria Vukelic from the host nation (11-8, 14-12, 11-4). She sealed top spot in the group by defeating Kim Vermaas of the Netherlands (3-11, 11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 13-11).

First place guaranteed and very much on the same path as Vivien Scholz, Aleksandra Vovk and Lam Yee Lok is Korea’s 12 year old Shin Yubin.

One match still to play, likewise, the lowest rated player in the group, she beat the highest, Hanna Patseyeva of Belarus in her opening contest (11-2, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9), before overcoming Turkey’s Simay Kulakceken (12-10, 10-12, 11-4, 11-4) to complete the day without defeat.

Otherwise, for the remaining principal names in the initial stage of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, it was success. One match played; one win secured.

Germany’s Wan Yuan accounted for Finland’s Anna Kirichenko (11-5, 11-1, 11-6), Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yu-Chin beat Italy’s Le Thi Hong Loan (8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6).

Likewise, Alina Nikitchanka of Belarus overcame Switzerland’s Céline Reust (11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-2); Bulgaria’s Maria Yovkova defeated Slovenia’s Katarina Strazar (11-8, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8).

The qualification stage of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event concludes on Wednesday 3rd May.

 

Challenge Series 2017 Zagreb (Croatia) Open Lam Yee Lok Aleksandra Vovk Vivien Scholz

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