by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

In the opening round of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, she excelled the performance of the qualification phase by causing the biggest upset of the round. She beat Japan’s Kana Takeuchi, the no.7 seed, in three straight games (11-8, 11-5, 11-9).

A surprise win for Nadezhda Bogdanova; there were two more with Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut and Germany’s Wan Yuan being the players to shine.

Jinnipa Sawettabut accounted for Korea’s Lee Yujin, the no.10 seed (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11); Wan Yuan overcame Daria Trigolos of Belarus, the no.10 seed (11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3).

Otherwise, for the leading names on duty it was opening round success but for the top two names, hard earned success; both Japan’s Saki Shibata, the top seed and Romania’s Adina Diaconu, the no.2 seed, almost came to grief, they booked their second round places by the very narrowest of decisions.

Saki Shibata overcame Korea’s Kang Dayeon (12-10, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10), in a similar dramatic duel, Adina Diaconu accounted for Charlotte Carey of Wales (3-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11).

Close calls for the top two names; for the next two in the order of merit life was less fraught in the opening round. Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.3 seed, beat Korea’s Shin Yubin (11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7); Germany’s Nina Mittelham, the no.4 seed, ended the aspirations of Bulgaria’s Maria Yovkova (12-10, 11-3, 11-5).

The second round of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event will be played later in the day.