by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Qatar’s Li Ping booked his Men’s Singles last eight place by overcoming Abdulla Albalooshi from the United Arab Emirates (11-5, 11-6, 11-8, 11-2); whilst in the same half of the draw, Iran’s Nima Alamian progressed courtesy of success in opposition to Togo’s Mawussi Agbetoglo (12-10, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6).
Smooth headway in the top half of the draw; it was the same in the opposite half. Noshad Alamiyan emulated younger brother Nima, he accounted for Pakistan’s Muhammad Rameez (11-5, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7), to secure his quarter-final place; following suit, Turkey’s Ahmet Li ended the progress of the Ivory Coast’s Oba Kizi Oba (11-2, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6).
Success as anticipated but there were surprises as players strove for Men’s Singles quarter-final places.
Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Alabbad, the no.6 seed, was beaten by Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo (11-9, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5), the latter’s colleague, Ojo Onaolapo, the no.6 seed, experienced defeat at the hands of Azerbaijan’s Yu Xinheng (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9); whilst Yang Xinyu, like Yu Xinheng from Azerbaijan and the no.8 seed, lost to Turkey’s Batahun Ulucak (15-13, 12-10, 7-11, 6-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-7).
At the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event, Li Ping meets Olajide Omoyato, Nima Alamian faces Batahun Ulucak; in the opposite half of the draw, Li Ahmet confronts Yu Xinhang, Noshad Alamiyan plays Saudi Arabia’s Ali Alhadrawi.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles event, the principal names progressed to the quarter-final stage as anticipated.
Turkey Hu Melek beat Guyana’s Chelsea Edghill (11-1, 11-2, 11-5, 11-4) to reserve her last eight place. Similarly Azerbaijan’s Ning Zhing overcame Aminath Shiura Shareef of the Maldives (11-2, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4); whilst Iran’s Neda Shahsavari accounted for Trenace Lowe, like Chelsea Edghill from Guyana (11-8, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7). Not to be outdone, Azerbaijan’s Wang Miao halted the aspirations of Palestine’s Ahd Menawi (11-1, 11-1, 11-1, 11-6).
In the round of the last eight, Hu Melek opposes Pakistan’s Rahila Kashif, Wang Miao plays Iran’s Maryam Samet; in the adjacent half of the draw it is Ning Zhing against Palestine’s Diana Assisi, Turkey’s Ozge Yilmaz in opposition to Neda Shasavari.
The quarter-final matches in both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events will be played on Thursday 18th May; the semi-finals and finals on Friday 19th May. The tournament concludes on Monday 22nd May.
A total of 14 National Olympic Committees are competing in the table tennis competition, the events being as at the Olympic Games, Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles.
4th Islamic Solidarity Games: Draw for Men’s Singles event
4th Islamic Solidarity Games: Draw for Women’s Singles event
4th Islamic Solidarity Games: Schedule of Play