by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Payas Jain and Pang Yew En Koen were both beaten by formidable Chinese opponents; players who have been absent from the international scene in recent times and therefore do not appear on the current world rankings.

Pang Yew En Koen suffered at the hands of Yu Zhengyang (11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 12-10); Payas Jain lost to Niu Guangkai, the defending champion (11-5, 11-6, 11-8).

It was for Pang Yew En Koen and Payas Jain their only defeat; thus second place in the group and elimination. Alas for Yiu Kwan To, it was third place and also elimination.  He was beaten by Iran’s Arya Amiri (11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10) and by Singapore’s Dominic Koh Song Jun (13-11, 13-11, 11-9).  Impressively, in the opening match in the group Dominic Koh Song Jun had overcome Arya Amiri (10-12, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6).

Problems for three prominent names but not where the other leading personnel were involved; Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin remained unbeaten to top his group, as did China’s Song Zhuoheng, Korea’s Park Gyeontae and Hong Kong’s Lau Chun Kit. Likewise it was top spot for Japan’s Kakeru Sone, Jo Yokotani and Kazuki Hamada.

Problems for seeded player in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event against Chinese opponents; it was the same in the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition.

Korea’s Shin Yubin, the top seed, was beaten by Wang Tianyi (11-1, 11-5, 13-11); Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Tung-Chen experienced defeat at the hands of Kuai Man (12-10, 11-8, 11-8).

Otherwise, it was first place for the principal names. China’s Huang Yingqi remained unbeaten to top her group as did Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee and Ryu Hanna, also from Korea alongside the Japanese trio formed by Yumeno Soma, Satsuki Odo and Honami Nakamori.

The Cadet Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles finals will be played on Monday 3rd July.