by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Yuto Kizukuri and Wang Chuqin reserved their places in the penultimate round as status suggested; they are the respective top two seeds.

At the quarter-final stage, both accounted for adversaries from Chinese Taipei. Yuto Kizukuri beat Feng Yi-Hsin, the no.10 seed (11-8, 11-9, 11-5); Wang Chuqin ousted Lin Yun-Ju, the no.7 seed (11-7, 11-8, 1-11, 6-11, 11-3). Notably Feng Yi-Hsin was very much a player in form, one round earlier, he had beaten Korea’s Cho Daeseong, the no.5 seed (11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7).

Semi-final places as expected; it was somewhat different for Shunsuke Togami and Xu Yingbin. Shunsuke Togami commenced play as the no.8 seed, Xu Yingbin as the no.11 seed.

In the round of the last eight, Shunsuke Togami accounted for China’s Yu Heyi, the no.4 seed, in a full distance encounter decided by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game (6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9); Xu Yingbin, who in the opening round had accounted for Japan’s Yukiya Uda, the no.6 seed (11-7, 11-4, 11-9), ended the progress of Korea’s An Jaehyun, the no.3 seed (11-5, 11-8, 13-11).

Defeat for Korea but in the Junior Boys’ Doubles event, the door is still open.

At the semi-final stage An Jaehyun and Hwang Minha meet Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda; in the opposite half of the draw Xu Yingbin and Yu Heyi face Lin Yun-Ju and Li Hsin-Yang.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Mixed Doubles event, the title is destined for China. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha meet Xue Fei and Qian Tianyi.

Play concludes in Asan on Tuesday 4th July.

Photos: An Sungho