by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Xu Haidong, the top seed, finished ahead of the host’s Yeung Pui Lam and Chu Pak Chung; next in line to Yang Shuo, the no.3 seed, came Thailand’s Supakron Pankhaoyoy and Hong Kong’s Chui King Kiu.

Similarly, Hong Kong’s Lee Pak Ho concluded matters in second place behind Xu Yingbin, the no.4 seed, with third place finishing in the hands of Thailand’s Chetthanathip.

Three games to nil wins on each visit to the table; it was the same for Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju, the no.2 seed. He secured first place in the group ahead of Hong Kong’s Choi Cheuk Kwan and Uzbekistan’s Maksud Nurpulatov.

Success for the leading names, the only prominent player to experience an unexpected defeat was Japan’s Jo Yokotani; the no.8 seed, he was beaten by Hong Kong’s Cheung Yin To (14-12, 5-11, 15-13, 11-2). However, it was to prove his only defeat and thus second place and a passport to the main draw was secured.

Defeat for Jo Yokotani; for Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chun-Hsiang, the no.11 seed, it was top place in the group without defeat but there was a close call. He needed to recover from a two games to nil deficit to beat India’s Ishaan Higorani, only emerging successful by the very narrowest of margins (7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 14-12).

Meanwhile, in the remaining groups, the leading names secured first places; it was top spot for Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin and Lin Hsin-Yang, as it was for Japan’s Kakeru Sone and Kazuki Hamada alongside Thailand’s Yanapong Panagitgun.

The Junior Boys’ Singles event continues on Saturday 5th August, when matters will reach the semi-final round.