by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The victor over Fan Zhendong, Chen Chien-An, the no.9 seed, continued his winning ways but against Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit, the no.11 seed, one wondered, as the fourth game progressed, that he may receive a taste of his own medicine.

Chen Chien-An withstood any possible crisis, he recovered from a two games to one deficit to eventually emerge successful (9-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5).

“In the two games that I lost I did not control the trajectory of the ball well; when I was down two games to one I made some tactical changes. In the fourth game I played more aggressively, now rest and prepare for the next match.” Chen Chien-An

After two series of matches, he remains the only unbeaten player in the group.

Two matches, two wins; in addition to Chuang Chih-Yuan and Chen Chen-An, it is the same situation for Korea’s Jeong Sangeun and Japan’s Jun Mizutani. In the same group as Chuang Chih-Yuan, Jeong Sangeun, the no.8 seed, accounted for Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan, the no.12 seed, by the very narrowest of decisions (9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10) to keep his record of wins intact.

Likewise, Japan’s Jun Mizutani, the no.3 seed, continued his perfect day by overcoming Korea’s Lee Sangsu, the no.5 seed (11-5, 11-8, 11-8); in the corresponding contest, China’s Lin Gaoyuan, the no.7 seed, overcame India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta, the no.10 seed (11-1, 11-6, 11-3).

Meanwhile, in the group for the regions, Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Al-Abbad beat Thailand’s Padasak Tanviriyavechakul (11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5); Iran’s Nima Alamian accounted for the host nation’s Harmeet Desai (11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10).

Nima Alamian remains the only unbeaten player in the group.