Challenge Series

Add another name to Japanese teenage list, add Satsuki Odo

06 Oct 2017

A familiar face on the ITTF World Junior Circuit, Japan’s Satsuki Odo was the player to cause the biggest upset as play commenced in the Women’s Singles event at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Polish Open in Czestochowa on Friday 6th October.

Only 14 years old, yet another aspiring Japanese female player born this century, she recovered from a three games to one deficit to beat Germany’s Sabine Winter, the no.9 seed. She emerged successful by the very narrowest of margins in a tension packed seventh game (4-11, 9-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11, 14-12).

Satsuki Odo caused a major opening round upset (Photo: Bogdan Pasek)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Success against the odds for Satsuki Odo, as play progressed in the top half of the draw in the Women’s Singles event in Czestochowa; there was one more upset.

Ukraine’s Solomiya Brateyko, who like Satsuki Odo had been required to compete in the qualification tournament, overcame Spain’s Maria Xiao, the no.15 seed; similarly in a hard fought full distance seven games duel (7-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8).

Victories by narrow margins and there was one more in the top half of the draw; only on this occasion the verdict went in favour of the seeded player. Norway’s Ma Wenting, the no.24 seed, withstood a brave challenge from Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chia-Hsun (9-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-9, 11-13, 13-11, 11-4) to reserve her place in round three.

Success for Ma Wenting and there was success for the leading names as matters advanced with Japan very much to the fore.
Mima Ito, the top seed, two years older than Satsuki Odo, beat Norway’s Ilka Duval (11-8, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8); Miyu Kato, the no.3 seed, overcame Singapore’s Zhang Wanling (11-3, 11-6, 11-7, 11-1).

Similarly, Maki Shiomi, the no.5 seed, was unrepentant, she accounted for the host nation’s Natalia Bajor (11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5). Meanwhile, not to be overshadowed, Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching, the no.6 seed, ended the hopes of Germany’s Wan Yuan (11-3, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6).

The second round will be played later in the day.

 

Challenge Series 2017 Polish Open Satsuki Odo

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