by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

However, she was not the highest rated to player to experience an opening round Under 21 Women’s Singles defeat.

Later on the opening morning of play, Japan’s Kyoka Kato, the no.2 seed, was beaten by Korea’s Ryu Hanna by the very narrowest of margins in a full distance five games contest (11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 11-9)

Success contrary to expectations but Chantal Mantz and Ryu Hanna were not the only players to end the hopes of seeded adversaries in the opening round of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event; in addition Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chia-Hsuan, China’s Sun Mingyang and Romania’s Andreea Dragoman upset the order of merit.

Sun Mingyang accounted for Japan’s Miyuu Kihara, the no.12 seed (12-10, 11-8, 11-8), Lin Chia-Hsuan overcame Thailand’s Tamolwan Khetkhuan, the no.14 seed (11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 12-10); Andreea Dragoman ended the hopes of Korea’s Kim Jiho, the no.16 seed (11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5).

Defeats for four seeded players and close calls for two more; Japan’s Minami Ando, the no.4 seed, needed the full five games to beat Poland’s Natalia Bajor (11-4, 12-14, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5), as did Korea’s Lee Zion, the no.7 seed, when confronting the host nation’s Jennie Wolf (11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9).

Troubled times for the second and fourth seeds but not for the remaining leading names; Hong Kong’s Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the top seed, was not required to raise her racket in anger, she received a direct entry to round two, Miyu Maeda, the no.3 seed, beat Korea’s Shin Yubin (11-7, 11-8, 11-2).

Names to note and note two more; both members of China’s gold medal winning outfit in the Girls’ Team event at the 2015 World Junior Championships; Chen Ke, the no.5 seed, beat Germany’s Wan Yuan (11-7, 11-8, 11-2), Wang Yidi, the no.11 seed, ended the hopes of Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Wen (9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-5).

The second round of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event will be played later in the day.