by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The top spots gained by Gu Yuting, Chen Xingtong and Wen Jia were as status advised, the were the highest rated players in their respective groups. Conversely, Wang Yidi, Sheng Dandan and Chen Ke upset the ranked order as did Sun Mingyang, Feng Yalan, Li Xiaodan and Liu Xi.
Unexpected first places that is open to argument, especially with respect to Feng Yalan who at the 2010 German Open won both the Under 21 Women’s Singles and Women’s Singles titles.
Meanwhile, for her compatriots who upset the order of merit, achieving first places was advising those responsible for selection that they can cope with the rigours of international play.
Unbeaten on the first day of action, named at no.94 on the current Women’s World Rankings, Wang Yidi completed her group stage matches with success against Japan’s Sakura Mori, listed at no. 24 (11-9, 12-10, 11-6, 13-11). Impressive, it was the same from Sheng Dandan, Li Xiaodan and Liu Xi, all players, like Feng Yalan with no current world status.
Sheng Dandan beat Singapore’s Zeng Jian (11-8, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4) to conclude her group stage contest unbeaten; similarly, Li Xiaodan overcame Korea’s Ryu Hanna (11-6, 11-2, 11-8, 11-4), Liu Xi accounted for Tanja Helle of the Netherlands (11-6, 11-2, 11-8, 11-4). On the current Women’s World Rankings, Zeng Jian is named at no.25, Ryu Hanna at no.306; Tanja Helle has no such status.
Impressive performances; it was the same from Chen Ke, presently ranked no.61, who beat Korea’s Choi Hyojoo, listed at no.43 (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8) but for Sun Mingyang, life was more exacting.
On the opening day of play she had beaten Singapore’s Zhou Yihan in four straight games (11-4, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4) but in five games had lost the Britt Eerland of the Netherlands (11-5, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7). In the concluding match Zhou Yihan recovered to beat Britt Eerland in six games (8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 2-11, 11-6).
Thus games ratio was needed to determine the outcome, Sun Mingyang finished in first place (5:4), followed by Britt Eerland (6:5) and Zhou Yihan (4:6).
Now for the ten players from China, the next step awaits; the must all play in a preliminary round and emerge successful in order to gain main draw places.
