by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Accepted that Suh Hyowon is currently listed at no.20 on the Women’s World Rankings and Wen Jia, owing to an absence from the international scene, has no such status; of the Chinese group, Wen Jia was arguably the one player expected to progress when play started two days ago.
In 2011, she won the Women’s Singles title at the China Open in Shenzhen; more pertinently in 2013 she succeeded at the German Open when the tournament was staged in Berlin.
Success for Korea against China; conversely, Kim Kyungah was beaten by Sheng Dandan (11-9, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9); Yang Haeun suffered against Sun Mingyang (11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8).
Similarly, Japan experienced problems went confronting China in the preliminary round of the Women’s Singles qualification tournament. Miyu Kato was beaten by Liu Xi (7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 16-14); Misaki Morizono suffered again Wang Yidi (12-10, 11-6, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8). Likewise, Yui Hamamoto found Feng Yalan in no mood for charity (11-8, 11-3, 11-6, 11-5), a situation which also applied to Maki Shiomi when facing Chen Xingtong (9-11, 6-11, 16-14, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6).
Impressive performances from Chinese players trying to make their mark; it was the same from Li Xiaodan and Chen Ke; Li Xiaodan beat Elizabeta Samara (11-8, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8), Chen Ke accounted for Chen Szu-Yu (11-4, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6).
Defeats for Japan and there was one more, Saki Shibata suffered against Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Hsien-Tzu (8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10), a player who against the odds had finished in first place in her initial stage group contest. Notably she had beaten Hong Kong’s Tie Yana (6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4).
Problems for Hong Kong and there was one in the preliminary round; Lee Ho Ching, listed at no.27 on the current Women’s World Rankings was beaten by Austria’s Liu Jia, named at no.34 and the winner at the 2008 German Open when the tournament was staged in Berlin. Lee Ho Ching experienced defeat in six games (11-5, 11-6, 4-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6).
Disappointment for Hong Kong; however, Jiang Huajun balanced the books; she beat Portugal’s Fu Yu (8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7) to receive her main draw place.
Play in the main draw commences on Friday 10th November.
