by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The no.3 seed, Xue Fei accounted for Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa, the no.5 seed, at the final hurdle (11-7, 11-8, 11-9), having in the penultimate round beaten Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit, the top seed (7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4). In the adjacent half of the draw, Mizuki Oikawa had also upset the order of merit; he had ended the hopes of Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting (11-7, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7).

Defeat for the top seeded Hong Kong representative at the semi-final stage of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event; it was the same in the counterpart Under 21 Women’s Singles competition.

Chen Ke who started proceedings as the no.5 seed, accounted for Minnie Soo Wai Yam (11-7, 3-11, 11-4, 11-5), prior to securing the title at the final expense of colleague, Sun Mingyang, the no.27 seed (7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7). In the opposite half of the draw, just as in the counterpart Under 21 Men’s Singles event, it was semi-final sadness for Japan; Miyu Maeda, the no.3 seed, was the victim of Sun Mingyang (11-6, 11-9, 11-8).

Notably it was for both their second career ITTF World Tour titles.

Recently Xue Fei had won the Under 21 Men’s Singles event at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Hybiome Austrian Open in Linz; at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Korea Open staged in Incheon, Chen Ke had partnered compatriot Wang Manyu to Women’s Doubles gold.