by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Sensationally he beat Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna, the recent winner of the Men’s Singles event at the ITTF Challenge Polish Open to top his group and thus gained a direct entry to the second preliminary round where the quite remarkable form continued.

Presently listed at no.210 on the Men’s World Rankings, he beat Portugal’s João Monteiro, listed at no.50 (10-12, 11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8), to reserve his place in the main draw. Furthermore, João Monteiro was a player in form; earlier in the day in the first preliminary round, he had beaten China’s Zhou Kai (12-11, 3-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 4-11, 13-11).

Outstanding from Bence Majoros, it was the same from Yuto Kizukuri. Named at no.85 on the present day world rankings, he excelled expectations to beat Ukraine’s Kou Lei, listed at no.33 (11-8, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7).

A fine effort from the 18 year old it was the same from colleagues Maharu Yoshimura and Jin Ueda. Maharu Yoshimura beat the host nation’s Benedikt Duda (11-4, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5), Jin Ueda accounted for Romania’s Hunor Szocs (10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8).

Success without the need for a vital seventh and deciding game, it was the same for Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia and Korea’s Jeong Sangeun as they booked main event places but not for England’s Paul Drinkhall or China’s Zhou Yu.

Tiago Apolonia beat Russia’s Alexey Liventsov (11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5); Jeong Sangeun overcame Croatia’s Andrej Gacina (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10).

In a somewhat different manner, Paul Drinkhall added to German woes by overcoming Ricardo Walther (11-13, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 10-12, 11-6); Zhou Yu ended the hopes of Denmark’s Jonathan Groth (4-11, 11-6, 10-12, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8).