by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
However, all were outcomes that could be anticipated; higher rated adversaries signalled the end of adventures.
Miguel Vilchez lost to Germany’s Dennis Klein, the 16th name in the order of merit; Carlos Caballero was beaten by Slovenia’s Deni Kozul, the no.8 seed, Rafael de la Heras by Austria’s Andreas Levenko, the no.11 seed, after having held a two games to nil lead (9-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-4).
Meanwhile, for the aspiring young Indian players who have made a significant impact on this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit, there were most creditable performances.
Jeet Chandra fought bravely against Korea’s Cho Seungmin, the top seed but after a close first game found the speed of his adversary too hot to handle (11-9, 11-4, 11-3); likewise, Manav Vikash Thakkar experienced defeat at the hands of Korean opposition. He was beaten by Park Ganghyeon, the no.6 seed and winner the previous week in Stockholm (11-6, 11-7, 11-3).
Also it was very much the same for Rhonit Bhanja, he experienced defeat at the hands of Hong Kong’s Ng Pak Nam (7-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-3),
Losses against higher rated opposition for colleagues Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Snehit Suravajjula it was the complete reverse. They emerged the players to cause the two upsets of note in the first round of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event.
Manush Utpalbhai Shah beat Turkey’s Ibrahim Gündüz, the no.13 seed (11-4, 11-4, 11-7), Snehit Suravajjula accounted for Denmark’s Tobias Rasmussen, the no.14 seed (11-5, 11-7, 4-11, 11-13, 11-8).
Surprise outcomes and very nearly there was a major casualty; Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic, the no.4 seed, was stretched to the very limit by Sweden’s Anders Eriksson only emerging successful by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game (11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9).
A second round place reserved but a close call, for the one remaining leading name alongside Cho Seungmin, Ng Pak Nam and Darko Jorgic, life was less exacting. Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang, the no.2 seed, accounted for Austria’s Thomas Grininger in four games (10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4).
The second round of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event will be played later in the day.
