by Simon Daish
There was drama right from the early stages of the match with Sun Yingsha claiming the opening game with a net ball but Wang Manyu responded well, levelling the tie with a positive display in game two.
The advantage in the third end was surely in Wang Manyu’s favour with the no.6 seed edging ahead to a 10-9 lead, however, three consecutive points for Sun Yingsha saw the latter player move in front once again.
After six games neither finalist could be separated so a decider was required. Wang Manyu raced into a commanding 10-4 lead with six match points in her favour, but the 18-year-old only required the one point to claim the win.
“I am very very happy about winning the title here in Budapest… I was very good at reading her serves throughout the match and I was able to come back many times into the match because today I felt very strong mentally.” Wang Manyu
Victory in Budapest marks Wang Manyu’s second title success in the Women’s Singles category with her first coming at the Seamaster 2017 Platinum Hybiome Austria Open.
This was Sun Yingsha’s second defeat in a Women’s Singles final, having finished in the runner up spot at the ITTF World Tour event held in China last year. Sun Yingsha did, however, emerge victorious at the Seamaster 2017 Platinum Lion Japan Open.
China has now won the Women’s Singles gold medal for the 159th occasion with the Seamaster 2018 Hungarian Open being the 326th ITTF World Tour tournament.
