by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Maki Shiomi beat the host’s Sarah Meyer, the no.15 seed (11-7, 11-3, 11-8, 11-8), in a similar vein Miyu Nagasaki defeated Australia’s Michelle Wu, the no.16 seed (11-3, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7).

Meanwhile, not to be upstaged, Adina Diaconu accounted for Ecuador’s Nathaly Paredes, the no.14 seed (11-5, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5); Su Pei-Ling overcame Egypt’s Marwa Alhodaby, the no.13 seed (12-10, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7).

Outcomes as anticipated but in the battle for second positions and thus progress to the quarter-finals, there were surprises.

Amy Wang of the United States, the no.10 seed, beat India’s Archana Girish Kamath, the no.7 seed (3-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7) to secure second place in her group behind Maki Shiomi. In a similar manner, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ting-Ting, the no.11 seed, defeated Belgium’s Lisa Lung, the no.5 seed (12-14, 13-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7) and thus finished in second place in her group behind Adina Diaconu.

Two surprise second places; in the remaining groups it was as anticipated but there was a close call; Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut, the no.8 seed, needed the full seven games to beat Hong Kong’s Wong Chin Yau, the no.9 seed (11-6, 10-12, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6). The win meant runners up spot, one place behind Miyu Nagasaki.

Tense times for Jinnipa Sawettabut, it was almost the same for Chau Wing Sze, the no.6 seed and like Wong Chin Yau from Hong Kong. She needed six games to overcome India’s Selena Selvakumar, the no.12 seed (7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5); success and second place behind Su Pei-Ling was reserved.

The quarter-finals of the Girls’ Singles event will be played later in the day.