by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Safely through the three day qualification tournament, she beat Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu, the no.8 seed, in seven games (16-14, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6) to reserve her place in the second round of proceedings.

“Chen Szu-Yu was very powerful and fast. Therefore I played with spin and kept changing the direction of my play, creating angles. I am very happy that I won against; now I look forward to the next match.” Yang Haeun

Success for Yang Haeun who was one of four players to cause an upset as play began in the Women’s Singles event; the others were colleague and doubles partner Jeon Jihee, alongside Austria’s Sofia Polcanova and China’s Huang Yiubngqi.

Jeon Jihee stifled German hoped by beating Sabine Winter, the no.16 seed, Huang Yingqi accounted for Japan’s Miyu Kato, the 12 seed (11-8, 11-13, 3-11, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8).

All most creditable performances but pride of the place went to Austria’s Sofia Polcanova who displayed a noticeable improvement against defensive play. She beat Li Jie of the Netherlands, the winner of the Europe Top 16 in 2017 and in Bremen, the no.7 seed. Most impressively, Sofia Polcanova won in four straight games (12-10, 11-2, 17-15, 11-3).

Early exits for notable names butfor the leading names on duty in the top half of the Women’s Singles draw, there was success. Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, the top seed, beat Japan’s 13 year old Satsuki Odo (11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4); in an all Japanese clash Miu Hirano, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Honoka Hashimoto (11.6, 11-9, 11-9, 9.11. 16.14).

The second round of the Women’s Singles event will be played later in the evening.