by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Success against fellow European opposition but the following day, Friday 23rd March, when facing adversaries from Asia, it was defeat.

Adina Diaconu and Bernadette Szocs suffered at the hands of Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.5 seeds (6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4), for Daniela Monteiro-Dodean and Elizabeta Samara it was defeat when facing Korea’s Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun, the no.3 seeds (11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8).

Impressive from Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam; it was equally impressive from the colleagues, Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching, the no.2 seeds. Likewise they faced a pair that had been required to compete in the qualification tournament; they opposed a Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Hsien-Tzu and Liu Hsing-Yin; each game closely fought but at the key stages it was the Hong Kong pair that prevailed, a four games win was the outcome (11-8, 13-11, 11-13, 11-9).

Wins for seeds against qualifiers; in the one remaining Women’s Doubles quarter-final contest it was the same scenario; Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito, the top seeds, ended the hopes of Thailand’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut (11-7, 11-8, 11-9).

At the semi-final stage Hina Hayata and Mima Ito meet Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, in the opposite half of the draw Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun confront Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching; the matches will be played on Saturday 24th March.