by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

After accounting for Korea’s Chae Byeonguk (6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-9) on the first day of play, on the second day he overcame Jules Rolland of France, the leading name present in the qualification phase. Once again, as in his opening encounter, he succeeded in four games (13-11, 10-12, 11-8, 16-14).

Defeat and no place in the main draw, it was the same for the next three names in the order of merit.

Qatar’s Abdulrahaman Al-Naggar was beaten by both Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen (11-1, 11-3, 11-8) and by India’s Mohammed Ali (11-6, 12-10, 11-5). Likewise, Oscar Perman lost to China’s Yan Sheng (14-12, 11-3, 11-9); Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chun-Hsiang experienced defeat at the hands of Frenchman Bastien Rembert (9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9).

Pang Yew En Koen, Yan Sheng and Bastien Rembert all remained unbeaten, duly finishing in first positions in their respective groups.

Similarly, there were surprise first places for Hu Chung-Wen, like Chen Chun-Hsiang from Chinese Taipei, a situation that also applied to Hong Kong’s Su Zhi as well as to China’s Li Zhi and Zhang Haonan.

Meanwhile, as status anticipated, first places were secured by Frenchmen Irvin Bertrand and Lilian Bardet, alongside the Korean trio comprising Hwang Minha, Choi Inhyeok and Hwang Min. Likewise as expected, Chinese Taipei’s Lai Chi-Chien and India’s Jeet Chandra reserved first positions.

Players finishing in first places in each of the 15 groups plus one “Lucky Loser” drawn at random from second placed players progressed to the main draw; the “Lucky Loser” was India’s Siddesh Pande.

Play in the main draw commences on Friday 18th May.