by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

The most notable casualty was that of the host nation’s Tamolwan Khetkhuan and Nanthana Komwong, the no.4 seeds, they suffered at the hands of China’s Yu Yifan and Yuan Yuan (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6).

Success for China, for Chinese Taipei it was mixed fortunes. Huang Yu-Wen and Li Yu-Jhun, the no.7 seeds, experienced defeat at the hands of Korea’s Kim Mingyung and Lee Yearam (11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7); conversely, Lee En-Chi and Su Pei-Ling, who had been required to compete in the qualification tournament, overcame the French combination of Pauline Chasselin and Stéphanie Loeuillette, the no.8 seeds (11-9, 11-5, 11-4).

Otherwise, it was success for the seeded pairs.

Japan´s Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato, the top seeds, beat China’s Wang Sheng and Zuo Yue (11-7, 11-8, 11-9); Thailand’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.2 seeds, also accounted for Chinese adversaries. They overcame Han Guoyu and Hu Yueyan (13-11, 11-6, 11-8).

Progress as anticipated; it was the same for the French pairing of Laura Gasnier and Audrey Zarif, the no.3 seeds as it was for Japan’s Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata, the no.5 seeds. Likewise Korea’s Lee Zion and Yoon Hyobin enjoyed a successful day.

Laura Gasnier and Audrey Zarif beat India’s Ankita Das and Divya Deshpande (4-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3); Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata overcame Hong Kong’s Lam Yee Lok and Li Ching Wan (11-9, 11-7, 11-7). Similarly, Lee Zion and Yoon Hyobin dashed the hopes of Malaysia’s Ho Ying and Kuan E. Xian (11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10).

At the quarter-final stage, in the top half of the draw, Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato meet Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata; Kim Mingyung and Lee Yearam oppose Yu Yifan and Yuan Yuan. In the lower half, Laura Gasnier and Audrey Zarif face Lee En-Chi and Su Pei-Ling; Lee Zion and Yoon Hyobin confront Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut.

The quarter and semi-final rounds of the Women’s Doubles event will be played on Saturday 19th May.