by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Guo Yuhan remained unbeaten to secure first place, notably accounting for the highest rated player in her group; she overcame Leili Mostafavi of France (11-4, 11-7, 11-3). It was a similar situation for Chen Yi who defeated Germany’s Laura Tiefenbrunner (11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9) and for Li Yuqi who eventually prevailed against Romania’s Andreea Hudusan (8-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-2, 11-7).

The consolation for the defeated was that it was their only reverse; thus second place and progress to the main draw was secured.

No blemishes, for Wang Jingxin, life was somewhat different. She experienced defeat at the hands of Russia’s Olga Vishniakova, the leading name in the group (11-13, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6). Olga Vishniakova remained unbeaten to top the group, there were no further defeats for Wang Jingxin; thus both advanced to the main draw.

Similarly for Japan, Yukari Sugasawa and Honami Hakamori topped their groups as expected but there was a casualty. Hikari Okubo, the leading name in her group had to settle for second place; she was beaten by Camille Lutz of France (11-8, 11-4, 12-10) who duly finished in first position.

Likewise for Reina Aso it was a different route to the main draw; she was beaten by Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian, the top name (11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8) but that was to be the Russian’s only success. Reina Aso finished the group with two wins alongside Chinese Taipei’s Cai Fong-En; as she beat the latter (11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12), she secured first place.

Somewhat differently for Kaho Akae, Sakura Yokoi and Yua Yamasaki it was a day unbeaten and success in opposition to the highest rated player in the group.

Kaho Akae overcame Isa Cok of France (5-11, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5), Sakura Yokoi accounted for Slovakia’s Natalia Grigelova (11-5, 11-7, 11-2); Yua Yamasaki defeated the host nation’s Agata Zakrzewska (11-8, 11-2, 15-13). Pertinently for the defeated it was their only reverse and thus progress to the main draw.

Surprise first places and from Europe there were more; Sweden’s Ellen Holmsten, Poland’s Zhao Ziyi alongside the Belarus duo of Ulyana Alkhouskaya and Darya Kisel exceeded expectations to secure first places.

Meanwhile for the top names on first stage duty it was success; Russia’s Kristina Bogdanova and Chinese Taipei’s Wen Ruei-Ling enjoyed a successful day, as did Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus and Germany’s Franziska Schreiner.

The leading names in the Junior Girls’ Doubles event have yet to start their campaigns.