by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

The no.4 seeds, they were beaten by Ding Ning and Zhu Yuling, the no.5 seeds (11-13, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4); the margins in the first three games suggesting that Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha is pair who may well be contestants for Women’s Doubles honours at next year’s World Championships in Budapest and most certainly wherever the choice may be in 2021.

“Our adversaries were competitive and they were fully prepared. Overall, we still had the upper hand.” Ding Ning

“It was better than as expected. Even if we can’t always play smoothly, we were able to adjust at the crucial times.” Zhu Yuling

Success for Ding Ning and Zhu Yuling but the greatest beneficiary in the quarter-final round of the Women’s Doubles event was Japan. Hina Hayata and Mima Ito, the top seeds, beat Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.5 seeds (7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8); likewise, as anticipated, Miu Hirano and Kasumi Ishikawa, the no.8 seeds, ended the adventures of Singaporean qualifiers, Lin Ye and Yu Mengyu (11-2, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7).

Wins as status advised; it was the same for Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun. The no.3 seeds, they also halted the aspirations of qualifiers; they beat Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Hsien-Tzu and Liu Hsing-Yin in three straight games (11-5, 11-7, 11-4).

At the semi-final stage, Hina Hayata and Mima Ito meet Ding Ning and Zhu Yuling; Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun oppose Miu Hirano and Kasumi Ishikawa.

The matches are scheduled for 10.00 am (local time) on Friday 1st June.