by Ian Marshall, Editor
Cao Yantao and Yuan Licen commenced proceedings with a three-one win in opposition to the Hong Kong combination of Pak Yik Man, Maurice Chong Kai Ning and Cheng Pak Hei; the one errant match being the defeat of Cao Yantao by Maurice Maurice Chong Kai Ning (1-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7).
Success against Hong Kong, a three-nil win for China ensued against the Japanese pairing of Horoto Shinozuka and Kazuki Hamada. Defeat for Japan but it was second place in the group and a passport to the main draw. In the opening fixture of the day they had recorded a three-nil win in opposition to Hong Kong.
Conversely, for Iran’s Amin Ahmadian and Mohammad Mousavi Taher, it was a day to forget.
In the opening fixture of the campaign they experienced a three-two defeat when facing Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Po-Hsuan and Peng Chih. Amin Ahmadian beat both Hsu Po-Hsuan (11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5) and Peng Chih (3-11, 11-3, 13-11, 5-11, 11-5) but that was the sum total of Iranian success. The man of the moment for Chinese Taipei being Hsu Po-Hsuan; in the vital fifth and concluding match of the fixture, he beat Mohammad Mousavi Taher (11-4, 13-11, 11-9).
Facing Japan’s Kakeru Sone and Haruki Harada, in the next engagement on the agenda, the defeat was more severe; a three-one reverse was encounter.
A place in the main draw still an option, if a three-one win or better could be posted against the combination of Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish and Frenchman, Dorian Zheng, second place in the group would be gained. In fact a three-two win may have sufficed but that would have required games ratio to have been the determining factor.
The reason was because earlier in the day Jacobo Vahnish and Dorian Zheng had experienced a three-one defeat at the hands of Japan but had recorded a three-two win against Chinese Taipei. Star of the show in opposition to Chinese Taipei had been Dorian Zheng; he beat both Hsu Po-Hsuan (11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7) and Peng Chih (11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 15-13). Hero of the hour was Jacobo Vahnish; in the decisive fifth match of the engagement, he overcame Hsu Po-Hsuan (11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-2).
Success by three matches to two was the very minimum required; the end result was the total opposite, a three-two defeat was experienced. Dorian Zheng accounted for both Mohammad Mousavi Taher (11-8, 11-9, 11-9) and Amin Amadian (11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-8) with, as against Chinese Taipei, Jacobo Vahnish sealing the victory. In the concluding match of the engagement, he beat Mohammad Mousavi Taher (12-10, 11-7, 14-12).
Horoto Shinozuka and Kazuki Hamada concluded their initial stage fixtures recording a three-nil win against Hsu Po-Hsuan and Peng Chih to secure first place in the group; Jacobo Vahnish and Dorian Zheng finished in second position.
The Junior Boys’ Team event concludes on Thursday 5th July.
