by Ian Marshall, Editor
Feng Tianwei, the no.6 seed, was beaten by Chinese qualifier He Zhuojia (11-7, 11-6, 11-7, 13-11), a player who would no doubt enjoy a much higher status if subject to more international play.
Defeat for Feng Tianwei; there were also defeats for colleagues Yu Mengyu and Zeng Jian, both players who had been required to compete in the two day qualification tournament. Both suffered at Japanese hands; Yu Mengyu lost to Miu Hirano, the no.4 seed (11-4, 11-8, 11-2, 9-11, 16-14), Zeng Jian was beaten in a closer contest by Mima Ito, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 11-2, 2-11, 11-7).
Wins as status advised, it was the same in the remaining second round Women’s Singles matches with Korea Republic’s Yang Haeun the player to catch the eye. The surprise winner the previous day in opposition to Hina Hayata, the no.10 seed, she beat Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut, likewise a qualifier who in the opening round had ousted Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, the no.5 seed. Yang Haeun prevailed in six games (6-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4).
Success for Yang Haeun but she is the only player from Korea Republic remaining in the competition. Colleagues Jeon Jihee, the no.15 seed and Suh Hyowon, the no.9 seed both experienced second round defeats. Jeon Jihee lost to Japan’s Hitomi Sato, the no.8 seed (9-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9, 11-9); Suh Hyowon was beaten by China’s Ding Ning, the no.7 seed (11-3, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10).
A notable performance by Hitomi Sato, it was the same from compatriot Kasumi Ishikawa, as it was from the China’s Liu Shiwen. Both accounted for colleagues; Kasumi Ishikawa, the top seed, beat Saki Shibata, the no.13 seed (11-9, 11-13, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8), Liu Shiwen ended the hopes of Gu Yuting, the no.11 seed (11-9, 11-5, 11-7, 12-14, 9-11, 11-3).
At the quarter-final stage Kasumi Ishikawa meets Hitomi Sato, Ding Ning faces Miu Hirano; in the opposite half of the draw Mima Ito confronts He Zhuojia, Yang Haeun opposes Liu Shiwen.
The contests between Kasumi Ishikawa and Hitomi Sato, as well as that involving Mima Ito and He Zhuojia will be played later in the evening; the remaining two contests on Saturday 28th July.
