by Ian Marshall, Editor
In their opening fixture of the day, they suffered a three-one defeat at the hands of Singapore ‘B’ represented by Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin, Zhang Wanling and Tan En Hui.
Architect of the Singapore success was Zhang Wanling. She beat Chau Wing Sze (7-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4) before recovering from a two games to nil deficit to overcome Lee Ka Yee (11-13, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8) and seal the victory. The one further success for the visitors was recorded in the opening engagement of the fixture when Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin accounted for Lee Ka Yee (2-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9).
Defeat in the opening contest of the day but there was an immediate recovery; victory by the same margin as defeat had been experienced was recorded against the Thailand outfit comprising Jinnipa Sawettabut, Thapanee Phomma and Nanapat Kola. Mainstay of the success was Wong Chin Yau; she accounted for both Thapanee Phomma (11-5, 11-7, 11-7) and Jinnipa Sawettabut (9-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6). Sandwiched in between Lee Ka Yee overcame Nanapat Kola (11-7, 11-6, 11-2).
A reverse for Hong Kong and then success; it was the same for Thailand. In their concluding fixture, they recorded a three-two win in opposition to Singapore ‘B’.
Jinnipa Sawettabut emerged the star of the show. She beat both Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin (5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3) and Zhang Wanling (11-13, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10) and thus set the scene for Thapanee Phomma to be the heroine. In the closing match of the contest, she accounted for Pearlyn Koh Kai Xin (11-9, 11-8, 11-5).
Thus match ratio determined the outcome; it was first place for Singapore ‘B’ (5:4), followed by Hong Kong ‘A’ (4:4) and Thailand (4:5).
Problems for the second seeds, in a competition where there were three groups in the initial stage of proceedings, there were no such problems for China, the top seeds, nor for Chinese Taipei, the no.3 seeds.
Three-nil wins were the order of the day for China’s Shi Xunyao, Qian Tianyi and Zhang Binyue, as they were for Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling, Tsai Yu-Chin and Wen Ruei-Ling.
Play in the Junior Girls’ Team event concludes on Thursday 2nd August.
