by Ian Marshall, Editor
Represented by Chau Wing Sze, Lee Ka Yee and Wong Chin Yau, the Hong Kong trio, the no.2 seeds, duly remained unbeaten and topped their group; however, when facing the Chinese Taipei ‘C’ team formed by Chen Peng-Yu, Fang Sih-Han and Tsai Yu-Chin, they very nearly came to grief. They had to perform a major recovery to secure victory.
Tsai Yu-Chin gave her team the ideal start, she beat Lee Ka Yee (11-8, 11-5, 11-7); Fang Sih-Han followed suit, she accounted for Wong Chin Yau (11-8, 11-7, 11-9) to extend the lead. Enter Chau Wing Sze, she overcame Chen Peng-Yu to ignite the revival. Lee Ka Yee defeated Fang Sih-Han (11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-6) to level matters before Wong Chin Yau returned to the fray to seal the victory (11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3).
Defeat for Chen Peng-Yu, Fang Sih-Han and Tsai Yu-Chin but it was to prove their only defeat; thus second place and progress to the main draw was secured. Teams finishing in first and second positions in each group advanced to the second stage.
Problems for Hong Kong, for India, the no.3 seeds, only able to field two players in the guise of Swastika Ghosh and Selena Selvakumar, it was a day to forget. A three-nil defeat was experienced when facing the Korea Republic combination of Byun Seoyoung, Jang Yunseo and Kim Taemin, before the same margin of defeat was the order of proceedings in opposition to the Chinese Taipei ‘B’ trio of Cai Fong-En, Chien Tung-Chuan and Yu Hsiu-Ting.
Two defeats for India and there was a third but with a degree of honour restored; a three-two defeat was experienced at the hands of Huang Yu-Jie, Chen Ci-Xuan and Fang Ting-Li on duty for Chinese Taipei ‘D’. Notably Selena Selvakumar beat Chen Ci-Xuan (5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8), followed by success against Huang Yu-Jie (11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 11-6).
Chinese Taipei ‘B’ duly remained unbeaten to top the group with Korea Republic in second place; the contest to determine first place witnessing a three-two win for the hosts. Notably Byun Seoyoung who had impressed at the recent Asian Junior and Cadet Championships in Myanmar beat both Chien Tung-Chuan (13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5) and Yu Hsiu-Ting (11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10). The saviour for Chinese Taipei ‘B’ was Chien Tung-Chuan; in the concluding match of the fixture, she beat Kim Taemin (11-8, 11-7, 11-4).
Play in the Junior Girls’ Team event concludes on Thursday 23rd August.
