by Ian Marshall, Editor
Miyu Nagasaki, the top seed, booked her quarter-final place courtesy of a hard earned win in opposition to Margo Degraef (11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7); rather more comfortably Satsuko Odo, the no.2 seed, accounted for the Czech Republic’s Marketa Sevcikova (11-2, 11-6, 11-6). In a similar manner Shin Yubin, the no.4 seed, ended the aspirations of Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing 11-8, 11-8, 11-8).
Progress as anticipated, the remaining five names all upset the seeding.
Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Chia-Yun recorded a second round win against colleague, Lin Chia-Hsuan, the no.6 seed (11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 12-10) to reserve her last place. Meanwhile, after ousting Belgium’s Lisa Lung, the no.8 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-9), China’s Guo Xinyi beat Sweden’s Filippa Bergand (11-5, 11-3, 11-3) to keep her medal hopes alive.
Similarly in the opening round, Hong Kong’s Zhu Chengzhu overcame Japan’s Maki Shiomi, the no.5 seed (15-17, 9-11, 16-14, 11-9, 11-8), prior to accounting for Marie Migot of France the no.16 seed (13-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6). Following suit India’s Ayhika Mukherjee recorded wins against Poland’s Natalia Bajor, the no.7 seed (11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5) and Audrey Zarif, the no.9 seed also from France (11-7, 11-7, 11-6) to reserve her last eight place.
Impressive performances but arguably the most impressive of all was that executed by Kim Youjin; she recorded straight games wins against Germany’s Wan Yuan, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-2, 11-8) and in opposition to India’s Sreeja Akula (11-2, 12-10, 11-6).
At the quarter-final stage Miyu Nagasaki meets Kuo Chia-Yun, Guo Xinyi plays Kim Youjin; in the opposite half of the draw it is Shin Yubin versus Zhu Chengzhu, Ayhika Mukherjee in opposition to Satsuki Odo.
The Under 21 Women’s Singles event will be played to a conclusion on Friday 26th October.