by Ian Marshall, Editor
Bronze medallist in the Men’s Singles event in the Argentine capital city, Kanak Jha, the no.10 seed, recorded a most competent win against India’s Siddesh Pande, the no.26 seed. He emerged successful in three straight games (11-9, 11-5, 14-12).
“I didn’t know him but he’s very much like many other Indian players, good in the open game, good in counter top spin rallies but no great power. I think maybe I adapted better, I received service well and that gave me the chance to be the first to attack. I do feel tired, the Youth Olympic Games and then the Men’s World Cup, it’s been a hard few weeks. Also, I’ve had matches for my club Mainz in the second division of the German League; the main thing at moment is to focus on my body.” Kanak Jha
A comprehensive win for Kanak Jha; for Truls Moregard, the no.6 seed, life was somewhat different. He did things the hard way when facing Spain’s Carlos Caballero, the no.22. He lost the first game; then won the next two, held match points at 10-8 in the fourth and again at 11-10 before losing. In the deciding fifth he established an 8-3 and then once again made life difficult for himself; eventually by a two point margin he prevailed (10-12, 11-7, 11-6, 11-13, 11-8).
“I just lost focus, I had a lead and I received service badly, I made easy mistakes; if I let him play in the open game he was good; overall I was pleased with my level.” Truls Moregard.
Success for Truls Moregard and Kanak Jha, as status anticipated but there were upsets.
Frenchman Romain Ruiz, the no.31 seed, beat Chinese Taipei’s Yang Heng-Wei, the no.9 seed (11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4); Hong Kong’s Su Zhi, the no.27 seed, overcame Austria’s Andreas Levenko, the no.3 seed (5-11, 11-6, 13-11, 4-11, 11-8). Similarly, Korea Republic’s An Jaehyun, the no.21 seed, ended the hopes of Russia’s Denis Ivonin, the no.14 seed (11-8, 12-10, 4-11, 12-10).
Meanwhile, for the leading players on duty; other than for Andreas Levenko, it was success, Korea Republic’s Cho Seungmin, the top seed, beat Chinese Taipei’s Hu Ching-Wen, the no.29 seed (11-3, 11-4, 11-5), Hungary’s Bence Majaros, the no.2 seed, ended the hopes of India’s Ronit Bhanja, the no.18 seed (11-9, 11-6, 2-11, 11-5).
Denmark’s Anders Lind, the no.3 seed, will play his opening round match later in the day.
