by Ian Marshall, Editor
Impressive but the player to attract my attention was Japan’s very composed Koyo Kanamitsu, the no.7 seed. He beat Kanak Jha of the United States, bronze medallist at the recent Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games and in Stockholm the no.10 seed (12-10, 12-14, 11-5, 11-9).
“I knew Kanak, I think we’d played when we were 11 years old. My receive of service was not so good today but I felt comfortable in the long points, comfortable in the rallies. I like his style of play, it suits me, his backhand is safe but he doesn’t play strongly from that side.” Koyo Kanamitsu
Success for Koyo Kanamitsu, there was also success for his colleague, Yukiya Uda, the no.8 seed and runner up some three days earlier in the Men’s Singles event at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Belgium Open. Like Koyo Kanamitsu he emerged successful in four games. He ousted the Korea Republic’s An Jaehyun, the no.21 seed (12-10, 12-14, 11-5, 11-9).
Most creditable performances from the Japanese duo, it was the same from Hong Kong’s Su Zhi, the no.27 seed, he accounted for Frenchman, Romain Ruiz, the no.31 seed (11-9, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9).
At the semi-final stage Cho Seungmin meets Su Zhi, in the opposite half of the draw it is an all Japanese affair, Koyo Kanamatsu plays Yukiya Uda. The Under 21 Men’s Singles event will be played to a conclusion later in the day.
