by Ian Marshall, Editor
A surprise win and although age must be considered, Doo Hoi Kem is four years the elder, she does have a good record against Mima Ito; she has now won four of their seven international encounters.
“It’s unbelievable. Mima played so well at the Swedish Open and she beat many Chinese.
My coach told me if I do my best I could have chances.” Doo Hoi Kem
The end of the road for Mima Ito, it was also the end of the road for the Land of the Rising Sun, very much at the hands of China.
Miu Hirano, the no.9 seed, was beaten by Wang Manyu, the no.6 seed (11-5, 12-10, 12-14, 11-7, 11-7), Honoka Hashimoto, who had been required to compete in the qualification tournament, experienced defeat by the very narrowest of margins when facing Zhu Yuling. Eventually, Zhu Yuling prevailed in seven games (11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 11-13, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10).
“I’m very glad that I won this match. I didn’t feel mentally fit. In the end I knew that my coach couldn’t help me and that I had to adjust my game by myself.” Zhu Yuling
Success for Zhu Yuling, in all-Chinese clashes, there were also wins for Ding Ning and Chen Meng; Ding Ning, the no.2 seed, beat qualifier, Sun Yingsha (11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 13-11), Chen Meng, the no.5 seed, resisted a brave recovery by Chen Xingtong, the no.10 seed, to emerge successful in seven games (11-6, 11-4, 11-4, 6-11, 4-11, 7-11, 11-5),
Progress for China, there was more; Liu Shiwen, the no.3 seed, accounted for Romania’s Bernadette Szocs (11-3, 11-2, 11-2, 13-11), an impressive win but the most significant was that secured by her colleague, He Zhuojia.
Required to compete in the qualification tournament, she accounted for Korea Republic’s Suh Hyowon, the no.12 seed, in a full distance contest (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2). The win means that it is more than likely He Zhoujia has booked her place in the Grand Finals. Currently having reached the quarter-final round she is in 16th place (379 points) and that might well be enough.
She is one place behind Singapore’s Feng Tianwei who in the second round, occupying the no.11 seeded position, lost to Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, the no.7 seed (3-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-13, 11-6). Feng Tianwei presently occupies the no.15 spot (465 points). The only player who can theoretically surpass either Feng Tianwei or Sun Yingsha is Doo Hoi Kem but in order to achieve the goal, she must reach the final.
It may not happen, at the quarter-final stage, she faces Zhu Yuling, in the same half Chen Meng opposes Liu Shiwen; in the opposite half of the draw He Zhuojia plays Cheng I-Ching, Wang Manyu confronts Ding Ning.
The contests between in the lower half of the draw will be played later today; in the top half, commencing play on Friday 10th November.
Sunday 4th November: Standings following the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open
