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2018 ITTF Challenge, Belgosstrakh Belarus Open

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Challenge Series

Host nation hopes end, defeat for Daria Trigolos

16 Nov 2018

Full of energy as always, total commitment but in the second round of the Women’s Singles event at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open in Minsk on Friday 16th November, it was the end of the road for Daria Trigolos and the end of the road for the host nation.

In a round where matters went very much according to the formbook, the no.20 seed, she was beaten by Japan’s Maki Shiomi, the no.14 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7).

Daria Trigolos beaten by Maki Shiomi (Photo: Kate Ostapenko)

by Ian Marshall, Editor

Success for Maki Shiomi and as the lower half of the draw progressed there were also wins for colleagues Minami Ando, Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata; all players challenging for places in the nation’s first team.

They may have a few rungs of the ladder yet to climb if they are to oust the incumbent trio of Kasumi Ishikawa, Mima Ito and Miu Hirano but certainly Saki Shibata is knocking on the door. It is the same for Daria Trigolos to some extent if she is to tread in the shoes of Viktoria Pavlovich, the one female player from Belarus to have won an ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles title and to have been crowned European champion.

Notably she achieved each feat on two occasions; on the ITTF World Tour she succeeded in 2008 on home soil in Minsk and in 2013 in Olomouc. Sandwiched in between she was crowned European champion in in 2010 in Ostrava in 2010 and in in 2012 in Herning.

Impressive from Maki Shiomi, it was the same from Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed, who ousted Korea Republic’s Kim Haeun (11-1, 11-8, 11-13, 11-4, 11-6), as it was from Satsuki Odo, the no.8 seed, who overcame Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian (11-4, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6). Likewise, not to be overlooked, Minami Ando, the no.5 seed, beat Korea Republic’s Yu Sora (5-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-7).

Wins as status predicted, in the remaining second round matches in the lower half of the draw in the Women’s Singles event, it was the same scenario.

The Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova, the no.10 seed, beat Korea Republic’s Kim Haeyong, the no.26 seed, by the very narrowest of decisions (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9); in a less dramatic manner Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova, the no.11 seed, ousted Stéphanie Loeuillette of France, the no.22 seed (7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5). Similarly, Ukraine’s Ganna Gaponova, the no.9 seed, proved too secure with her defensive skills for Russia’s Anastasia Kolish (16-14, 11-5, 11-3, 2-11, 15-13).

Both the third round and quarter-finals of the Women’s Singles event will be played on Saturday 17th November.

Challenge Series 2018 Belarus Open Daria Trigolos

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Day 4 - 2018 ITTF Challenge Belarus Open