by Ian Marshall, Editor
The no.5 seeds, Indian hopes were high against Chinese Taipei, the no.3 seeds but after the opening two matches had been completed, the chances for the south Asian country looked bleak.
Jeet Chandra had been beaten by Feng Yi-Hsin (11-6, 11-7, 11-5), Manav Vikash Thakkar had lost to Li Hsin-Yang (11-2, 11-9, 11-9); to say the least for India it was a most disappointing start but team spirit is high in the camp and a recovery ensued. Manush Utpalbhai Shah accounted for Tai Ming-Wei (11-5, 11-7, 11-9), before Manav Vikash Thakkar return to the fray to overcome Feng Yi-Hsin (11-5, 11-7, 2-11, 11-8) and thus levelled matters.
A memorable recovery was on the cards; Li Hsin-Yang had other ideas. He showed not once ounce of charity; in three straight games he accounted for Jeet Chandra (11-1, 11-3, 11-2), Indian medal dreams disappeared in the Bendigo evening air.
Success for Chinese Taipei but not without some moments of concern, it was almost the same for China, the top seeds, in opposition the United States, the no.8 seeds.
Kanak Jha gave the Stars and Stripes the ideal start; he resisted a fightback by Xu Haidong to emerge successful in five games (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12, 11-6) but when later when facing Xu Yingbin in the fourth match of the encounter he could not repeat the feat, a four games reverse was the end result (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9). A three-one Chinese win was the end result with Xu Yingbin in opposition to Nikhil Kumar (11-5, 11-4, 11-4) and Xiang Peng when confronting Sharon Alguetti (11-8, 11-6, 11-7) adding the further wins.
Moments of concern for China and Chinese Taipei, not for Japan, the no.2 seeds, nor for France, the no.4 seeds; both recorded impressive three-nil quarter-final victories.
Selecting Yukiya Uda, Yuta Tanaka and Shunsuke Togami; Japan overcame the no.6 seeds, Romania’s Rares Sipos, Cristian Pletea and Cristian Chirita. In a somewhat similar manner, the French combination of Leo de Nodrest, Irvin Bertrand and Bastien Rembert ended the hopes of the no.10 seeds, Iran’s Amin Ahmadian, Amirreza Abbasi and Arya Amiri.
At the semi-final stage China meets France, Japan opposes Chinese Taipei; the contests will be held on the early evening of Tuesday 4th December.
