by Ian Marshall, Editor

On both occasions China ended aspirations. In the Mixed Doubles, no.7 seeds, the Chinese Taipei duo came close, very close; facing Xu Yingbin and Shi Xunyao, the no.5 seeds, they made the ideal start. Adapting quickly, they won the opening two games before their adversaries recovered to secure a hard fought full distance win (8-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8).

Later the Boys’ Doubles, occupying the no.4 seeded spot, it was another spirited performance but the same end result; it was farewell at the hands of China’s Xiang Peng and Xi Haidong, the top seeds (11-3, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7).

In the title deciding contests Xu Yingbin and Shi Xunyao face colleagues Yu Heyi and Qian Tianyi; Xiang Peng and Xu Haidong oppose Russia’s Maksim Grebnev and Lev Katsman.

Yu Heyi and Qian Tianyi, the no.4 seeds, booked their place in the final courtesy of success against colleagues Xu Haidong and Guo Yuhan, the no.30 seeds (11-9, 11-2, 3-11, 19-17, 11-8); in a most impressive manner Maksim Grebnev and Lev Katsman, the no.14 seeds, recorded a straight games win in opposition to the French combination of Lilian Bertrand and Leo de Nodrest, the no.9 seeds (11-6, 11-8, 11-6).

The finals of the Mixed Doubles and Boys’ Doubles events will be played later in the day.