by Simon Daish
The day commences at 10.00am local time with the last 16 of the mixed doubles competition. There will be host nation interest on table 1 as Adam Szudi and Szandra Pergel attempt to dethrone Maharu Yoshimura and Kasumi Ishikawa with the backing of the home crowd while over on table 2 you can watch Fan Zhendong and Ding Ning face Tristan Flore and Laura Gasnier.
Following on from the mixed doubles action we have a number of fascinating fixtures lined up in the women’s singles tournament, one of which sees Romania’s Elizabeta Samara meet China’s Wang Manyu on table 8 at 11.00am. The two have met only once on the international stage back at the 2017 Japan Open with Wang prevailing on that occasion – will we see a similar outcome in Budapest or will Samara get her revenge?
However, surely the standout fixture will feature on table 1 at 12.00pm as Mima Ito and Sun Yingsha face off: two exciting young talents, both capable of lifting the trophy but will it be the teenage star from Japan or the one from China that continues their journey in Budapest?
Want to see two of the sport’s finest players battling it out in a high stakes encounter? Then tune in to table 2 at 1.00pm for a clash of the titans affair as reigning World champion Ma Long takes on Belarusian legend Vladimir Samsonov – this is a match you won’t want to miss!
Fan Zhendong will also take to table 2 at approximately 4.00pm and he too could be set for a dramatic duel with Quadri Aruna providing the opposition. Both players love to strike the ball with plenty of power so if you’re a fan of fast-paced rallies then you’re in for a treat.
Kim Jin Hyang and Kim Song I have proven untouchable so far in the women’s doubles draw and are yet to drop a game, however, expect a closely contested encounter when the DPR Korea combination are tested by sixth seeds Ng Wing Nam and Soo Wai Yam Minnie on table 4 at 6.00pm. Then at approximately 6.45pm watch an exciting men’s doubles duel on table 8 as Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan try to hold off Ma Long and Wang Chuqin.
Be sure to watch the action unfold live with itTV and follow the live blog throughout the course of the day for all the latest from Budapest.
