by Ian Marshall, Editor
It was day when the champion of two year’s earlier bid farewell.
Men’s Singles
…………After beating India’s Ronit Banija, the no.32 seed (11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 12-10), Korea Republic qualifier Park Gyeongtae overcame Japan’s Jin Ueda, the top seed and winner two years ago (6-11, 16-14, 13-15, 11-9, 5-11, 11-4, 11-5).
…………Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yan-Cheng caused the biggest opening round upset. He accounted for India’s Harmeet Desai, the no.6 seed (7-11, 11-8, 16-14, 3-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9); he maintained his form in round two. He overcame fellow qualifier, Canada’s Jeremy Hazin (11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7).
…………Ibrahima Diaw took Senegal to totally new heights; he beat Singapore’s Ethan Poh Shao Feng, the no.17 seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7) and Korea Republic’s Hwang Jinha, the no.16 seed (7-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7) to book his third round place.
…………Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira, the no.2 seed alongside colleague Mizuki Oikawa, the no.4 seed and Germany’s Ruwen Filus, the no.3 seed duly progressed to round three.
Women’s Doubles
…………Following success against 14 year old Prithika Pavade of France (11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9), Korea Republic’s Lee Nakyung caused the biggest second round upset, she beat Japan’s Satsuki Odo, the no.5 seed (11-8, 13-11, 11-8, 6-11, 14-12).
…………Chinese Taipei qualifier, Yu Hsin-Ting proved the nemesis of India; she accounted for Divya Deshpande, the no.26 seed (10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8), then Ayhika Mukherjee, the no.8 seed (11-6, 11-5, 3-11, 11-1, 11-7).
…………Camille Lutz, 16 years old, was the player to attract the attention. The French teenager beat Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chia-Hsuan, the no.10 seed (9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7), followed by success in opposition to Singapore’s Goi Rui Xuan, the no.28 seed (12-10, 13-11, 11-5, 11-8).
…………Japan’s Hitomi Sato, Saki Shibata, Honoka Hashimoto, the top three seeds, all booked third round places as did Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.4 seed.
Men’s Doubles
…………The top two seeded pairs fell in the opening round. Germany’s Tobias Hippler and Kilian Ort, the top seeds, lost to Singapore’s Josh Chua Shao Han and Pang Yew En Koen (11-8, 11-6, 11-6); Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira and Jin Ueda, the no.2 seeds, suffered at the hands of Korea Republic’s Baek Hogyun and Seo Hyundeok (11-9, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9).
…………Thailand’s Padasak Tanviriyavechakul and Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon emerged the only pair listed in the top four to book a quarter-final place. The no.3 seeds, in the opening round they beat Belgium’s Louis Laffineur and Adrien Rassenfosse (8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 3-11, 11-8). At the same time, India’s Harmeet Desai and Abhishek Yadav, the no.4 seeds, lost to Korea Republic’s Cho Jaejun and Jung Youghyun (11-6, 14-16, 11-7, 10-12, 11-3).
Women’s Doubles
…………Japan’s Ayane Morita and Yuka Umemura caused a major opening round upset. They beat Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Wen and Li Yu-Jhun, the no.4 seeds (15-13, 11-5, 4-11, 12-10).
…………Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato, the top seeds, alongside Japanese colleagues Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata, the no.2 seeds, duly progressed to the quarter-finals; a feat also achieved by the host nation’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.3 seeds and defending champions.
Under 21 Men’s Singles
…………Japan’s Masaki Takami, the no.3 seed, beat Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen, the no.7 seed (2-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-4, 11-7) to emerge the only seeded player to reach the semi-final stage.
…………In the penultimate round Korea Republic’s Oh Minseo meets Chinese Taipei’s Li Hsin-Yu; Belgium’s Adrien Rassenfosse opposes Masaki Takami.
Under 21 Women’s Singles
…………Prithika Pavade of France excelled; only 14 years old, in the quarter-final round, she beat Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9).
…………Japan is guaranteed a place in the final. At the semi-final stage Maki Shiomi meets Yuka Umemura; in the opposite half of the draw Prithika Pavade confronts Korea Republic’s Yoon Hyobin.
