Update day three: Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Thailand Open

Success at fourth attempt

Men’s Doubles: Final

Partnering Ricardo Walther, Ruwen Filus had been the runner up on the ITTF World Tour in 2015 in Belarus, in 2017 in both India and Austria; in Bangkok in his fourth men’s doubles final at an open international tournament he succeeded.

Partnering German colleague, Steffen Mengel, the no.5 seeds, the duo beat Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yu-Hsin and Wang Tai-Wei, the no.8 seeds, to secure the title. They won in five games (11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5).

Second of year

Women’s Doubles: Final

Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata, the no.2 seeds, beat Japanese national team colleagues and qualifiers, Ayane Morita and Yuka Umemura (11-6, 12-10, 11-4) to secure their second ITTF Challenge Series women’s doubles title of the year, the third of their career.

Earlier this year they won in Oman, last year they succeeded in Belarus and Belgium.

Saki Shibata (left) returns serve watch by (right) Satsuki Odo (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

First for Ruwen Filus

Men’s Singles: Final

The no.3 seed, Germany’s Ruwen Filus accounted for Korea Republic’s Seo Hyundeok, a player who journey had started four days earlier in the qualification tournament, to arrest the men’s singles title (11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8).

Thus for Ruwen Filus he climbed one step higher than in 2015 when on the ITTF World Tour in Belarus he had been beaten in the final by Qatar’s Lin Ping. Conversely, for Seo Hyundeok it was same again; in 2010 in New Delhi, he had been the runner up. Also on that occasion he lost to a German, he was beaten by Dimitrij Ovtcharov.

Hitomi Sato regains title

Women’s Singles: Final

A contest that tested the resolve of both players; Hitomi Sato, the top seed, beat Japanese national team colleague Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed in seven games to secure the women’s singles crown (5-11, 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7).

Thus she retained the title won in 2017; on that occasion she had beaten colleague and doubles partner, Honoka Hashimoto in the final.

Saki Shibata beaten in a gruelling final (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Recovery resisted

Men’s Singles: Semi-Final

Germany’s Ruwen Filus, the no.3 seed resisted a brave recovery by Frenchman, Andrea Landrieu, the no.10 seed to book his place in the final.

Defensive skills prevailed, a six games victory margin was the end result (11-8, 11-9, 11-9, 5-11, 10-12, 11-8)

Sixth time

Women’s Singles: Semi-Final

In an all Japanese women’s singles semi-final contest, Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed, beat Sakura Mori, the no.7 seeds in six games (11-7, 5-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9).

The wins means that Saki Shibata reserves her place in a women’s singles Challenge Series tournament final the sixth time in her career.

Sakura Mori beaten by Saki Shibata (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Seo Hyundeok upsets ranked order

Men’s Singles: Semi-Final

A decade ago a player on whom the Korea Republic had high hopes but currently at no.659 on the world rankings, Seo Hyundeok booked his place in the men’s singles final.

In the penultimate round he accounted for Japan’s Yuta Tanaka, the n.13 seed, in seven games (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 12-10, 4-11, 11-3).

Repeat

Women’s Singles: Semi-Final

Patience crucial, in the contest between the doubles partners and fellow defenders; Hitomi Sato, the top seeds, eventually overcame Honoka Hashimoto, the no.3 at the semi-final stage of the women’s singles event. Thus she repeated the success of two years earlier when they had met in the final.

Hitomi Sato prevailed in seven games (11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 2-11, 10-12, 11-4).

Honoka Hashimoto beaten by Hitomi Sato (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Thailand Open: Schedule of Play (Friday 24th – Sunday 26th May

The final day begins

Top gear, Andrea Landrieu at top speed

Men’s Singles: Quarter-Finals

Frenchman Andrea Landrieu, the no.10 seed, was the player both in the fast lane and the player to cause the biggest shock of the day. He beat Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira, the no.2 seed, in four straight games (11-5, 11-2, 11-8, 12-10).

At the semi-final he meets Germany’s Ruwen Filus, the no.3 seed, the quarter-final winner in opposition to Chinese Taipei qualifier Yeh Chih-Wei (11-5, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9).

Talent unquestioned

Men’s Singles: Quarter-Finals

Winner of four ITTF World Tour under 21 men’s singles titles in 2011, an unbridled talent but one that has not come to fruition, Seo Hyundeok beat fellow qualifier, Cho Jaejun (11-7, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7) to book his place in the semi-finals of the men’s singles event.

He meets Japan’s Yuta Tanaka, the no.13 seed, he reserved his place courtesy of success against Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tai-Wei, also a qualifier (11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7).

Seo Hyundeok, a supreme talent but it just depends the way the wind blows (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Sakura Mori upsets seeding, ends Thai hopes

Women’s Singles: Quarter-Finals

The no.7 seed, never reluctant to make her feelings known, Sakura Mori beat the host nation’s Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.4 seed at the quarter-final stage of the women’s singles event (11-8, 11-5, 12-10, 11-5) and thus ensured an all Japanese semi-final line-up.

In the penultimate round she confronts Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed and quarter-final winner in opposition to compatriot and qualifier Ayami Narumoto (11-3, 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 11-4).

Agonising defeat for Orawan Paranang

Women’s Singles: Quarter-Finals

The host nation’s Orawan Paranang, the no.14 seed, experienced excruciating pain at the semi-final stage of the women’s singles event; she was beaten by the narrowest of seven game margins by Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto, the no.3 seed (8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9).

At the semi-final stage, Honoka Hashimoto meets doubles partner, Hitomi Sato, the top seed; she booked her place in the penultimate round courtesy of success in opposition to colleague and qualifier, Mitsuho Kimura (11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4).

Turning defence into attack; Honoka Hashimoto ended the hopes of Orawan Paranang (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Disappointment for Thailand

Men’s Doubles: Semi-Finals

Defeat for Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut at the semi-final stage of the women’s doubles event was followed by the same outcome for Thai colleagues Padasak Tanviriyavechakul and Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon in the men’s doubles competition.

Likewise the no.3 seeds, in the semi-final round they were beaten by Germany’s Ruwen Filus and Steffen Mengel, the no.5 seeds (11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-4). In the final Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin and Wang Tai-Wei, the no.8 seeds, await. The booked their penultimate round place courtesy of success in opposition to Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa and Kohei Sambe, the no.6 seeds (11-6, 11-7, 12-14, 5-11, 11-4).

Defending champions depart

Women’s Doubles: Semi-Finals

Reigning champions, the host nation’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.3 seeds, experienced defeat in the penultimate round of the women’s doubles event. The were beaten by Japan’s Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata, the no.2 seeds (5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 15-13).

In the final Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata meet colleagues Ayane Morita and Yuka Umemura; qualifiers, they upset the order of merit by ousting Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato, the top seeds (13-11, 6-11, 11-2, 12-10) in an all-Japanese affair.

Saki Shibata (left) and (right) Satsuki Odo who ended the hopes of Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

First for Li Hsin-Yu

Under 21 Men’s Singles: Final

Chinese Taipei’s Li Hsin-Yu, required to qualify, emerged the under 21 men’s singles champion; at the final hurdle he beat Japan’s Masaki Takami, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-4, 14-12)

It was a first for both players at an open international tournament.

Yuka Umemura strikes gold

Under 21 Women’s Singles: Final

Japan’s Yuka Umemura, the no.7 seed, beat French qualifier, 14 year old Prithika Pavade to win the under 21 women’s singles event (11-6, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8), it was the first ever such final for each player.

Stéphanie Loueillette, who won in Morocco in 2012, remains the only French player ever to win an under 21 women’s singles title on the ITTF World Tour or at an ITTF Challenge Series tournament.

Yuka Umemura (left) and (right) Li Hsin-Yu, the respective under 21 men’s singles and under 21 women’s singles champions (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Second and third seeds progress

Men’s Singles: Round Three

Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira, the no.2 seed and Germany’s Ruwen Filus, the no.3 seed, the leading names in the lower half of the draw in the men’s singles event, both booked quarter-final places but it was hard work.

Kenta Matsudaira recovered from an opening game deficit to beat Korea Republic’s Baek Hogyun, the no.20 seed (6-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10); in an even more dramatic contest Ruwen Filus lost the opening three games against qualifier, Frenchman Abdel-Kader Salifou (13-15, 6-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4) before claiming victory.

In the round of the last eight Ruwen Filus meets Chinese Taipei qualifier Yeh Chih-Wei; Kenta Matsudaira opposes Andrea Landrieu, the no.10 seed and like Abdel-Kader Salifou from France.

Back from the brink

Men’s Singles: Round Three

Facing Mizuki Oikawa, the no.4 seed, trailing three games to one, Yuta Tanaka the no.13 seed, recovered from the very brink of defeat in the fifth game of an all-Japanese men’s singles round three contest to reserve his place in the quarter-finals. Eventually, he emerged successful by the very minimal margin in the deciding seventh game (11-8, 7-11, 12-14, 4-11, 15-13, 11-9, 13-11).

At the quarter-final stage Yuta Tanaka meets Chinese Taipei’s Wang Tai-Wei; in the same half of the draw and all Korea Republic affair witnesses a contest between Cho Jaejun and Sei Hyundeok. Yuta Tanaka is the only seeded player remaining in the top half of the draw.

Yuta Tanaka recovered from the brink of defeat in the fifth game to beat Mizuki Oikawa (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Ayami Narumoto emerges surprise quarter-finalist

Women’s Singles: Round Three

Qualifier Ayami Narumoto caused an upset of note as the third round of the women’s singles event came to a close. She beat colleague Maki Shiomi, the no.6 seed (11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9) to book her place in the quarter-finals where now meets another colleague, Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed.

In the same half of the draw, also from Japan. Sakura Mori, the no.7 seed, faces the host nation’s Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.4 seed.

Orawan Paranang performs recovery of the tournament

Women’s Singles: Round Three

The host nation’s Orawan Paranang performed the most remarkable recovery of the tournament to date; in the third round of the women’s singles event, the no.14 seed, she fought back from a three games to nil deficit to beat Chinese Taipei qualifier Yu Hsin-Ting by the very narrowest of margins (9-11, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9).

She now meets Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto, the no.3 seed in the quarter-finals; in same half of the draw, also from Japan, Hitomi Sato, the top seed, faces colleague Mitsuho kimura.

Orawan Paranang performed a quite remarkable recovery (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Seeded pairs decide final but not anticipated combinations

Men’s Doubles: Semi-Finals

Four seeded pairs contest the men’s doubles semi-finals but not the combinations predicted.

Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin and Wang Tai-Wei, the no.8 seeds, meet Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa and Kohei Sambe, the no.6 seeds; in the opposite half of the draw it is Thailand’s Padasak Tanviriyavechakul and Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon, the no.3 seeds, in opposition to Germany’s Ruwen Filus and Steffen Mengel, the no.5 seeds.

Home success

Men’s Doubles: Quarter-Finals

Success for the host nation’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut at the quarter-final stage of the women’s doubles event was followed by similar success for colleagues Padasak Tanviriyavechakul and Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon in the corresponding round of the men’s doubles competition.

Likewise the no.3 seeds, they accounted for Singapore’s Clarence Chew Zhe Yu and Pang Yew En Koen, the no.7 seeds (11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3).

Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon in partnership with Padasak Tanviriyavechakul through to the men’s doubles semi-finals (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Penultimate round

Women’s Doubles: Semi-Finals

Three Japanese outfits feature in the penultimate round of the women’s doubles event.

Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato, the top seeds, meet qualifiers Ayane Morita and Yuka Umemura; in the opposite half of the draw Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata, the no.2 seeds, confront the host nation’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.3 seeds.

Host nation hopes alive

Women’s Doubles: Quarter-Finals

The host nation’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut, the no.3 seeds, kept their hopes of successful women’s doubles title retention alive.

At the quarter-final stage they beat Malaysia’s Sian Alice Chang Li and Tee Ai Xin (11-4, 11-7, 11-3).

Defeat for Tee Ai Xin in partnership with Sian Alice Chang Li (Photo: Panichar Junkana)

Li Hsin-Yu and Masaki Takami reach final

Under 21 Men’s Singles: Semi-Finals

Chinese Taipei’s Li Hsin-Yu and Japan’s Masaki Takami will meet in the under 21 men’s singles final.

In the penultimate round Li Hsin-Yu beat Korea Republic’s Oh Minseo (13-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7); Masaki Takami, the no.7 seed and the only seed amongst the last four, ended the progress of Belgium’s Adrien Rassenfosse (15-13, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7).

Prithika Pavade maintains outstanding form

Under 21 Women’s Singles: Semi-Finals

Prithika Pavade of France maintained her outstanding form in the under 21 women’s singles event; by the narrowest of margins at the semi-final stage she beat fellow qualifier Korea Republic’s Yoon Hyobin (9-11, 15-13, 12-10, 7-11, 12-10).

In the final she meets Japan’s Yuka Umemura who caused somewhat of a penultimate round upset; the no.7 seed, she accounted for colleague, Maki Shiomi, the top seed (6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9).

Determination, Prithika Pavade at full stretch (Photo: Panichar Junkana)