by Ian Marshall, Editor

Moreover it was a day when gold medallists at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon had to settle for silver.

Men’s Singles

…………Lin Gaoyuan, the top seed, beat Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the no.2 seed, to secure the title (11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7).

…………Success for Lin Gaoyuan, he reversed the decision of December 2018 when he had lost the Tomokazu Harimoto in the title deciding contest at the Grand Finals.

…………It was the second ITTF World Tour men’s singles title of the year in four consecutive final appearances; earlier in the year he had won in Hungary but had lost in the finals in Qatar and China to colleague Ma Long, the reigning Olympic and World champion.

Women’s Singles

…………Wang Yidi, required to qualify, beat Japan’s Mima Ito, the no.2 seed, in the final (11-3, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6).

…………Clearly Wang Yidi has a liking for Hong Kong Kong, last year she won the under 21 women’s singles event.

…………Success meant Wang Yidi secured her first ever ITTF World Tour women’s singles title, her only other appearance in such a final was last year in Bulgaria when losing to colleague Ding Ning, the reigning Olympic champion.

Men’s Doubles

…………Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan, the no.5 seeds, beat Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon, the no.3 seeds (6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8) to claim gold.

…………It was the first such title for Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan as a partnership, for Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon they fell one step short of repeating their success at the 2018 Grand Finals.

Women’s Doubles

…………Chen Ke and Mu Zi, the no.7 seeds, secured the title at the final expense of Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Yoo Eunchong (9-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-5).

…………As partnerships for each it was a first appearance in an ITTF World Tour women’s doubles final.