by Ian Marshall, Editor
Success for Yuya Oshima but three notable colleagues in the guise of Jin Ueda, Maharu Yoshimura and Masataka Morizono, in round two, fell by the wayside.
Men’s Singles
…………Jin Ueda, world ranked no.26, was beaten by Korea Republic’s Kang Dongsoo, a player with no global listing (11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8).
…………Maharu Yoshimura listed at no.32, lost to China’s Sun Wen, standing at no.599 (11-8, 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9).
…………Masataka Morizono, rated at no.31, was beaten by colleague, Masaki Yoshida, listed at no.117 (11-3, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5, 11-9).
…………China’s Zhao Zihao was very much the player to impress; he accounted for India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta in straight games (11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5).
…………Yuya Oshima beat Slovakia’s Alexander Valuch in his opening contest (11-5, 11-9, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3).
…………Yan An won the intriguing second round all Chinese duel; he beat Wang Chuqin, the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games gold medallist (10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9).
Women’s Singles
…………Sun Yingsha made a most positive start, she accounted for Japan’s Shiho Matsudaira in her opening contest (11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4).
…………Che Xiaoxi underlined the depth in Chinese talent; world ranked no.771, she caused a second round surprise, she beat Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu, listed at no.24 (7-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6).
…………World ranked no.738, Korea Republic’s Ji Eunchae recorded a second round win in opposition to Japan’s Honoko Hashimoto, listed at no.23 (12-14, 15-13, 11-2, 10-12, 11-3, 9-11, 13-11).
…………Chinese Taipei’s Liu Hsing-Yin, ranked no.286, caused arguably the biggest upset of the day. In round two she overcame Japan’s Miyu Kato, world ranked no.20 (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9) and quarter-finalist at the recent Liebherr 2019 World Championships.
…………China’s He Zhuojia, runner up at last year’s Grand Finals, almost came to grief; she was extended the full seven games distance, only emerging successful by the minimal two point margin in the decider when facing Japan’s 13 year old Haruna Ojio (5-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9).
…………Winner just three days ago at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hang Seng Hong Kong Open, China’s Wang Yidi maintained her good form; in her opening contest she ousted India’s Madhurika Patkar (11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 11-9).
