by Ian Marshall, Editor
Make no mistake it was a day to remember.
Men’s Singles
…………In the opening round China’s Sun Wen beat the host nation’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the no.4 seed (11-8, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8), before accounting for Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu, the no.9 seed (11-3, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7).
…………Chinese Taipei’s 17 year old Lin Yun-Ju, the no.16 seed, caused a major second round upset; he beat China’s Lin Gaoyuan, the no.2 seed (9-11, 9-11, 21-19, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9).
…………Kazuhiro Yoshimura caused an opening round surprise by beating Japanese national team colleague, Koki Niwa, the no.10 seed (11-4, 1-11, 11-9, 13-11, 5-11, 15-13) but was then abruptly stopped in his tracks by China’s Fan Zhendong, the top seed (11-2, 11-7, 11-6, 13-11).
…………The most experienced player on duty, Chinese Taipei’s 38 year old Chuang Chih-Yuan overcame Korea Republic’s Lim Jonghoon, the no.13 seed (7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7) but then lost to China’s Xu Xin, the no.3 seed (11-6, 11-7, 17-15, 11-4).
…………Germany’s Ruwen Filus used his defensive skills to good effect to beat Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting, the no.14 seed (9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9) but was then overpowered by Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, the no.7 seed (5-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3).
…………China’s Ma Long, the reigning Olympic and World champion, booked his third round place but he was tested; he needed the full seven games to beat Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik, the no.15 seed (11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5).
Women’s Singles
…………Japan’s Mima Ito, the defending champion, experienced an opening round defeat; the no.7 seed, she was beaten by China’s Gu Yuting (7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 12-14, 12-10).
…………Winner in 2011 and 2014, Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, the no.12 seed, departed in round one; she was beaten by China’s He Zhuojia (13-11, 11-5, 11-1, 9-11, 10-12, 11-8) but then lost to the in-form Gu Yuting (11-5, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9).
…………The host nation’s Hitomi Sato, the no.14 seed, caused a second round shock of seismic proportions; she beat China’s Ding Ning, the top seed and reigning Olympic champion (12-10, 6-11, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9).
…………Japan’s Miyu Nagasaki caused a major first round surprise; she beat China’s Zhu Yuling, the no.5 seed (11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9), before in the next round losing to colleague, Miu Hirano, the no.9 seed (8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 12-10, 11-9).
…………China’s Sun Yingsha kept her hopes alive of repeating her 2017 title win; she beat Korea Republic’s Suh Hyowon (11-2, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5), followed by success in opposition to Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, the no.6 seed (11-8, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6).
…………Lui Fei, also from China, emerged a surprise quarter-finalist; she accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, the no.8 seed (13-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7) prior to overcoming Japan’s Sakura Mori (11-13, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10, 7-11, 13-11).
…………China’s Chen Meng, the no.2 seed, followed by colleagues next in the order, Wang Manyu and Liu Shiwen duly reserved last eight places.
Men’s Doubles
…………Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador and Daniel Gonzalez caused a major opening round upset, they overcame Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang and Wong Chun Ting, the no.2 seeds (11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-4, 11-8). However, there was to be no further progress, in the next round they were beaten by Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang (8-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-8).
…………At the quarter-final stage China’s Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin, the no.6 seeds and 2017 world champions, beat Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju (11-4, 11-4, 11-4).
Women’s Doubles
…………Japanese teenagers Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki continued to impress; the no.8 seeds, they accounted for Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching and Ng Wing Nam, the no.3 seeds (11-5, 11-6, 2-11, 11-6) to reserve their semi-final place.
…………Chinese pairs imposed authority, at the quarter-final stage Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, the top seeds, beat Korea Republic’s Choi Hyojoo and Kim Jiho (11-8, 11-6, 11-8); Chen Meng and Liu Shiwen, the no.5 seeds, ousted Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.2 seeds (11-6, 11-7, 11-9).
Mixed Doubles
…………Notable Chinese pairs emerged successful at the quarter-final stage. Fan Zhendong and Ding Ning beat Korea Republic’s Cho Daeseong and Shin Yubin (11-5, 11-7, 11-5); Xu Xin and Zhu Yuling, the no.5 seeds, overcame Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem, the no.2 seeds (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9).
…………Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and Hina Hayata beat Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee, the top seeds, to book their penultimate round place.
