by Ian Marshall, Editor
After accounting for Yemen’s Ebrahim Gubran (11-6, 11-4, 13-11), Manush Utpalbai Shah was beaten by Japan’s Kazyua Sugimoto (6-11, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-4); earlier in the day Kazyua Sugimoto had accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Yen Kuan-Lin (11-6, 11-7, 11-7). The contests between Manush Utpalbai Shah and Yen Kuan-Lin in addition to Kazyua Sugimoto versus Ebrahim Gubran will decide the final order.
Problems for Manush Utpalbhai Shah, for the other leading names there were no such trials and tribulations. Frenchmen Lilian Bardet and Dorian Zheng both ended the day unbeaten as did the host nation’s Zeng Beixun and Quan Kaiyuan. Likewise, it was two matches played, two wins recorded for Japan’s Takeru Kashiwa and Hiroto Shinozuka, as it was from Raegan Alburquerque, like Manush Utpalbhai Shah from India.
Similarly, in the first stage of the junior girls’ singles event, the leading names enjoyed success. Japan’s Sakura Yokoi alongside China’s Chen Yi and Wu Yangchen completed their group phase matches without defeat; with one match remaining, also from Japan, Kaho Akae and Miwa Harimoto ended the day unbeaten, a feat also achieved by India’s Swastika Ghosh and Prapti Sen.
In a similar vein, the host nation’s Yuan Yuan, the no.8 seed, duly secured top place in her group.
Successes as expected but there were two names to note. Korea Republic’s Jeoung Haeun ended the day unbeaten, notably accounting for Singapore’s Zhou Jingyi, the no.9 seed (11-8, 15-17, 11-9, 11-6). Likewise, China’s Yang Yiyun overcame Hong Kong’s Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam, the no.10 seed (11-6, 11-3, 14-12), to end the day without defeat.
Meanwhile in the initial phase of the cadet boys’ singles, there was a surprise defeat for Yemen’s Ebrahim Gubran, the no.2 seed (11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 13-11) but no such problems for the remaining principal names. Japan’s Hayate Suzuki, Sweden’s Alve Skoevold and India’s Divyansh Srivatava ended the day without a loss against their names.
One upset amongst the top four names in the cadet boys’ singles competition; none in the counterpart cadet girls’ singles event. China’s Chen Yi, Japan’s Kaho Akae, Egypt’s Hana Goda and Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yun-En ended the day unbeaten.
Play in Taicang concludes on Sunday 16th June.
