by Ian Marshall, Editor
There was plenty to attract the connoisseur.
Men’s Singles: Preliminary Round One
…………Reigning Asian junior boys’ singles champion, Xiang Peng underlined his quality; he beat Hungary’s Bence Majoros (11-2, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6).
…………China’s aspiring young players proved inspired against their Swedish counterparts; Xu Yingbin beat Truls Möregard (11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3); Sun Wen accounted for Anton Källberg (11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7).
…………The small Caribbean island of Puerto Rico shone; Brian Afanador overcame Chinese Taipei’s Chin Mao-Cheng (12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 14-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7), Daniel Gonzalez ended the hopes of Korea Republic’s Lee Gihun (11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4, 15-13).
…………Crowned world junior champion in 2017, China’s Xu Fei made an imposing start; he accounted for Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen (11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4).
…………Winners on the ITTF World Tour, the host country’s Kim Donghyun and China’s Zheng Peifeng both started in style. Kim Donghyun beat Hong Kong’s Kwan Man Ho (2-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4); Zheng Peifeng overcame Korea Republic’s Park Gyuhyeon (11-7, 11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 11-5).
Women’s Singles: Preliminary Round One
…………Respective junior girls’ singles gold and silver medallists at the 2018 World Junior Championships, China’s Qian Tianyi and Shi Xunyao, made impressive starts. Both beat host nation adversaries; Qian Tianyi overcame Lee Yeonhui (11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7), Shi Xunyao accounted for Lee Eunhye (15-13, 8-11, 15-13, 11-5, 11-5).
…………Previously successful on the ITTF World Tour, there were successful starts for Germany’s Shan Xiaona and Japan’s Sakura Mori; both ended the hopes of the home country. Shan Xiaona beat Kim Yejin (11-2, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6), Sakura Mori overcame Kim Nayeong (11-3, 11-2, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5).
…………Korea Republic’s Lee Dasom turned the clock back to 2013 when she had won on the ITTF World Tour in Zagreb; she accounted for India’s Madhurika Patkar (11-8, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3).
…………Only 13 years old, Japan’s Haruna Ojio underlined the fact that in the modern era, the defensive play can still succeed; she overcame Korea Republic’s Kim Yeonryeong (6-11, 15-13, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3).
Men’s Doubles: Preliminary Round
…………Singaporean teenagers Josh Chua Shao Han and Pang Yew En Koen gave the performance of the round; they recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat India’s Amalraj Anthony and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10).
Women’s Doubles: Preliminary Round
………… Partners in the team event at the recent European Games, giving Germany the perfect start in the final against Romania, Nina Mittelham and Shan Xiaona underlined the fact they are increasingly a formation to note. They beat the combination of the Czech Republic’s Dana Cechova and Slovakia’s Tatiana Kukulkova in four games (8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-9)
