by Ian Marshall, Editor
In the men’s singles event Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, Portugal’s Marcos Freitas and Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson advanced but there was no progress for Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura. Likewise, in the women’s singles competition, it proved a successful day for China’s He Zhuojia in addition to Japan’s Miyu Kato and Honoko Hashimoto but not for Canada’s Zhang Mo.
Men’s Singles
…………Chuang Chih-Yuan beat Korea Republic’s Park Ganghyeon (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7) to secure his main draw place.
…………Maharu Yoshimura beat China’s Sun Wen (12-14, 17-15, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 11-8) to avenge his defeat of one month earlier in Sapporo but was then beaten by colleague, Yuki Hirano (11-4, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 16-14).
…………Kristian Karlsson advanced but only just; he was extended the full seven games distance by China’s Xu Yingbin (10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 10-12, 11-9, 13-11), before rather more comfortably accounting for Uzbekistan’s Zokhid Kenjaev (11-6, 11-6, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6).
…………Marcos Freitas claimed his main draw place. He ended the hopes of the host nation’s An Jaehyun (8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4), a player on whom eyes were focused having reached the penultimate round at the Liebherr 2019 World Championships.
…………Defeat for Maharu Yoshimura but not for younger brother Kazuhiro Yoshimura in a contest against an adversary who had likewise won on the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour. The winner in Hong Kong, Kazuhiro Yoshimura beat China’s Zhen Peifeng (7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 15-13, 7-11, 12-10, 12-10), the winner in the Czech Republic.
…………Crowned world junior champion in 2017, China’s Xue Fei made his presence felt; keeping the pen-hold grip style of play alive, he accounted for the Czech Republic’s Lubomir Jancarik (11-4, 11-7, 11-1, 13-11), prior to causing a major upset by overcoming Egypt’s Omar Assar (11-4, 11-2, 10-12, 11-8, 14-16, 11-7).
Women’s Singles
…………He Zhuojia beat Singapore’s Zeng Jian (11-3, 11-9, 10-12, 11-4, 11-6) to secure her main draw place.
………… Miyu Kato progressed by beating colleague Satsuki Odo (13-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9); somewhat similarly Honoka Hashimoto overcame the host nation’s Yang Haeun (11-9, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5).
…………Zhang Mo suffered a second preliminary round defeat at the hands of China’s Liu Xi (12-10, 12-10, 13-11, 11-6) but for Liu Xi there was no further progress. She was beaten in the next round by India’s Manika Batra (7-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7).
…………Japan’s Hina Hayata ended the advance of players for whom China has great hopes. She beat Shi Xunyao (7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6), prior to overcoming Chen Ke (7-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7).
…………Only 13 years old, employing her defensive skills to the full, Japan’s Haruna Ojio beat Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz (9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5) and Portugal’s Shao Jieni (11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 14-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8) to secure her place in the main draw.
…………Equally, from Japan, 14 year old Miyuu Kihara and 17 years of age Miyu Nagasaki progressed. Miyuu Kihara beat Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing (4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4, 4-11, 11-9) and Singapore’s Lin Ye (11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8); Miyu Nagasaki ousted Germany’s Shan Xiaona (11-6, 13-11, 8-11, 10-12, 11-5, 4-11, 11-9).
Mixed Doubles
…………A new pairing but one that could have a major impact; Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito beat Uzbekistan’s Zokhid Kenjaev and Rimma Gufranova (11-5, 11-1, 11-5) in the preliminary round.
