Sending a message to world’s elite
Continuing to make great strides in his game the T2 Diamond Malaysia has surely been a career defining event for Lin Yun-Ju.
Starting his campaign with a dominant 4-0 win over Rio 2016 bronze medallist Jun Mizutani, Lin then secured huge scalps against Ma Long and Wong Chun Ting in the following rounds and now he has beaten Fan Zhendong. A massive success for the young star from Chinese Taipei, but is the significance of this result even bigger in the grander scheme of things?
Tomokazu Harimoto has been arguably the greatest threat to the Chinese elite at the very top of the sport. However, now there’s another name to add to the list in the form of Lin Yun-Ju.
Lin Yun-Ju has done it!!!
Men’s Singles: Final
Who saw that coming? Lin Yun-Ju has defied all the odds to secure the men’s singles trophy in Johor Bahru!
Incredibly Lin didn’t drop a single point to Fan Zhendong in game five, winning Fast5 by a sensational 5-0 score-line (11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5). What a player and what a match! Congratulations to the 17-year-old superstar from Chinese Taipei.
Big trouble for Fan Zhendong
Men’s Singles: Final
Fan Zhendong is in serious trouble right now! Striking back in game three but Fan has dropped game four by a convincing margin.
He trails 1-3 on games, the clock is at 0:00 – now it’s time for Fast5!
Lin Yun-Ju off to explosive start
Men’s Singles: Final
The underdog in the men’s singles final but it is Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju who has made the brighter start.
Meeting former World no.1 Fan Zhendong in the title decider, 17-year-old Lin has followed up a fine opening game with a dominant performance in game two to race into a much deserved 2-0 lead. Fan appears to be in a spot of bother right now but can the Chinese star respond?
Zhu Yuling claims title!
Women’s Singles: Final
That’s it, Zhu Yuling has won the women’s singles title in Johor Bahru following another positive display in game five.
With Fast5 in deployment, Zhu held two championship points but only needed one as she completed a dominant victory over Wang Manyu (11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 5-2).
Time for Fast5
Women’s Singles: Final
Wang Manyu responds with a better effort in game three but she can’t build any form of momentum as Zhu Yuling takes game four to extend her advantage to 3-1.
The countdown clock hits 0:00 – it’s time for Fast5!
Advantage Zhu Yuling
Women’s Singles: Final
Two games played and it is Zhu Yuling who holds the upper hand so far in the women’s singles final with the 24-year-old leading 2-0.
Wang Manyu isn’t performing below expectations and has shown she has what it takes to compete with her opponent throughout the opening two games, but Zhu has simply been the stronger player – can Wang turn this around?
Xu Xin prevails in battle of penholders
Men’s Singles: Third place play-off
China’s Xu Xin has finished on the third step of the podium in the men’s singles event after coming out on top in an exciting third place match against Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting.
Both players known for their penhold grip excellence, but their could only be one winner in Johor Bahru. Wong enjoyed the better start, claiming game one by a convincing five point margin but Xu struck back straight away with successful outings in games two and three to move ahead. The following two games were shared by the two players before Xu sealed the win thanks to a superb showing in Fast5 (6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 5-2).
Positive conclusion for Ding Ning
Women’s Singles: Third place play-off
Defeat earlier in the day but Ding Ning has finished her campaign on a positive note, securing third position in Johor Bahru with an exceptional performance.
Taking on one of the standout names of the tournament in Japan’s Miyu Kato, three-time World champion Ding required just four games to secure the bronze medal (11-3, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6). Success for Ding means that China is guaranteed to lockout the medals podium in the women’s singles draw.
Fan lights a fire in Johor Bahru
Men’s Singles: Semifinals
It is not everyday you see Xu Xin need 8 points before registering his first in the match. That was the kind of start we were in for when Fan Zhendong battled it out with his Chinese compatriot for a place in the final against Lin Yun-Ju.
This was the meeting of the current World #1 versus the former #1 and it did not disappoint. Xu has been winning tournaments left, right and centre over the past months but that did not seem to faze his opponent at all. Fan inflicted a loss that is unheard of when speaking of Xu-perman. In straight games, Fan announced he is ready to turn this year around (11-6, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8).
Chinese elite make an advertisement for Table Tennis
Women’s Singles: Semifinals
The quality on show here in Malaysia hit an almighty high as Ding Ning and Wang Manyu clashed in a true battle of gladiators.
From the off, Ding and Wang took no prisoners as they won games alternatively and giving each other no room for error. The ‘Queen of Hearts’ took the lead in FAST5, but Wang had no wish to give up. In this pendulum of a match, the seventh game was as close as it could get with the last point sending Wang Manyu to a well deserved place in the final. Truly, a match for the ages. (8-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-7, 5-4, 5-2, 5-2)
Dragon tamer one step away from glory
Men’s Singles: Semifinals
Lin Yun-Ju is just one step away from winning the T2 Diamond series, after he soundly defeated Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting 4:0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7).
The 18 year old from Chinese Taipei has sent shockwaves these last couple days across the world of table tennis, as he previously saw off veterans Ma Long and Jun Mizutani. Wong tried every different manuever in the book but could not budge Lin from his stance, one where he did not let Wong win a single game. After reaching the final in Sapporo this year, Lin will be out to make this one count.
Zhu zooms into the final
Women’s Singles: Semifinals
Japan’s Miyu Kato could not keep up her giant-slaying run as she was taken down in the semifinals by Chinese Zhu Yuling in straight games and under 24 minutes (11-6, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6).
The consistency in Zhu’s shot play and service kept the match in her grasp, with Miyu unable to bring her game to the level she displayed against Chen Meng yesterday. The World #4 efficiently wrapped up the match and now awaits either of her compatriots Wang Manyu or Ding Ning in the final.
It’s time for Match Day 4
Three days down, one more to go – who will emerge victorious on Match Day 4? Take a look at the fixture schedule and make sure to watch along live:
