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Cho Seungmin delights, causes major upset (Cont'd)

Thursday 04 July


Thursday 4th July


Cho Seungmin delights, causes major upset


Progress for the elite names, it was the same in the men’s doubles. Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu, the top seeds, beat Singapore’s Clarence Chew Zhe Yu and Ethan Poh Shao Feng (11-6, 11-6, 11-5); Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun, the no.2 seeds, enjoyed success. They overcame Sweden’s Truls Moregard and Jon Persson (11-8, 12-14, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5). The one surprise was caused by Germany. Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang accounted for Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang and Ng Pak Nam (11-7, 11-8, 11-7).

Similarly in the opening round of the women’s doubles, the leading pairs enjoyed success. Top seeds, Chen Meng and Wang Manyu beat the combination of Norway’s Ma Wenting and Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut (11-6, 11-1, 12-10). In a similar vein, the partnership of Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova and the Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova emerged successful; the no.2 seeds, they accounted for India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee and Madhurika Patkar (11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 11-13, 11-4).


Meanwhile, just as the men’s doubles, there was one upset. Singapore’s Yu Mengyu and Zeng Jian overcame Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.3 seeds (7-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9).


Opening round success for leading pairs; it was no different in the mixed doubles but when it came to surprises it was very different.

Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen, the top seeds, beat Puerto Rico’s Brian Afanador and Adriana Diaz (11-1, 11-7, 11-5); in a rather more exacting contest Hong Kng’s Wng Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem, the no.2 seeds, accounted for India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta and Manika Batra (5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 7-11, 11-2.


However Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito caused a major upset. They beat Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching, the no.4 seeds (11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 12-10) the pair that leads the ITTF World Tour Standings.


At the same time Hungary Adam Szudi and Szandra Pergel arguably caused an even bigger upset; they accounted for Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura and Kasumi Ishikawa, the no.4 seeds and 2017 world champions. Not to be outdone, Lim Jonghoon and Yoo Eunchong prevailed in the all host nation duel and caused an upset; they prevailed against Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee, the no.5 seeds (5-11, 11-6, 5-11, 13-11, 11-8).


Play continues on Friday 5th July; the quarter and semi-finals of the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles, alongside the second round of the men’s singles and women’s singles events.


By Ian Marshall, Editor

Photo Credit: ITTF

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