In the final of the Men’s Team event at the Asian Championships in Lucknow on Thursday 19th November 2009, Japan’s Seiya Kishikawa had caused a sensation by beating China’s Ma Long, currently standing at no.2 on the ITTF Men’s World Rankings.
One day later on Friday 20th November 2009, the boot was on the other foot.
The Japanese star, world ranked no.33 was beaten in four straight games by DPR Korea’s Jang Song Man, world ranked no.88.
It was one of only two surprises of note in the third round of the Men’s Singles event, the other being the defeat of Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, world ranked no.18, by Korea’s Cho Eon Rae, world ranked no.75.
Otherwise matters went very much as predicted with the top four seeds all prevailing in style; there were few problems for China’s Ma Long and Wang Liqin nor for Japan’s Jun Mizutani nor Hong Kong’s Cheung Yuk.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles third round, the leading names all prevailed.
China’s Li Xiaoxia and Liu Shiwen plus Singapore’s Feng Tianwei and Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah all booked fourth round places.
The one surprise of note was the defeat of Hong Kong’s Lin Ling by DPR Korea’s Kim Jong. Lin Ling is world ranked no.27 as opposed to Kim Jong who appears at no.72.
-30- For further information including results and article visit www.ittf.com
