by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Both face qualifiers, moreover both confront adversaries from China. Simon Gauzy, the no.5 seed opposes Lin Gaoyuan; Hugo Calderano, the no.7 seed, Yan An.

Notably in 2010 Lin Gaoyuan won the Under 21 Men’s Singles title at the KAL Cup 2010 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals; three years later Yan An secured the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open.

Absent from the international scene for over a year and thus no World ranking, the Chinese duo is hungry for success.

It is very much the same situation for Shang Kun, also from China and no World ranking; he faces colleague and no.10 seed, Zhou Yu.

Similarly, in the second round of the Women’s Singles event, aspiring Chinese players clash. Qualifier Che Xiaoxi meets Chen Xingtong, the no.14 seed; Sheng Dandan, also a player required to compete in the preliminary phase, opposes Wen Jia, the no.10 seed.

Conversely, for Li Jiayi, also from China and the first round winner in opposition to Li Jie of the Netherlands, the no.2 seed, another European defensive player awaits; she face Russia’s Maria Dolgikh, the no.15 seed

Meanwhile, for the top seeds, worthy adversaries await; in the Men’s Singles event Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus faces Poland’s Jakub Dyjas, the no.13 seed. In the counterpart Women’s Singles competition, China’s Chen Meng confronts former European champion, Viktoria Pavlovich, the no.12 seed and like Vladimir Samsonov from Belarus.

Can defensive play prevail; that is the question which faces Ruwen Filus, the shock first round Men’s Singles winner over Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, the no.2 seed. The German defender faces fellow qualifier and colleague Ricardo Walther.

Play in both the second round of the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles event will be played in full on Friday 20th January.