by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Lim Jonghoon, winner of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event the previous day and the first round victor over Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia, the no.11 seed (7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10) was beaten by China’s Fang Bo, the no.7 seed (11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10).

Defeat but has Korea unearthed a player who could be in the national team for next year’s World Team Championships in Halmstad?

Jeoung Youngsik, Lee Sangsu and Jeong Sangeun may be the current first team selection but note the name of the 20 year old. Early this year in March he was listed at no.125 on the Men’s World Rankings, he is now at no.64; when the July edition is published surely he is set to go higher?

Likewise for Ho Kwan Kit, it was defeat against a high quality player, the highest of all; he was beaten by China’s Ma Long, the top seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7), the winner of every major tournament the sport has to offer.

Similar, Jin Ueda departed when faced with a prominent name; he lost to compatriot, Koki Niwa, the no.9 seed (11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7).

Farewell to one player from the host nation by definition; there was also farewell for another. Kenta Matsudaira, the no.10 seed, was beaten by Xu Xin, likewise from China. Xu Xin, the no.3 seed, won in five games.

At the quarter-final stage Ma Long meets Koki Niwa, Xu Xin opposes Fang Bo; the lower half of the draw in the second round of the Men’s Singles event will be concluded on the morning of Saturday 17th June.