by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

However, they were tested at the final hurdle; a full distance verdict was the order of the day.

Korea ‘A’ with Park Gyuhyeon and Oh Junsung on duty proved most worthy opponents for Li Hsin-Yu and Wang Yi-Fan. Lin Hsin-Yu emerged the mainstay of the Chinese Taipei success beating both Park Gyuhyeon in the opening match of the fixture (11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8) and Oh Junsung in the vital concluding contest (12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3). Sandwiched in between he partnered Wang Yi-Fan to doubles success (12-10, 12-10, 3-11, 12-10).

Impressive, Lu Hsin-Yu the hero of the hour in the final; earlier at the quarter-final stage, that role had been filled by Wang Yi-Fan in opposition to Iran’s Arya Amiri and Raden Khayyam. He beat both Arya Amiri (11-9, 14-12, 10-12, 11-8) and Raden Khayyam (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 6-11, 11-1) in a three-two success. The one further win for Chinese Taipei was recorded by Li Hsin-Yu; in the opening match of the engagement, he overcame Raden Khayyam (11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 12-10).

Testing times, at the semi-final stage life was less exacting. A three-one win was posted against the combination of Ireland’s Owen Cathcart and Russia’s Ilia Anokhin.

Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw Park Gyuhyeon and Oh Junsung recorded a three-nil quarter-final success against the Croatia ‘A’ combination of Filip Borovnjak and Ivor Ban, prior to posting a three-one success when facing the Hungary ‘A’ Team duo of Oliver Both and Norbert Terek.