by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Two surprise outcomes but that was the sum total of upsets in the second round of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event in Almeria.

Notably, the adventures of Indian teenagers Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Snehit Suravajjula came to an end. Both required to compete in the qualification tournament, Manush Utpalbhai Shah was beaten by the Czech Republic’s Tomas Polansky the no.7 seed (1-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5); Snehit Suravajjula experienced defeat at the hands of Korea’s Park Ganghyeon, the no.6 seed (11-3, 11-6, 11-7).

Success for Park Ganghyeon, there was also success for his colleague, Cho Seungmin; the top seed, he ended the hopes of Austria’s Dennis Klein, like Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Snehit Suravajjula, a player who had been required to compete in the qualification tournament.

Fine performance from two Koreans, it was the very same from two Slovenians. Darko Jorgic, the no.4 seed, overcame Sweden’s Elias Ranefur (11-6, 12-10, 13-11); Deni Kozul, the no.8 seed, stifled any aspirations harboured by Portugal’s Diogo Chen, the no.10 seed (7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6).

Wins as expected and it was the same for the no.2 seed; Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang beat Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes, the 15 seed (11-5, 11-8, 11-7).

At the quarter-final stage Cho Seungmin meets Andreas Levenko, Tomas Polansky opposes Darko Jorgic; in the opposite half of the draw it is Martin Allegro versus Deni Kozul, Lam siu Hang in opposition to Park Gangyheon.

The Under 21 Men’s Singles event will be played to a conclusion on Saturday 25th November.