by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
The win underlines the fact that even though the depth of talent is ever greater in Japan, it is China that possesses the deepest reservoirs.
“I think my speed was vital to my win, she plays fast but I felt I was able match her; that was the key in seventh game when I won the first five points. It took me time to adjust to receiving her services but as the match progressed I adapted. Also, throughout the match on the first three attacks after the serve, I was strong.” Wang Yidi
Success for Wang Yidi; as matters commenced in the top half of the draw there were also successes for Chinese national team colleagues Ding Ning, Wang Manyu and Sun Yingsha and Chen Meng.
Victory for Ding Ning, who has ever major accolade against her name, could hardly merit the description of surprise; some 12 or more years ago when facing the likes of Korea’s Kim Kyungah, she suffer defeat against the defensive art. However, torrents of water have flowed under the bridge since those days. She had few problems overcoming the latest Korean defender Suh Hyowon, the no.16 seed 11-6, 11-5, 4-11, 11-4, 11-4).
Similarly there were few problems for Sun Yingsha, also required to qualify. She accounted for Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem, the no.9 seed (11-5, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9).
Comfortable wins for Ding Ning and Wang Yidi, it was the same for their seeded colleagues, Chen Meng, the top seed and Wang Manyu, the no.5 seed. Cheng Meng beat Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin (6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2), Wang Manyu overcame colleague Che Xiaoxi in four straight games (12-10, 11-3, 11-5, 11-6).
Progress to round two as anticipated for Wang Manyu; it was the same for Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching and Japan’s Miyu Kato as the top half of the draw in the opening round progressed.
Feng Tianwei, the no.3 seed, beat Korea’s Yoo Eunchong (8-11, 16-14, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5), Lee Ho Ching, the no.12 seed, overcame Japan’s Saki Shibata 11-5, 11-9, 11-4, 11-13, 11-13, 11-3). Not to be left out, in a gruelling encounter Miyu Kato, the no.14 seed, eventually overcame the defensive attributes of Japanese colleague, Honoka Hashimoto (11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9).
The second round matches will be played in entirety on Friday 9th March.
