by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Ro Kwang Jin, present at last year’s Seamaster 2017 Asian Championships in Wuxi, made the ideal start to his campaign by overcoming Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Ngoc (11-4, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9).

Ji Jiale and Cao Wei both accounted for host nation adversaries; Ji Jiale beat Kim Jin Su (11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9), Cao Wei accounted for Ri Jong Sik (11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6). Hard fought wins; it was the same for Zhu Shusheng, in his opening contest he defeated Mongolia’s Erdenebayar Chinbat (11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-7).

Conversely, Lui Yebo and Zhang Renyuan experienced defeats at the hands of DPR Korea adversaries. Lui Yebo was beaten by Ro Hyon Song (11-8, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 13-11); Zhang Renyuan suffered at the hands of An Ji Song (11-6, 11-2, 11-8, 11-7). Meanwhile, for Ji Ruilong it was defeat when facing Iran’s Miad Lotfijanabadi (7-11, 11-9, 11-1, 11-9, 11-8).

Testing contests but no major surprises, only one result raised the eyebrows, DPR Korea’s Hwang Chung Nam accounted for Vietnam’s Doan Ba Tuan Anh, the highest rated player in his group (13-11, 7-11, 17-15, 11-6, 11-5).

A successful opening day for Cao Wei, it was the same in the Under 21 Men’s Singles event where he emerged one of three players to complete the initial phase matches unbeaten; the other two players to achieve the feat were DPR Korea’s Kim Ok Chan and Chae Min U.

Play in the Men’s Singles qualification tournament concludes on Thursday 14th June.