by Ian Marshall, Editor

The progress of Yu Nok was as status predicted; he finished in first place in his initial stage group before recording a semi-final success against China’s Gu Yuhang (12-10, 11-6, 11-6).

Conversely, the place in the final for Mohammad Amin Samadi was contrary to expectations. Not seeded, he had finished in first place in his initial phase group ahead of Gu Yuhang and Sweden’s Elias Sjögren, the no.3 seed.

Required to compete in the opening round, he beat China’s Liu Ruiyi (7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 12-10) and Australia’s Nicholas Lum, the no.2 seed (11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9), to reserve his place in the title decider.

In the Mini-Cadet Girls’ Singles event, the situation en route to the final was not too dissimilar.

Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam, the top seed, duly finished in first place in her group, before accounting for Egypt’s Hana Goda, the no.3 seed and Japan’s Yura Shinohara (2-11, 17-15, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5) to reach the final. Notably, one round earlier, Yura Shinohara had beaten Chinese Taipei’s Li Ru-Yun, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-7, 12-10).

Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, just as in the Mini-Cadet Boys’ Singles event, a surprise name reserved a final place.

Miwa Harimoto, who had finished in second place in her initial phase group, losing to Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam (11-2, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8, 11-1), accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Pu-Syuan (11-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-4) and colleague Anne Uesawa (9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8) to secure her place in the gold medal contest.

Play in Taicang concludes on Sunday 8th July.