by Ian Marshall, Editor

After accounting for Japan’s Maki Shiomi, the no.7 seed, in the opening round (9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6), He Aige booked her quarter-final place courtesy of success in opposition to Hungary’s Leonie Hartbricht (11-6, 11-4, 11-7), likewise a player who had been required to compete in the qualification group phase. In the opening round she had ousted the host nation’s Alina Nikitchanka, the no.9 seed (10-12, 13-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-2).

Success against a player from the home country, it was the same for Haruna Ojio; she beat Daria Trigolos, the no.8 seed, after having accounted for Russia’s Maria Malanina, the no.13 seed (11-9, 11-8, 11-5) in the opening round.

Wins of note but arguably the most creditable was that achieved by Miku Izumo; after also causing Russia anguish by ousting Anastasia Kolish, the no.16 seed (8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7), she ended the hopes of Germany’s Wan Yuan, the no.3 seed (11-2, 11-5, 11-9).

Haruna Ojio now meets colleague, Miyuu Kihara, the top seed, He Alge confronts Poland’s Natalia Bajor, the no.4 seed; Miyuu Kihara booked her last four place courtesy of success against Croatia’s Sun Jiayi (11-6, 11-6, 11-3), Natalia Bajor ended the progress of Russian qualifier Elizabet Abraamian (11-2, 14-12, 14-12).

Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, Miku Izumo confronts Audrey Zarif of France, the no.6 seed; colleague Satsuki Odo plays Russia’s Valeria Shcherbatykh, the no.5 seed. In the second round, the round to determine the quarter-finalists, Audrey Zarif beat Slovakia’s Tatiana Kukulkova, the no.12 seed (13-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-6), Valeria Shcherbatykh overcame Sweden’s Filippa Bergand, the no.14 seed (11-4, 7-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6).

Hard fought wins, for Satsuki Odo it was very similar, she halted the aspirations of colleague Yumeno Soma, the no.11 seed (3-11, 13-11, 11-3, 13-11).

The quarter and semi-finals of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event will be played on Friday 16th November.