by Ian Marshall, Editor

Success, to the delight of the host nation came the way of Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun, the no.3 seeds, in contest which witnessed a quite remarkable change in fortunes.

Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching, the no.6 seeds, dominated the early stages of the contest, they secured the opening game before in the second establishing a 7-3 lead; it was one way traffic. Perhaps more relaxed, Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching won the next two points; Zhang Rui, the Hong Kong coach sitting courtside, called “Time Out”.

It proved the pivotal stage of the match; Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun levelled at 8-all before progressing to win three of the next four points. Parity, the Korea Republic duo accelerated, a new found confidence, they established early leads in the next two games and never looked back (7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9).

A performance that gained in belief, on the adjacent table it was belief from the very start; China’s Chen Ke and Wang Manyu, the no.4 seed, accounted for the Japanese defenders Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato, the no.7 seeds, in three straight games (11-7, 14-12, 11-9).

Success for Chen Ke and Wang Manyu was followed by success for colleagues Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha; the no.2 seeds, they caused Hong Kong more pain, they accounted for Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.8 seeds (11-6, 11-4, 11-6).

Impressive performance from Chinese pairs but as the quarter-final round came to a close there was defeat. Colleagues Liu Gaoyang and Zhang Rui, the no.5 seeds, experienced defeat at the hands of Japan’s Hina Hayata and Mima Ito, the top seeds (11-6, 11-9, 11-9); the crucial stage of the contest being in the second game when trailing 8-9, the Chinese duo elected for “Time Out”. They duly levelled but enjoyed no further success.

At the semi-final stage Hina Hayata and Mima Ito meet Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun, Chen Ke and Wang Manyu confront Chen Xingtong and Sun Yingsha.

The semi-finals of the Women’s Doubles event will be played on Fiday 14th December.