by Ian Marshall, Editor

Baldwin Chan Ho Wah, the no.11 seed, accounted for New Zealand’s Nathan Xu, the no.3 seed (11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6) to cause the biggest upset of the day; a notable performance, the previous day the young man from Hong Kong had finished in second place in the group stage behind Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Jen, the no.4 seed.

Conversely, Li Hsin-Yu, the no.9 seed, as well as Wong Qi Shen, the no.12 seed and Amos Ling Yi Heng, the no.13 seed, had all excelled expectations, remaining unbeaten in their respective groups. All continued their good form.

In the opening round, Amos Ling Yi Heng beat Australia’s Raymond Zhang, the no.15 seed, Wong Qi Shen overcame Hong Kong’s Lau Chun Nok, the no.14 seed (11-7, 11-2, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6; Li Hsin-Yu ended the hopes of New Zealand’s Jack Chen (11-2, 11-3, 11-5).

Success against the odds in the opening round, for Chinese Taipei’s Tai Ming-Wei and Huang Hu-Jen, as for Hong Kong’s Pau Yik Man, it was success as anticipated. Major title contenders, Tai Ming-Wei, the top seed, beat Hong Kong’s Yu Nok, the no.5 seed (11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3), a players who the previous day, contrary to expectations, had finished in second place in his group .

Likewise Pau Yik Man, the no.2 seed, accounted for Malaysia’s Mak Tin Ian (11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 13-11); Huang Yu-Jen ended the hopes of Choy Chu Kit, the no.5 seed (6-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6), who like colleague Yu Nok, had concluded the initial stage group matches in runners up spot.

Meanwhile, as the group phase of play concluded in the cadet boys’ singles competition, the top four names all secured first places in their initial stage group matches and thus advanced directly to the quarter-final round. It was a successful day for Yiu Kwan To, Yu Nok and Hong Kong colleague Baldwin Chan Ho Wah, as it was from Australia’s Finn Luu.

Play concludes in Darwin on Wednesday 1st May.