Fine run concludes for Japanese qualifiers

Women’s Doubles: Semi-Finals

The penultimate round of women’s doubles action has seen Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki’s impressive campaign draw to a close with the unseeded Japanese pair proving unable to stage another upset in their meeting with China’s Chen Ke and Mu Zi (11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9).

Second seeds Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam have also been halted in the semi-finals with the Hong Kong partnership losing out to Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Yoo Eunchong, seeded fourth (5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7).

Swede breaks hearts of locals

Men’s Singles: Round Two

In a roller coaster ride of a match it was Sweden’s Mattias Falck who held the upper hand against Wong Chun Ting, beating the Hong Kong penhold star in an enthralling battle (11-5, 10-12, 111-13, 11-4, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9).

Next up for seventh seed Mattias Falck is the no.3 seed from China, Liang Jingkun following his 4-1 win against Germany’s Benedikt Duda (5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7, 11-7).

Great bravery but African dreams dashed

Men’s Singles: Round Two

Putting on a great show but the Round of 16 marked the end of Quadri Aruna’s run in Hong Kong, falling to the second seeded player from Japan, Tomokazu Harimoto (11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 11-8). Fifth seed Jang Woojin has been knocked out in round two with the Korean representative exiting to China’s Zhou Yu in straight games (11-3, 11-7, 11-2, 11-5).

Fine showing, top seed progresses

Men’s Singles: Round Two

Seeded first for the event Lin Gaoyuan is through to the men’s singles quarter-finals following a dominant 4-0 victory over qualifier Ma Te in an all-Chinese meeting (11-9, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9). China’s Wang Chuqin also progresses, coming out on top against French opponent Simon Gauzy (12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 16-14, 11-5).

Timo fights back

Men’s Singles: Round Two

German legend Timo Boll remains in the race for men’s singles glory but the no.4 seed faced a severe test in his second round fixture, fighting back from 1-3 down to see off Japan’s Maharu Yoshimura 4-3 (7-11, 12-10, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7).

Over on table 2 spectators were treated to another exciting contest as Jun Mizutani emerged successful against fellow Japanese compatriot Koki Niwa across six games (4-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-5, 11-2).

Repeat outcome

Mixed Doubles: Semi-Finals

Beating Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem to the title last week in Shenzhen, Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching once again got the better of the Hong Kong pair, this time in their own backyard! Down by two games the no.5 seeds from Chinese Taipei responded with three consecutive game wins to advance to the final (6-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-5).

“It was a difficult match-up having lost to them in Shenzhen a week ago. We hoped to improve on a few aspects maybe, yet we fell short in the end again due to the differences in strengths. They changed their tactics after dropping the first two games and their placement of the ball kind of controlled the way we play.” Doo Hoi Kem

The other combination through to the gold medal match is Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu and Choi Hyojoo following their 3-1 victory over Chinese qualifiers Zhou Yu and Chen Xingtong (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10).

Defeated Hong Kong pair react

Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun Ting have reacted to their men’s doubles semi-final exit:

“We played to our usual standards, but our opponents were great and thus limited our play with theirs. You always want to play better at home and get great results, but they played really well.” Wong Chun Ting

“I think we could have handled some of the plays better, and tried some more varied shots. Among the three events, I think we could have achieved more at the mixed doubles, crashing out at the quarter-finals was a pity. Even the men’s doubles just then, we had our chances but we couldn’t make it.” Ho Kwan Kit

Top seeds depart!

Men’s Doubles: Semi-Finals

Disappointment for the home crowd at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium as the top seeded pair in the men’s doubles event, Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun Ting exit to China’s Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan (11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9).

Over in the other semi-final, despite claiming the opening game 11-0 the second seeded partnership of Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju still tasted defeat as Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon recovered to beat the Chinese Taipei duo across four games (0-11, 11-5, 15-13, 13-11).

Sofia Polcanova ousts home favourite

Women’s Singles: Round Two

The sole remaining European competitor left standing in the women’s singles draw, Austria’s Sofia Polcanova will take her place in the last eight after she emerged victorious over Hong Kong’s very own Doo Hoi Kem, seeded sixth (11-5, 11-6, 11-3, 5-11, 11-7).

Over on table 3 Saki Shibata, seeded eighth, came out on top against ninth seed Hitomi Sato in an all-Japanese affair (11-5, 12-10, 11-4, 3-11, 11-7).

Comeback drama

Women’s Singles: Round Two

Cheng I-Ching is through the to quarter-finals by the skin of her teeth following a tense round two outing from the Chinese Taipei competitor: trailing 1-3 on games the no.3 seed required nerves of steel to fight her way back to a 4-3 victory over China’s He Zhuojia (2-11, 6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8).

There was disappointment for another of China’s representatives as Sun Mingyang suffered a straight games defeat in her encounter with Japanese second seed Mima Ito (11-5, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5).

European hopes thinning

Women’s Singles: Round Two

Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and Germany’s Shan Xiaona are out of the race for women’s singles silverware after the players seeded 13th and 16th respectively lost out to Korean no.5 seed Suh Hyowon (11-8, 12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11) and the no.7 seed from Singapore, Feng Tianwei (7-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7). European hopes now lay solely on the shoulders of Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, who will be in action shortly.

Defeated top seed reacts

Losing out in the Round of 16, here’s what Kasumi Ishikawa thought of her defeat:

“I actually played well in the latter part of the game, yet it was not enough and I lost. I haven’t defeated any Chinese players this year and if I am losing even to their younger generations, my participation in next year’s Olympics is in serious doubt. The next step for me will be to reflect on what I have not been doing well. Hopefully after the process I’ll be able to play better and continue to improve before the Olympics.” Kasumi Ishikawa

Kasumi Ishikawa eliminated!

Women’s Singles: Round Two

Top seed for the women’s singles event Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa has been eliminated at the second hurdle, experiencing a crushing 4-1 loss against unseeded Chinese opponent Wang Yidi (11-6, 12-10, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9).

However, in the other meeting between Japan and China the outcome was reversed as no.4 seed Miu Hirano needed just four games to prevail over Feng Yalan (11-4, 11-7, 15-13, 11-5).

Dream ends for Indian duo

Men’s Doubles: Quarter-Finals

Just one win away from a spot on the podium but for Indian qualifiers Sharath Kamal Achanta and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran the dream has ended in Hong Kong following a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Chinese no.5 seeds Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan (11-4, 11-3, 11-13, 11-8).

In the semi-finals the Chinese pair will meet the top seeds from Hong Kong, Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun Ting who posted a 3-1 win against Austria’s Robert Gardos and Daniel Habesohn (10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 13-11).

Koreans flowing with confidence

Men’s Doubles: Quarter-Finals

The third seeded partnership for the competition, Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon sailed into the penultimate round of the men’s doubles draw with a superb 3-0 victory over the no.7 seeded pair in Japan’s Masataka Morizono and Maharu Yoshimura (11-7, 11-5, 11-9).

Awaiting the Korean duo in the semi-finals are second seeds Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju after the pair from Chinese Taipei successfully accounted for Belgium’s Robin Devos and Finland’s Benedek Olah (11-9, 11-4, 11-5).

Narrow margins

Women’s Doubles: Quarter-Finals

Ng Wing Nam and Minnie Soo Wai Yam kept the hopes of the Hong Kong alive in the women’s doubles event; by the very narrowest of margins, the no.2 seeds, they beat Austria’s Yui Hamamoto and Sofia Polcanova (11-3, 4-11, 7-11, 14-12, 14-12).

At the semi-final stage they meet Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Yoo Eunchong, the n.4 seeds and quarter-final winners in opposition to Singapore’s Lin Ye and Zheng Jian, the no.6 seeds (6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9).

Winning ways continue

Women’s Doubles: Quarter-Finals

Winners earlier in the year at the Seamaster Challenge Series tournaments in both Slovenia and Croatia, Japan’s 14 year old Miyuu Kihara and 16 years of age Miyu Nagasaki continued their winning ways. At the quarter-final stage of the women’s doubles event, they beat Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching, the top seeds (11-13, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9).

“We were confident and fearless even though we had to take on the first seed of the tournament. We just treated them as ordinary players.”Miyuu Kihara

“We played well in the first game and had a good start. On the other hand, our opponents made a lot of mistakes compared to us. I think that’s the main reason we won the match.” Miyu Nagasaki

Semi-final line-up

Mixed Doubles: Quarter-Finals

At the semi-final stage of the mixed doubles event, Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem meet Lin Jun-Yu and Cheng I-Ching. In the opposite half of the draw it is Zhou Yu and Chen Xingtong in opposition to Lee Sangsu and Choi Hyojoo.

The matches are scheduled later in the day at 6.30 pm (local time).

Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem progress in style

Mixed Doubles: Quarter-Finals

Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem, the top seeds, book their mixed doubles semi-final place in style; they accounted for the French pairing of Tristan Flore and Laura Gasnier in three straight games (11-5, 11-4, 11-3).

Similarly, China’s Zhou Yu and Chen Xingtong impressed, they progressed courtesy of success against Austria’s Stefan Fegerl and Sofia Polcanova, the no.7 seeds (12-10, 3-11, 11-5, 11-8).

Back from the brink

Mixed Doubles: Quarter-Finals

Chinese Taipei’s Lin Jun-Yu and Cheng I-Ching, the no.5 seeds, recovered from the very brink of defeat to beat Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Lee Ho Ching, the no.4 seeds.

Down two games to one, they trailed 9-10 in the fourth, saved the match point and never looked back (8-11, 11-4, 4-11, 12-10, 11-3).

“They got into the game very fast. Although we came back from a big deficit in game fourth, we couldn’t hold on to it. It’s a pity.” Lee Ho Ching

Success for Chinese Taipei, in the opposite half of the draw it was success for Korea Republic; Lee Sangsu and Choi Hyojoo, the no.6 seeds, overcame China’s Ma Te and Wu Yang (18-20, 11-6, 13-11, 11-5).

Interest for home fans

Mixed Doubles: Quarter-Finals

There is plenty of interest for home fans as the day starts.

At the quarter-final stage of the mixed doubles event Ho Kwan Kit and Lee Ho Ching, the no.4 seeds, meet Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching, the no.5 seeds; they are followed by colleagues Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem, the top seeds, in opposition to the French pairing of Tristan Flore and Laura Gasnier.

Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hang Seng Hong Kong Open: Schedule for Thursday 6th – Sunday 9th June