by Ian Marshall
Full of energy; as the day concluded, Shunsuke Togami accounted for Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting, the no.2 seed (11-7, 11-8, 15-13). The success came after in the late afternoon, the defensive skills of Hitomi Sato had been penetrated by Korea Republic’s Shin Yubin (11-7, 11-6, 13-11).
Major upsets and there was one more of note in the second round of play, in the women’s singles, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu, the no.5 seed, was beaten by Zhu Chengzhu (11-5, 11-6, 11-6).
One could consider the fact that Hitomi Sato confronted Shin Yubin in the second round, a round of 64 players, a tough draw.
Equally Lee Ho Ching, like Zhu Chengzhu from Hong Kong, could consider herself somewhat unfortunate in the fact that at the same stage she faced Japan’s Hina Hayata, the no.6 seed. She was beaten in straight games (11-6, 11-3, 11-5).
Lee Ho Ching was the ninth highest ranked player on women’s singles duty, Shin Yubin, the 14th in order of merit.
However, in every individual event, where throughout matches are best of five games, only the top eight players or pairs are seeded, for the rest it is a free draw with separation by association.
Notably the top seeds, the title favourites, progressed; in the men’s singles, Korea’s Jang Woojin booked his third round place, as in the women’s singles did colleague Jeon Jihee.
Surprise outcomes
Likewise, in each of the men’s doubles and women’s doubles events, there was an upset as play advanced to the quarter-final round; Chinese Taipei feeling the pain.
In the men’s doubles Chen Chien-An and Huang Yan-Cheng, the no.3 seeds, experienced a third round defeat when facing Singapore’s Clarence Chew and Beh Kun Ting (7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8).
At the same stage in the women’s doubles, Chen Szu-Yu and Li Yu-Jhun lost to India’s Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee (11-9, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9).
Problems for notable pairs, not for the top seeds, Iran’s Nima Alamian and Noshad Alamiyan duly booked a men’s doubles quarter-final place, as in the women’s doubles did Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Shin Yubin.
Disappointment for Hong Kong
Success for the leading pairs but not in the mixed doubles; Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem experienced defeat at the hands of Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and Hina Hayata, the no.4 seeds (11-8, 11-6, 11-7).
Sadness for Hong Kong, there was more; immediately ensuing Ho Kwan Kit and Lee Ho Ching, the no.3 seeds, lost to Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee, the no.2 seeds (7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6).
On Sunday 3rd October, at the close of play, the semi-finalists in the men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles will be known.
