Competitions in the main draw of the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum, Qatar Open began yesterday with dozens of matches played after two days of qualifying action.
Youth Olympics singles champion Wang Chuqin put an end to the campaign of Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in a powerful performance that was particularly enjoyed by the fans. Wang won 4-0 (11-3, 11-5, 13-11, 11-4), with there being no point in the match where he was suffering a deficit against Freitas.
For another European though, it was a very good afternoon. Sweden’s Mattias Falck saw off the challenge of Jin Takuya, winning 4-1 (1-5, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9), with the Asian unable to break through Falck’s defence.
Sweden’s Jon Persson is very much an athlete on the hunt for a medal right now, as he defeated host nation’s Ahmad Khalil al-Mohannadi 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2) in 15 minutes.
China’s Xu Chenhao also recorded a straight games win over German veteran Patrick Franziska (11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 11-2). Xu was impeccable in his timing of retreat and attack versus the experienced Franziska and it certainly is an upset here in Doha.
Chinese elite also moved ahead in the women’s singles round of 32.
Seeded fourth and the defending women’s singles champion in Doha, Wang Manyu enjoyed a relatively trouble free start to her title defence as she beat fellow Chinese compatriot Sun Mingyang 4-0 in the Round of 32 (11-8, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5).
Earlier, Ding Ning and Wang Yidi found their form in some style as they both coasted to wins over Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin and fellow Chinese athlete Zhang Rui respectively.
Ding beat Yang in straight games, displaying her Olympian form and clear intention to settle for nothing less than gold (11-8, 1-8, 12-10, 11-6). For Wang, it was a good challenge to affirm as she won 4-1 (11-8, 11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 14-12) against Zhang.
Feng Tianwei was involved in a rather quick domestic against fellow Singaporean Yu Mengyu, as the veteran came out on top, winning in straight games (11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-2) and in under 16 minutes.
Meanwhile, Mima Ito was taking no prisoners as she beat China’s Gu Yuting 4-1 (9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4). There was an air of smart play by the Japanese who knew just when to speed up her shots and just when to sit back and wait for the counter.
Sun Yingsha also picked up a victory in the 2.50pm session, seeing off Miyuu Kihara (13-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-7).
Austria’s Sofia Polcanova has sealed her spot in the last 16 of the women’s singles event in Doha, prevailing in an all-European contest against Spain’s Galia Dvorak on table 1 (11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6).