Top seeds Japanese Tomokazu Harimoto and Mima Ito cruised to men’s and women’s titles respectively at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender tournament Saturday.
At the Losail Sports Arena, 17-year-old Harimoto held off a valiant effort from German qualifier Ruwen Filus 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 in the men’s final. Earlier, Ito made it a double delight for Japan as the 20-year-old claimed her second title in a week with a 10-12, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 victory over Singapore’s fifth seed Feng Tianwei.
As anticipated, the men’s final was a clash of styles which delivered incredible moments throughout the match. World No. 5 Harimoto’s pace and aggression inflicted significant damage as always, yet Filus caught the eye at times with his defensive play leading to some wonderful rallies away from the table.
At the Losail Sports Arena, 17-year-old Harimoto held off a valiant effort from German qualifier Ruwen Filus 11-9, 11-9, 12-14, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8 in the men’s final. Earlier, Ito made it a double delight for Japan as the 20-year-old claimed her second title in a week with a 10-12, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 victory over Singapore’s fifth seed Feng Tianwei.
As anticipated, the men’s final was a clash of styles which delivered incredible moments throughout the match. World No. 5 Harimoto’s pace and aggression inflicted significant damage as always, yet Filus caught the eye at times with his defensive play leading to some wonderful rallies away from the table.
Qatar Table Tennis Association president Khaleel al-Mohannadi (right) and International Table Tennis Federation CEO Steve Dainton (left) pose with men's World Table Tennis (WTT) Star Contender champion Tomokazu Harimoto (second right) of Japan and runner-up Ruwen Filus of Germany
Filus was presented with his fair share of chances, failing to convert an 8-4 lead in game two, while also coming close to throwing away an extraordinary third game despite leading 8-2. However, Harimoto is built for the big occasion and ultimately emerged the deserved champion, after having lost in the semi-finals at Contender event last weekend.
Meanwhile, Ito was tested early by 34-year-old Feng, who saved game point to take the opening game. But the Japanese came back strongly as she saved a game point herself to level the tie. Momentum had shifted sides and Ito refused to let go of it, needing just the five games in the end to seal the triumph.
Playing in her first women's singles final since the 2017 Korea Open, Feng fell short to Ito and the Singaporean admitted she is still playing catch-up with the top-ranked paddlers.
"I was able to see the gap with Ito in today's match so we'll have to get back to training after this. But I felt like I played decently and handled certain parts of the game well. The first few games were lost when the score was very close; I didn't play very well during crucial points and could've taken some chances better," Feng said.
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching emerged victorious in the mixed doubles final, fighting back from a one-game deficit to beat South Korea’s Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6. It was Lin and Cheng’s second title success in consecutive weeks, after the pair had won the mixed doubles trophy at last week’s WTT Contender event.
Defeat for the Koreans in the mixed doubles final, but Lee and Jeon enjoyed better luck earlier on day six with positive outings in the day’s opening two fixtures.
In the women’s doubles final Jeon and teenage sensation Shin Yubin, 16, combined to devastating effect, seeing off Japanese no.1 seeds Kasumi Ishikawa and Miu Hirano 11-6, 12-10, 11-8. Meanwhile, Lee and partner Jeoung Youngsik lived up to expectations with the top seeds in the men’s doubles draw edging past Spain’s Alvaro Robles and Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu at the final hurdle 2-11, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3.
ITTF CEO praises QTTA for hosting WTT Middle East Hub
Meanwhile, International Table Tennis Federation CEO Steve Dainton was full praise of Qatar Table Tennis Association’s (QTTA) organisation of WTT Middle East Hub.
"Qatar's hosting of many tournaments during the coronavirus pandemic has strengthened our confidence in its organisational capabilities, especially since table tennis is receiving its share of attention in this wonderful country," the Australian official said.
"Qatar was able to overcome all organisational and logistical challenges during event, especially as we are witnessing a new tournament with a new identity and professionalism. The WTT Middle East Hub was praised by many players and officials. The local organising committee, headed by QTTA president Khalil al-Mohannadi, must be commended for providing endless services to world table tennis,” Dainton added.
The ITTF CEO said that the health bubble system that was adopted by QTTA was a massive success, despite the huge participation of more than 700 players from 70 countries.
Meanwhile, Ito was tested early by 34-year-old Feng, who saved game point to take the opening game. But the Japanese came back strongly as she saved a game point herself to level the tie. Momentum had shifted sides and Ito refused to let go of it, needing just the five games in the end to seal the triumph.
Japan's Mimi Ito is all smiles after claiming the women's title at the Losail Sports Arena
Playing in her first women's singles final since the 2017 Korea Open, Feng fell short to Ito and the Singaporean admitted she is still playing catch-up with the top-ranked paddlers.
"I was able to see the gap with Ito in today's match so we'll have to get back to training after this. But I felt like I played decently and handled certain parts of the game well. The first few games were lost when the score was very close; I didn't play very well during crucial points and could've taken some chances better," Feng said.
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching emerged victorious in the mixed doubles final, fighting back from a one-game deficit to beat South Korea’s Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6. It was Lin and Cheng’s second title success in consecutive weeks, after the pair had won the mixed doubles trophy at last week’s WTT Contender event.
Defeat for the Koreans in the mixed doubles final, but Lee and Jeon enjoyed better luck earlier on day six with positive outings in the day’s opening two fixtures.
In the women’s doubles final Jeon and teenage sensation Shin Yubin, 16, combined to devastating effect, seeing off Japanese no.1 seeds Kasumi Ishikawa and Miu Hirano 11-6, 12-10, 11-8. Meanwhile, Lee and partner Jeoung Youngsik lived up to expectations with the top seeds in the men’s doubles draw edging past Spain’s Alvaro Robles and Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu at the final hurdle 2-11, 11-6, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3.
ITTF CEO praises QTTA for hosting WTT Middle East Hub
Meanwhile, International Table Tennis Federation CEO Steve Dainton was full praise of Qatar Table Tennis Association’s (QTTA) organisation of WTT Middle East Hub.
"Qatar's hosting of many tournaments during the coronavirus pandemic has strengthened our confidence in its organisational capabilities, especially since table tennis is receiving its share of attention in this wonderful country," the Australian official said.
"Qatar was able to overcome all organisational and logistical challenges during event, especially as we are witnessing a new tournament with a new identity and professionalism. The WTT Middle East Hub was praised by many players and officials. The local organising committee, headed by QTTA president Khalil al-Mohannadi, must be commended for providing endless services to world table tennis,” Dainton added.
The ITTF CEO said that the health bubble system that was adopted by QTTA was a massive success, despite the huge participation of more than 700 players from 70 countries.