China Imperious as Asia Dominates Fourth Day in Yokohama

By: Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
World Table Tennis Championships

The top four seeds in the Women’s Singles events at the H.I.S. World Championships in Yokohama duly won their third round matches on the evening of Friday 1st May 2009.

table tennis dang Ye Seo who beat Kim Kyung Ah, the no.8 seed, in the third round of the Women's Singles event. Photo By: Rémy Gros

Dang Ye Seo who beat Kim Kyung Ah, the no.8 seed, in the third round of the Women's Singles event. Photo By: Rémy Gros

European players found life difficult; only three men and four women progressing to the round of the last 16 with Asia once again in the ascendancy.

Meanwhile, for a surprise eyes focused on a young man from the host nation and a female player from Korea.

Zhang Yining, seeded no.1, ended the dreams of Romania’s Daniela Dodean whilst next in line, Guo Yue proved too fast for Chinese Taipei’s Huang I-Hua.

Similarly, Li Xiaoxia, seeded no.3, controlled proceedings to beat Germany’s Elke Schall and Guo Yan, seeded no.4, followed suit to defeat Korea’s Park Yoong Sook.

Europeans
Success for China, with the Czech Republic’s Renata Strbikova, Hungary’s Krisztina Toth, the Czech Republic’s Iveta Vacenovska and Li Jiao of the Netherlands flying the female flag.

For the ladies, Toth defeated Spain’s Zhu Fang, Strbikova overcame Viktoria Pavlovich of Belarus, Vacenovska secured victory against Slovakia’s Eva Odorova and Li Jiao defeated Singapore’s Sun Bei Bei.

Matsudaira Again
As for the surprises, Korea’s Dang Ye Seo who was the player to spring the unexpected.

She ended the hopes of Korean compatriot, Kim Kyung Ah, seeded no. 8.

Also Through
Women’s Singles competition Singapore’s Yu Meng Yu and Feng Tianwei, Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, Korea’s Park Mi Young, Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun plus China’s Liu Shiwen and Ding Ning, all booked last 16 places.

Mixed Doubles
Success for China in the singles events and there was also success in the fifth round of the Mixed Doubles were five Chinese pairs enjoyed success.

It was victory for Hao Shuai and Chang Chenchen, Zhang Jike and Mu Zi, Li Ping and Cao Zhen, Xu Xin and Fan Ying plus Zhang Chao and Yao Yan.

Also through came top seeds Hong Kong’s ko Lai Chak and Tie Yana, Germany’s Christian Süss and Elke Schall plus Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej and Eva Odorova.