Jang Woojin celebrates, beats Tomokazu Harimoto after in the fifth game saving two match points (Photo: Rémy Gros)
Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin and Suh Hyowon emerged the players to cause the major upsets, on the opening day of play, Thursday 19th November, at the Bank of Communications 2020 ITTF Finals in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou.
Both dented Japanese ambitions.
In the opening match of the whole tournament, Suh Hyowon, the no.16 seed and the lowest ranked player in the women’s event, beat Kasumi Ishikawa, the no.7 seed (11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5).
Suh Hyowon, technically correct defensive skills (Photo: Rémy Gros)
Later in the men’s event, Jang Woojin, the no.14 seed, recovered from the very brink of defeat to end the aspirations of Tomokazu Harimoto, the no.4 seed. Down three games to one, trailed 8-10 in the fifth, won four points in a row and changed the moment of the contest (6-11, 2-11, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-5).
Men – Round One
Fan Zhendong (CHN) v Jeoung Youngsik (KOR) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7
Liam Pitchford (CHN) v Hugo Calderano (BRA) 4-11, 4-11, 11-13, 10-12
Lin Gaoyuan (CHN) v Koki Niwa (JPN) to be played on Friday 20th November
Jang Woojin (KOR) v Tomokazu Harimoto (JPN) 6-11, 2-11, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-5
Ma Long (CHN) v Patrick Franziska (GER) 12-10, 11-1, 11-6, 11-4
Simon Gauzy (FRA) v Mattias Falck (SWE) 4-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7
Lin Yun-Ju (TPE) v Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER) to be played on Friday 20th November
Quadri Aruna (NGR) v Xu Xin (CHN) 10-12, 8-11, 6-11, 5-11
Women – Round One
Chen Meng (CHN) v Miyu Kato (JPN) 11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4
Petrissa Solja (GER) v Feng Tianwei (SGP) 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9
Suh Hyowon (KOR) v Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN) 11-8, 3-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5
Sun Yingsha (CHN) v Jeon Jihee (KOR) 12-10, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4
Wang Manyu (CHN) v Hitomi Sato (JPN) 11-6, 16-14, 11-5, 11-9
Cheng I-Ching (TPE) v Adriana Diaz (PUR) to be played on Friday 20th November
Wang Yidi (CHN) v Sofia Polcanova (AUT) 11-3, 14-12, 11-7, 11-7
Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) v Mima Ito (JPN) to be played on Friday 20th November