First place in the group for Lily Zhang by the very narrowest of margins (Photo: Rémy Gros)
Narrow margins were the order of the day on Sunday 8th November at the Dishang 2020 Women’s World Cup in the Chinese city of Weihai, as the first stage of play concluded.
None more so was the tension underlined than in the group comprising Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, Lily Zhang of the United States, Canada’s Zhang Mo and Ukraine’s Margaryta Pesotska. Not the best of days for Zhang Mo, not a win to her name but for the remaining three players, points’ ratio decided the top three positions.
It was first place for Lily Zhang (119:116), followed by Adriana Diaz (121:120) and Margaryta Pesotska (116:120).
Players finishing in first and second positions in each of the four groups gained main draw places; in addition to Lily Zhang and Adriana Diaz, it was progress for Wu Yue also of the United States as it was for Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee and Suh Hyowon.
Likewise, Germany’s Han Yin, Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu and Romania’s Bernadette Szocs advanced to the second stage.
Sunday 8th November
Group One
Jeon Jihee (KOR) bt Britt Eerland (NED) 7-11, 13-15, 13-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9
Han Ying (GER) bt Jeon Jihee (KOR) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
Han Ying (GER) bt Britt Eerland (NED) 11-3, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6
1. Han Ying GER) 2. Jeon Jihee (KOR) 3. Britt Eerland (NED)
Group Two
Adriana Diaz (PUR) bt Zhang Mo (CAN) 11-5, 7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 12-10
Margaryta Pesotska (UKR) by Lily Zhang (USA) 15-13, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 3-11, 12-10
Lily Zhang (USA) bt Adriana Diaz (PUR) 11-13, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5
Margaryta Pesotska (UKR) bt Zhang Mo (CAN) 11-2, 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8
Adriana Diaz (PUR) bt Margaryta Pesotska (UKR) 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8
Lily Zhang (USA) bt Zhang Mo (CAN) 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11
1. Lily Zhang (USA) 2. Adriana Diaz (PUR) 3. Margaryta Pesotska (UKR) 4. Zhang Mo (CAN)
Group Three
Wu Yue (USA) bt Petrissa Solja (GER) 11-5, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 3-11, 11-9
Chen Szu-Yu (TPE) bt Petrissa Solja (GER) 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9
Chen Szu-Yu (TPE) bt Wu Yue (USA) 11-5, 3-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 9-11, 13-11
1. Chen Szu-Yu 2. Wu Yue 3. Petrissa Solja (GER)
Group Four
Suh Hyowon (KOR) bt Dina Meshref (EGY) 5-11, 11-3, 11-6, 13-11, 13-11
Suh Hyowon (KOR) bt Bernadette Szocs (ROU) 8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 13-11, 8-11, 11-7
Bernadette Szocs (ROU) bt Dina Meshref (8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5
1. Suh Hyowon (KOR) 2. Bernadette Szocs (ROU) 3. Dina Meshref (EGY)
Monday 9th November
Round One
Cheng Meng (CHN) v Bernadette Szocs (ROU)
Lily Zhang (USA) v Feng Tianwei (SGP)
Sofia Polcanova (AUT) v Han Ying (GER)
Wu Yue (USA) v Cheng I-Ching (TPE)
Sun Yingsha (CHN) v Adriana Diaz (PUR)
Suh Hyowon (KOR) v Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN)
Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) v Chen Szu-Yu (TPE)
Jeon Jihee (KOR) v Mima Ito (JPN)