Opening Day Winning Formula, Defensive Art and Years of Experience
2015 ITTF World Tour, China Open (Super)
August 6, 2015 – Defense may not be the popular art amongst the World’s leading male players at the present time but on Wednesday August 5th, in the first preliminary round of the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour China Open in Chengdu, it proved a winning formula for two of the most experienced in the skill.
Both in the lower half of the draw, Japan’s Masato Shiono, 29 years old, beat Singapore’s Clarence Chew (11-2, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6); while Austria’s evergreen 43 year old Chen Weixing, accounted for Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang (11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5).
Overall Satisfied
“Today my defense was very good but my attack was poor”, said a highly critical Masato Shiono. “My footwork was good as was my mental strength, so overall I am happy with the way I played.”
Success on the opening day of action for Masato Shiono, who is seeking to rekindle the form which saw him win GAC Group ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles titles in Japan and the Czech Republic in 2013.
Physical Shape
“I have been training hard back at home, doing a lot of fitness”, added Masato Shiono. “I have even been on a diet to ensure that I am in the best shape for this event.”
In good shape, but it was not quite the same for Chen Weixing.
“I’m pleased I won this match; it has been a long time since I played in a tournament this big”, said Chen Weixing. “It is now vacation time in Europe, so I have not been practicing much; this tough match certainly taught me that I should have practiced more before this event, I really struggled fitness wise.”
Results as Expected
Success for Masato Shiono and Chen Weixing, both were results as status predicted.
On the current Men’s World Rankings, Masato Shiono is at no.53, Clarence Chew at no.200; meanwhile, Chen Weixing is named at no.56, Lam Siu Hang at no.208.
Surprises
Wins as expected; but as matters advanced in the lower half of the draw in the first preliminary round of the Men’s Singles event, there were surprises.
Thailand’s Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon and China’s Zhu Linfeng alongside the Chinese Taipei duo of Sun Chia-Hung and Hung Tzu-Hsiang all caused surprises.
No World ranking, Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon accounted for Korea’s Lim Junghoon, listed at no.164 (11-9, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8); while Zhu Linfeng, likewise with global status, caused an even bigger upset, he caused Korea more heartaches by beating Cho Eonrae, presently standing at no.52 in the global order.
Chinese Taipei
An upset of note; equally Sun Chia-Hung and Hung Tzu-Hsiang raised the eyebrows.
World ranked no.263, Sun Chia-Hung beat Sweden’s Jens Lundqvist, named at no.86 (13-11, 6-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-3); Hung Tzu-Hsiang, who is at no.196, ended the hopes of the Slovak Republic’s Wang Yang (11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7).
Currently Wang Yang is listed at no.75 on the Men’s World Rankings.
Korean Success
Disappointment for Korea but not where Lee Sangsu and Kim Minseok were concerned; Lee Sangsu listed at no.24 on the current Men’s World Rankings and behind Robert Gardos, the second highest rated player on first day duty, beat Frenchman Arthur Breton (11-5, 11-3, 11-6, 11-1); while Kim Minseok was in similar unrelenting form.
At no.33 on the current World order, the fourth highest rated in preliminary stage duty, he defeated DPR Korea’s Kim Hyok Jun (11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9).
Arthur Breton in presently named at no.373 on the Men’s World Rankings, Kim Hyok Jun has no global standing.
Preliminary Stage Concludes
The preliminary stages of all events conclude on Thursday August 6th.
Quotes of the Day
GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour China Open: Quotes of the Day – Wednesday 5th August
