(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT)
Xiang Peng of China and Feng Yi-Hsin of Taipei were the top seeds in the Men’s event at the WTT Series Feeder event in Muscat, Oman. The event featured players outside of the World Top 40, a draw dominated by up and coming players with most from China, Taipei, Japan, and India. When the dust settled, none of the top 6 seeds reached the Final.
Top seed, Xiang Peng, fell to Chen Yuanyu 3-1 in the Quarterfinals. Second seeded Yuan Licen made it one round further, falling to Xue Fei 3-0 in the Semifinal. The Final was between Ryoichi Yoshiyama of Japan and Xue Fei of China. Yoshiyama won the first game, but then dropped three in a row as Xue Fei took the Men’s Singles title.
China dominated the Women’s event, with three players reaching the Final Four. However, it was that fourth player, that finished strongly. Japan’s Sakura Yokoi won her Semifinal match over Qin Yuxuan 3-1 and then won the Final 3-0 over Yang Yiyun.
France won Men’s Doubles, with Joe Seyfried and Bastien Rembert winning the Final over China’s team of Yuan/Xiang 3-1. Women’s Doubles went to China’s Xu Yi and Fan Shuhan. The Mixed Doubles title was won by Wang Xiaotong and Xue Fei.
Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results.
