Thailand’s Supanut Wisutmaythangkoon yesterday beat Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan - who has four ITTF World Tour men’s singles titles to his credit - on the opening day of qualifying matches at the ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open.
qaqaSupanut produced a solid round of table tennis to post a 9-11, 11-6, 13-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4 win at Ali Bin Attiyah Arena at the March 26-31 Championship.
In stark comparison to the four titles by the Chinese star, the best for Supanut at an open international tournament was last year at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF Challenge Nigerian Open when he reached the semi-finals.
Currently on the men’s world rankings, he is listed at no.111; Chuang stands at no.19.
Also yesterday, Germany’s Ricardo Walther beat Denmark’s Zhai Yujia who was crowned champion in Spain just two days ago.
The 24 year old Danish star was beaten in the men’s singles preliminary round by Walther 12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-8.
Winner at the 2014 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Barbados, Korea Republic’s Hwang Minha caused a major men’s singles preliminary second round shock yesterday when he beat Denmark’s Jonathan Groth in seven games (13-11, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7).
Presently on the men’s world rankings, Hwang Minha is listed at no.170, Jonathan Groth at no.23.
Meanwhile India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Sharath Kamal Achanta and Amalraj Anthony all enjoyed men’s singles preliminary round success.
Gnanasekaran beat Sweden’s Truls Moregard (11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7), Achanta accounted for Frenchman Benjamin Brossier (15-13, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5), Anthony ended the hopes of Kanak Jha of the US (6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7).
There were shock exits for major qualification contenders in the women’s singles preliminary round yesterday.
Neither one of Puerto Rico’s Adriana Díaz nor India’s Manika Batra will play any further part in women’s singles qualification following shock defeats at the very first hurdle in Doha.
Leading by a two games margin but that wasn’t enough for Adriana Diaz to prevent Serbian star Sabina Surjan from snatching the win in a seven game thriller (6-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, 12-14, 11-7) while Manika Batra was knocked out by Korea’s Kim Youjin in straight games (11-7, 12-10, 11-8, 11-5).
