NG Wing Nam from Hong Kong almost pulled off a massive upset when she took the favourite Kasumi Ishikawa to a seventh game before finally losing 11-8 in the decider.

It won’t matter for the world number 91 though as her two previous victories took her through. In fact, in all three of Wing Nam’s games she went the full distance with two 4-3 victories and that single defeat to the under-21’s favourite.

Before that game the top seed, World no. seven Kasumi Ishikawa (Japan), scored her second 4-0 win of the day in the Under 21 Ladies Singles in the ITTF Pro Tour Finals beating World no. 51 Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei) 11-6, 11-9, 11-4, 11-8), a display every bit as dominant as that in her opening game.

Wing Nam, the World no. 91,  had secured her second 4-3 success, a last gasp 6-11, 11-6, 4-11, 12-10, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9 win over Ukrainian Margaryta Pesotska, the World no. 59 before facing Ishikawa in her final match.

Jeon Ji Hee (Korea), the World no. 33 also secured her second victory, fighting back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to get the better of Saki Tashiro (Japan) 4-3. The seventh game couldn’t have been closer with the Korean ace just prevailing 12-10. Jeon Ji Hee wil play Misaki Morizono (Japan) in the last round.

Morizono stayed in contention to qualify for the semi-finals despite losing her first match by beating Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching (4-1) 7-11, 15-13, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6, the second seed’s second defeat of the day.

Steve Kerns