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12 April 2013 Relaxed Approach Proves Winning Formula for Seok Hajung Korea’s Seok Hajung was the player to cause the major upset, as matters commenced in Women’s event at the GAC GROUP Asian Cup in Hong Kong on the morning of Friday 12th April 2013. Currently listed at no.20 on the Women’s World Rankings and the no.7 seed in Hong Kong, she overcame Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, presently listed at no.9 on the global list and the no.3 seed in the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium.
Seok Hajung won in four games (12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-8). It was the one upset as matters commenced in the Women’s event and it creates a more than interesting situation in the group.
Players finishing in first and second places in each group progress directly to the quarter-finals, the third placed player must compete in a preliminary round.
In the adjacent match in the group, China’s Wu Yang accounted for the host nation’s Lee Ho Ching (11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4), her defensive skills to secure for her 20 year old adversary.
She appears the favourite to win the group.
At the recent Times Property World Team Classic in Guangzhou, Wu Yang overcame Kasumi Ishikawa in three straight games (11-5, 11-6, 11-9), whilst the backspin artiste is not the style against which Seok Hajung excels.
Add one more scenario into the melting pot. At the recent ITTF World Tour Korean Air Korean Open, in the third round of the Women’s Singles event, Lee Ho Ching beat Seok Hajung in a thrilling seven games contest (11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9,8-11, 9-11, 12-10).
“My right shoulder is a little painful”, explained Seok Hajung. “It’s been like that ever since I played Ai Fukuhara in Guangzhou.”
The two met at the quarter-final stage of the Women’s event at the Times Property World Team Classic; Japan won the fixture three-two but Seok Hajung overcame Ai Fukuhara in the first match of the contest in a most impressive manner (11-6, 11-9, 11-7).
“I tried to play more relaxed today, play with control”, explained Seok Hajung. “Today I think my receive of service was good, I was able to stop Kasumi attacking quickly after the service; either I tried to return short or over the table top spin the return.” A pleased player and there was a pleased coach.
“My instructions were to play with as much rotation as possible with the first attack”, explained Park Jihyun. “Then attack strongly with the following top spin.”
One upset but there were no further surprises.
China’s Liu Shiwen, the no.1 seed, beat Singapore’s Yu Mengyu (11-8, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4), whilst in the same group, Korea’s Yang Haeun accounted for DPR Korea’s Ri Myong Sun (14-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4).
Success for the top seed; there was also success for the second seed and for Hong Kong.
Singapore’s Feng Tianwei added to Japanese woes by beating Sayaka Hirano (11-6, 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10); whilst on the adjacent table Jiang Huajun defeated Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yi-Hua (11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9).
Meanwhile in the one match played in the group involving West Asia, South Asia and South East Asia, it was success for India’s Shamini Kumaresan.
She beat Qatar’s Aia Mohamed in four straight games (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7).
Women’s First Stage Group A Liu Shiwen (CHN) bt Yu Mengyu (SIN) 11-8, 11-4, 11-7, 11-4 Yang Haeun (KOR) bt Ri Myong Sun (PRK) 14-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4
Group B Feng Tianwei (SIN) bt Sayaka Hirano (JPN) 11-6, 11-6, 11-4, 9-11, 12-10) Jiang Huajun (HKG) bt Huang Yi-Hua (TPE) 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9)
Group C Seok Hajung (KOR) bt Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN) 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8) Wu Yang (CHN) bt Lee Ho Ching (HKG) 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4)
Group D Shamini Kumaresan (IND) by Aia Mohamed (QAT) 11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
Article by: Ian Marshall |
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