Challenging Times, Li Hon Ming and Hung Tak Emerge Successful

Tough challenges faced Hong Kong as matters commenced in the preliminary round of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open on the morning of the first day of play, Wednesday 11^th February.

Three players on duty as the curtain rose; success came the way of Li Hong Ming and Hung Ka Tak but not Kwan Man Ho, he was beaten by Denmark’s Claus Nielsen.

However there can be no recriminations; the Dane, the more powerful player, is currently listed at no.88 on the current Under 21 Men’s World Ranking; conversely Kwan Man Ho is at no.137.

 “I practise against his style of play”, said Claus Nielsen who had been able to cope with the fast attacking play of the left hander.

“It’s not too difficult for me and his backhand was not too strong”, added Claus Nielsen. “Certainly he is good from the forehand, very fast; it also helped today that I was able to return his services aggressively.”

Defeat for Kwan Man Ho but not for his colleagues; listed at no.52 on the Under 21 Men’s World Ranking, Hung Ka Tak proved too fast and too consistent for Lebanon’s Mohamed Hamie, a player who has no present day World ranking.

An absence from the international scene in recent months has meant the World ranking has lapsed; his best Under 21 status being no.400 last year in May.

Hung Ka Tak won in three straight games (11-5, 11-5, 11-4).

Mohamed Hamie was a worthy opponent but a lack of international exposure meant that against Hung Ka Tak, he lacked the necessary knowledge.

However, the adversary Li Hon Ming confronted was a somewhat different proposition; he faced Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al-Naggar, the player who one week earlier had beaten Romania’s Alexandru Manole in the group stage of the Junior Boys’ Team event at the 2015 Bahrain Junior and Cadet Open.

A hard fought contest ensued with Li Hon Ming, listed at no.85 on the Under 21 Men’s World Rankings, as opposed to Abdelrahman Al-Naggar at no.234, emerging successful in four games (11-3, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8).

 “I found it difficult returning his services, they were hard to read”, said Li Hon Ming. “Also, he was very powerful, it was hard to block the ball; I think the main difference was my speed, I was faster than him.”

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo By: Mohammad Amin