Silver and bronze was to be the end result for Hong Kong on the concluding day of play at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Australia Open in Tweed Heads on Sunday 7^th June.

Ho Kwan Kit, the no.7 seed caused a notable upset by beating Japan’s Yuya Oshima, the no.4 seed and the winner one week earlier in the Philippines, at the semi-final in a most impressive manner, succeeding in five games (13-11, 11-5, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7), before suffering defeat at the hands of Korea’s Jung Youngsik in four straight games (11-8, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6).

One round earlier, Jung Youngsik had ended the hopes of Jiang Tianyi, the no.3 seed; (10-12, 11-6, 14-12, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7), who for the second time in consecutive week, reserved his place in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles semi-final.

It was for Ho Kwan Kit his second career appearance in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles final, his one previous excursion had been just over one year ago when he emerged successful in the Philippines, beating Singapore’s Zhan Jian to arrest the title.

Meanwhile for Jiang Tianyi, it was his eighth ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles semi-final and his sixth defeat in the penultimate round against a player he had beaten in the past. At the GAC Group 2013 Asian Cup, he played Jiang Tianyi on two occasions and emerged successful in both contests.

A semi-final defeat for Jiang Tianyi, it was the same in the Women’s Singles event for Tie Yana.

She was beaten by Korea’s Jeon Jihee, the no.7 seed (11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 2-11, 11-7).

Success for Jeon Jihee, it was her second success of the year over Tie Yana. They met at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open in Almeria earlier in the year. On that occasion Jeon Jihee won in five games.

It was for Tie Yana her 18^th appearance in an ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles semi-final, it was the eighth time she had suffered defeat.

Semi-final success for Jeon Jihee but it was to be the second step of the podium; she was beaten by Ai Fukuhara in the final (6-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6).

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall

Photo by: Isaac Purcell