Success one day earlier for Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Ssu-Hua; both booked their passages to the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

One day later it was success for Doo Hoi Kem, defeat for Chiu Ssu-Hua; the two met in the second series of matches in the first stage of proceedings of the Girls’ Singles event at the 2014 ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal on the evening of Friday 24th January.

Doo Hoi Kem, the top seed, overcame Chiu Ssu-Hua, the no.7 seed, in a gruelling duel seven games duel that lasted just short of one hour.

Both Merit Credit
Great credit must be afforded to both players; Doo Hoi Kem for keeping mind, body and soul together, Chiu Ssu-Hua for making the full use of her abilities.

Chiu Ssu-Hua is not a flair player but using long pimples on the backhand and reversed rubber on the forehand, she is most effective. She is very adept playing a “chop block” over the table to nullify the top spin attacking skills of her opponent and then, when the chance arises, attacking at speed from the forehand with minimal top spin.

Undoubtedly, Doo Hoi Kem, a player who is most comfortable playing top spin strokes from both wings a slight distance away from the table, possesses a greater range of strokes; the common factor the two possess is that they both retain their focus and don’t show elements of panic.

Mixed Fortunes
It was Chiu Ssu-Hua who made the better start in the contest, she led by two games to nil and by three games to one, before Doo Hoi Kem adjusted and gained in confidence as she mounted her recovery.

In the vital seventh game Doo Hoi Kem led 5-3 at the change of ends, the advantage proved pivotal; she lost just one more point before securing victory.

Never Previously Lost
“I’ve played her before and never lost to her”, said Doo Hoi Kem. “Usually I play towards her forehand, she makes mistakes and I win but today when I did that she played very well.”

Certainly in Vila Nova de Gaia a major reason for the success of Chiu Ssu-Hua has not only been her deft blocking skills from the backhand; her fast attacks from the forehand have been dynamic.

Changed Approach
“After losing the fourth game I changed my approach”, continued Doo Hoi Kem. “I played slowly to her backhand and then sometimes pushed the ball to her backhand; in the seventh game I won the first three points, she called “Time Out”, during that break I just said to myself I cannot lose!”

She didn’t lose and ended the day unbeaten; in her opening contest she had beaten Charlotte Carey of Wales (11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-2).

Fourth Seed Departs
Success for the top seed and there was success for the second seed, Ariel Hsing of the United States maintained her unbeaten record, she accounted for India’s Sutirtha Mukherjee in four straight games (11-9, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4).

In her opening contest she had overcome Thailand’s Tamolwan Khetkhuan (11-4, 10-12, 11-8, 11-13,11-7, 8-11,11-5).

More Indian Sadness
Sadness for India and there was more; Manika Batra, the no.4 seed, was beaten by Japan’s Ayane Morita (11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7); the result means that any medal dreams of Manika Batra are now over. In her opening match she was beaten by Chinese Taipei’s Huang Yu-Wen (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 4-11,11-6).

Both Ayane Morita and Huang Yu-Wen ended the day unbeaten; earlier Ayane Morita beat Uruguay’s Maria Pia Lorenzotti (11-9, 12-10, 11-4, 11-5), later Huang Yu-Wen did likewise by overcome the improving Uruguayan by a similar margin (11-9, 11-4, 11-5, 14-12).

Third Seeds Unbeaten
Defeat for the fourth seed but no such problems for the third seed, Japan’s Eka So; having beaten Sweden’s Linda Bergström in her opening match (11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-2, 9-11,12-10), she concluded the day with success against Hong Kong’s Lam Yee Lok (11-6, 11-9, 11-1, 11-7).

Please visit ITTF's Event Website for more information.

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo by: Rita Taborda