Friday, March 21, 2008
9:12 PM
ITTF Pro Tour Qatar Open - Gao Ning, the only Survivor
As of 21st March 2008, 10.12pm (Singapore Time), Gao Ning is the sole survivor of the Qatar Open. Cai Xiao Li, Liu Zhong Ze and Ma Liang suffered in the opening round of play. Cai lost to Hong Kong's KO Lai Chak, Liu Zhong Ze faltered 4-0 in Chen Qi's hand, while Ma Liang lost to Hong Kong's Li Ching, also in straight games. Yang Zi suffered in round 2, losing to Greece Kreanga Kalinikos by the slightest margin, 4-3. Doubles Pair, Gao Ning and Yang Zi was also defeated by China's Ma Long and Zhang Jike in the 2nd round. They put up a tough fight before losing 4-3. Gao Ning is the only paddler left, overcoming Jevtovic Marko, France's Chila Patrick and Chinese Taipei Chuan Chih-Yuan along the way. He will meet Top Seeded, China's Wang Hao in the Top 8.

None of our female paddlers were able to cross the round of 16 hurdle. Wang Yue Gu and Sun Bei Bei were defeated by ITTF Pro Tour newcomer, Korea's Seok Ha Jung. Seok do not have any World Ranking currently. Wang was defeated in the opening round, whilst Sun lost in the round of 16. Another Korea player, Kwak Bang Bang caused another upset by beating Singapore's Best Female Paddler Li Jia Wei. Yu Meng Yu and Feng Tian Wei both suffered in the hands of 2000 Sydney Olympic Gold Medalist, China's Wang Nan. The former losing in the 1st round, the latter losing in the 2nd round. Li and Sun also lost to a brand new pair, Liu Jia(AUT) and Vacenovaska Iveta(CZE), in the Women's Doubles.

Liu Zhong Ze, having won the Gold in the U21 event 1 week earlier, lost to Germany's Baum Patrick in the Quarter Finals, whilst Ma Liang lost to Top Seeded, Korea's Lee Jin Kwon in the Semi-Finals. Yu Meng Yu attain 2nd position, losing to Roumain Dodean Daniel in the Finals. She lost 4-1 (12-10,11-7,11-9,6-11,11-3).




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