WTT Star Contender Goa: China book three of four final spots in singles

Panaji: World table tennis is getting swarmed by remarkable young talent, threatening to upset the established names, but in the end, you just cannot discount experience.
At the WTT Star Contender Goa, for example, youngsters have been exceptional: Korean Cho Daeseong, a qualifier, sensationally knocked out Fan Zhendong. Then 14-year-old Japanese sensation Miwa Harimoto made it to the semi-finals in women’s singles, and Felix Lebrun, aged just 16, pulled off a stunning victory, defeating World No. 6 Truls Moregard at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Taleigao on Saturday.
The first trophy, though, was bagged by the experienced Korean mixed doubles pair of Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee, who knocked out Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and the terrific Miwa Harimoto 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7).
Miwa, just 14, was being cheered all through her campaign, particularly in the women’s singles battle against Wang Yidi, the top seed. It’s understandable why the Japanese has quickly become the darling of the crowd.
Even when pitted against the world number four from China, Miwa hardly looked out of place and stretched the experienced campaigner to the limit. She won two games, but found the going tough in the crucial decider when Wang Yidi upped her game and showed just why China is such a powerhouse in table tennis.
Despite World No 1 Zhendong’s exit at the first stage itself, China booked three of the four singles finals spots on offer.
Wang Yidi defeated Miwa 3-2 in an exciting five-setter and will take on Cheng I-Ching, the World No 31 from Chinese Taipei in the final.
Cheng had to navigate a tricky semifinal clash, overcoming World No. 24 and 14th seed Miu Hirano in a five-game thriller 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5.
That the paddler from Chinese Taipei has reached so far is not a surprise.
Right at the start, she had shown glimpses of her rich form, setting aside some serious opposition. She first upset second seed Hina Hayata, then Romanian stalwart Elizabeth Samara, before putting it across World No. 19 Portuguese veteran Fu Yu in straight sets.
The semi-finals was an epic battle for Cheng against Miu Hirano (Japan) where she triumphed 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5.
World number 24 Lin Shidong from China, just 17, did his growing reputation no harm when he qualified for the final, at the expense of another teenager, 16-year-old Felix Lebrun.
Felix had come into the semifinal on the back of a stunning career best win, defeating Truls Moregard in the round of 16. He then stunned World No. 18 Jang Woojin who had saved two match points to defeat World No.11 Dang Qiu in a full-distance encounter that had the stadium on its feet.
In the semi-finals, though, Shidong proved too strong for Felix as he coasted to an easy 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 win.
In the men’s singles final, it will be an all-Chinese clash on Sunday as Shidong battles World No. 7 Liang Jingkun.
Winner of two world championship singles medals, Jingkun defeated crowd favourite Tomakazu Harimoto of Japan 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5.
The men’s and women’s doubles finals, besides the two singles finals will be played on Sunday, starting 4.30pm.
Results: Mixed doubles final: Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee (Korea) bt Shunsuke Togami and Miwa Harimoto (Japan) 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7; women’s singles semis: Wang Yidi (China) bt Miwa Harimoto (Japan) 11-7, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8; Cheng I-Ching (Chinese Taipei) bt Miu Hirano (Japan) 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5; men’s singles semis: Lin Shidong (China) bt Felix Lebrun 11-7, 11-5, 11-4; Liang Jingkun (China) bt Tomakazu Harimoto (Japan) 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5.