Japanese combinations prevail

Both Japanese partnerships involved in women’s doubles quarter-final action emerged victorious to keep the prospect of an all-Japan final alive.

Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata produced a strong performance to defeat the Russian pair of Valeria Shcherbatykh and Mariia Tailakova 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-3) but the main story came courtesy of Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki, who toppled Hong Kong top seeds Ng Wing Nam and Soo Wai Yam Minnie (11-7, 12-10, 11-8).

Comeback delight

The no.46 seeded player, Japan’s Shogo Tahara has extended his Under 21 men’s singles journey following an exciting battle against France’s Leo De Nodrest: facing an uphill struggle at 0-2 down but Tahara refused to give up the fight, eventually coming out on top by a narrow 3-2 score-line (9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8).

Another French competitor fell at the same hurdle as Jules Rolland failed to hold off Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin (11-8, 11-2, 11-5).

Top seed stays on course

Andreas Levenko will be present in the penultimate round of Under 21 men’s singles action after the top seeded Austrian star successfully fought back from a game down to see off Iran’s Amin Ahmadian 3-1 (10-12, 11-9, 13-11, 11-3) – France’s Bastien Rembert, seeded 11th, will be Levenko’s next opponent.

Fine run ends for Serbian hopeful

Serbia’s Tijana Jokic has been eliminated at the quarter-final hurdle with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing (11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-2) bringing the no.46 seed’s campaign to a halt. The other quarter-final saw top seed Miyu Nagasaki negotiate a difficult meeting with sixth seed Archana Girish Kamath across four games (11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9).

Tsai Yu-Chin topples second seed

Placed at no.35 in the seeding list Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yu-Chin caused a major upset at the quarter-finals stage of the Under 21 women’s singles event, beating Japanese second seed Yumeno Soma in straight games (12-10, 11-9, 13-11).

Awaiting Tsai Yu-Chin in the last four is Russia’s Anastasia Kolish, who held her nerve in a tight full distance encounter against Korean counterpart Shin Yubin (11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7).

Action continues

Day Two of the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Slovenia Open is here – take a detailed look at the day’s schedule below: