Chen starts strong, Han stays in-form

The world no.1 is in action at Weihai and she’s in no mood to hang around. Facing Bernadette Szocs, Chen Meng has taken the first two games (11-6, 11-1) displaying her effervescent style of shot making. Will the Romanian respond?

Over at table 2, Germany’s Han Ying continues her hot-streak from the group stages with a brilliant opening 11-7 win over Austria’s Sofia Polcanova. Lots more to come from this game.

Sun makes sure there’s no comeback, Ishikawa follows suit

Swift and easy from Sun Yingsha in the fifth game saw Adriana Diaz take her leave from the 2020 Women’s World Cup. Winning 4-1 (11-5, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7) in 40 minutes, the Chinese was simply irresistible at the table.

Following suit, but having lost a game less, Kasumi Ishikawa defeated group stage qualifier Suh Hyowon in straight games (11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 11-4) in under 27 minutes! The Japanese superstar was clearly in the mood and Suh Hyowon just did not find any rhythm for her to work with.

Diaz recovers, Ishikawa in control

Phew! That was an intense half an hour! Sun Yingsha and Adriana Diaz are playing at break-neck speed here, which seems to favour the Chinese, but the Puerto Rican ‘Athlete of the Decade’ found her feet to win one game (11-8) just in time and maintain a slim chance of coming back into this match – score remains 3-1 in favor of Sun.

Kasumi Ishikawa on the other hand, is not allowing any form of recovery from her group stage qualifier opponent – speeding to a 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-5) lead in around 22 minutes. Will Suh Hyowon find a chink the armour of the Japanese?

Sun on the prowl

The battle of the young women is at hand, and it feels like Sun Yingsha has no time to spare – racing to  a 2-0 (11-5, 11-5) lead over Adriana Diaz in just under 13 minutes! The Chinese 20-year-old is playing like a veteran here, and Diaz will need something special to turn this around.

Across the room, Suh Hyowon and Kasumi Ishikawa have just begun their match as the pace of the day – like these athletes’ shots – picks up. Japan’s seeded Ishikawa has taken the first game 11-8, and it remains to be seen what the Korea Republican brings to the table next.

Chen completes comeback

Well well well! What a start to the knockout stages here in Weihai we have! The group stage sensation from Chinese Taipei has recovered from being 1-3 down to the seeded Doo Hoi Kem, and only gone and turned it around completely!

Securing a 4-3 (8-11, 11-4, 3-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6) win in just under 58 minutes, Chen Szu-Yu showcased calmness, strength in her will and the desire to reach the quarter-finals by eliminating her opponent who had one foot in the door already. What a treat for the fans enjoying table tennis #RESTART!

Mima moves forward, Chen rattles the cage

Japan’s Mima Ito has reached the quarter-finals of the Dishang 2020 ITTF  Women’s World Cup in some style – seeing off Jeon Jihee in under 44 minutes, recording a magnificent 4-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 13-11, 11-7) win. The tables – and pace of the game – were turned by Ito in stunning fashion as she carved out openings to exploit against her Korea Republic opponent with ease from the second game onwards.

Meanwhile, Chen Szu-Yu has completed the comeback from 1-3 down to 3-3 against Doo Hoi Kem and we are headed for a deciding seventh game as early as the first round of matches on day two! Fasten your seatbelts!

Doo Ito like that!

Jeon Jihee and Mima Ito were staying neck-and-neck as both continued the trend of ‘as you were’ before Ito decided to shake things up. Having taken the third game 11-7, Ito made some spectacular recover in the fourth as she fought back from 8-10 to win 13-11 in the longest game yet (13 minutes), now leading Jihee by 3-1.

Over at table 2, the Hong Kong China seed leads Chen Szu-Yu 3-2 (11-8, 4-11, 11-3, 12-10, 3-11), after a powerful run of shots to take some initiative in this battle. Her Chinese Taipei opponent has responded by taking one game back, will she take a second?

Opening stalemates

Two big match-ups have started the day for us here in China as Jeon Jihee takes Mima Ito and Chen Szu-Yu faces Doo Hoi Kem over at table 2 of the Weihai Nanhai Olympic Sport Centre.

Quite amazingly, both matches have had a 1-1 opening two games – it’s almost as if all athletes are weighing their opponents before the real intensity is shown. Jihee won the first game 11-6 before Ito soared back with 11-7; similarly Doo took the initial game 11-8 before losing 4-11 to Chen in the next. Who’s ready for some tension in Weihai?

What’s coming your way?

All round of 16 and quarter-finals will be played on day two with the final four heading to the semi-finals and finals on day three. Here’s a look ahead to the day’s fixture line-up:

It’s time to #RESTART!

Good morning and welcome to day two of the Dishang 2020 ITTF Women’s World Cup and with it the start of the #RESTART series.

Today’s action see the eight group stage qualifiers meet eight seeded players in Weihai, as they contest the first two knockout stages of the event. You can read up on the draw here.