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Leading veteran athletes were in action at the British Masters Road Relay Champs at Sutton Park on Saturday
Honours were shared at the British Masters Road Relays at Sutton Park near Birmingham on May 18 with a good mixture of close races and runaway victories.
Long regarded as one of the premier events on the British veteran calendar, it was held in ideal conditions on the tough Park circuit which is slightly over 5km.
The first club to take gold medals were the ever-consistent Bristol & West W45 team. Annabel Granger, hot off a 2:47 PB at the Virgin Money London Marathon, led off with a 19:07 to run the fastest leg and Claire Jolliffe (19:37) and Sarah Everitt (19:33) extended the margin to over four minutes.
Westbury were second all the way while multiple world masters medallist Sue McDonald moved from sixth to third on the final leg.
First gold of the day in the BMAF road relays at Sutton Park goes to W45s Bristol & West in their 3-stage relay as Rotherham lead the W35s with one to leg to go on their race pic.twitter.com/V73X76WalK
— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 18, 2019
Clare Elms and her Dulwich club dominated the W55 race. She took off in third place and her 18:45 gave her club a three-minute-plus victory as she was quicker than all the W45s.
Last year’s fastest Jane Clarke, a former Masters International winner herself, was next quickest with a 20:57, which gave Norwich a huge lead on leg one.
Dulwich’s Ros Tabor had led off the eventual winners on leg one, 11 years after being in their winning team in this age group, while another masters international Ange Norris was the fastest on leg two moving Dulwich into contention. Behind, Norwich and Steel City took the other medals.
The third gold to get resolved was in the W65 event as Worcester won by a minute from Steel City – and the latter’s Dorothy Kesterton was fastest with 23:20.
Not long after the leading two W65s finished their three legs, the top W35s were finishing their four-leg race. As in 2018, Sarah Lowery gave Rotherham a good start with an 18:19 split ahead of a less than fully fit Claire Martin, who ran 18:48 for a depleted Telford.
Westbury went ahead on leg two but an 18:35 from Fiona Davies put Rotherham back in command with a three-minute lead after leg three.
The final outcome was close, though, as Rotherham’s anchor runner Di Elliott (main image above) held on despite Lisa Palmer blitzing an 18:18 split to move Derby from fifth to second as she snatched the fastest lap by a second.
Former international Eleanor Baker moved Tonbridge up to third in her masters debut with a 18:45 clocking.
The women’s race also contained an M75 race which saw Bingley win unchallenged.
The first all-male race was the M55 event and it saw a win for Leicester. Irishman Tommy Hughes, who ran a 2:30 marathon not long before his 60th birthday, blasted a 17:40 opening leg. Warrington chased them down on leg two with multiple British masters champion and M55 London Marathon winner Steve Watmough passing Leicester with an 18:02 clocking.
On the final leg, though, Phil Makepeace regained the lead for Leicester with easily the fastest leg of 17:19 as he overtook 2:12 marathoner Andy Green. In the battle for bronze, Phil Parry, with 17:26, brought Bristol up to third.
As expected, Oxford again dominated the M65 race after a good start from Stewart Thorp with the lead extended by Roy Treadwell and John Exley.
The fastest leg was shared by Bristol’s Dave Bedwell and Stan Owen of Salford, who ran 20:00.
The four-stage M45 race, which started five minutes after the M35s were set off, was the next event to be decided and saw another win for Leicester. After good starts from Gordon Lee (17:09) and Gavin McDermott (17:05) put them second, Chris Southam put them ahead with a 17:46 although it was Mark Johnson with the day’s fastest of 16:37 which ensured the gold.
Leicester win the 4-stage M45 race at the British Masters Road Relay at Sutton Park from Thames Hare and Hounds and Aldershot pic.twitter.com/TMk3q35eT1
— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 18, 2019
Defending champions Thames Hare & Hounds were second, 48 seconds back, while Aldershot, anchored by Mark Symes, took the bronze medals.
The longest race and the final event – the M35s – saw the closest finish. Andrew Peat of Birchfield led stage one with a 15:48 clocking but fellow Brummies Birmingham RAT on leg two and then Tipton went ahead on leg three.
Salford’s Karl Darcy brought his club back into contention with the fastest leg of 15:29 and there was nothing in it after leg four.
A 15:59 for former international Phil Nicholls seemed to give Tipton a clear lead on leg five but a 15:51 anchor from Chris Livesey closed the gap significantly and meant Tipton anchor Jonathan Carter was checking behind his shoulder up the tough finishing hill. Birmingham RAT took bronze.
Tipton Harriers narrowly won the British Masters Road relay M35 title from Salford at Sutton Park pic.twitter.com/CrNhZ5vPgN
— Athletics Weekly (@AthleticsWeekly) May 18, 2019
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Published in
Tennis
Saturday, 18 May 2019 01:31
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Djokovic to face Nadal in Rome final after last-four victories
Published in
Tennis
Saturday, 18 May 2019 13:53
World number one Novak Djokovic set up an intriguing final with Rafael Nadal after a 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 victory over Diego Schwartzman at the Italian Open.
Djokovic, who saved two match points in his quarter-final win over Juan Martin del Potro, beat a spirited Schwartzman in Rome in two hours 31 minutes.
Defending champion Nadal reached his 50th Masters 1000 final with a 6-3 6-4 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.
His majestic forehand dominated as he won in one hour 42 minutes.
Djokovic's win in three hours one minute over Del Potro had finished at 1.05am local time on Saturday morning and his evening semi-final provided another stern test against another Argentine, Schwartzman, who played a series of impressive drop shots.
The Serb had won their two previous meetings, the last of which was at Roland Garros in 2017, and he claimed the first break in the seventh game when Schwartzman netted a forehand.
But having lost the opening set in 36 minutes, Schwartzman, in his first Masters 1000 semi-final, kept in contention and a superb backhand down the line gave him a break in the fifth game of the second set.
It was the first of four successive breaks in a fluctuating set that went to a tie-break, which Schwartzman, winner of two ATP titles, quickly took control of.
Djokovic, 31, seized the key break in the sixth game of the decider to reach his ninth Italian final as he bids to repeat last week's victory at the Madrid Open.
He leads 28-25 in his duel with Nadal that began in 2006, winning their most recent encounter in the first Grand Slam of this year, the Australian Open in January, but the Spaniard has dominated their clay court matches 16-7.
Nadal, 32, had lost in the semi-finals of his last four tournaments, including a defeat against Tsitsipas last weekend in Madrid.
It is his first clay court final of the year and he will look to continue a fine record in the Masters 1,000 Series.
Since 2005, the Spaniard has won at least one of the nine events in the calendar every year except 2015.
In overcast, breezy conditions in the Italian capital, Nadal built a 3-0 lead and took the opening set in 49 minutes.
He continued to work the athletic Tsitsipas, who won this month's Estoril Open and lost in the Madrid final to Djokovic last week, with some typically stylish, precise groundstokes into the corners.
Tsitsipas, who moved into the last four by virtue of Roger Federer's withdrawal through injury, had not dropped a set in the tournament and was seeking a fifth final this season, which would have taken him to fifth in the world rankings.
But Nadal was in masterful form and recorded his fourth win in five matches against the powerful world number seven.
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Italian Open: Johanna Konta faces Karolina Pliskova in final after beating Kiki Bertens
Published in
Tennis
Saturday, 18 May 2019 11:36
British number one Johanna Konta came from a set down against Kiki Bertens to reach the final of the Italian Open.
Konta - who will be seeded at the French Open later this month - beat Dutch sixth seed Bertens 5-7 7-5 6-2 in two hours 49 minutes in Rome.
The 28-year-old will play world number seven Karolina Pliskova, who beat Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4 6-4.
Konta is the first British woman to reach the Italian Open final since Virginia Wade in 1971.
Victory over world number four Bertens marked her first over a top-five opponent since defeating Simona Halep at Wimbledon in 2017.
Both players lost serve twice in the first set before Bertens was able to take the early advantage, breaking world number 42 Konta at set point.
The first two games of the second set went against serve but Konta was able to capitalise on a break at 5-5 to level the match.
Konta dominated the deciding set, breaking Bertens' serve twice, though she needed four match points to seal the win, having made three unforced errors at 40-0 in the final game.
The Briton lost her first clay-court final to Sakkari at the Morocco Open this month and will now play her maiden Premier WTA event final on the surface.
Sakkari had beaten Pliskova in last year's event but converted only one break point opportunity as she slipped to defeat in an hour and 28 minutes.
Pliskova, winner of 12 WTA titles to Konta's three, has won five of the pair's six completed matches, though the Briton won their most recent match, which came on the hard courts of Beijing in 2016.
Analysis
Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent:
Konta's game has been on an upward curve all season.
She has excelled wearing British colours in the Fed Cup, but had not cashed in on tour - until the clay court season got underway.
Konta has always believed she can be successful on the surface, but until this year results had not borne her out.
Her movement looks much improved, as does her drop shot - which is such a handy trick to have up your sleeve on clay.
Not only will Konta now be seeded for Roland Garros, but she has also put herself in a very good position to be a seed at Wimbledon, too.
BBC Sport has launched #ChangeTheGame this summer to showcase female athletes in a way they never have been before. Through more live women's sport available to watch across the BBC this summer, complemented by our journalism, we are aiming to turn up the volume on women's sport and alter perceptions. Find out more here.
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Final Day: Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Croatia Open
Published in
Table Tennis
Saturday, 18 May 2019 01:55
Reaction
Anton Källberg, Kristian Karlsson and Tomislav Pucar responded following the conclusion of play in Zagreb
“It was a special feeling and at the same time a bit weird to play a final match against Kristian; especially because we are not just fellow countrymen, we are good friends. On the other hand, it was also strange for both of us. We know each other perfectly well. We train together, live together practically, play for the same club. Kristian played a perfect tournament but I have to admit that I was quite good too. Obviously I did, otherwise I would not have won”. Anton Källberg
“I am very happy with my matches in Zagreb. I played the best in the semi-final against Pucar, who is a great player. To beat him 4-1 as I did, you have to be at your best. I did not succeed in the final. It was great to play in front of so many fans in a very well organized tournament”. Kristian Karlsson
“I had some chances. The first game at 9-9 I had two services. In the second game, I had a 10-9 lead and served at game ball. A bit of a wrong decision by myself on the service. I did not take advantage of the situation. Simply, Kristian was better, did not make any mistakes and he deserved to win.” Tomislav Pucar
Milestone for Anton Källberg
A first appearance in a men’s singles final on either the ITTF World Tour or ITTF Challenge Series, Anton Källberg emerged successful in the all-Swedish final.
Players well-known to each other, both play for Borussia Düsseldorf in Germany but the outcome was nevertheless not to be anticipated. The no.32 seed, the lowest in the order of those receiving direct main draw entries, he accounted for Kristian Karlsson, the no.2 seed, and likewise competing in his first such final, to secure the title. He prevailed in five games (11-8, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4).
First final, second ever
Success for Miyuu Kihara in the women’s singles final at the age of 14 years and 278 days; a landmark win and her first ever such success.
She becomes the second young player ever to win a women’s singles title either on the ITTF World Tour or at an ITTF Challenge Series tournament. Colleague Mima Ito remains the youngest, she was 14 years and 153 days old when she won at the 2015 ITTF World Tour German Open on Sunday 22nd March.
Miyuu Kihara goes ahead of China’s Guo Yue who was 15 years and 76 days old when at the 2003 ITTF World Tour Japan Open, she succeeded on Sunday 21st September.
Miyuu Kihara surprise winner
An all Japanese final, Miyuu Kihara, the no.19 seed, upset the order of merit to win the women’s singles title in Zagreb; at the final hurdle she beat Miyu Kato, the no.5 seed, in a gripping seven games encounter (13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8).
Crucially in the seventh game Miyuu Kihara made the better start. She established a 4-1 lead, Miyu Kato called “Time Out” but at the change of ends Miyuu Kihara maintained her three point lead at 5-2; Miyu Kato reduced the deficit to one point at 7-6 prompting Miyuu Kato to call “Time Out”. Miyu Kato levelled but never secured a lead. At 10-8 Miyuu Kihara held two match points. She converted at the first attempt.
First title
Required to qualify, Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda beat Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet, the top seeds (11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8) to secure their first ever men’s doubles title at an ITTF Challenge Series or ITTF World Tour tournament, whether together or apart.
Crucially in the fifth game after leading 5-3 at the change of ends, they lost the next three points; they called “Time Out”, returned, won the next five points, before at the third time of asking securing the verdict.
Robin Devos and Cédric Nuytinck remain to this day the only Belgium pair ever to win a men’s doubles event at either an ITTF Challenge Series or ITTF World Tour tournament; they succeeded in 2015 in the Philippines.
Second in succession but no third
Winners the previous week in Slovenia, Miyuu Kato and Miyu Nagasaki, the no.5 seeds, repeated their success in Zagreb; at the final hurdle they beat colleagues, Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato, the top seeds, in four games (11-5, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8).
Successful in both 2017 and 2018 it meant that Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato fell one step short of winning three in succession and becoming the first pair in a women’s doubles event at an open international tournament to achieve the feat since the ITTF World Tour began in 1996.
All Swedish affair
Semi-final success for Anton Källberg and Kristian Karlsson; it is the first time either has reached a men’s singles final on either the ITTF World Tour or at an ITTF Challenge Series tournament.
Overall it is the fourth all-Swedish men’s singles final since the ITTF World Tour commenced in 1996; in that year in Belgrade Thomas Von Scheele was beaten in the final in Belgrade by Jan-Ove Waldner and in Boras by Jörgen Persson. In 2012 in Helsingborg, Hampus Nordberg overcame Andrea Tornkvist to seal the title.
Croatian hopes end
The hopes of the host nation in the men’s singles event ended at the semi-final stage; Tomislav Pucar, the no.9 seed, was beaten by Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson, the no.2 seed (11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5).
Notably in all competitions, it was the fourth time the pair had met; it was the fourth time Kristian Karlsson had prevailed.
Yet again Japan but first for Miyuu Kihara
Success for Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Kato means that taking into account both the ITTF World Tour and ITTF Challenge Series, it is the 22nd time there has been an all Japanese women’s singles final.
For Miyu Kato, it is her third such appearance, she won in 2018 in Slovenia and earlier this year in Spain; for Kiyuu Kihara, only 14 years old it is her first such venture.
Little to choose
True to the best Asian style of play, fast close to the table counter top spin play was they order of the day; the question posed was as to who would prevail at the critical moments.
The decision went in favour of Miyu Kato, the no.5 seed, in the second all Japanese women’s singles semi-final clash of the day; she beat Satsuki Odo, the no.14 seed, in six games (11-8, 17-15, 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9).
Top seed stunned as Anton Källberg reaches final
Sweden’s Anton Källberg is through to his first men’s singles final at an ITTF Challenge Series event after posting a major upset.
The no.32 seeded player demonstrated great resolve to see off the top seed from Chinese Taipei, Chuang Chih-Yuan in a seven-game spectacle (11-3, 4-11, 11-3, 4-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-5).
Action kicks off with thrilling contest
Starting off the final day in Zagreb was an exciting fixture between two Japanese competitors as Miyu Nagasaki met Miyuu Kihara in the first of two women’s singles semi-finals.
The early momentum was in Miyu Nagasaki’s favour as the no.8 seed moved two games ahead but a fantastic comeback effort followed as no.19 seed, Miyuu Kihara, chalked up four game successes in a row to earn her place in the final (8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10).
Final Day
The concluding day at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Croatia Open has arrived– take a detailed look at the day’s schedule below:
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Zagreb highlights: Miyuu Kihara, youngest ever
Published in
Table Tennis
Saturday, 18 May 2019 11:25
Success for Miyuu Kihara, there was also success for her colleagues; Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda won the men’s doubles event. The only first prize to elude the Land of the Rising Sun came in the men’s singles; Sweden’s Anton Källberg reserved the top step of the podium.
Men’s Singles
…………Anton Källberg, the no.32 and lowest seed, proved himself a most worthy winner; at the semi-final stage he beat Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, the top seed (11-3, 4-11, 11-3, 4-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-5), before overcoming colleague Kristian Karlsson, the no.2 seed (11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5).
…………Croatian hopes ended in the penultimate round, Tomislav Pucar, the no.9 seed, was beaten by Kristian Karlsson (11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5).
…………It was the first ever appearance for both Anton Källberg and Kristian Karlsson a men’s singles final on either the ITTF World Tour, or at an ITTF Challenge Series tournament.
Women’s Singles
…………Miyuu Kihara, the no.19 seed, beat colleagues Miyu Nagasaki, the no.18 seed (8-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10) and Miyu Kato, the no.5 seed (13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8) to secure the title.
………… Miyuu Kihara becomes the second younges player ever to win a women’s singles title either on the ITTF World Tour or at an ITTF Challenge Series tournament. Colleague Mima Ito remains the youngest; she was 14 years and 153 days old when she won at the 2015 ITTF World Tour German Open on Sunday 22nd March.
…………In the counterpart semi-final, Miyu Kato beat compatriot Satsuki Odo, the no.14 seed (11-8, 17-15, 9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9).
Men’s Doubles
…………Qualifiers, Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda beat Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet, the top seeds, to claim gold (11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8).
…………It was the first ever such title for Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda either as a pair or apart.
Women’s Doubles
…………Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki, the no.5 seeds, beat colleagues, Honoka Hashomoto and Hitomi Sato, the top seeds (11-5, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8) to claim the title and thus repeated the success of the previous week in Slovenia.
…………Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato fell one step short of winning the title three years in succession and becoming the first pair at an open international tournament to achieve the feat since the ITTF World Tour began in 1996.
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Third round places booked, contrasting competitions
Published in
Table Tennis
Saturday, 18 May 2019 14:31
The player to cause the biggest upset in the cadet girls’ singles event was Korea Republic’s Lee Yeonhui, in the second round she overcame Croatia’s Hana Arapovic, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 13-11).
Success for the Korea Republic but the nation to shine was Japan, Yua Yamasaki beat Hungary’s Dorottya Tolgyes, the no.10 seed (11-9, 11-9, 11-7), An Naoe accounted for Mexico’s Arantxa Cossio Aceves, the no.14 seed (11-8, 10-12, 14-12, 11-9).
Similarly in round two, there were notable wins for Hong Kong’s Yenn Ho Ching and for Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Pu-Syuan. Yenn Ho Ching beat India’s Anargya Manjunath, the no.15 seed (7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2); Cheng Pu-Syuan overcame the host nation’s Wanwisa Aueawiriyayothin, the no.16 seed (11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 13-11, 14-12).
Problems for seeds but not for those at the very top, China’s Kuai Man and Chen Yi, the players who head the current under 15 girls’ world rankings, booked third round places; both beat Hong Kong opponents. Kuai Man accounted for Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam (11-5, 11-7, 11-1), Chen Yi overcame Kong Tsz Lam (11-5, 11-6, 11-8). Likewise, Romania’s Elena Zaharia progressed in style; she prevailed against India’s Kavya Sree Baskar (12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-4).
Imposing performances from the top three names; in the second round of the cadet boys’ singles event it was the same from the leading four names.
Japan’s Sora Matsushima, the top seed, beat Korea Republic’s Gil Minseok (8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9), China’s Chen Yuanyu, the no.2 seed, overcame the host nation’s Napat Thanmathikom (11-6, 7-11, 11-1, 11-2). Likewise, the Czech Republic’s Simon Belik, the no.3 seed, defeated Hong Kong’s Man Kai Shan (11-5, 11-5, 11-7); Peru’s Carlos Fernandez, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Sri Lanka’s Pitiyage Silva (11-8, 11-6, 12-10).
The last 16 names known in the cadet boys’ singles and cadet girls’ singles events; in the hopes boys’ singles and hopes girls’ singles competitions, the semi-finalists have been decided.
In the former it is India versus Singapore, Oishik Ghosh plays Nicholas Tan, Ashish Jain opposes Ellsworth Le; in the latter India is also represented, Sayani Panda meets Hong Kong’s Sammi Law Sum Yee, Egypt’s Hana Goda confronts the host nation’s Khemisarar Derujijaroen.
Play in Bangkok concludes on Sunday 19th May.
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Japan’s An Naoe caused the biggest shock of the day, in the opening round she beat fellow 14 year old, Prithika Pavade of France, the no.2 seed (11-9, 4-11, 13-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9), before accounting for India’s Poymantee Baisya (11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6) to reserve her third round spot.
Most certainly An Naoe could reflect on her performance with pride, however, the proudest player was the host nation’s Pakawan Karnthang. She accounted for China’s Zang Xiaotong, the no.16 (12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-9), prior to overcoming Hong Kong’s Karen Lee Hoi Man (11-13, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9).
“No matter how strong your competitor is or whether you win or lose, just be yourself, put all you have into it and play the game as best as you can.” Pakawan Karnthang
Progress to round three for An Naoe and Pakawan Karnthang but for the remaining players who caused opening round upsets, it was defeat.
Malaysia’s Karen Lyne ousted Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee, the no.4 seed (3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5), before losing to Anna Hursey of Wales (10-12, 11-7, 11-2, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9). Similarly, Hong Kong’s Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam beat India’s Swastika Ghosh, the no.8 seed (7-11, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-3, 11-6), prior to suffering at the hands of Korea Republic’s Lee Youngi (11-9, 11-9, 11-2, 10-12, 11-4); Chinese Taipei’s Chang Ju-Chia accounted for Camille Lutz of France, the no.15 seed (11-7, 11-8, 11-7, 14-12) but then lost to Japan’s Yuka Aoki (15-13, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9).
In a similar vein, Romania’s Elena Zaharia emerged successful in opposition Chau Wing Sze, like Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam from Hong Kong (11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6) but then found Japan’s Misa Inayoshi a step too far (9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-6).
Meanwhile, in the second round, the biggest name to fall was that of Romania’s Tania Plaian, she was beaten by China’s Kuai Man (11-7, 11-1, 11-3, 11-4). Defeat against a Chinese opponent who is undoubtedly better than ranking may suggest; it was the same for Singapore’s Goi Rui Xuan, the no.7 seed, as it was for India’s Diya Parag Chitale, the no.14 seed. Goi Rui Xuan was beaten by Qin Yuxuan (11-4, 8-11, 14-12, 11-4, 11-9), Diya Parag Chitale by Yuan Yuan (11-5, 11-5, 11-9, 11-2).
Outcomes not unexpected; for Hong Kong’s Wong Chin Yau, the no.10 seed and Rachel Sung of the United States, the no.11 seed, the second round exits were perhaps not to be anticipated in the same vein. Wong Chin Yau was beaten by Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Yi-Chien (11-7, 11-3, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5), Rachel Sung departed at the hands of Yua Yamasaki (9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 4-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-8).
Surprises but in the second round for the very elite names, there was success; Shi Xunyao, the top seed, beat India’s Prapti Sen (11-3, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5), Jamila Laurenti, the no.3 seed overcame Hong Kong’s Fung Wai Chu (11-7, 11-3, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6).
Play at the SET 2019 ITTF Thailand Junior and Cadet Open concludes on Sunday 19th May.
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Sale missed out on a European Champions Cup spot despite beating Gloucester in a match which featured 13 tries.
Both sides secured a bonus-point in the first half, with the Cherry and Whites going in 26-24 ahead.
Byron McGuigan edged Sale in front but converted tries from Dom Coetzer and Ben Vellacott, along with a Lloyd Evans penalty, put the visitors 41-31 up.
But AJ MacGinty and Denny Solomona crossed before MacGinty's late penalty sealed the Sharks' victory.
Gloucester, who were already assured of third place heading into the match, will now face Saracens in the semi-finals at Allianz Park next Saturday (13:30 BST) after the north Londoners were beaten at Worcester to finish second behind Exeter.
The visitors played their part in an open first half as both teams scored four tries before the break for just the second time in Premiership history, emulating London Irish's win at Wasps in April 2006.
In a see-saw match, in which the lead changed hands six times, Solomona's acrobatic finish following a break from Faf de Klerk and a long pass from MacGinty was arguably the pick of the tries.
Sale appeared set to snatch sixth place but Bath's last-gasp win at Leicester meant Steve Diamond's side had to settle for seventh.
However, the Sharks could yet be handed European Champions Cup qualification depending on end-of-season results in France's Top 14.
Gloucester director of rugby Johan Ackermann told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"We had a lot of new combinations, players who have not had a lot of game time in the last few weeks and young players having a taste.
"They never let us down and were in the match the whole time. We maybe could have won it at the end but it was not about the result.
"It was about the effort, heart and commitment so I am proud of the performance.
"Sharks are a good team and had a lot to play for. Yes, we made mistakes - and probably made it harder for ourselves - but it is about the culture we wanted to install."
Sale: Ashton; Solomona, S James, O'Connor, McGuigan; MacGinty, De Klerk; Harrison, Webber, John, Beaumont, Phillips, B Curry, T Curry, Ross (capt).
Replacements: Langdon, Morozov, Jones, Evans, Strauss, Cliff, L James, Reed.
Gloucester: Sharples; Seabrook, Purdy, Banahan, Thorley; L Evans, Braley; Traynor, Walker, Denman, Savage (capt), Grobler, Polledri, Ludlow, G Evans.
Replacements: Gleave, Seville, McAllister, Craig, Hinkley, Vellacott, Coetzer, Marshall.
Referee: Wayne Barnes.
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Bath snatched a late victory at Leicester Tigers and the final European Champions Cup place in an epic game.
Jacques van Rooyen's close-range score and Rhys Priestland's conversion completed a second-half comeback to see them edge out Sale into sixth place.
Leicester had earlier led by 14 points with tries by Ellis Genge, Brendon O'Connor and Clayton Blommetjies and 16 points from the boot of George Ford.
Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga and Beno Obano also crossed for Bath.
It was a thrilling send-off for departing Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder, who saw his side trail for the majority of the contest.
They chipped away at a fragile Leicester side in the closing quarter as second-half tries from Obano and Van Rooyen eventually saw them wipe out Tigers' 26-15 half-time lead.
Geordan Murphy's men were unable to close out the game at the end of a frustrating season that saw them finish second from bottom with just seven wins in 22 matches.
It had looked like being the perfect send-off for seven of their squad on their final appearances when Genge, O'Connor and Blommetjies crossed to keep them ahead.
But, for the first time in their Premiership history, Leicester were consigned to a fourth successive home defeat as Bath rallied in the closing quarter.
The Blue, Black and Whites had looked like missing out on the top six with Sale Sharks beating play-off bound Gloucester.
In the end, three sides finished on 56 points from fourth to sixth in the table and Bath edged out seventh-placed Sale by just a point courtesy of Van Rooyen's bonus-point securing try.
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy told BBC Radio Leicester:
"I feel sick. No excuses really. The boys put in a really good shift. But some big decisions went against us again.
"That's the nature of when you're down on your luck, everything seems to go against you.
"Bath scored a try early and everyone in the stands seemed to think it was a forward pass. Freddie Burns thought so too and took a quick conversion, but the television match official was happy with it.
"Then we had one ruled out for Clayton Blommetjies when I felt he offloaded before his foot went out of touch. Then when it got close down to the wire, short of confidence, we just needed more composure.
"Overall, I'm devastated for the lads. I thought they were really committed under difficult circumstances. But, unfortunately, that's probably indicative of how our season's been."
Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder told BBC Radio Bristol:
"I'm so proud of the boys. Any other team could have lost this game. They just showed immense character and belief.
"We talked at half-time about what we needed to do and they came out and played right up to the 80th minute.
"Leicester won the collisions and played really well in taking it to us. We had slow ball and just couldn't play on top of them.
"After half-time we recalibrated and broke through and kept asking questions of their defence that eventually paid off.
"We've come a long way this season and passed a massive character test. I'm so pleased we're in the top six as this squad is only going to get better with Champions Cup rugby to play."
Leicester: Worth; Aspland-Robinson, Smith, Eastmond, Blommetjies, G Ford, Harrison; Genge, T Youngs (capt), Cole, Spencer, Kitchener, Fitzgerald, O'Connor, Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Polota-Nau, Gigena, Heyes, Wells, Mapapalangi, White, Hardwick, Sarto.
Sin-bin: Aspland-Robinson (44 mins)
Bath: Watson; Cokanasiga, Joseph, Wright, McConnochie; Burns, Chudley; Obano, Dunn, Lahiff, Douglas, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Louw, Mercer.
Replacements: Batty, Van Rooyen, Nixon, Stooke, Walker, Fotuali'i, Priestland, Rokoduguni.
Sin-bin: Lahiff (38 mins)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys.
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