Story by Les Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports
Quarter-finalist Isabelle Li (black) of Singapore celebrates after clinching the final set in her match with Romania’s Bernadette Szocs. Isabelle won the match four sets to one in a best-of-seven format. (Photo 1 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Singapore Indoor Stadium, Sunday, August 22, 2010 — A patient Isabelle Li outlasted Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, 4-1 (11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7) to advance into the semi-finals of the Youth Olympic Games table tennis competition.
The defensively-minded Isabelle showed patience and discipline to tempt the Romanian into numerous errors throughout the match. At one point in the fourth set, the frustrated Romanian said something out loud enough that the judge gave her a yellow card.
Isabelle won the first set 11-8 but Szocs came right back with a quick 11-5 second set win. Isabelle got the momentum back in the third to win it 11-5.
The fourth set saw Isabelle lead 10-5 but the Romanian reeled off three points to force the Singapore girl into a timeout to settle herself before winning the set 11-8.
With a commanding 3-1 lead, Isabelle played with more confidence in the fifth even as Szocs went at her with smashes. Some rallies had the crowd gasping as Szocs smashed to win points and Isabelle chopped improbable returns. Isabelle finally wrapped up the fifth set 11-7 to win the best-of-seven contest 4-1.
Isabelle will next play Thai Suthasini Sawettabut who beat Ayuka Tanioka of Japan in another quarter-final played at the same time. Isabelle had beaten the Thai before in their previous meeting although their head-to-head record is evenly split.
“I’m actually quite excited about it. It hasn’t really quite sunk in yet,” said Isabelle about reaching the semi-final stage.
The semi-final is on Monday, August 23, 10am, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Szocs (blue) smashes a shot across the net. The Romanian wasted no time to attack Isabelle’s defensive style of play, sending the Singaporean paddler around the playing floor to retrieve her shots. (Photo 2 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Isabelle goes for the offensive in hope of scoring a fast one against her Croatian opponent. (Photo 3 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
A frustrated Szocs loses her cool after losing out on a long rally. The lapse of concentration cost the paddler cheap points, giving Isabelle the lead. (Photo 4 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
Isabelle lunges to return a ball as Szocs explored wider angles for her shots. Nevertheless, the Singaporean teenager managed to prevail and earn a place in the semi-finals. (Photo 5 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association and Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah embraces the youth paddler for a job well done. (Photo 6 © Tan Jon Han/Red Sports)
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