By Yvonne Yap, Lai Jun Wei and Leslie Tan/Red Sports.
Toa Payoh Stadium, Saturday, July 4, 2009 – The intensity of the Table Tennis competition was clear as fatigue took its toll on the young athletes and there were many upsets on the day.
Singapore’s duo in the mixed doubles competition, Clarence Chew and Isabelle Li, a left and right hander respectively, made the top 8 where they fell to Japan’s Asuka Machi and Rika Suzuki 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 6-11 in the quarter-finals. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Charvi Rajkumar Kawle from India makes a strong comeback from two games down against Jumabaeva Shadoza from Uzbekistan to take the match, 11-13, 10-12, 11-2, 11-6, 11-4. After the game, Charvi commented, “My hands were locked in the first 2 sets. Then, my coach asked me to relax. In the third set, when I was more relax and maintained my focus on the ball, I played better.” (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
South Korea’s Yang Hauen making a quick win over Mongolia’s Altanzagas Enerel with scores of 11-3, 11-3, 11-1. The number 2 world junior will face India’s spirited-fighter, Charvi Rajkumar, in the round of 16. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
“Unbelievable. It was very bad,” said a frustrated Japanese coach Yamaguchi Enyo. His charge, Rika, was upset and he felt his players have underperformed at the competition. (Photo 4 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Japanese Asuka Machi also suffered a shock defeat to unseeded Iranian Alireza Molarajabi. Alireza defeated the number 11 world junior 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7. Singapore paddler Tay Jit Kiat will take on the Iranian in the round of 16 matches. (Photo 5 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
“It’s okay,” commented Philippines’ Val Stephen Jaca after losing to China’s Chen Jing Qi in straight games 3-11, 4-11, 4-11. The petite boy, standing at around 1.5m, barely reached his opponent’s shoulders. This is his first time to Singapore and he revealed that he “will want to come back again”. (Photo 6 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Hong Kong’s Chiu Chung Hei booked a place in the round of 16 singles after beating DPR Korea’s Kim Jin Su in a 40-minute game that ended 11-8, 5-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3. The match was the longest Chung Hei has ever played. “I was nervous, but performed well during the last game and kept attacking to win,” he said. (Photo 7 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
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