Lausanne-Switzerland, May 25, 2012: The cause of a major upset on the first day of play at the GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour China Open in Shanghai; one day later on Thursday 24th May, Iran’s 19 year old Nima ALAMIAN continued his amazing run of form and continued to upset the odds.
On day one he beat Chinese Taipei’s CHEN Chien-An, listed at no.90 on the Men’s World Ranking list (14-12, 14-12, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7), on day two he concluded his group stage matches by overcoming Hong Kong’s TSE Kan Chun in six games (11-6, 11-4, 11-7, 11-13, 8-11, 11-7) to secure first place in the group and a passport to the main draw.
TSE Ka Chun currently stands at no.235 on the Men’s World Ranking list; Nima ALAMIAN is at no.402.
Success for a player in the infancy of his international career but for one at the other end of the scale, it was more sadness. Sweden’s 46 year old former World and European champion just cannot put a foot right in Shanghai; in the first phase of the Men’s Singles event, he lost both his matches in full distance seven games duels. Thus he failed to reserve a place in the main draw. In the preliminary rounds of the Men’s Doubles’ event it was the same scenario.
Partnering compatriot Pär GERELL, a full distance five games defeat was the end result against the DPR Korean duo of PAK Sin Hyok and RI Kwang Won (11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-3). Success over a very experienced pairing; on their next visit to the table the pair from DPR Korea, playing in the first ever Tour tournament and the first time in China, proved the opening round win was no flash in the pan. They accounted for Japan’s Kazuhiro CHAN and Taku TAKAKIWA (11-5, 12-14, 11-9, 11-9) to book their place in the main draw.
Meanwhile, in the qualification stage of the Women’s Singles event; players who had caused upsets one day earlier, by beating adversaries listed in the top one hundred of the Women’s World Rankings, secured main draw places.
Yuki MATSUMOTO overcame DPR Korea’s Cha Yong Sim (14-12, 11-8, 11-8, 11-6), Japanese compatriot Yuki NONAKA defeated Chinese Taipei’s YEH Tung-Yi (11-5, 11-6, 11-9, 12-10) and the latter’s colleague, CHENG Hsien-Tzu accounted for Canada’s ZHANG Mo (8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 2-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9). All three completed their first stage matches unbeaten.
However, for two players who had caused first day upsets there were defeats.
Ireland’s LIU Na suffered defeat at hands of 11 year old Mima ITO of Japan (11-6, 5-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 13-15, 11-7) but progressed to the main draw on games ratio alongside Iveta VACENOVSKA; whilst Aleksandra PRIVALOVA of Belarus, who likewise had upset the formbook on day one, was beaten by Japan’s Misato NIWA (10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8).
The defeat was not terminal; the first two players in each group progress to the main draw; thus Aleksandra PRIVALOVA and Chinese Taipei’s LEE I-CHEN, the player she surprising beat one day earlier, advanced to the main draw. PHOTO: RÉ MY GROS
Nima ALAMIAN Nima ALAMIAN Nima ALAMIAN Nima ALAMIAN Nima ALAMIAN
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