PANAJI: World table tennis is getting swarmed by remarkable young talent, threatening to upset the established names, but in the end, you just cannot discount experience.
At the WTT Star Contender Goa, for example, youngsters have been exceptional: Korean Cho Daeseong, a qualifier, sensationally knocked out Fan Zhendong. Then 14-year-old Japanese sensation Miwa Harimoto made it to the semifinals in women’s singles, and Felix Lebrun, aged just 16, pulled off a stunning victory, defeating World No. 6 Truls Moregard on Saturday.
The first trophy, though, was bagged by the experienced Korean mixed doubles pair of Jang Woojin and Jeon Jihee, who knocked out Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and the terrific Miwa Harimoto 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7).
Miwa was being cheered all through her campaign, particularly in the women’s singles battle against Wang Yidi, the top seed. It’s understandable why the Japanese has quickly become the darling of the crowd.
Despite World No. 1 Zhendong’s exit at the first stage itself, China booked three of the four singles finals spots on offer. Wang Yidi defeated Miwa 3-2 in an exciting five-setter and will take on Cheng IChing, the World No. 31 from Chinese Taipei in the final.
Cheng had to navigate a tricky semifinal clash overcoming World No. 24 and 14th seed Miu Hirano in a five-game thriller 12-10, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5.
World number 24 Lin Shidong from China, just 17, did his growing reputation no harm when he qualified for the final, at the expense of another teenager, 16-year-old Felix Lebrun.
In the semifinals, though, Shidong proved too strong for Felix as he coasted to an easy 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 win.
In the men’s singles final, it will be an all-Chinese clash on Sunday as Shidong battles World No. 7 Liang Jingkun. Winner of two world championship singles medals, Jingkun defeated crowd favourite Tomakazu Harimoto of Japan 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5.
