2016 Rio Olympic Games
The top guns entered the competition today. In the Women’s Singles Event at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games top seeded DING Ning of China successfully started her journey. In the higher half of the draw two European players HAN Ying and LI Xue secured the place in the Round of 16.
Silver medalist in singles in London 2012 and World champion in 2015 World no. two beat Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA on her way to the round of 16 (11-5 11-8 11-5 11-2).
“I came very early today to start my warm up so it felt like I waited very long for my match to start. I was a little nervous at the start of the match but things eventually went well” said DING.
DING Ning was 0:6 in reverse in the second game.
“I wasn’t into rhythm then SAMARA had 2 edge balls when she was already leading 4-0. At that time I wasn’t panicking and was able to keep myself calm to strategize. The second game is actually the most crucial part of the match if I had lost that game the third and fourth game would have been more difficult for me.”
It was the same outcome of another Europe vs. Asia clash on the near table – Hong Kong’s DOO Hoi Kem beat Hungarian Georgina POTA 4:2 (8-11 9-11 14-12 11-8 11-9 11-8). It was 19 years old player début at the Olympic Games.
“I lost the first two games because I was so nervous so many people in the hall so much noise I lost concentration. When I was down 9-10 in the third game I said myself I must not lose so easily. After I won the third game I was much more active much more positive and I became more confident” said DOO Hoi Kem.
World’s no. 8 HAN Ying of Germany beat Thailand’s Nanthana KOMWONG on her way to the Top 16 (11-2 11-4 11-4 11-3). Currently ranked at the position no. 55 LI Xue of France upset the favorite and beat World’s no. 21 LI Jie of Netherlands after full seven games (11-8 14-12 8-11 9-11 7-11 11-6 8-11).
JEON Jihee of Korea prevailed against Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden 4:1 (11-2 11-3 3-11 11-4 11-2); CHEN Szu-Yu of Taipei accounted for Turkey’s HU Melek (10-12 6-11 7-11 8-11).
