2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open
Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA’s fantastic run at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open was halted today in the final of the Women’s Singles Event. At the final hurdle she suffered by the hands of Saki SHIBATA (11-4 11-7 12-10 11-7). Japan’s player already won tournament in Minsk two years back. In semifinal Russian defender beat Miyuu KIHARA in five games (8-11 11-7 11-6 11-4 11-9)
In the semifinal of the Men’s Singles Event Romania’s Cristian PLETEA lost against unseeded Japanese opponent Shunsuke TOGAMI (15-13 11-3 11-8 12-10) and there were similar scenes in the other semi-final as no.4 seed Lubomir PISTEJ exited to Chinese qualifier ZHAO Zihao (8-11 11-3 9-11 11-6 11-4 9-11 11-9).
Later ZHAO Zihao clinched the trophy; he accounted for Japan’s Shunsuke TOGAMI 4-2 (11-13 11-6 11-5 11-8 10-12 11-4) to leave his first ITTF Challenge Series event with two titles to his name having prevailed in the Under 21 Men’s Singles one day earlier.
Satsuki ODO and Saki SHIBATA came away with their second Women’s Doubles trophy of the month after posting a thunderous 3-0 win against top seeded opponents Barbora BALAZOVA and Hana MATELOVA of the Slovak Republic and Czech Republic (11-3 11-4 11-7).
At the final hurdle of the Men’s Doubles tournament Kakeru SONE and Yuta TANAKA saw off Ukraine’s KOU Lei and Croatia’s WEI Shihao (11-7 11-9 13-15 11-7) to reserve their place at the top of the podium
