2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open
On the ultimate day of the play at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open in Minsk Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia the sole European competing in the Women’s Singles semi-finals will meet Miyuu KIHARA of Japan. In the other penultimate stage duel in all-Japanese clash Minami ANDO opposes Saki SHIBATA
Previously Sakura MORI the no.19 seed suffered at the hands of Polina MIKHAILOVA (11-7 11-7 11-7 11-7) whilst Miyuu KIHARA the no.15 seed beat qualifier Maria DOLGIKH (11-9 11-9 11-4 11-6). Despite the rankings the victory of Russia’s player came as surprise. In two previous encounters both time MORI secured victories. Now Maria 31 years of age will play against KIHARA who is only 14 years old.
The player who was under spotlight in Men’s Singles event on day three was Romania’s Cristian Pletea: the no.23 seed beat the odds and overcame third seed Nima ALAMIAN (11-1 11-7 11-9 11-7) before inflicted the pain in the hearts of the home fans by knocking no.14 seed Pavel PLATONOV out of the competition at the quarter-finals stage (10-12 12-10 11-7 11-6 11-6). No.4 seed Lubomir PISTEJ also enjoyed a successful day in Minsk with victories over Antoine HACHARD and Harmeet DESAI. He will meet ZHAO Zihao of China in semis. ZHAO won the gold in Under 21 Event in Minsk.
The only semi-finalist in Minsk to have previously visited the penultimate round in a Men’s Singles event at an open international tournament is Slovakia’s Lubomir PISTEJ the runner up earlier this year in Slovenia. The no.4 seed at the quarter-final stage he ousted India’s Harmeet Desai the no.9 seed (11-7 11-5 12-10 9-11 11-3).
The first gold medals were awarded to players representing China with HE Aige and ZHAO Zihao emerging victorious in the Under 21 Women’s Singles and Under 21 Men’s Singles events for the first time. HE Aige came out on top in a tight five games contest against Japan’s Miku IZUMO (11-9 9-11 8-11 11-6 11-4) while ZHAO Zihao needed just the three games to see off Russian opponent Denis IVONIN at the final hurdle (11-8 11-8 11-3).
Second seeds Satsuki ODO and Saki SHIBATA of Japan will play against the Slovak and Czech duo of Barbora BALAZOVA and Hana MATELOVA seeded first for the Women’s Doubles trophy while the Men’s Doubles title will be awarded to an unseeded partnership as Kakeru SONE and Yuta TANAKA take on fellow qualifiers KOU Lei and WEI Shihao of Ukraine and Croatia respectively.
