Accepting the challenge with open arms Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC emerged the man of the moment on Tuesday 27th July at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
In the fourth round of the men’s singles event he caused a major upset.
On debut in the prestigious multi-sport event the no.18 seed he accounted for the host nation’s Tomokazu HARIMOTO the no.3 seed (10-12 11-9 11-3 10-12 8-11 11-7 11-7) a player tipped as a medal candidate.
Outstanding form and the end of the road for a host nation player it was the same later in the day. Showing not a hint of charity Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the no.7 seed halted the aspirations of Koki Niwa the no.12 seed (11-4 7-11 11-0 11-7 11-9).
Success for Germany but there was defeat. Timo BOLL the no.8 seed was beaten Jeoung Youngsik the no.10 seed (11-8 7-11 11-7 11-9 11-4). The success for the young man from the Korea Republic being achieved after by the very narrowest of margins in round three he had overcome Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece the no.35 seed (7-11 11-7 8-11 10-12 12-10 11-6 14-12).
A fourth round exit for Timo BOLL it was the same for Portugal’s Marcos Freitas. The no.16 seed he was beaten by China’s FAN Zhendong the top seed (11-6 11-6 11-2 5-11 11-3). Similarly for Frenchman Simon GAUZY; his ambitions were halted by the redoubtable MA Long the no.2 seed (11-6 9-11 11-4 11-7 11-5).
Men’s Singles: Quarter-Finals
- 11.00 Fan Zhendong (CHN) v Jeoung Youngsik (KOR)
- 16.00 Darko Jorgic (SLO) v Lin Yun-Ju (TPE)
- 21.00 Hugo Calderano (BRA) v Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER)
- 20.00 Ma Long (CHN) v Omar Assar (EGY)
Meanwhile in the women’s singles event Germany’s Han Ying the no.12 seed kept the European flag flying.
In round three she ousted Australia’s JIAN Fang Lay the no.58 seed (11-9 11-9 11-7 11-8) before halting the aspirations of Singapore’s FENG Tianwei the no.6 seed (13-11 11-7 11-9 8-11 11-8) a player she has now beaten in all five international engagements.
Otherwise for the old continent in the women’s singles fourth round it was farewell.
Britt EERLAND of the Netherlands the no.16 seed was beaten by Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem the no.8 seed (11-13 11-5 11-8 11-9 11-8).
Likewise Austria departed the arena. Sofia POLCANOVA the no.10 seed lost to Japan’s Kasumi ISHIKAWA the no.5 seed (11-8 11-8 12-10 11-9) LIU Jia the no.55 seed who in round three had beaten Puerto Rico’s Adriana DIAZ the no.9 seed (11-9 11-4 11-9 11-9) departed at the hands of Korea Republic’s JEON Jihee the no.7 seed (11-1 10-12 11-3 11-3 11-4).
Women’s Singles: Quarter-Finals
- 12.00 Chen Meng (CHN) v Doo Hoi Kem (HKG)
- 10.00 Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN) v Yu Mengyu (SGP)
- 15.00 Mima Ito (JPN) v Jeon Jihee (KOR)
- 17.00 Han Ying (GER) v Sun Yingsha (CHN)
The semi-finals of both the men’s singles and women’s singles events will be played on Thursday 29th July; in addition the women’s singles medal matches will be completed.
One day later on Friday 30th July the men’s singles medal contests will be staged.
