Other Events | 3 Apr 2013

Korea Air Korean Open started with the upsets

At the ITTF 2013 World Tour Korea Air Korean Open in Incheon few battles in qualifications marked the opening day. The Slovak Republic’s Thomas KEINATH, alongside the Russian duo of Fedor KUZMIN and Mikhail PAYKOV were the players to suffer unexpected def

At the ITTF 2013 World Tour Korea Air Korean Open in Incheon few battles in qualifications marked the opening day. The Slovak Republic’s Thomas KEINATH, alongside the Russian duo of Fedor KUZMIN and Mikhail PAYKOV were the players to suffer unexpected defeats on day one.

All three made promising starts to their schedule of matches, as play began in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event; all recorded victories in their opening duels. However, when they returned to the table for their second encounters, it was a very different story; the anguish of defeat was experienced.

Listed at no.114 on the current Men’s World Rankings, 35 year old Thomas KEINATH accounted for the host nation’s KANG Minho in four straight games. But on KEINATH’s next visit to the table it was defeat; he was beaten by Singapore’s XIN Zhaoxu, the player who occupies the no.361 spot on the Men’s World Rankings. XIN Zhaoxu recorded a seven games win over the European to cause an upset of note.

Similarly both Fedor KUZMIN and Mikhail PAYKOV made fine starts. KUZMIN, World ranked no.116, accounted for Japan’s 17 year old Naoki MATSUDA in four straight games.He appears at no.538 on the current Men’s World Rankings.

Mikhail PAYKOV, accounted for Chinese Taipei’s SUN Chia-Hung in four straight games; Sun Chia-Hung is listed at no.707 on the Men’s World Rankings, as opposed to Mikhail PAYKOV who appears at no.123. On the second visit to the table, both losing to Korean adversaries. KUZMIN was beaten by 16 year old KIM Minheok in seven games; whilst PAYKOV experienced defeat at the hands of 17 year old Jang Woojin, in six games. Presently KIM Minheok stands at no.359 on the Men’s World Rankings, JANG Woojin is at no.309.

Russia’s Alexey LIVENTSOV upheld Russian honour to finish in first place in his group, as did Simon GAUZY of France.
In the Women’s Singles event three leading names faced problems but for the others there were no such heartaches; Russia’s Yana NOSKOVA completed her first staged matches unbeaten.