August 12, 2010
Japanese Teenager Receives Taste of Own Medicine in Incheon
 Cai Xiao Li en route to victory over Kenta Matsudaira Photo By: An Sung Ho |
Courtesy of ITTF No doubt one of his very best performances came in 2009 on home soil in the city of Yokohama when he came within a hair’s breadth of beating China’s Ma Lin, the reigning Olympic champion. |
It was a contest that saw Kenta Matsudaira rise to a new level.
Ma Lin had to summon all his reserves of energy to beat the young man who won the Boys’ Singles title at the ITTF Cadet Challenge in 2005 and then one year later was crowned World Junior Champion.
Other Foot
However, in Incheon at the KRA Korean Open in the group stage of proceedings on Wednesday August 11, 2010, the boot was on the other foot.
In his opening match in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event he was beaten by Singapore’s 30 year old Cai Xiao Li and then in the “Battle of the World Junior Champions” he was defeated by his successor to throne, Korea’s 20 year old Jeong Sang Eun.
Jeong Sang Eun won the Boys’ Singles title at the World Junior Championships in Palo Alto in 2007.
No Place in Main Draw
Certainly, to say the least it is a tough group, two World Junior Champions and a vastly experienced player known for reliability; it doesn’t come much harder.
The result is that there is no place in the main draw for Kenta Matsudaira, who is the highest world ranked player in action in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event; first place in the group will be decided in the final match in the group when Cai Xiaoli meets Jeong Sang Eun.
Second Japanese Star Falls
Defeat for one rising Japanese star and there was defeat for a second, 22 year old Hidetoshi Oya, the seventh highest world ranked player on duty was beaten by both Hong Kong’s Tse Ka Chun and Chinese Taipei’s Wu Chih-Chi.
Reverses for two highly rated players and there were defeats for two more.
Mixed Fortunes for Korea
The host nation’s Lee Sang Su, the fourth highest rated player in action, after beating Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tung-Yu was beaten by Pavel Platonov of Belarus; however, the player who appears to be the favorite for the top place is Korea’s Kim Tae Hoon.
He is the only member of the group so far unbeaten, he overcame both Pavel Platonov and Chou Tung-Yu.
Better News for Land of Rising Sun
Similarly, it is the same situation involving the no.8 seed, Chinese Taipei’s Huang Sheng-Sheng made a fine start to his program of matches by beating Korea’s Kim Dong Hyun but then suffered at the hands of Japan’s Kazuhiro Chan.
After defeats for Kenta Matsudaira and Hidetoshi Oya, it was eventually good news for the land of the rising sun.
One match prior to his victory over Huang Sheng-Sheng, Kazuhiro Chan defeated Hong Kong’s Li Kwun Ngai.
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