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Can Argentina upset the odds; then stalwart can bid farewell on world’s biggest stage
However, it will have to be victory against the odds; the Brazilians are the clear favourites. The man in question is Argentina’s 41 year old Pablo Tabachnik, a lawyer by profession who competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and then followed suit in 2004 in Athens and then 2008 in Beijing.
A return to the Olympic arena two decades after his debut in the multi-sport spectacular; that would really be something for the player who secured silver in the men’s team event at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games earlier this year in August alongside Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes. Notably in a 3-0 penultimate round win against Cuba, Pablo Tabachnik beat Andy Pereira, in a 3-2 defeat in the final when facing the United States, he overcame Nicholas Tio.
“I felt confident when I played at the Pan American Games; confidence plays a major part in sport, we have a plan against Brazil but we must play in a confident manner. They are now highly ranked internationally, they have moved to a new level but they are expected to win; if we can win the doubles they will be under pressure and we will have a little chance.” Pablo Tabachnik
A stalwart of the national team throughout this century and earlier, Pablo Tabachnik is in the twilight years of his career.
“I now just play for the glory but a win here, a fourth Olympic Games and then announce my retirement, that would be perfect.” Pablo Tabachnik.
Making progress
The voice of experience, for Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes; the situation is somewhat different. Brazil has moved to a new level but is that not the same for the Argentine duo?
Notably this year Horacio Cifuentes won the under 21 men’s singles titles at the ITTF Challenge Series tournaments in Spain and in Paraguay; furthermore, he was the runner up in the men’s singles event at the Pan American Championships.
“I’ve been in a good situation this year for training, playing in Spain and practising in Oporto in Portugal at the same centre as Marcos Freitas. It is important for me to play in Europe to raise my level; I think every aspect of my game has improved, it’s difficult to highlight one aspect, for sure I’m mentally stronger.” Horacio Cifuentes.
Progress for Horacio Cifuentes who is well aware of the calibre of Brazil; significantly at the Pan American Championships, both Horacio Cifuentes and Gaston Alto lost to Vitor Ishiy, Horacio Cifuentes in the semi-finals, Gaston Alto in the final.
“I think we have no more than a 15 per cent chance of beating Brazil; with Hugo Calderano in their team it’s very difficult. Also Vitor Ishiy is playing well this year. Maybe if we can win the doubles, it will give us a chance.” Horacio Cifuentes.
Doubles
Make no mistake, the doubles is a strength for Argentina, even though on the opening day in Lima, Gaston Alto and Pablo Tabachnik lost to Nicolas Burgos and Gustavo Gomez in the contest against Chile.
In 2014 Gaston Alto and Pablo Tabachnik won the men’s doubles title at the Latin American Championships in the Dominican Republic, more recently Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes emerged successful at the 2019 ITTF Challenge Polish Open.
“We won at the Pan American Championships; that gave us a great deal of confidence. I partnered Pablo for many years, he’s a left hander, now playing with Horacio, a right hander like me, it is different. We started playing together two years ago, certainly I think as a result by backhand has improved. Play well tomorrow and we have a chance.” Gaston Alto.
The contest between Brazil and Argentina is scheduled to start at 8.00pm (local time) on Sunday 27th October, the concluding day of play in Lima.
Scene set, for Brazil, Argentina and Puerto Rico await
Unbeaten records were maintained but for Puerto Rico, the top seeds in the women’s event, who as the previous day, started the action, there were anxious moments. Adriana Diaz, Melanie Diaz and Daniely Rios found the no.3 seeds, the Chilean outfit comprising Daniela Ortega, Valentina Rios and Paulina Vega in determined mood. A 3-2 victory margin was the end result in favour of the Caribbean island.
Daniela Ortega and Paulina Vega gave their team the ideal start by beating Melanie Diaz and Daniely Rios (11-8, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-6), before Adriana Diaz levelled matters by overcoming Valentina Rios (11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4). Parity, once again Chile took the lead, Daniela Ortega accounted for Daniely Rios (11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9). The point of no return, Adriana Diaz responded to beat Paulina Vega (11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8), prior to Melanie Diaz prevailing in opposition to Valentina Rios (11-7, 11-7, 11-7) to seal the victory.
“The match against Brazil is going to be a like a war, it will be the most important match of all. We are focused on classification. I’m very happy to have won all my matches so far, I’m going to prepare thoroughly for tomorrow and correct any mistakes.” Adriana Diaz
“Chile has a very strong team. They have very experienced players; we knew it would be a tough match, we were prepared for a battle and it was a battle. In the doubles they played much better than us, they were more together. We will give everything against Brazil; this year we have faced each other twice with a victory for each team. It will definitely feel like a final for us and we hope to achieve the goal.” Melanie Diaz
“From the beginning we were quite focused, I didn’t get the results I wanted but my teammates did very well and we managed to win. Lima is one of our favourite countries, here we won the gold medal in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. If we classify for Tokyo it will be like we have a special tattoo or something that is related to this beautiful country. The match against Brazil is going to be a final. They have a very strong team. We will do our best.” Daniely Rios
“We fought for every point against the current Pan American Games champions. It was a nice experience to face Adriana again after so many years. I felt comfortable, we have been making changes within the team and sometimes it takes a while to get used to it. We are hopeful that at some point we will gain qualification because we have a great team with clear objectives; I think South American table tennis has improved a lot. Now many players from this region play in Europe.” Paulina Vega
Life less exacting
Tense moments for Puerto Rico, life was less fraught for the Brazilian combination of Caroline Kumahara, Bruna Takahashi and Jessica Yamada. The no.2 seeds, they posted a 3-0 win in opposition to the no.4 seeds, Peru’s Ana Aragon, Lucciana Cisneros and Mariagrazia La Torre.
Caroline Kumahara and Jessica Yamada commenced matters by beating Ana Aragon and Mariagrazia La Torre (11-8, 11-5, 13-11), Bruna Takahashi overcame Lucciana Cisneros (11-2, 11-8, 11-4) to set the scene for Jessica Yamada. She duly completed proceedings by overcoming Ana Aragon (11-1, 11-6, 11-5).
On the opening day of play Puerto Rico had recorded a 3-0 against Peru, by the same margin Brazil had overcome Chile.
Similar success for men’s team
Success for Caroline Kumahara, Bruna Takahashi and Jessica Yamada was soon followed by success by the same margin for their male counterparts. The trio comprising Hugo Calderano, Vitor Ishiy and Gustavo Tsuboi, the top seeds, showed no hint of charity when facing the no.3 seeds, Chile’s Nicolas Burgs, Gustavo Gomez and Juan Lamadrid.
Vitor Ishiy and Gustavo Gomez secured the doubles at the expense of the spirited combination of Nicolas Burgos and Gustavo Gomez (11-9, 10-12, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8), before Hugo Calderano overcame Juan Lamadrid (11-7, 11-8, 11-4) and Gustavo Tsuboi prevailed against Gustavo Gomez to end matters (11-3, 12-10, 11-6).
Totally focused
Similarly, the no.2 seeds, Argentina’s Gaston Alto, Horacio Cifuentes and Pablo Tabachnik were totally focused when facing Peru’s Adolpho Cucho, Felipe Duffoo and Rodrigo Hidalgo.
Gaston Alto and Horacio Cifuentes commenced proceedings in style beating Adolfo Cucho and Felipe Duffoo (11-6, 11-3, 11-4), prior to Pablo Tabachnik overcoming Rodrigo Hidalgo (11-7, 6-11, 13-11, 11-9) and Horacio Cifuentes accounting for Felipe Duffoo (11-5, 11-7, 11-4).
The draw
Decision day and one wonders could the draw play a major factor in the outcome. Usually, in the Olympic system coaches play their best players in the two singles matches. Draw A,B,C that player competes in the second and fourth matches; if the lot is X,Y,Z the player in question competes in the second and fifth matches.
It could well happen the arguable “best player” only plays once if proceedings do not go your way; that is exactly what happened to Brazil at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games when they faced the United States at the men’s team semi-final stage. They drew X,Y,Z, they lost 3-1, Hugo Calderano was the one winner but he only played once.
In the men’s team event, Brazil will no doubt want Hugo Calderano to play second and fourth, the so-called “quick ones”; the same may well apply to Argentina in the guise of Horacio Cifuentes. Most certainly it will be the scenario in the women’s fixture, Brazil will want Bruna Takahashi to play second and fourth, so will Puerto Rico in the guise of Adriana Diaz.
For one team in each deciding fixture, the hope will come true but for only one; the draw may will have a major effect.
PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia – Maverick Vinales claimed the pole position for Sunday’s MotoGP event at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
Windy conditions forced qualifying, originally scheduled for Saturday, to be postponed until Sunday. That didn’t phase Vinales, who continued his strong form at the Australian circuit by earning his third pole of the season for Monster Energy Yamaha.
Vinales put his Yamaha bike on the pole with a 1:28.492, which was more than half a second ahead of Fabio Quartararo in second. MotoGP champion Marc Marquez qualified third to complete the front row.
“I feel good and very positive because on the laps I did I was able to push at my maximum, that‘s very important,” Vinales said. “Straight away I felt good on hard tires and soft tires, so we will try to keep this momentum: start well, get into first place, and push from the beginning. I will try my best as always. The Yamaha is working very good on the track, we need to be careful with the tires, but anyway, I‘m very happy and feeling very positive.”
Vinales’ teammate Valentino Rossi qualified fourth to lead the second row. He’ll be joined by Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci and the LCR Honda entry of rider Cal Crutchlow.
The Aprilia duo of Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone are seventh and eighth, with Pramac Racing’s Jack Miller qualifying ninth. Andrea Dovizioso qualified 10th for Ducati to complete the top-10.
Riders will now turn their attention to the race, which will take place at 3 p.m. local time in Australia.
He (69) holds outright lead halfway through marathon LPGA Q-Series
Muni He of Chengdu, China made five birdies en route to a 2-under 69 on Saturday at Pinehurst No. 6 at the marathon LPGA Q-Series. She now holds the outright lead at 9 under, midway through the eight-round event.
He won on the Symetra Tour in her rookie year of 2018 and also made eight cuts in 19 starts on the LPGA tour this season. She’s feeling good about her position in the field, knowing four rounds remain.
“It’s very important for me to keep reminding myself like, ‘Hey, be patient and pace yourself’ because we have so much golf left," He said.
Two shots behind He, at 7 under par, sit Lauren Coughlin (68), Maia Schechter (70) and Emma Talley (72). Lindsey Weaver (70) and Lauren Kim (72), the 36-hole leader, share third place at 6 under.
The third and final stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament is being contested over 144 holes, with the first 72 played at Pinehurst No. 6. Play now shifts to Pinehurst No. 9 for the last four rounds, beginning Thursday. A minimum of the top 45 players and ties will earn LPGA status at the end of the competition. There are 98 players in the field.
A complete list of scores can be found here.
Activists rally for Hong Kong before Rockets game
HOUSTON -- A group of about 35 people staged a rally Saturday outside the Toyota Center before the Houston Rockets' game against the New Orleans Pelicans to voice support for protesters in Hong Kong.
As fans filed into the arena, the demonstrators gathered in the entrance plaza, wearing black T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Fight For Freedom" on the front and "China, Stop Bullying" on the back. They held American flags as well as signs expressing support for free expression and criticizing the Chinese government. Two attendees held a large, gold banner that read, "Hong Kong's fight is everyone's fight."
The rally was coordinated by two local groups: the Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinities and Texas for Hong Kong. The same coalition organized approximately 30 people on Thursday for the Rockets' home opener, and they sat behind the south basket and stood holding their signs during stoppages in play.
The Rockets have been at the center of the conflict between the NBA and China that was sparked by the reaction to a tweet on Oct. 4 by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressing support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. In the days that have followed, broadcasters in China, Chinese sponsors and the Chinese Basketball Association have severed or scaled back agreements with the NBA.
Chris Wong, a research scientist and Hong Kong native who has organized events in Houston to bring awareness to the situation in his home city, helped assemble participants from the local Hong Konger community for both Thursday's and Saturday's home games.
"My reaction [to the Morey tweet] was, 'Great, someone is supporting and publicly speaking for Hong Kong,'" Wong said. "But the reaction from the Chinese government and the machinery in China was such an overreaction just for someone sending out a symbolic tweet. I was mad."
The Rockets, who featured eight-time All-Star center Yao Ming for nearly a decade and played in the NBA's first game in China in 2004, are one of China's most popular NBA teams. The franchise has cultivated extensive commercial partnerships in the nation since drafting Yao in 2002. Although Tencent, an ESPN partner, has resumed streaming NBA games in China, the Rockets have not appeared on the platform in the opening week of the season.
Tram Ho, an internist who emigrated from Vietnam to the United States in 1982 after spending six months as a refugee in Hong Kong, said she was inspired to help organize the events in Houston by activists inside Barclays Center during a Brooklyn Nets preseason game. Tram, who counts herself as a casual Rockets fan first drawn to the NBA by retired Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon, attended both Thursday's and Saturday's games and believes the current friction between China and the NBA is a harbinger of a larger conflict.
"China is not only bullying the United States right now, but [it] has been bullying other countries in Asia and South China Sea for a long time," Tram said. "I feel very sorry for Hong Kong, a democratic society. The two systems -- it's not going to work."
Fanny Wong, a certified public accountant in her 50s who immigrated to the United States from Macao in the 1970s, held a sign that read, "Stand with Hong Kong, Be Taller than LeBron, who kneels down for ¥¥¥ [the symbol for Chinese Yuan]." She wore a James Harden-style costume beard with a red zipper over the mouth to symbolize what she characterized as the self-censorship of many NBA players.
"I can understand that a lot of athletes, they have a lot of financial investment," Wong said. "What I would appreciate is that they be honest about that. Just say, 'We have a lot of interests at stake there, and there are certain things we need to compromise.' I'd respect that. They stood for justice somewhere else when there's no financial conflict of interest. But then where there is a conflict of financial interest, 'Oh, wait a minute. We don't understand.' To me, that's a lie. I'd respect it more if they were honest about it."
As game time neared, the group began to chant, "Stand for freedom, no censorship," before breaking into staccato chants of "Morey, Morey, Morey" and then "NBA, NBA, NBA."
"We are currently seeing people seeking profit over freedom," Jean Lin, a 28-year-old Taiwanese-American research technician, said when asked how the situation with the NBA and China is instructive. "Making that money and reaching that big market in China becomes more prominent, disregarding true American values."
Looney to see specialists over nerve condition
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Golden State Warriors center Kevon Looney will miss at least the next two games and see a team of specialists to evaluate what the organization said Saturday is an ongoing presence of a neuropathic condition in his body. Looney missed almost all of training camp as he dealt with a right hamstring injury and played only 10 minutes in Thursday's loss to the LA Clippers before being taken out for what was termed "precautionary reasons." The Warriors believe the nerve condition is a "direct correlation" to the hamstring issue.
"It's not really his hamstring," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "It's kind of a neuropathic condition that he's had for a couple years. It's something he's been able to play through, but in this particular case the condition is affecting his hamstring. His hamstring is sound, the MRI is clean, but it makes it trickier actually that it's a neuropathic condition. That's really all I'm going to say on it because I have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to these matters."
Kerr spoke with uncertainty in his voice as he updated Looney's condition. The issue for the Warriors is that don't know exactly what's going on and they don't know how long the popular big man will be out.
"He's going to see a specialist," Kerr continued. "[We're] feeling really, really bad for him. He's such a great human being, great player. One of my favorite guys I've ever coached because he's not just low maintenance, he's zero maintenance. He just comes in and does his work and you just want a guy like that to flourish. He should be entering the prime of his career -- and hopefully he's got many years ahead of him, but we'd love to find some answers. Hopefully sooner rather than later and get him back on the floor."
The Warriors desperately need Looney on the floor given the lack of big-man depth they came into the season with. Veteran Willie Cauley-Stein missed all of training camp and remains out because of a foot strain, so the onus will be on young big men Eric Paschall, Omari Spellman and Marquese Chriss to pick up the slack in Looney's absence.
"Just putting Eric and Marquese and Omari in the fire," Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. "That's going to be helpful for them throughout the course of the season when they're called upon to play significant minutes. And see the right pictures on the floor, especially defensively. I remember my rookie year there was no better way to learn than to just be out there and go through, get those reps in games so it's going to be fun to watch them. We got to help them; we got to communicate."
Cauley-Stein went through practice with the Santa Cruz Warriors on Saturday and is expected to stay with Warriors G League affiliate for a few days as he continues his injury rehab. Kerr also noted that Draymond Green will get a few more minutes at the center spot as the Warriors adjust the center rotation on the fly. Green injured his right forearm during Thursday's loss, but he went through Saturday's practice without issue and will play Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"He'll contribute at the center position and we can play Eric at the 4, so that has to be an answer, part of the answer," Kerr said. "But no matter how you slice it from a size standpoint it's a lot to handle. Typically we've played Draymond at the five over the years for 10 minutes a game. We've never really asked him to do that for huge minutes. We've done it to play in spurts or to generate pace and that sort of thing. But asking Draymond to guard Steven Adams for 30 minutes wouldn't make much sense. So we've got to mix and match and find different combinations and things to do and we'll go from there."
As a group, the Warriors are just hoping the tests Looney goes through over the next few days come back clean -- but the look of concern on Kerr's face was palpable as he spoke about one of the group's most popular players.
"Loon, he knows what he's doing out there," Curry said. "He knows where to be. He's been with us for a long time and been in some pretty high-intensity games. Those other guys have to step up in his absence ... myself, Draymond and Loon have been here through these championships and you want to have us out there as much as possible throughout the year, but if not it's just an opportunity. In this league you've got guys who can surprise you with opportunities so we'll see how it goes."
Follow live: Astros turn to bullpen looking to even series with Nationals
The Nationals waste Yan Gomes' leadoff double in the third, as Patrick Corbin, Trea Turner and Adam Eaton leave him stranded. Key play: Jose Urquidy fields Corbin's bunt with Alex Bregman hustling back to third to keep Gomes at second. One of those little plays that helped the Astros save a base and maybe a run.
Hope springs eternal, newest generation shines in Wladyslawowo
It was the girls who caused the bigger surprise, starting play as the no.5 seeds, selecting from Emily Tan, Sophie Earley, Ser Lin Qian and Lee Xin Ni, against the odds they finished ahead of Europe, the no.2 seeds and Latin America, the no.4 seeds.
Acclimatising quickly to the situation, in their opening fixture of the day they recorded a 3-2 win against the European combination of Hana Arapovic, Vlada Voronina and Elena Zaharia. The player to shine was Sophie Earley.
Mainstay of victory
After Ser Lin Qian had experienced defeat at the hands of Vlada Voronina (11-7, 11-8, 11-8), she beat Elena Zaharia, the winner of the cadet girls’ singles title at this year’s European Youth Championships (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 14-12), before returning to overcome Vlada Voronina in the vital fifth and deciding match of the contest (11-6, 2-11, 11-6, 11-9).
“I was quite nervous before match with Elena Zaharia, I felt I could give her a match, the last time we played she was better than me and I lost. I felt I really had nothing to lose, just try to play my best. After the match with Elena Zaharia I felt more confident. Before the match with Vlada Voronina, I was a little bit nervous because it was the last match, but I still managed to win.” Sophie Earley
The one further win for the Hopes team was secured by Ser Lin Qian; following defeat for Lee Xin Ni at the hands of Hana Arapovic (11-6, 11-4, 11-2), in the fourth match of the contest she kept her team’s aspirations alive. She recovered from a two games to nil deficit and the precipice of defeat in the third to beat Elena Zaharia (9-11, 6-11, 20-18, 11-8, 11-7).
Success against Europe, with Emily Tan preferred to Lee Xin Ni, a 4-1 win was recorded against North America’s Fiona Nie, Joanna Sung and Angie Tan prior to the same margin of victory being claimed against the Latin American selection of Arantxa Cossio Aceves, Divina Ding and Giulia Takahashi; a contest in which Lee Xin Ni replaced Emily Tan.
Host nation springs surprise
In the counterpart group, the no.2 seeds, Asia, who selected from Kaho Akae, Yashaswini Ghorpade, Lee Yeonhui and Zhou Jingyi, duly remained unbeaten to top their group as anticipated.
However, there was a surprise. Represented by Anna Brzyska, Ilona Sztwiertnia and Wiktoria Wrobel, Poland, the no.6 seeds, secured runners up spot. They recorded a 3-2 win in opposition to the no.3 seeds, the African trio comprising Melissa Belache, Hana Goda and Maram Zoghlami. Notably for Africa, Hana Goda remained unbeaten; she accounted for both Anna Brzyska (11-13, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6) and Wiktoria Wrobel (11-9, 11-3, 11-5).
At the semi-final stage of the girls’ team event, the Hopes meet Poland; Europe who suffered no further moments of alarm, face Asia.
Progress expected, first place unexpected
A place in the last four for the Hopes girls’ team was a surprise, for their male counterparts, not a surprise; they commenced matters the no.3 seed. The surprise was selecting from Julian Chirita, Ebrahim Abdulhakim Gubran, Daniel Berzosa and Izaac Quek Yong, they remained unbeaten to secure group first place.
Following a 4-1 win against the no.8 seeds, North America’s Ted Li, Sid Naresh and Simeon Martin; selecting Iulian Chirita, Ebrahim Abdulhakim Gubran and Izaac Quek Yong, success by the same margin was recorded in opposition to the no.2 seeds, the European combination of Darius Movileanu, Louis Laffineur and Simon Belik.
Man of the moment was Iulian Chirita, he beat both Louis Laffineur (10-12, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6) and Darius Movileanu (13-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5) to seal the success. Vitally in the opening match of the fixture Izaac Quek Yong had also accounted for Darius Movileanu (13-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9).
Significantly for the European team, it was their only defeat; thus second place and progress to the main draw was secured.
Again Poland rises to challenge
Meanwhile, in the corresponding group, Asia, the top seeds, selecting from Sora Matsushima, Navid Shams, Jeong Seongil and Payas Jain duly secured first position in their group but, as in the girls’ team event there was a surprise second place.
Once again the host nation shone; the no.6 seeds, selecting Mateusz Zalewski, Milosz Redzimski and Dawid Jadam, a 4-1 margin of victory was recorded against the no.4 seeds, the Latin America trio of Carlos Fernandez, Angel Naranjo and Sim Joon to secure runners up spot.
In the penultimate round Asia faces Europe, the Hopes meet Poland; the team events conclude on Sunday 27th October.
Expected and unexpected, England and Chinese Taipei centre stage
In the junior boys’ singles event, Naphong Boonyaprapa caused the biggest upset of the day; after accounting for Jordan’s Hamdi Kaswal (11-7, 11-4, 11-4), he beat Saudi Arabia’s Salem Alsuwailem, the no.7 seed (8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6) to end the day unbeaten.
One more match remains in the group, Naphong Boonyaprapa faces Sri Lanka’s Vihandu Wathudurage, a player yet to register a win to his name.
Success contrary to expectations, in the cadet boys’ singles event, life was as anticipated; the no.11 seed, the 14 year old Englishman overcame Oman’s Turki Al-Abri (11-2, 11-4, 11-1), Sweden’s Ludwig Ebenius (8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-3) and Sri Lanka’s Kakeru Hennayake (10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 11-4) to secure first place.
Justified status
Similarly, in the junior girls’ singles event Cheng Pu-Syuan and Liang Yuan-Ting upset the seeding; concurrently in the cadet girls’ singles they justified their status.
Most impressively in the junior girls’ singles, Liang Yuan-Ting beat Sri Lanka’s Maneesha Gusthighgha (11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7), prior to overcoming India’s Anusha Kutumbale, the no.4 seed (11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10). Similarly, Cheng Pu-Syuan accounted for Malamatenia Papadimitriou, the no.6 seed (11-4, 11-5, 11-6), having in her opening contest prevailed against Munmun Kundu, like Anusha Kutumbale from India (11-9, 11-6, 13-11).
Each has one group match to complete, Liang Yuan-Ting faces Jordan’s Rinad El-Hasani, Cheng Pu-Syuan confronts Sri Lanka’s Fathima Hassim; both adversaries very much present to gain international experience and yet to register a win.
Authority asserted
Imposing in the junior girls’ singles event, it was the same in the cadet girls’ singles competition. Cheng Pu-Syuan, the top seed, accounted for both India’s Sayhvika Venkatachalapathi Srinivasan (11-2, 11-4, 11-2) and Lebanon’s Mariam El-Habech (11-6, 11-5, 10-12, 11-3) to reserve group first place.
Similarly, Liang Yuan-Ting, the no.4 seed, was in no mood for charity. She beat Singapore’s Chloe Lai Neng Huen (11-5, 11-8, 11-4) and Jordan’s Dana Alkhateeb (11-3, 11-1, 11-6); one more match remains, she faces India’s Nehal Vengadasamay in what could prove a testing contest. Nehal Vengadasamay emulated the efforts of Liang Yuan-Ting; she beat Dana Alkhateeb (11-5, 11-4, 11-3), followed by similar success in opposition to Chloe Lai Neng Huen (11-1, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8).
Notable effort
Eye catching performances; there were two more of note both in the same group. Essa Alblooshi from the United Arab Emirates experienced a somewhat surprise five games defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka’s Thisas Ranchagoda (8-11, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7) but then in his next match excelled all expectations.
He beat Frenchman, Thibault Bailliet, the no.8 seed (5-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9); Thibault Baillet now meets Thisas Ranchagoda in the contest that in reality will determine the top two positions in the group and thus main draw places.
Top names enjoy success
Surprises but not amongst the very top names; in the junior boys’ singles event Iran’s Amin Ahmadian and Chinese Taipei’s Tai Ming-Wei ended the day unbeaten. Similarly, in the junior girls’ singles competition there was success for India’s Swastika Ghosh and Cai Fong-En, also from Chinese Taipei.
Likewise, in the cadet boys’ singles event, Chinese Taipei’s Chang Yu-An and Sweden’s Alve Sjoevold reserved group first places, as in the cadet girls’ singles event, in addition to Chen Pu-Syuan, did India’s Suhana Saini.
Hopes events
Meanwhile, in the hopes category, the leading name on duty in the boys’ event, Singapore’s Nicholas Tan enjoyed a trouble free day but for his counterpart in the hopes girls’ singles competition there was defeat. Sweden’s Hillevi Della Morte suffered at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s Liu Zi-Fei; she duly ended the day unbeaten.
Play continues on Sunday 27th October when those in contention for podium places will be known.
MEXICO CITY – Max Verstappen secured his second Formula One pole of the season in an upset performance Saturday at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
It appeared as if one of the Ferrari cars – driven by Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc – would sit on the pole for Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix, but Verstappen made sure that wasn’t going to happen.
During the final qualifying session Verstappen roared to a stunning 1:14.758 lap, which gave him the track record by a scant .001 seconds. Shortly thereafter Valtteri Bottas crashed his Mercedes in the final corner, bringing the qualifying session to a premature end.
That meant Verstappen, the two-time and defending Mexican Grand Prix winner, had earned his second pole of the season for Red Bull.
Behind him, Leclerc qualified second for Ferrari with his best lap of 1:15.024. He was closely followed by his teammate Vettel, with championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Alexander Albon fourth and fifth.
Bottas ended up sixth despite his crash in Q3, followed by the McLaren duo of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris. Toro Rosso drivers Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly completed the top-10 in qualifying.
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