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Update day two qualification: Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hang Seng Hong Kong Open
African hopes take a hit
With Nigeria’s Quadri Aruna gaining automatic entry to the men’s singles Round of 32 the question was whether Egypt’s Omar Assar could join his fellow African in the main event? – The answer was no.
Establishing an early lead in his final qualification fixture but Omar Assar failed to pick up another game as Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic made the perfect response, winning four games in a row to seal the victory (6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5).
Swedish stars qualify
Against the odds Sweden’s Jon Persson has qualified for the men’s singles draw in Hong Kong, inflicting a surprise 4-1 defeat upon his significantly higher ranked opponent from Austria, Daniel Habesohn (11-8, 8-11, 14-12, 11-6, 12-10). Truls Moregard also saw off notable opposition, earning an impressive six games victory over Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu (13-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-2, 1-11, 11-7).
“It was a good win and both of us performed well in the match. This is the first time I have played in Hong Kong. There were many spectators watching the match and the atmosphere was great. I really enjoy playing here.” Truls Moregard
Home delight
With the back of the home crowd Minnie Soo Wai Yam has successfully qualified for the women’s singles event, beating Korea Republic’s Choi Hyojoo across six games (11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9).
“I am happy that I won the match and I’m satisfied with my overall performance. The atmosphere and support from all the Hong Kong citizens was awesome! I truly believed they provided luck and power to me to win the match.” Minnie Soo Wai Yam
What a comeback!
While Polina Mikhailova’s campaign may be over, for fellow Russian compatriot Yana Noskova the journey continues after pulling off a sensational comeback in her preliminary round three encounter.
Trailing by a 0-3 games deficit Yana Noskova won four games on the bounce to emerge victorious over Romanian star Elizabeta Samara 4-3 (12-14, 9-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9).
Brave effort but Polina Mikhailova missed out
Russia’s Polina Mikhailova has missed out on the opportunity to compete in the main draw of the women’s singles event, falling to China’s Wang Yidi across six games in the third preliminary round (11-9, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-3).
Another Chinese representative joining Wang Yidi in the main event is Sun Mingyang following her straight games win against Slovak Republic’s Barbora Balazova (11-8, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7).
Czech stars complete stunning recovery
Tomas Polansky and Pavel Sirucek have qualified for the men’s doubles event after the Czech duo completed a fine comeback from 1-2 down to topple China’s Wang Chuqin and Xue Fei by a 3-2 score-line (11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7).
For Hong Kong there was defeat as Kwan Man Ho and Li Hon Ming lost out to France’s Tristan Flore and Emmanuel Lebesson (10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3).
Positives and negatives for Spain
Maria Xiao will represent Spain in the women’s doubles draw but it comes at a cost for her country as she and Canadian partner Zhang Mo had to eliminate the Spanish pair of Galia Dvorak and Liu Xin on their way success (11-6, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7).
We also lost the highly capable doubles pairing of Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz and Melanie Diaz, who fell at the hands of Thailand’s Orawan Paranang and Suthasini Sawettabut (6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8).
Huge comeback display from Serbian pair
Down 0-2 in the second preliminary round, Serbia’s Aleksandar Karakasevic and Izabela Lupulesku showed great character to fight their way back to a 3-2 victory over the Czech duo of Tomas Polansky and Hana Matelova (7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5).
Success for Aleksandar Karakasevic and Izabela Lupulesku sees them reserve their spot in the main draw.
Chuang Chih-Yuan defeated!
One of the biggest names involved in qualification action but Chuang Chih-Yuan has missed out on the opportunity to compete at the main event with the Chinese Taipei player losing out to up-and-coming German star Qiu Dang in straight games (11-6, 15-13, 11-4, 11-8).
Another German victory came courtesy of Ricardo Walther, who stormed to a 4-0 success against Andrea Landrieu of France (11-4, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6).
Chinese duo prevail
Ma Te and Zhou Yu have moved one step closer to the main draw with the Chinese competitors successfully negotiating preliminary round two.
Fighting back from two games down Ma Te held the upper hand in his encounter against Russia’s Kirill Skachkov (6-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-9) while Zhou Yu needed just five games to see off Italy’s Mihai Bobocica (11-7, 12-10, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6).
Truls Moregard moves through
An exciting young prospect for Swedish table tennis, Truls Moregard has progressed to the third and final round of men’s singles qualification after posting a notable 4-2 win in his meeting with Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia (11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4).
Indians impress
India’s Amalraj Anthony has pulled off one of the biggest upsets of his career to date in Hong Kong, recovering from a 1-3 games deficit to see off Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An by a 4-3 margin (11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8). Sathiyan Gnanasekaran also guided India to victory in the second preliminary round, beating Hungarian opponent Adam Szudi across five games (7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 13-11, 11-2).
Elsewhere, there was a surprise win for Paul Drinkhall as the Englishman emerged victorious over Japan’s Masataka Morizono in a seven-game thriller (11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 8-11, 15-13).
Pan American progress
Canada’s Zhang Mo, Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz and Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi all negotiated the second women’s singles preliminary round in some style.
Zhang Mo beat Sweden’s Christina Källberg (18-16, 14-16, 11-9, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8), Adriana Diaz accounted for India’s Ayhika Mukherjee (11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6); Bruna Takahashi ended the hopes of Croatia’s Mateja Jeger (7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10, 7-11, 11-3).
Miyu Kato makes intentions clear
Japan’s Miyu Kato, winner earlier in the year at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Spanish Open and quarter-finalist at the recent Liebherr 2019 World Championships, the leading name on women’s singles qualification duty in Hong Kong, made her intentions crystal clear.
In her opening contest she beat Spain’s Galia Dvorak in four straight games (11-4, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8).
Europeans enjoy success
There were notable successes for European players as the matters progressed in the second women’s singles preliminary round.
Sweden’s Linda Bergström beat Russia’s Olga Vorobeva (18-16, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11), Hungary’s Georgina Pota accounted for Thailand’s Orawan Paranang (11-7, 11-5, 11-7, 11-6), Romania’s Elizabeta Samara ended the hopes of Hong Kong’s Lam Yee Lok. Earlier in the day, the Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova had ousted Chinese Taipei’s Li Yu-Jhun (11-6, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7).
Disappointment for Hong Kong
The host association’s Mak Tze Wing Chau Wing Sze both experienced second women’s singles preliminary round defeats.
Chau Wing Sze was beaten by Russia’s Yana Noskova (11-9, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9); Mak Tze Wing lost to Korea Republic’s Kim Hayeong (11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 13-11). The name of Kim Hayeong may not be familiar, as Li Yiran she was a member of the Chinese junior team
Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour, Hang Seng Hong Kong Open: Qualification Schedule – Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th May
Double trouble for Japan, can two lefts make everything right?
They were beaten in the first preliminary round of the men’s doubles event by Russia’s Alexey Liventsov and Mikhail Paikov, they suffered in four games (11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6).
Make no mistake, the Russian pair is one of quality, most notably they reached the semi-final stage of the men’s doubles event the 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Bangkok.
However, the current focus for all coaches is the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; playing on home soil, Japan will want to match the men’s team achievement of Rio de Janeiro when they ended proceedings the silver medallists. However, with the emerge in the past four years of Tomokazu Harimoto does that present a team selection problem?
In Rio de Janeiro the team comprised Jun Mizutani, Koki Niwa and Maharu Yoshimura. The selection was straightforward, Jun Mizutani being left handed like Koki Niwa, either could partner the right handed Maharu Yoshimura in the doubles. Always Koki Niwa allied with Maharu Yoshimura, Jun Mizutani, the leading name, was always selected for the two singles matches.
Now in Tokyo the doubles in the team event will be the first match and Tomokazu Harimoto is now Japan’s leading name. Judging by results, it would appear that Jun Mizutani and Koki Niwa will line up alongside Tomokazu Harimoto.
The question posed, Tomokazu Harimoto is right handed, a right hander with a left hander is perceived as the best combination; does he play in the doubles with either Jun Mizutani or Koki Niwa and thus only play one singles?
Alternatively do Jun Mizutani and Koki Niwa form the doubles pair? In Hong Kong the partnership of Jun Mizutani and Koki Niwa did not fire but there are thoughts that with the modern day “banana” backhand return of service, forearm high, racket circumnavigating the ball that two left handers together could be most effective.
Prior to banana time, the combination worked for Frenchmen Patrick Chila and Jean-Philippe Gatien, the won men’s doubles bronze at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; can the same combination now work for Jun Mizutani and Koki Niwa? Can two lefts make everything right?
Wellbet announced Official Sponsor of Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Platinum Australian Open
The online gaming company is rapidly becoming one of the most popular online entertainment sites in Asia. Wellbet previously sponsored Italy’s premier football league, Serie A, in 2016-2017 and is currently the official sponsor of Dutch football giant, PSV Eindhoven.
Mark Lu, Director of Communications at Wellbet
Kimberly Koh, Head of Sponsorship at ITTF
This will be the landmark 10th edition of the Australian Open, which belongs to the ITTF World Tour Platinum Series. This is the top tier of six events, offering higher prize money and world ranking points than the six Regular events on the ITTF World Tour, thus attracting the sport’s biggest star players, leading to greater media output and promotional activities.
The 2019 Australian Open will see players compete in Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories, in the quest for points to qualify for the season-ending Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.
Stay tuned for more updates on this year’s Australian Open and the entire 2019 ITTF World Tour journey on ITTF.com as well as the ITTF’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Weibo.
London gold medallist heads Thai challenge in Cancun
Competing in class 6, Rungroj Thainiyom is the most celebrated name amongst the Thai visitors but he is not alone in terms of his country’s quality; in the men’s singles events Yuttajak Glinbanchuen, Anurak Laowong and Wanchai Chaiwut, alongside Maitree Kongruang all compete in the wheelchair classes.
Meanwhile, in addition to Rungroj Thainiyom, Charlermpong Punpoo is also on duty in the standing competitions.
All have enjoyed international success. Last December competing on home soil in Chiang Mai at the 2018 Para Thailand Open Yuttajak Glinbanchuen beat Anurak Laowong in the class 3 final. Likewise earlier this year there was also gold for Wanchai Chaiwut, he won class 4 at the Lignano Masters in northern Italy. Additionally, Maitree Kongruang enjoyed success in 2017 in Taichung, he was a bronze medallist in class 5; not to be upstaged, last year in class 7 at the Asian Para Championships it was silver for Charlermpong Punpoo.
Notable names from Thailand, there are also notable male names from other foreign shores.
Gold medallist in class 7 at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Frenchman Stéphane Messi competes, as does Japan’s Koyo Iwabuchi, the class 9 bronze medallist at the 2018 World Para Championships. Similarly, in class 6 the Chilean names of Matias Pino and Cristian Dettoni appear; at the 2015 Para Pan American Games and at the 2017 Para Pan American Championships, Matias Pino won gold, Cristian Dettoni silver.
A major challenge from abroad, there are also prominent names from the host nation; Edith Sigala and Martha Verdin compete in the women’s singles events, Victor Reyes is on men’s singles duty. Similar to Matias Pino, competing in class 3, Edith Sigala won gold at the 2015 Para Pan American Games, the same at the 2017 Para Pan American Championships.
In a similar vein at the 2017 Para Pan American Championships Martha Verdin secured class 4 gold, Vitor Reyes, class 2 gold.
Overall a total of 77 men and 17 women will compete in Cancun.
2019 Para Copa Christina Hoffmann Open: Draw for individual events (Wednesday 5th June)
Hong Kong highlights: stars names fall short
Close contests were the order of play, on a day when a Grand Finals winner and European champion departed.
Men’s Singles
…………Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, the 2002 Grand Finals winner, was the biggest name to fall; he was beaten in the second preliminary round by Germany’s Qiu Dang (11-6, 15-13, 11-4, 11-8). Qiu Dang maintained his form to beat Frenchmen Can Akkuzu (5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-9).
…………Sweden’s Truls Moregard, only 17 years old, was the player of the day. He beat Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia (11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4) and Romania’s Ovidiu Ionescu (13-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-2, 1-11, 11-7).
…………Surprise winner one year ago, Japan’s Kazuhiro Yoshimura kept his title retention hopes alive; he beat the Czech Republic’s Pavel Sirucek in six games (11-6, 12-10, 2-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-8) to reserve his main draw place.
…………Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar continued his good run of form; he beat another player in form, Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej (11-3, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4, 11-3) to reserve his spot in the next stage.
…………England’s Paul Drinkhall won the match of the day, he beat Japan’s Masataka Morizono in a titanic contest (11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 8-11, 15-13) but there was not to be a place in the main draw. In the concluding preliminary round he was beaten by China’s Zheng Peifeng (11-9, 14-12, 11-7, 12-10).
Women’s Singles
…………The leading names booked main draw places, in the concluding preliminary round Japan’s Miyu Kato beat Luxembourg’s Ni Xia Lian (11-7, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5); Canada’s Zhang Mo accounted for Austria’s Karoline Mischek (11-8, 11-4, 11-6, 11-4).
…………Russia’s Yana Noskova performed the recovery of the day, she fought back from three games to nil in arrears to beat Romania’s Elizabeta Samara, the 2015 European champion (12-14, 9-11, 8-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9).
…………Minnie Soo Wai Yam flew the flag for Hong Kong, she reserved her main draw place courtesy of success against Korea Republic’s Choi Hyojoo (11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9).
…………China’s Mu Zi ended the progress of one of Europe’s brightest hopes, she beat Hungary’s Georgina Pota, the recent winner at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Slovenia Open.
…………Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu ended the hopes of Manika Batra, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion (11-3, 7-11, 11-2, 4-11, 16-11, 11-8).
Men’s Doubles
…………Sweden’s new combination of Kristian Karlsson and Jon Persson maintained their impressive form as a partnership; they booked their main draw places courtesy of success against the more experienced Russian duo of Alexey Liventsov and Mikhail Paikov (9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7).
Women’s Doubles
…………Japan’s teenagers, Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki continued their winning ways; they progressed to the main draw courtesy of success against Romania’s Daniela Monteiro-Dodean and Elizabeta Samara (12-10, 11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 11-4).
Ruaridh McConnochie: Bath winger signs new four-year deal
Former England Sevens winger Ruaridh McConnochie has signed a new four-year contract with Bath.
McConnochie made a seamless switch to the 15-a-side game, scoring four tries in 15 Premiership matches, and made his European Champions Cup bow.
The Lambeth-born back joined the Blue, Black and Whites last summer.
"I've loved being in this city and being in such a great environment at Bath Rugby," McConnochie, 27, told the club website.
"When I joined last summer, my focus was to learn the game and if I got the opportunity it was about making the most of it.
"The experience so far has exceeded my expectations and I'm looking forward to what's to come for us as a club."
New director of rugby Stuart Hooper added: "To have agreed a long-term deal with Ruaridh is a statement of intent from not only the club, but from him too.
"He has been outstanding from the outset, but the exciting part is that there's still so much growth in his game."
Paolo Odogwu: Wasps to sign Sale Sharks winger for 2019-20 season
Wasps are to sign Coventry-born winger Paolo Odogwu from Sale Sharks for the 2019-20 season.
Odogwu, 22, has scored seven tries in 29 first-grade games for the Sharks, having previously come through the Leicester Tigers academy system.
The England Under-20 international is Dai Young's tenth summer signing.
"He has been stuck behind the likes of seasoned internationals in Chris Ashton, Denny Solomona and Marland Yarde," director of rugby Young said.
"At just 22, he needs more game-time. We recognise that he has a lot of potential and has a bit of X-factor about him."
Johnny Sexton does not believe Ireland have peaked a year too early and says they have unfinished business at this year's Rugby World Cup.
The Ireland fly-half says they will go to Japan with a mixture of confidence and fear that will "bode well for us".
Ireland moved up to second in the world rankings after a superb 2018 but then had a lacklustre 2019 Six Nations.
Sexton says the hurt of disappointing World Cup exits in 2011 and 2015 will also spur the players on this autumn.
Fine margins
Under Joe Schmidt, Ireland enjoyed their greatest calendar year in 2018, winning the Grand Slam and a first series win in Australia since 1979.
They saved the best for last, recording a historic first victory over the All Blacks on home soil in November, but took a step backwards by finishing third in this year's Six Nations campaign and losing to both England and Wales.
"I don't think we have peaked," says Sexton.
"I didn't think we'd peaked when we won the Grand Slam and I didn't think we'd peaked when we beat the All Blacks either.
"It's amazing how opinions can change in the space of a couple of months.
"We beat the All Blacks and all the talk was 'nothing's going to stop us winning the World Cup' and then three or four games later, we're the worst team ever and people think we've peaked.
"We've got time together now to really work on things through the summer.
"We'll have some games beforehand to try and find our form and hopefully go to the World Cup knowing that, on our day, we can beat anyone but also have that fear that, on any day, we can lose to anyone as well.
"I think that's a good place to be. You always need that fear factor and that confidence as well.
"We've got a mixture of both and I think that'll bode well for us."
Sexton, the World Rugby Player of the Year, has won every trophy possible in his professional career, except for a World Cup.
The pain of the defeats by Wales in 2011 and Argentina in 2015 - when he was unable to play because of an injury picked up in the previous game against France - still haunt him.
Even this year's Champions Cup final loss to Saracens is something he says will stay with him, and with a World Cup on the line, plus the imminent departures of coach Schmidt and retiring captain Rory Best, Sexton will use past hurt to motivate him as Ireland seek to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
He said: "For everyone that's going it's unfinished business.
"We feel we maybe let it slip at the last World Cup and there's been some regrets from some of the other ones I was at too.
"In 2011 we had that quarter-final against Wales, knowing that if we won that - and we'd beaten Wales a few times - that we could have had France in the semi-final.
"Sitting and watching then [against Argentina in 2015] was very, very tough. You want to be out there with the guys, contributing with them and being in the dressing room afterwards was probably the lowest point, watching the lads suffering and not being part of it.
"So, there's always those regrets.
"That's why we'll be working extremely hard over the summer, to make sure we try and close those small margins in our favour and make sure we come away having done something special."
Ireland's Rugby World Cup fixtures
Sunday, 22 September - Ireland v Scotland
Saturday, 28 September - Japan v Ireland
Thursday, 3 October - Ireland v Russia
Saturday, 12 October - Ireland v Samoa
Rugby Union Weekly: End-of-season awards - Player of season, young star and breakthrough player
Wales won the Grand Slam and ruled the Six Nations. Leinster retained the Pro14 title, but were pushed by Glasgow. And Saracens were crowned champions of Europe and the Premiership for the second time in four seasons.
Another stellar season of rugby union has come to an end, but who deserves the individual awards? Which young players shone and who made an impression?
Just like the players, the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast is going on a summer break.
But before that, England scrum-half Danny Care, former England winger Ugo Monye and rugby union correspondent Chris Jones decide their end-of-season awards.
Player of the season - Liam Williams
Chris Jones: Who was the best player in the northern hemisphere from September to June? I think it's hard to argue with Liam Williams. He's won a few trophies this season and was instrumental in all of them. The play he made on Garry Ringrose - first tackling the Leinster centre and then winning a turnover at the resulting ruck - changed the Champions Cup final, and his try changed the Premiership final.
Danny Care: Yep, I'm going with Liam Williams. He's won the treble this year - Grand Slam, European Champions Cup and the Premiership. He seems to have taken his game to a whole new level. He's unbelievable in the air, a hell of a finisher and reads the game so well in defence.
CJ: But I'd also like to chuck in Jamie George. Liam Williams is hard to top and he's got to be our pod choice, but George scored two tries in the Premiership final and he's got to start at hooker for England at the World Cup.
DC: As a player and a friend of his, we've always known how good Jamie is but this year everybody knows it now. He's one of the best in the world in his position and he's taken his game to new levels. The performances he's putting in in semi-finals and finals sets him apart from other people. He's been world class.
Young player of the season - Damian Penaud
Ugo Monye: I'm chucking Frenchmen Damian Penaud and Romain Ntamack into the mix. Clermont centre Penaud has elevated his game and is looking class at international level. He was superb in the Six Nations on the wing for France and scored a hat-trick in the knockout stage to help Clermont win the European Challenge Cup.
DC: What I love about Penaud is his raw pace, you won't find many faster in a straight-line 100m race. He reminds me a lot of England's Jonny May springing around the pitch and finding himself on the end of tries. He's ghosted past so many quality defenders this year, he's strong and powerful and knows where the try-line is. From a Premiership point of view, Gloucester wing Ollie Thorley has had a great year and what about Northampton centre Rory Hutchinson?
UM: Oh my gosh, I have a man crush on Rory Hutchinson. He is phenomenal, he's so silky and he does everything so well. He makes it all look so simple. But I'm sticking with Penaud.
Breakthrough player of the season - Alex Dombrandt
CJ: I know we mentioned him for young player, but Hutchinson is the breakthrough for me. He feels like the ideal representation of the new Northampton. A classic break-making centre, his incision against Exeter in the final round showed what Saints are all about under Chris Boyd. His breakthrough year could well lead to Japan.
UM: I'm going to say Wales and Worcester winger Josh Adams. He played last year and was brilliant, went on the summer tour for Wales but for me, during the Six Nations this year, there wasn't a better winger.
DC: It has to be Harlequins back row Alex Dombrandt. You can't be playing university rugby last season and then come and do what he does in the Premiership and not be breakthrough player of the season.
He was also carving up the Barbarians like they weren't even there at the weekend. From day one of pre-season I said to the coaches: 'This lad has got it all'. He reads the game so well, hits incredible lines and really reminds me of Nick Easter, who was probably the best player I've played alongside.
UM: Yep, from university to playing for England. And he got man of the match. Ridiculous. He has to be our breakthrough player and is an inspiration to others. This World Cup may come too soon for him but he will be alongside many other young England players targeting 2023.
Rugby Union Weekly podcast of the season
CJ: Inside the Wales camp, during the autumn internationals. They gave us unique and unprecedented access. We went everywhere, including the cryotheraphy chamber with Alun Wyn Jones, and even had lunch in the team room.
UM: I enjoyed Johnny Sexton coming on for 45 minutes after he lost his voice at the World Rugby Awards. That was fascinating. But also England and Saracens prop Hannah Botterman was hilarious, and Emily Scarratt and Mo Hunt are an incredible double act.
DC: Guest of the season... Ken Owens. After Wales won the Grand Slam, he picked up a withheld number after not going to bed and came on the podcast from a taxi to talk to us.
Editor’s Note: Holley Hollan, 17, is a rookie in the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midget Series. Beginning June 5 through June 10, Hollan will be sharing her experiences with SPEED SPORT readers while competing during Indiana Midget Week.
Hollan drives the No. 67k Toyota-powered midget for Keith Kunz Motorsports. Below is her first diary entry, recapping Tuesday night’s opener at Montpelier Motor Speedway in Montpelier, Ind.
While her first diary will be free to the public, the remainder of the series will be available to SPEED SPORT premium subscribers only. You can subscribe to become a premium member of SPEEDSPORT.com today for just $19.95/year by clicking here.
MONTPELIER, Ind. – For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Holley Hollan. I’m 17 years old and I’ve been racing since I was five, so I’ve been running micros for the past 12 years, really.
It’s definitely been a ride to get to this point. Last year was actually my first time racing a midget, and now this season I’m running full time for Keith Kunz Motorsports in USAC and POWRi and representing one of the biggest teams in the sport. It’s a really cool feeling.
RELATED: Patient Seavey Rules Indiana Midget Week Opener
This is actually my first Indiana Midget Week; all of this is new to me this year, because I’ve been in school up to this point, but graduated high school recently after finishing up a year early. Because of that, this is my first time at all of the tracks we’re racing this week, with the exception of Kokomo.
Our night Tuesday night in the opener at Montpelier (Motor Speedway) actually started out pretty well. We qualified seventh in flight one, two tenths off the fastest time in our group, but from there the track just went away and no moisture came about. With those conditions, we really struggled from then on.
The more the track went away, it seemed like we went away, too. We finished sixth in our heat, two spots out of transferring to the feature, and just got stuck in traffic in the B-main and finished 12th.
I think that adapting as the track changes is something that I do need to learn, being a rookie, particularly with throttle control as the track gets slick. When it was faster on the top, though, we were there.
For Tuesday being my first time at Montpelier, even though we didn’t make the feature, I’m decently happy with how we did. We showed speed in qualifying and my teammate, Logan Seavey, won the main and I think we’re right there and can make some noise as we keep learning.
To know that as a team, we won the first night of Indiana Midget Week with Logan and that our cars finished first and second, it’s reassuring and pushes you to your limits as a driver because you know what the equipment is capable of and you want to get that maximum out of your car each night as well.
We’re disappointed with our results on the No. 67k, but you have to have nights like we did at Montpelier to appreciate the good ones when the come along. I’m looking forward to the rest of the week and glad we’re not ending on this note.
Hopefully we can gain some momentum from here!
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