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A quarter-finalist on three occasions but never beyond that stage, having reached the last eight in 2006 in Brazil and Serbia, more recently in 2014 in Russia; Carole Grundisch of France was in form in Bremen on the late afternoon of Thursday 19th March.
She caused what was arguably the biggest upset, in the concluding qualification round of the Women’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 German Open.
Listed at no.99 on the current Women’s World Rankings, she beat Hong Kong’s Jiang Huajun, named at no.30. Carole Grundisch won in six games (11-3, 12-10, 8-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-5).
Also, there was defeat for Jiang Huajun’s compatriot, Tie Yana.
She was beaten by China’s Li Jiayuan, a player with no World Ranking who one round earlier had ousted Germany’s Wu Jiaduo, the second highest rated player in the initial stage of proceedings.
Presently named at no.42 on the Women’s World Rankings, Tie Yana was beaten in five games by the 18 year old (11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7).
Conversely for Hong Kong; Doo Hoi Kem, the fourth highest World ranked player on first phase duty, beat Japan’s Hina Hayata in four straight games (11-7, 11-4, 11-9, 11-3).
The results suggest that there is a changing of the guard in Hong Kong. Jiang Huajun, who between July 2007 and July 2010 reached no.7 in ten publications of the Women’s World Rankings, is 30 years old. Tie Yana who acceded to no.3 in July 2006 is now a proud 35 year old mother.
One week ago at the GAC Group 28th Asian Cup, Doo Hoi Kem impressed to reach the last eight, whilst in Germany, 16 year old Minnie Soo Wai Yam has caught the eye.
An opening round win against Poland’s Katarzyna Grzybowska (3-11, 11-7, 13-11, 1-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8), followed by a close six games defeat against the host nation’s Kristin Silbereisen (11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8) was a most creditable performance.
Add Lee Ho Ching, the no.10 seed in the Women’s Singles event in Bremen and you have the Hong Kong Women’s Team post Rio 2016 Olympic Games?
Article by: Ian Marshall
Photo By: Ireneusz Stosik
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