12 April 2013
　

Iranian Continues Outstanding Run of Form, Seo Hyundeok Next to Suffer
　

The perpetrators of shocks in the opening series of matches in the Men’s event at the GAC Asian Cup on Hong Kong, Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan and Japan’s Yuto Muramatsu, continued to steal the show in the second series of contests.

Later in the day, on the afternoon of Friday 12^th April 2013, they continued to be the focus of attention.

However, it was mixed fortunes.

Noshad Alamiyan Excelled

Noshad Alamiyan excelled to beat Korea’s Seo Hyundeok, he recorded a straight games win (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7) but for Yuto Muramatsu it was a narrow defeat against DPR Korea’s Kim Hyok Bong; he was beaten in seven games (8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 11-2).

The win recorded by Noshad Alamiyan was another outstanding performance from the 21 year old Iranian against a player who earlier in the day had led Xu Xin, the top seed, by three games to two before eventually suffering defeat.

First Attack Crucial

“Today my service and first attack was very effective”, said Noshad Alamiyan who stands at no.63 on the Men’s World Ranking list as opposed to Seo Hyondeok who is at no.47.

“All the time when he was serving I tried to look closely at the spin he was putting on the ball”, continued Noshad Alamiyan. “Once he could follow his service with a forehand top spin it was very difficult; his forehand is very strong but by returning the service short and sometimes top spinning the service I was able to stop him continually playing his forehand on the first attack.”

Xu Xin Unbeaten

Success for Noshad Alamiyan meant that at the conclusion of the second series of matches he was one of two players unbeaten in the group, the other being China’s Xu Xin, the top seed.

He maintained his unbeaten run by overcoming Hong Kong’s Tang Peng in five games (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7).

The wins recorded by Xu Xin and Noshad Alamiyan meant both are guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals; however, Yuto Muramatsu and Kim Hyok Bong that is not the scenario.

One Win Each

All four players in the group have one win each.

Yan An, having lost to Yuto Muramatsu in his opening encounter in five games (15-13, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9), recovered to cause an upset by beating Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan by a similar margin to the defeat he suffered (4-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5).

Earlier Chuang Chih-Yuan had overcome Kim Hyok Bong also in a four games duel (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6).

The door is wide open.

Jiang Tianyi Retains Unbeaten Record

Defeat Chuang Chih-Yuan and there was a second defeat for Chinese Taipei; Chen Chien-An suffered defeat against the host association’s Jiang Tianyi in five games (11-13, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4).

The win means Jiang Tianyi retained his unbeaten record with Yang Zi moving into second place alongside Chen Chien-An.

Saved Match Point

Focused, the Singaporean saved one match point at 9-10 in the decisive seventh game against Korea’s Jung Youngsik to record a thrilling full distance victory (4-11, 12-14, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 13-11); earlier in the day he had experienced a five games defeat against Chen Chien-An (11-9, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7).

A second defeat of the day for Jung Youngsik and the second in seven games; in his opening contest he was beaten by Jiang Tianyi in a full distance duel (11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7).

Sharath Kamal Achanta Makes Fine Start

Meanwhile in the group involving South Asia, South East Asia and West Asia it was success for India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta on his first visit to the table; he beat Iran’s Nima Alamian in five games (11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6).

Quarter-Final Qualification

Players finishing in first and second places in Group A, Group B and Group C, automatically qualify for the quarter-finals; players finishing in third place plus the winner of Group D (regional group) compete in a play-off match for the two remaining places.

Originally, as in previous years, the play-off matches concluded proceedings on the opening day of play.

Play-Off Matches on Second Day

However, in Hong Kong the play-off matches in both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events will be held on the second day of action, Saturday 13^th April, starting at 10.00am.

Following the conclusion of the play-off matches, the quarter-final draw will be made.

Men’s First Stage

Group A

Xu Xin (CHN) bt Seo Hyundeok (KOR) 6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6

Noshad Alamiyan (IRI) bt Tang Peng (HKG) 11-5, 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-4

Xu Xin (CHN) bt Tang Peng (HKG) 11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7

Noshad Alamiyan (IRI) bt Seo Hyundeok (KOR) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7

Group B

Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) bt Kim Hyok Bong (HKG) 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6

Yuto Muramatsu (JPN) bt Yan An (CHN) 15-13, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9

Yan (CHN) bt Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) 4-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5

Kim Hyok Bong (PRK) bt Yuto Muramatsu (JPN) 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 11-2

Group C

Jiang Tianyi (HKG) bt Jung Youngsik (KOR) 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-7

Chen Chien-An (TPE) bt Yang Zi (SIN) 11-9, 3-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7

Jiang Tianyi (HKG) bt Chen Chien-An (TPE) 11-13, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4

Group D

Tran Tuan Quynh (VIE) bt Nima Alamian (IRI) 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7

Sharath Kamal Achanta (IND) bt Nima Alamian (IRI) 11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6

Article by: Ian Marshall