Future for Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun in Balance After Opening Day
By: Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
It was not the best of days for Hong Kong at the Volkswagen Women's World Cup in Huangshi on the opening day of play, Friday 21st September 2012.
Both Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun suffered defeats. Tie Yana was beaten by Austria's Liu Jia (11-9, 11-9, 11-1, 7-11, 11-6); whilst Jiang Huajun lost to Singapore's Feng Tianwei (12-10, 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-6).
Neither player reached the level of which they are capable, a fact of which Li Huifen, Head Coach for the Women's Team was well aware.
Watch interview with Li Huifen on itTV.
Close Games Lost
On another day, matters might have been very different had vital points gone the way of Hong Kong and not against; four of the games lost were by the minimal two point margin, none was won by that margin.
Quarter-Finalists
Equally one wonders how difficult life will be now for the two players to qualify for the quarter-final stage, stage with both have reached on a regular basis.
In five previous outings, Jiang Huajun has reached the round of the last eight on four occasions; whilst in ten previous appearances Tie Yana has only not reached the quarter-finals on one occasion.
Left Handers
Tie Yana faces Spain Shen Yanfei and Sweden's Matilda Ekholm in her two remaining group stage matches both, like Liu Jia, both are left handers and Li Huifen was not of the opinion that such players necessarily suited Tie Yana.
Although one could surely argue the converse; a major strength of Tie Yana is her flowing backhand top spin stroke; that side of the racket is her strength and of course the left handers natural forehand across the diagonal is directed towards the Tie Yana backhand.
Higher Level
Both are clear of their colleagues in the Hong Kong Women Team but neither is getting any younger.
Tie Yana is 33 years old and Jiang Huajun is approaching her 28th birthday.
Impressive Group Emerging
Furthermore, there are some impressive young players emerging.
After the top four places at the Asian Championships in Macau earlier this year in February had been settled; the trio formed by Lee Ho Ching, Ng Wing Nam and Lee Kwok See guided Hong Kong to fifth place.
Equally on the ITTF Junior Circuit the names of Li Ching Wan, Doo Hoi Kem and Lan Ye Lok all appear in the top 20 of the ITTF Junior Circuit Girls� Standings.
ITTF Junior Circuit Finals
Undoubtedly Li Ching Wan and Doo Hoi Kem have a definite chance of qualifying for the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in Guatemala in January 2013.
Two players from Hong Kong in the Girls� Singles event in Guatemala is a distinct possibly.
Two players from Hong Kong in the quarter-finals of the Volkswagen Women World Cup in Huangshi; that lies in the balance.
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Li Huifen, never downhearted Photo By: Hou Huafang |
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