The first two days at the $1,000,000 GAC GROUP 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals had been littered with disappointments for Hong Kong; however, on the third day of action, Saturday 8th December, it was better news.

Good news for Hong Kong but it meant bad news for the home town girl.

Now representing Germany, Wu Jiaduo, who partnered Kristin Silbereisen, hails from Hangzhou, the city where the tournament is being staged; against Jiang Huajun and Lee Ho Ching the duo suffered a straight games defeat (12-10, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9).

Pleased Playing at Home
 “I was born in Hangzhou”, reflected Wu Jiaduo. “I was pleased to play in front of my home crowd but today I did not play that well; Kristin only flew in from Germany yesterday so everything was a little rushed.”

Chance to Play in Super League
Nevertheless, Wu Jiaduo was pleased to be on home soil and would welcome the chance to return.

“Certainly I would like to return to play in the Chinese Super League”, continued Wu Jiaduo. “When I left China the Super League did not exist and Germany had the best league in the world; to come back and play in front of my home crowd that would be special.”

Back to Winning Ways
Defeat for Wu Jiaduo but after a somewhat disappointing Under 21 Women’s Singles event it was back to winning ways for Lee Ho Ching, as it was for Jiang Huajun who had departed in the first round of the Women’s Singles event beaten by Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm.

Singles disappointment but youth and experience combined to produce doubles success and Lee Ho Ching certainly valued being able to partner a player of stature.

Matured
 “I feel I have matured as a result of the London Olympic Games”, said Lee Ho Ching. “Unquestionably, it is good to partner a senior team mate; she’s my elder sister, Jiang Huajun encourages me and is a positive influence.”

The win recorded by Jiang Huajun and Lee Ho Ching was as seeding predicted; they were the no.3 seeds as opposed to the German duo who occupied the no.7 seeded place in the draw.

Top Seeds Depart
However, according to seeding there was one upset.

Singapore’s Feng Tianwei and Yu Mengyu, who only gained their place in the Women’s Doubles event following the withdrawal of Romania’s Daniela Dodean and Elizabeta Samara owing to an injury sustained by Daniela Dodean, ousted the Japanese top seeded partnership of Hiroko Fujii and Misako Wakamiya in six games (11-2, 10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9).

Seeded Order Prevailed
An upset according to statistics but not in the remaining two Women’s Doubles quarter-final matches where Lee Eunhee and Park Youngsook, the no.4 seeds, emerged successful as did Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching and Huang Yi-Hua, the no.2 seeds.

The victory recorded by Lee Eunhee and Park Youngsook over their Korean colleagues Kim Kyungah and Park Miyoung, the no.5 seeds, may be considered somewhat of a surprise even though matters went as per seeding.

Olympic Medallists
In addition to a bronze medal in the Women’s Team event at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Kim Kyungah and Park Miyoung won the Women’s Doubles title at the KAL Cup Pro Tour Grand Finals in Seoul in 2010.

Playing Styles
However, if there is one pair they did not wish to meet it was Lee Eunhee and Park Youngsook; both are very able against the defensive style of play and competing in the Korea Companies League have plenty of experience against the defensive style of play.

Left handed Park Youngsook has an extremely powerful fotehand whilst the quick attacking style of the right handed Lee Eunhee who uses short pimples is lethal against defence.

Lee Eunhee and Park Youngsook won in five games (11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3).

Success for Chinese Taipei
Success for Lee Eunhee and Park Youngsook; also for Cheng I-Ching and Huang Yi-Hua; they accounted for Dang Yeseo and Seok Hajung, also from Korea, in six games (13-11, 13-11, 10-12, 12-14, 12-10, 11-5).

At the semi-final stage, Feng Tianwei and Yu Mengyu meet Jiang Huajun and Lee Ho Ching; Lee Eunhee and Park Youngsook confront Cheng I-Ching and Huang Yi-Hua.

Video Interviews
Download video interviews with Wu Jiaduo, Jiang Huajun and Lee Ho Ching

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo by: Zhang Yong