Lee Ho Ching and Ng Wing Nam lived life on the proverbial knife-edge at the ITTF 2013 World Tour Spanish Open, a Euro-Africa Series tournament, on Friday 18^th January.

In the opening round of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, Lee Ho Ching, the top seed, was at the precipice of defeat against Laura Gasnier of France, a player full of confidence. Earlier in the day, the 19 year old had caused a major shock by beating the host nation’s Sara Ramirez, the no.5 seed, in the first round of the Women’s Singles event.

Against Lee Ho Ching, Laura Gasnier started like an express train; she won the first two games and in the third game the two protagonists stood level at 10-all. Lee Ho Ching kept her nerve, she won the next two points; it was the pivotal moment of the contest. Lee Ho Ching won the next two games to book her place in the quarter-finals (7-11, 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4).

A close call for Lee Ho Ching in the Under 21 Women’s Singles event; in the Women’s Singles competition it was Ng Wing Nam who experienced drama.

She succeeded in what was arguably the closest match of the day. Occupying the sixth seeded position in the draw, she overcame Hungary’s Rita Kertai, at 34 years of age a much more experienced adversary, to win a cliff-hanger of a contest. Ng Wing Nam succeeded in seven games (11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 5-11, 12-10).

Two close wins and very good news for Hong Kong’s future; both Lee Ho Ching and Ng Wing Nam are only 20 years old. Both showed a high degree of maturity in Almeria.

Moments of tension on a day when there was a one hundred per cent success rate for Hong Kong.

In the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, Ng Wing Nam, the second seed, beat Sweden’s Daniela Moskovitz in her opening round duel in three straight games (11-8, 11-6, 11-5); whilst in the Women’s Singles competition, both Lee Ho Ching and Jiang Huajun succeeded in style.

Lee Ho Ching, the fourth seed, accounted for Russia’s Maria Bykova in four straight games (11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8); whilst Jang Huajun, the second seed, ended the hopes of Italy’s Lisa Ridolfi by a similarly impressive margin (11-6, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7).

Not to be upstaged by the ladies; in the Men’s Singles event, the lightning fast pen-holder, Wong Chun Ting was on fire.

The ninth seed, he opened his account with a six games win over Sweden’s Harald Andersson (11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5).

Six matches played on the second day in Almeria, six matches won; a perfect day.

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall