|
The entry in the Women’s Singles event at the ITTF 2013 World Tour Kuwait Open which starts on Thursday 14th February is quite prodigious.
China’s Ding Ning, the reigning World champion is the top seed. Next on the list is Liu Shiwen, the winner of the Volkswagen Women’s World Cup in 2012 and later in the same year, the winner of the Women’s Singles title at the GAC Group ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.
Two prodigious opponents and then to complete the top trio is their Chinese National Team compatriot, Li Xiaoxia; gold medallist in both the Women’s Singles and Women’s Team event at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
It could hardly be more daunting, is it remotely possible that a player outside that illustrious trio could arrest the Women’s Singles title?
Long odds perhaps but it can be done; just ask Jiang Huajun and follow her example.
In February 2006, she won the Women’s Singles title at the Salwa Cup Kuwait Open; furthermore, she beat the elite names of China to arrest the title.
However, when proceedings start; you would not have risked one dinar on Jiang Huajun!
Not one Colombian peso! In her opening match she recovered from a three games to two deficit to beat Hungary’s Petra Lovas by the very narrowest of margins in the deciding seventh game (9-11, 11-9, 14-12, 10-12, 8-11, 11-2, 12-10)!
After that you might have been tempted to risk the odd dollar; win a close match and confidence blossoms is a well-worn phrase. Never was it more true!
The next round was much easier; she beat China’s Zhang Yining, the reigning Olympic and World champion in six games (11-4, 11-6, 14-12, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4). No dramatic seventh game needed!
A quarter-final place booked, she overcame Italy’s Tan Wenling in four straight games (11-4, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3), before ending the hopes of China’s Guo Yan in the penultimate round in seven games (7-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10, 11-3).
One year earlier in 2005, Guo Yan had been the runner up to Zhang Yining at the Volkswagen World Championships in Shanghai.
Semi-final success; more confident by the round, Jiang Huajun faced Guo Yue, the player who the following year was destined to win the Women’s Singles title at the Liebherr World Championships in Zagreb.
Jiang Huajun beat Guo Yue in six games (11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-3).
In 2006, Jiang Huajun was the no.16 seed in the Women’s Singles event; in 2013 she is the no.13 seed, unlucky for some?
Perhaps for her illustrious adversaries?
Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
|
)
