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Hong Kong’s Guan Mengyuan came of age at the Asian Championships in Busan, Korea on the evening of Monday 1st July 2013.
She beat Isabelle Siyun Li in what proved to be the vital duel in the Women’s Team semi-final fixture between Hong Kong and Singapore; a contest that ended with success for Hong Kong in a full distance five match affair.
Jiang Huajun remains but the names of Tie Yana, Zhang Rui, Lin Ling and Lau Sui Fei no longer appear in Hong Kong colours; success depends on young shoulders, on the shoulders of 20 year old Lee Ho Ching and 21 year old Guan Mengyuan.
Against Singapore both delivered with Guan Mengyuan the pivotal player.
Jiang Huajun gave Hong Kong the early lead by beating Yu Mengyu in four games (11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9); immediately Singapore retaliated.
Feng Tianwei accounted for Lee Ho Ching, likewise in four games (11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 11-5).
Next into the arena came Guan Mengyuan and Isabelle Siyun Li, both players in the process of graduation from being aspiring junior to established senior of note.
Guan Mengyuan captured the first game but the next two went to the defensive skills of Isabelle Siyun Li, who appeared to be taking charge of matters when leading 6-4 in the fourth game.
Li Ching, the former Hong Kong international and now the Coach of the Women’s Team in Busan, called “Time Out”.
Guang Mengyuan recovered to lead 9-8; the moment at which the Expedite Rule was invoked; the balance had swayed in favour Hong Kong. Guan Mengyuan eventually succeeded in five games (11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7).
Immediately Singapore responded, Feng Tianwei beat Jiang Huajun in three straight games (12-10, 11-8, 11-4), leaving Lee Ho Ching with the task of being the heroine.
She duly obliged, she overcame Yu Mengyu in four games (11-3, 12-10, 6-11, 11-3) to secure a place in the final for Hong Kong.
Awaiting Hong Kong in the gold medal contest is the mighty China; represented by Ding Ning, Liu Shiwen and Zhu Yuling, they overcame the Japanese trio of Ai Fukuhara, Kasumi Ishikawa and Sayaka Hirano by three matches to nil.
Ding Ning beat Ai Fukuhara (11-8, 11-8, 11-5), Liu Shiwen ovrercame Kasumi Ishikawa (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-2) with Zhu Yuling bringing matters to a close by overcoming, Sayaka Hirano (11-6, 11-2, 11-5).
Success for China but the evening belonged to Hong Kong, especially to Guan Mengyuan, the graduate.
The final will be played on Tuesday 2nd July 2013.
Article By: ITTF - Ian Marshall
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