Second place in the first stage group as a result of a surprise defeat by Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing returned to form in the first round of the Girls’ Singles event at the 2013 ITTF Cadet Challenge in the Slovenian city of Otocec on Saturday 2^nd November.

The no.6 seed, the 15 year old, beat Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.7 seed, to book her place in the second round of proceedings.

Impressively, Mak Tze Wing recorded a five games success (14-12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-4).

Doubted Victory
"I am very happy, before the match I thought I couldn't win because she is very strong”, reflected Mak Tze Wing. “Going into the match my coach asked me to be more active and not passive; to win I used a lot forehand top spins as Adriana's backhand is so good."

Certainly 13 year Adriana Diaz is an outstanding prospect; the fact she had beaten China’s Li Yiran, the winner of the Cadet Girls’ Singles title in early September at the Asian Junior Championships was very much in the mind of Mak Tze Wing.

"Adriana is going to be very good because in the team event she beat the Chinese player”, added Mak Tze Wing. “It shows she will be a great player."

Brazilian Success Continues
No doubt Mak Tze Wing’s assessment is correct and it is most certainly good news for Latin America that a player of such potential is now to be seen; equally another from that continent continues to impress in Otocec.

Bruna Takahashi, the victor over Mak Tze Wing in the first stage of proceedings, maintained her good form to book her place in the quarter-finals.

In the opening round she accounted for Amy Wang of the United States (11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5).

Favourites Prevail
The no.11 seed, the 13 year old Brazilian, who is a member of the World Hopes Team in Otocec, is the only surprise Girls’ Singles quarter-finalist.

Japan’s Mima Ito, the top seed, beat Belgium’s Lisa Lung in her first round match (11-6, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6), whilst Russia’s Maria Malanina, the no.4 seed, defeated Brazil’s Leticia Nakada (9-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4) and Korea’s Kim Jiho, the no.4 seed, ousted Sweden’s Christina Kallberg (11-4, 13-15, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8).

Similarly, Romania’s Adina Diaconu, the no.3 seed, beat Canada’s Cherry Zheng (11-5, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4); England’s Ho Tin Tin, the no.8 seed, overcame Angela Guan of the United States (16-14, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7) and China’s Li Yiran, the no.2 seed, ended the aspirations of Egypt’s Amira Yousry (11-3, 11-6, 11-3, 11-2).

Quarter-Finals
At the quarter-final stage in the top half of the draw Mima Ito meets Bruna Takahashi and Maria Malanina faces Kim Jiho. In the lower half Adina Diaconu confronts Mak Tze Wing, Ho Tin Tin crosses swords with Li Yiran.

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall

Photo by: Courtesy of Slovenian Table Tennis Association