Hard work of that fact there was no doubt but Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching emerged successful in the first round of the Women’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour China Open on Friday 6^th June; a round in which all 16 seeds emerged successful and all 16 qualifiers bid farewell.

Doo Hoi Kem, the no.15 seed, accounted for Austria’s Amelie Solja (3-11, 4-11, 11-2, 11-9, 12-14, 11-6, 11-8), before Lee Ho Ching, the no.10 seed, overcame Germany’s Wu Jiaduo (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-13, 7-11, 11-3).

Both contests were not only a test of technical and athletic ability; they were also a test of mental resolve, both passed the examination presented.

“I beat her four-nil the last time I played her, I was too relaxed this time which made me struggle”, said Doo Hoi Kem. “I lost my under 21 match this morning; this messed with my head a little, so I was not in the right frame of mind and was not prepared for the match.”

Earlier in the day in the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, Doo Hoi Kem, the no.2 seed, had suffered a somewhat surprise defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu, the no.5 seed (7-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-6,11-7).

Furthermore, even though Doo Hoi Kem had enjoyed previous success against Amelie Solja, she has experienced problems against players of a smilar ilk to the Austria.

In the opening round of the Girls’ Singles event at the 2012 World Junior Championships in the Indian city of Hyderabad, Doo Hoi Kem had been beaten by the host nation’s Ayhika Mukherjee, a player who like Amelie Solja, stays close to the table and uses a combination racket of long pimples and anti-spin rubber to successful effect.

Now, some 18 months later in Chengdu, Doo Hoi Kem, now 17 years old, afforded a much more mature performance.

“I am not able to practise against players like Amelie, so it took me awhile to work her out during the match”, concluded Doo Hoi Kem. “Next match I will face Li Xiaoxia, it will be an honour to player against her, I hope I can win a game!”

If you can win one, you can win four! Believe in yourself Doo Hoi Kem! The ball is round! In the opening round, Li Xiaoxia, the no.3 seed, beat Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Hsien-Tu (12-10, 13-11, 11-5, 11-2).

A hard fought win and it was the same for Lee Ching against Wu Jiaduo.

“I expected it to be very difficult because after the World Championships I did not concentrate so well in training; I felt that the most important match of the year was over”, said Lee Ho Ching.

However, any lapses in focus in the next round could well prove terminal for Lee Ho Ching.

“I need to concentrate more in my next match to have a chance; I play Chen Meng, l I have no pressure going into the match which helps me”, added the 21 year old Hong Kong star. “I have I play more relaxed to win, the fans will be on her side so I need to block them out.”

Chen Meng, the no.4 seed, like Li Xiaoxia, enjoyed a comfortable opening round success; she overcame Japan’s Miu Hirano in four straight games (11-5, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9).

The third round and quarter-finals of the Women’s Singles event will be played on Saturday 7^th July.

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall