2015 ITTF Austrian Open
Disappointment for Host Nation, Liu Jia Beaten in Opening Round
Courtesy of ITTF

Successful in Baku earlier in the year when she had retained her title at the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 Europe Top 16 tournament, the host nation’s Liu Jia was beaten in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Austrian Open in Wels on Friday September 4th.

The no.9 seed, she suffered a six games defeat at the hands of Thailand’s Nanthana Komwong (11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10), in what was only their second ever meeting on the international status.

Furthermore, it was very much a replica of their first.

They met in 2003 in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event at the Japan Open; on that occasion Nanthana Komwong had won in four straight games.

Early Exit in Olomouc
It is the second consecutive week that Liu Jia has suffered an unexpected early exit on the ITTF World Tour against a player who has been require to negotiate the qualification stage of procedures.

The no.9 seed in Olomouc, the same as in Wels, she was beaten in the second round by the Russian defender, Polina Mikhailova.

Sofia Polcanova Remains
Defeat for Liu Jia means that only one Austrian player remains and she almost came to grief.

Sofia Polcanova who had celebrated her 21st birthday one day earlier and occupied the no.23 seeded position in the draw, needed the full seven games to overcome Japan’s Shiho Ono (11-5, 8-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8).

Seeds Prevail
No place in the second round of the Women’s Singles event for Liu Jia but she was the only seed to fall, as matters advanced in the lower half of the draw; layers who had received a direct entry to the second stage, imposed their authority on proceedings.

Japan’s Ai Fukuhara, the no.2 seed and the winner last week in Olomouc, accounted for the Czech Republic’s Katerina Tomanovska (11-4, 11-5, 11-3, 11-4).

Likewise there were no great problems for Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, the no,3 seed, nor the German duo of Han Ying and Shan Xiaona, the respective fifth and eighth seeds.

Feng Tianwei accounted for Polina Mikhailova (11-7, 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6), Han Ying proved too secure in defense for Japan’s Haruka Sakai (12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9); whilst Shan Xiaona ended the hopes of Hong Kong teenager, Minnie Soo Wai Yam (11-8, 12-10, 11-7, 11-7).