Archana stays in hunt as top seeds win
The top four seeds, Harimato Tomokazu of Japan, and Chinese Taipei’s YunJu Lin Wang Chuqin (China) and Cho Daeseong of Korea in the boys section and Miu Harano (Japan), Yingsha Sun (China), Jinnipa Sawettabut (Thailand) and Pei-Ling Su (Teipei) in the girls lined up qualifying slots in second round action in the ITTF continental qualifications for Asia at the Gautam Buddha University hall at Greater Noida on Saturday.
The last round match would be key for qualifying hopes with the top two in each group clashing for what can be termed as the finals for the lone spot in each group of the boys and girls sections.
All the favourites won on the day by 4-0 margins, except YunJu, the left-hander taken some distance by Hong Kong’s Maurice Kai Ning Chong before winning 4-2.
Similarly, only the fourth group match between Pei-Ling Su of Taipei and Mahshid Ashtari of Iran in girls’ was stretched when Su dropped a game.
India’s Manav Thakkar, second in Group 3 in the second stage draw, quickly adjusted against Jordan’s Khaled Khader for a 4-0 verdict. He now meets Wang, the no. 3 seed in a match to decide who among the two will first book their ticket to Buenos Aires.
Archana, in Group 3 behind fourth seed Pei-Ling Su of Taipei, easily beat Iran’s Mahshid 4-0 and now will hope to put it across the Taipei girl. In fact, of the two Indians, Archana stands a better chance of making the qualification cut as she is head-to-head with Pei-Ling in ITTF competitions.