Accepting the challenge with open arms Sloveniaโs Darko JORGIC emerged the man of the moment on Tuesday 27th July at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
In the fourth round of the menโs singles event he caused a major upset.ย
On debut in the prestigious multi-sport event the no.18 seed he accounted for the host nationโs Tomokazu HARIMOTO the no.3 seed (10-12 11-9 11-3 10-12 8-11 11-7 11-7) a player tipped as a medal candidate.
Outstanding form and the end of the road for a host nation player it was the same later in the day. Showing not a hint of charity Germanyโs Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the no.7 seed halted the aspirations of Koki Niwa the no.12 seed (11-4 7-11 11-0 11-7 11-9).
Success for Germany but there was defeat. Timo BOLL the no.8 seed was beaten Jeoung Youngsik the no.10 seed (11-8 7-11 11-7 11-9 11-4). The success for the young man from the Korea Republic being achieved after by the very narrowest of margins in round three he had overcome Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece the no.35 seed (7-11 11-7 8-11 10-12 12-10 11-6 14-12).
A fourth round exit for Timo BOLL it was the same for Portugalโs Marcos Freitas. The no.16 seed he was beaten by Chinaโs FAN Zhendong the top seed (11-6 11-6 11-2 5-11 11-3). Similarly for Frenchman Simon GAUZY; his ambitions were halted by the redoubtable MA Long the no.2 seed (11-6 9-11 11-4 11-7 11-5).
Menโs Singles: Quarter-Finals
- 11.00 Fan Zhendong (CHN) v Jeoung Youngsik (KOR)ย
- 16.00 Darko Jorgic (SLO) v Lin Yun-Ju (TPE)
- 21.00 Hugo Calderano (BRA) v Dimitrij Ovtcharov (GER)
- 20.00 Ma Long (CHN) v Omar Assar (EGY)
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Meanwhile in the womenโs singles event Germanyโs Han Ying the no.12 seed kept the European flag flying.ย
In round three she ousted Australiaโs JIAN Fang Lay the no.58 seed (11-9 11-9 11-7 11-8) before halting the aspirations of Singaporeโs FENG Tianwei the no.6 seed (13-11 11-7 11-9 8-11 11-8) a player she has now beaten in all five international engagements.
Otherwise for the old continent in the womenโs singles fourth round it was farewell.
Britt EERLAND of the Netherlands the no.16 seed was beaten by Hong Kongโs Doo Hoi Kem the no.8 seed (11-13 11-5 11-8 11-9 11-8).
Likewise Austria departed the arena. Sofia POLCANOVA the no.10 seed lost to Japanโs Kasumi ISHIKAWA the no.5 seed (11-8 11-8 12-10 11-9) LIU Jia the no.55 seed who in round three had beaten Puerto Ricoโs Adriana DIAZ the no.9 seed (11-9 11-4 11-9 11-9) departed at the hands of Korea Republicโs JEON Jihee the no.7 seed (11-1 10-12 11-3 11-3 11-4).
Womenโs Singles: Quarter-Finals
- 12.00 Chen Meng (CHN) v Doo Hoi Kem (HKG)ย
- 10.00 Kasumi Ishikawa (JPN) v Yu Mengyu (SGP)
- 15.00 Mima Ito (JPN) v Jeon Jihee (KOR)
- 17.00 Han Ying (GER) v Sun Yingsha (CHN)
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The semi-finals of both the menโs singles and womenโs singles events will be played on Thursday 29th July; in addition the womenโs singles medal matches will be completed.ย
One day later on Friday 30th July the menโs singles medal contests will be staged.
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