Carl AHLANDER JOHANSSON inflicted the pain in the heart of host nation supporters. He was the man who caused the biggest first round Menโs Singles upset at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series. Swedenโs play,
Carl AHLANDER JOHANSSON inflicted the pain in the heart of host nation supporters. He was the man who caused the biggest first round Menโs Singles upset at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series.
Swedenโs player; the 17 year old ousted the host nationโs more experienced 38 year old Vitaly NEKHVEDOVICH, the no.9 seed. Furthermore, the Swedish teenager succeeded in four straight games (11:8, 11:4, 11:8, 11:9). It was a most impressive performance by the teenager, who earlier this year reached the quarter-final stage of the Junior Boysโ Singles event at the Swedish Junior and Cadet Open.
Vadim YARASHENKA, 17 years old, listed at no.871 on the current Menโs World Rankings, beat Japanโs Asuka SAKAI, named at no.191 and the no.12 seed in Minsk; furthermore, like Carl AHLANDER-JOHANSSON, he succeeded in four straight games (13:11, 11:6, 11:8, 11:7).
Meanwhile, for the elite names, there were no great problems in the opening round of proceedings. Italyโs Mihai BOBOCICA, the no.2 seed, ousted Scotlandโs Craig HOWIESON (11:4, 11:3, 11:9, 12:10); whilst Abdel Kader SALIFOU of France, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Japanโs Tomo MIYAZAKI (9:11, 7:11, 11:7, 11:9, 11:6, 11:3).
In Womenโs Singles Event top seed Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia prevailed against Stephanie LOEUILLETTE of France (12:14, 9:11, 12:10, 11:6, 11:5, 11:9) to reach Round of 16, whilst Anmaria ERDELJI of Serbia beat Russiaโs Daria CHERNOVA (11:8, 6:11, 6:11, 7:11, 9:11).
