Young Chinese On Song – Day 3: DAIHATSU YONEX Japan Open 2018
China’s young Women’s Singles shuttlers stole the show at the DAIHATSU YONEX Japan Open today as they took down two top contenders.
· DEV SUKUMAR
Top seed Tai Tzu Ying felt the heat in the very first match of the day, the Asian Games champion
suffering only her fourth defeat this year as she ran into Chen Xiaoxin (featured image). Third seed Pusarla V Sindhu (India) followed her out of the competition, outplayed by another young Chinese, Gao Fangjie.
Tai was undone by inconsistent play that haunted her all through the 40-minute encounter: 21-18 21-14. The World No.1 looked to have settled in with a 12-8 lead in the opening game, but allowed Chen to catch up, with her usually deft placements going wide off the lines. Tai was unable to capitalise on an 18-16 lead and Chen was alert enough to convert the half-chances that came her way. A weak net shot by Tai gave her opponent game point, which she converted at the first opportunity.