Greater Noida, November 5: Single-mindedness and purpose were at the core when the top four seeds completed a clinical job to book their passage to the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires next year.

In the last league match of the second stage at the ITTF 2018 YOG Continental Qualifications for Asia held at the Gautam Buddha University hall here today, Japanese Harimato Tomokazu beat Thailand’s Yanapong Panagitgun 4-1, Taipei’s Yun-Ju Lin downed Jann Mari Nayre of Philippines 4-0, Chinese Chuqin Wang defeated India’s Manav Thakkr (China) 4-0 and Korean Cho Daeseong thwarted Iran’s Amin Ahmadian 4-1 became the first set of boys to seal their places from the continental qualifiers.

They were followed by Japanese Miu Harano, who accounted for Karen Lyne of Malaysia 4-0, Chinese Yingsha Sun, who beat Zauresh Akasheva of Kahazakhstan 4-0, Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut downed Sze Wing Chau of Hong Kong 4-1 and Taipei’s Pei-Ling Su (Teipei) steamrolled India’s Archana Kamath 4-0 in Girls category to join the gang.

(L-R) Chinese Yingsha Sun, Japanese Miu Harano, Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut and Taipei's Pei-Ling Su pose after receiving their mementos indicating their passage to Argentina.

It was as easy as it can get for the top four who played with complete focus and determination which seemed lacking in the two Indians as Manav was overawed by the situation and went down without a fight against the superior Chinese. His usual backhands deserted him as Chinese went about the job methodically to decimate the Indian.

Archana Kamath, on the other hand, was given little leeway by her Taipei opponent Pei-Ling Su, who now has a 2-1 record against the Indian. Archana’s drooping shoulders told the tale of dejection very early in the match as the girl from Karnataka managed mere 24 points in the match which lasted just 23 minutes.

However, both the Indians finished fifth in position matches, enhancing their chances if and when a pull-out takes place. But more than anything else, they also justified YOG seeding given to them here.

The Indians will have now bank on the half a dozen ‘Road to Buenos Aires’ series, a part of the WJC event, which will open the door for their Games entry next year. The international body will identify the championships that will have a separate knockout for qualification purposes on the six day, with one boy and one girl per NOC allowed to take part. 

(L-R) Harimato of Japan, Yun-Ju Lin of Taipei, Cho Daeseong of Korea and Chuqin Wang of China with mementos indicating their passage to Argentina.

Results:

Boys Singles (Stage II):

Group 1: 3rd Round: Harimato Tomokazu (JPN) bt Yanapong Panagitgun (THA) 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-2, 11-9.

Group 2: 3rd Round: Yun-Ju Lin (TPE) bt Jann Mari Nayre (PHI) 11-3, 11-2, 11-4, 11-6.

Group 3: 3rd Round: Chuqin Wang (CHN) bt Manav Thakkar (IND) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8.

Group 4: 3rd Round: Cho Daeseong (KOR) bt Amin Ahmadian (IRI) 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3.

Positions 5-8: Manav Thakkar (IND) bt Yanapong Panagitgun (THA) 11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-1, 11-6; Jann Mari Nayre (PHI) bt Amin Ahmadian (IRI) 11-4, 10-12, 11-5, 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10.

Girls Singles (Stage II):

Group 1: 3rd Round: Miu Hirano (JPN) bt Karen Lyne (MAS) 11-5, 11-4, 11-3, 11-4.

Group 2: 3rd Round:  Yingsha Sun (CHN) bt Zauresh Akasheva (KAZ) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4, 11-2.

Group 3: 3rd Round: Jinnipa Sawettabut (THA) bt Sze Wing Chaua (HKG) 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5.

Group 4: 3rd Round: Pei-Ling Su (TPE) bt Archana Kamath (IND) 11-7, 11-8, 11-3, 11-6.

Positions 5-8: Archana Kamath (IND) bt Sze Wing Chaua (HKG) 12-14, 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4; Lee Daeun (KOR) bt Kamila Khalikova (UZB) 11-5, 11-3, 10-12, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7.