Cheng I-Ching injured, Chen Meng and Shan Xiaona progress

Integral to German success in the Women’s Team event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games; on the morning of Saturday 25th February, Shan Xiaona duly reserved her place in the Women’s Singles semi-finals at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open in Doha.

She emerged successful in her round of last eight contest against Natalia Partyka (14-12, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8).

The success came after Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, the no.4 seed, had been forced to withdraw from proceedings, a swollen left ankle being the problem; thus China’s Chen Meng, the no.9 seed, who had arrived in the hall some 90 minutes prior to the scheduled contest in order to practise, received a walk-over.

However, Chen Meng was not Cheng I-Ching’s favourite adversary; they had met twice before in World ranking events, Chen Meng had won on both occasions. She had prevailed at the 2013 East Asian Games and at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Japan Open.

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“I have an injury, my left ankle is swollen, so I cannot move, I must withdraw”, Cheng I-Ching

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Conversely, it was the first time on the international scene that Shan Xiaona and Natalia Partyka had confronted each other. World ranking suggested that Shan Xiaona started the clear favourite, she was listed at no.22 and the no.16 seed in Doha, Natalia Partyka was named at no.78 and had been required to compete in the two day qualification tournament.

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