Quadri, Assar give way, as top seeds march on

World Number 36, Aruna Quadri, and 21 Egypt’s Omar Assar, were, yesterday, booted out of the ongoing Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup holding in Liège, Belgium.

Featuring in the first game of the Day Two fixtures in the Round of 16, Assar could not withstand the firepower of World Number One, Ma Long, of China, who dismissed him in 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4. The same fate befell Quadri, who succumbed to the experience of World Number Seven, Jun Mizutani, losing 11-6, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7.

Other results include Lee Sangsu of Korea Republic, who was humbled by Koki Niwa of Japan 11-5, 12-11, 8-11, 2-11, 11-6, 11-9, while China’s Lin Gaoyuan, dismissed Portugal’s Marcos Freitas in 11-3, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-five sets.

One-time world number one and Quadri’s victim at the Rio Olympics Game in Brazil, Germany’s Timo Boll got the better of Brazil’s Gustavo Tsuboi in 12-10, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11 outcome, as Jeong Sangeun of Korea Republic lost 9-11, 11-4, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 to French man, Simon Gauzy.

In an upset, world ranked 15, Chuang Chih-Yuan of Chinese Taipei lost to number 16, Russia’s Alexander Shibaev, in 10-12,11-9, 9-11,11-9, 5-11, 5-11 in a match up, while World top two ranked player, Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany showed no mercy to Kou Lei of Ukraine as he won in 11-4, 11-5, 13-11, 10-12, 11-6 to book a place into the quarterfinals.

Speaking after putting aside Assar, Long said: “Everything is very fine in this competition, and I trained hard for it. This first game is a very good start for me and I remain focused on my next matches.

“In the first match, it was a bit tough, but I have overcome several difficulties in the past. It is indeed a good start and very important match to begin with. I look forward to better matches in the competition.

“My next match against Niwa Koki promises to be tough because he is a very good opponent and I am going to approach the match seriously. Yesterday’s celebration of my 29th birthday from Chinese and Belgian fans was the best birthday for me.”