DAEJEON, South Korea, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Miyu Kato inflicted a shock defeat on defending champion Feng Tianwei here on Thursday at the Seamaster 2018 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Platinum Korea Open.
19-year-old Kato beat Singapore's Feng in the opening round of the women's singles event, winning 4-2 (11-6, 11-13, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8).
Kato's win took many by surprise, as Feng was not only the defending champion but had featured as a Korea Open finalist on five previous occasions, winning three times.
Meanwhile, other Japanese players also enjoyed success on Thursday. Kasumi Ishikawa defeated South Korea's Lee Nak-yung 4-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-5, 11-4) in the qualification round of the women's singles event, and Mima Ito beat China's Gu Yuting 4-1 (11-6, 13-11, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10).
Elsewhere, several Chinese players also showed good form. No.2 seed Zhu Yuling beat Li Ching Wan of Hong Kong, China, 4-0 (11-8, 11-6, 14-12, 11-5).
No.11 seed Sun Yingsha saw off Kim Song I of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by winning 4-1 (11-8, 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5).
And Hu Limei handily defeated No.13 seed Doo Hoi Kem 4-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-3, 11-4).
The Korea Open kicked off on Tuesday in Daejeon, some 160 km south of the capital Seoul, and lasts until Sunday, with around 230 players from 27 countries and regions participating.
