Competition heats up at WTT Contender Muscat 2023

French paddler Vicent Picard and Slovakia’s Yang Wang progressed to the third and final round of the  preliminary qualification in men’s singles event as they posted crucial victories on Monday at WTT Contender Muscat 2023. Picard beat Algerian Mehdi Bouloussa 3-0 (2-11, 13-15, 7-11) in a tight clash while Yang Wang defeated French Joe Seyfried 3-1 (5-11, 11-8, 8-11,8-11) in the indoor hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

World ranking 97, OH Junsung from South Korea outclassed Li Hon Ming from Hong Kong 3-1 in a thrilling encounter. The four sets ended at: (11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5). Iran’s Noshad ALAMIYAN moved to the final round of the preliminary qualification in men’s singles after he defeated Hungary’s Nandor Ecseki 3-0. Iran’s Amir Hossein HODAEI moved to the deciding round of the qualification as he registered a 3-0 triumph over PANG Yew En Koen from Singapore. HODAEI will take on Lubomir Pistej from Slovakia in the final round as  Lubomir edged Manush Utpalbhai Shah from India by 3-1.  

Oman’s Muhanad al Balushi produced a good show against HUANG Yan-Cheng from Chinses Taipei in the second round of the preliminary qualification in men’s singles event. HUANG ended the match at 3-0 (8-11, 4-11, 3-11). Oman’s top singles paddler for the last season worked hard to earn one set at least but the experienced opponent dominated in the match and played better focus and technique.  

Earlier on Monday, Indian’s paddler Ayhika Mukherjee stun Zhou Jingyi from Singapore 3-0 in the opening round of the preliminary qualification in women’s singles event. Mukherjee will meet Turkish paddler Sibel Alitinkaya who emerged a 3-0 win over Wong Xin Ru from Singapore.  

World No. #120, Giorgia Piccolin from Italy will meet Barbora Balazova from Slovakia in the second round of the women’s singles event. The former paddler beat Debora Vivarelli from Italy 3-0 while the latter edged Katerina Tomanovska from Czech Republic 3-1.  

On Tuesday, the action of WTT Contender Muscat 2023 will continue for the third successive day in the indoor hall of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex. The second round qualifications matches of the women’s singles event will take place on Tuesday while the main draw action will begin on Wednesday.