Ginting first victory after returning to world tour; no target set with focus on own performance

VICTOR Hong Kong Open continued at the Hong Kong Coliseum on Wednesday with all competitions in the first round. World ranked second Anthony Ginting of Indonesia was given little trouble when he beat Brian Yang of Canada in straight games 21-14, 21-9, registering his first victory after the death of his mother. The runner-up of 2019 Hong Kong Open would not set any target this time, just wanted to perform his best in Hong Kong.

Ginting’s mother passed away in early August, forcing the top player to pull out of the World Championships in Copenhagen later that month. He returned to the tour in the China Open early this month but was eliminated in the opening round. In his second tournament after the incident, Ginting made no mistake of sending world ranked 27th Yang home. He needed only 26 minutes before sealing a 21-14, 21-9 victory and will meet Leong Jun Hao of Malaysia in the next stage.

Ginting showed smile in his face after the victory and was apparently in a good mood. He said he felt excited of returning to Hong Kong. “I feel very happy and excited whenever I play here in the Hong Kong Open, especially I have not been here for a long period of time,” he said. “Many fans will come to support us, making the venue with very good atmosphere and that’s also why I like to come here.”

Ginting finished second in the last Hong Kong Open but preferred not to set any target this time. “I will focus on my own performance, trying to reach my best and hope I can play well this week.”

Also on the courts in the morning session was another top player Loh Kean Yew of Singapore. The sixth seed, however, was upset by Christo Popov of France after three games as the Frenchman won 12-21, 21-17, 21-13. Another Denmark star Anders Antonsen beat Christo’s elder brother Toma in two games 26-24, 21-17.

In the women’s singles, top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan beat Gao Fangjie of China 21-15, 21-14 but third seed Carolina Marin of Spain was fully stretched before her 2-1 win over Lin Hsiang Ti of Chinese Taipei as she prevailed 21-9, 14-21, 21-9. 2018 Hong Kong Open champion Nozomi Okuhara, however, lost to Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia 21-7, 23-21 while another Japanese player Aya Ohori came out the winner in her 21-14, 21-19 victory over compatriot Natsuki Nidaira.