DAEJEON, South Korea, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese table tennis players cruised to victory Wednesday in the group phase of the Seamaster 2018 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour Platinum Korea Open.
The tournament began on Tuesday 17th and finishes on Sunday 22nd in the country's central city of Daejeon, around 160 km south of the capital Seoul.
Zhou Kai defeated Germany's Benedikt Duda 4-2 (11-6, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6) in the men's singles preliminary round.
Yan An beat Japan's Yuto Kizukuri 4-3 (11-1, 11-7, 9-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4) in a tense tie, and Zhang Jike defeated India's Harmeet Desai 4-2 (11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7).
"My form doesn't really matter. What is important is that I treat every match seriously," said Zhang Jike.
"After all, every opponent has their strengths. If, as in the previous game, I find myself behind, I just need to calm down and not get too emotional," said Zhang.
Hundreds of Chinese spectators cheered on their heroes at the Hanbat Gymnasium in Daejeon. They waved placards with Zhang Jike's name, and repeatedly chanted slogans of encouragment.
Elsewhere in the men's singles group stage, France's Andrea Landrieu upset the odds to beat Japan's Kazuhiro Yoshimura, the winner of the Seamaster ITTF World Tour held just over six weeks ago in Hong Kong.
The 22-year-old Frenchman won in five consecutive games (11-6, 11-5, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8). South Korea's An Jaehyun was another surprise winner, defeating Germany's Ricardo Walther 4-1 (4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8).
