Print

Mail

wiki links

DEAFLYMPICS TAIPEI 2009: Taiwan kicking, but that’s about all

Taiwan’s Ho Chiu-hsiang stretches to return to Yachiyo Abe of Japan in the women’s singles competition at the Deaflympics in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: CNA

Taiwan may have performed well in martial arts events yesterday, but they lacked luster in others.

Women’s 50m air rifle marksman Chu Hsuan-chieh safely advanced into the final eight in the morning, but had no luck placing into the top three.

The men’s group table tennis walked away with a victory only because Kazakhstan forfeited the game by failing to show up, securing their place in the final eight after beating Croatia and Russia on Monday.

Table tennis coach Huang Mei-chen said the players had already carefully studied the German and Chinese teams and were gearing up for battle against the two heavyweights.

Wen Chih-hsuan, a Taiwanese men’s singles star player, has been complaining of pain in the foot, but Huang said that with enough therapy Wen should be able to compete and do well in today’s heat against Ukraine.

The women’s table tennis team suffered its third straight setback, losing to Russia in two of the three heats. The team will take on Poland and Ukraine tomorrow but the chance for a medal does not look good.

Taiwan’s Lin Chao-ying, right, goes up for a shot during a handball game against Turkey at the Deaflympics in Taipei yesterday. Taiwan defeated Turkey 37-24. PHOTO: CNA

Taiwan’s tennis delegation saw multiple eliminations today, with only one advancement — Ho Chiu-mei, who beat Valerie Caillaud of France 6-1, 6-2. The reigning national champion is tapped as the likely candidate for gold in the women’s singles.

At the post-game press conference, Ho said she had a difficult time playing yesterday because she had forgotten her sunglasses and the sun was in her eyes.

“My opponent’s backhand slice was very good and was hard to play because they were low,” she said, adding that she was confident about the coming matches.

Winning, however, doesn’t necessarily run in the family: Ho Chiu-mei’s older sister, Ho Chiu-hsiang, lost 6-2 in both sets to Yachiyo Abe from Japan, eliminating her from the competition.

The sister combo will play doubles against France today.

In men’s tennis singles, Taiwan hopeful Lin Chun-jan was also eliminated after he was annihilated by Australia’s John Lin 6-0, 6-0 in the morning.

“I had to take my time playing the game.” — Ho Chiu-mei, Taiwan tennis player

He also suffered a setback in the men’s doubles. Lin and partner Chin Wu-lung lost to Japan’s Reiki Kajishita and Tetsuya Matsushita on 1-6, 0-6.

In mixed doubles, Kao Ta-li and his partner Lai Yu-chen qualified to advance when their Chinese opponents Yang Zengbao and Lin Dandan forfeited because of injuries.
This story has been viewed 921 times.