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Micro Games veteran delivers in qualifier
Jean Shi, right, poses with other participants and organizers of the Northern Marianas Table Tennis Federation Qualifying Tournament held early this month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)
Micronesian Games gold medalist Jean Shi lived up to high expectations as she topped the Northern Marianas Table Tennis Federation Qualifying Tournament held early this month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Shi, who handed the CNMI gold medals in the 2010 Micronesian Games in Palau, ruled the 2018 Micro Games qualifier after outclassing Charlie Cheng in the finals, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7. Shi won all her games in the one-day tournament, beating Su Yongdong first, 11-7, 11-4, 8-11, 11-9, before eliminating fellow Micro Games veterans Steve Lim, 11-4, 11-3, 11-5, and Bright Lui , 13-11, 11-7, 11-9.
Lim set a second round duel against Shi after ousting Roman Babauta, 11,9, 11-4, 11-9, while Lui moved into the semifinals following his victories over Mimi Zhang, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4, and Amir Malik, 11-7, 13-11, 11-8. Malik booted out Park Taewon, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8, to advance against Liu, at the upper half of the draw.
At the lower half, Cheng made it to the finals after winning over Quiang Gao, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7, Ieh Hyun Ahn, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5, and Budhi Gurumng, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7. Gurung marched into the Final Four following his victories against Yun Zhang, 11-6, 11-2, 11-4, and Mario Espeleta, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7, while the latter won over Kim Gijo, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-4. Ahn topped Song Zhen Liu, 4, 11-, 11-7, 11-3, 12-10, before losing to Cheng.
The local table tennis group will choose players that will represent the CNMI to the Micro Games in Yap from the participants in the qualifier. The federation, which is trying to revive the sport in the Commonwealth, will field eight athletes in the quadrennial meet that will run from July 15 to 28,
