08/13/2010 KRA 2010 Korea Open - ITTF Pro Tour

The first day of August 2010 was a Sunday and when that happens it means that always the thirteenth day falls on a Friday.

For those who are superstitious it is not good news.

Folklore in many parts of the world holds the belief that if the there is one day in the calendar that is unlucky, it is Friday 13th; fear of that day is Friggatriskaidekaphobia.

It would seem that the unpronounceable phobia has hit the KRA Korean Open.

 08/13/2010 KRA 2010 Korea Open - ITTF Pro Tour

Returning stronger from defeat is the oft quoted message to those who want to succeed in sport and most certainly it would seem to be the case for Japan’s 27 year old Hiroko Fujii.

In her opening contest in the qualification stage of the Women’s Singles event, at the KRA Korean Open in Incheon, the latest stop on the ITTF Pro Tour, she was beaten in seven games by Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chia-Hui.

It was one of the biggest upsets on the opening day; Hiroko Fujii was the eighth highest ranked player on duty.

 08/12/2010 KRA 2010 Korea Open - ITTF Pro Tour

Chinese Taipei’s 18 year old Cheng I-Ching was the one player amongst the leading names not to finish in top place in her group, following the conclusion of the first phase of proceedings in the Women’s Singles event at the KRA Korean Open in Incheon on Thursday 11th August 2010.

Meanwhile, for Japan’s 27 year old Hiroko Fujii, the fourth highest world ranked player in action, a return to top form saw top secured.

Cheng I-Ching concluded matters in second spot being beaten by the host nation’s Park Young Sook in the final duel in the group.

 08/12/2010 KRA 2010 Korea Open - ITTF Pro Tour

It was a successful day for the host nation in the qualification stage of proceedings at the KRA Korean Open in Incheon on Thursday 12th August 2010.

Six of the eight groups saw players from Korea finish in first place with a further two qualifying for the main draw by virtue of the fact that they finished in second spot

Jeong Sang Eun, Cho Eon Rae, Kim Min Seok, Lee Sang Su, Lee Jin Kwon and Jung Young Sik all finished as group winners, with Kim Tae Hoon and Kim Nam Soo securing runners up spot.

 08/11/2010 KRA 2010 Korea Open - ITTF Pro Tour

Japan’s 19 year old Kenta Matsudaira has spent most of the last ten years when in the table tennis arena slaying giants, beating players many years his senior and gaining plaudits from the crowd as he caused illustrious adversaries heartaches.

No doubt one of his very best performances came in 2009 on home soil in the city of Yokohama when he came within a hair’s breadth of beating China’s Ma Lin, the reigning Olympic champion.

It was a contest that saw Kenta Matsudaira rise to a new level.

 08/11/2010 KRA 2010 Korea Open - ITTF Pro Tour

Chinese Taipei’s 17 year old Chen Szu-Yu, the surprise winner of the Girls’ Singles event at the recently completed ITTF Junior Circuit tournament in Hong Kong, made a fine start to her Women’s Singles campaign at the KRA Korean Open in Incheon on Wednesday 11th August 2010, the latest stop on the ITTF Pro Tour.

In her opening match in the qualification stage of proceedings, she recorded a nerve tingling seven games win over the more experienced Korean, 25 year old Kim Jung Hyun.

Chen Szu-Yu succeeded 14-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9.

 07/11/2010 KRA 2010 Korea Open - ITTF Pro Tour

Stay tuned to watch the Korean Open LIVE on the itTV channel "Main". Video On Demand is available from Friday 13th August at 1:00 GMT.

LIVE Streaming starts at 08:30 GMT on Saturday 14th August with the Women's Singles quarter-finals.