Chinese Taipei’s Ma Cheng-Yi reaches for the front-hand return during a Men’s Singles match in the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024 at the Ada gym on Wednesday. Ma Cheng-Yi lost to Japan’s Keisuke Fujiwara in two sets.
THE no.1 seed and Olympic-bound Viren Nattasinghe of Sri Lanka was eliminated by Japan’s Keisuke Fujiwara, 21-17, 21-16, in round 3 of the Men’s Singles of the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2024 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium on Thursday.
The highly favored Nettasinghe went head-to-head against Fujiwara with neither side able to gain a proper lead. However, during crunch time, it was Fujiwara’s relentless efforts paired with wide and powerful smash returns that thwarted Nettasinghe in both sets.
Before Nettasinghe’s elimination, he bested Chinese Taipei’s Hsin Tse Tu, 21-17, 21-6, in round 2 while Fujiwara defeated Korea’s Kim Byung Jae in an intense exchange, 21-14, 16-21, 21-19, in round 1 before beating Chinese Taipei’s Ma Cheng-Yi, 21-16, 21-15, in round 2.
Also securing a seat in the quarterfinals are Malaysia’s Justin Hoh, who will face Fujiwara, after his victory over Chinese Taipei’s Huang Ping-Hsien, 21-16, 22-20; Chinese Taipei’s Cheng-Han Tsai, who defeated Korea’s Choi Pyeong Gang, 23-21, 21-11, will go up against compatriot Huang Yu, who bested Thailand’s Saran Jamsri, 19-21, 21-19, 21-18; Singapore’s Jia Wei Joel Koh, who outlasted Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yu Cheng, 21-19, 21-12, will face Japan’s Ryoma, who defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chu Chen Jia, 21-15, 21-13; and Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Kai, who outplayed Thailand’s Wongsup Wongsup-In, 21-5, 21-17, will go up against Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Kuan Lin, who outhustled Korea’s Heo Kwang Hee, 21-8, 21-12.
