Youngjo Downs Maloney in Bendigo International

#PSAWorldTour

Korea’s Ko Youngjo bridged an almighty gap of more than 100 places in the World Rankings to earn a 3-1 victory over sixth seed Jonathan Maloney in the opening round of the City of Greater Bendigo International, PSA M5 event.

The 19-year-old, who is ranked 249th in the world, lost the first game on the tie-break but showed great tenacity to battle back to and level things up by taking the second. By that point, momentum was on Youngjo’s side and he took full advantage to blitz past his opponent in the final two games to record a 10-12, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4 victory.

He goes on to meet Enzo Corigliano in the second round after the Frenchman dispatched Shahzad Khan in four games to move past the first round of a PSA World Tour event for the first time in his career.

Top seed Tayyab Aslam also progressed to the next round with a comfortable 3-0 rout over David Clegg and is set to face Rhys Dowling after the Australian defeated Ben Coates.

World No.114 Joel Makin got his tournament of to a sterling start after an excellent victory over Martin Svec. The Welshman was in the ascendancy from the outset and wasted no time in storming to a 3-0 win to set up a second round clash with Rohan Toole after he bested Caillin Austin.

Joshua Larkin beat Omar Bahgat and will face Jaejin Yoo after the qualifier upset Connor Sheen. Scotland’s Douglas Kempsell has also advanced to the next round after the number four seed saw off Ondrej Uherka and he will face Joshua Masters for a place in the quarter-final after the 20-year-old steered to victory against Joel Luca.

Results – First Round: City of Greater Bendigo International 2015
[1] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bt David Clegg (AUS) 3-0: 12-10, 11-8, 11-8
Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Ben Coates (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-8
Enzo Corigliano (FRA) bt [Q] Shahzad Khan (PAK) 3-1: 7-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4
Ko Youngjo (KOR) bt [6] Jonathan Maloney (ENG) 3-1: 10-12, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4
[7] Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) bt [Q] Mithran Selvaratnam (MAS) 3-1: 11-7, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6
[Q] Sam Gould (USA) bt Tyler Hawkins (AUS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-9, 11-9
[Q] Jaejin Yoo (KOR) bt Connor Sheen (ENG) 3-1: 12-14, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
[3] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt Omar Bahgat (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-2
[4] Douglas Kempsell (SCO) bt Ondrej Uherka (CZE) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8
Joshua Masters (ENG) bt Joel Luca (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-6
Lewis Doughty (ENG) bt [Q] Khaled Zahran (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9
[8] Kush Kumar (IND) bt Jong Myoung Park (KOR) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 11-8
[5] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) bt [Q] Ruan Olivier (RSA) 3-0: 14-12, 11-4, 11-8
Alex Noakes (ENG) bt [Q] Mike Corren (AUS) 3-0: 12-10, 11-6, 11-3
Rohan Toole (AUS) bt [Q] Caillin Austin (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-6
[2] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Martin Svec (CZE) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-5

Draw – Second Round
[1] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) v Rhys Dowling (AUS)
Enzo Corigliano (FRA) v Ko Youngjo (KOR)
[7] Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (MAS) v [Q] Sam Gould (USA)
[Q] Jaejin Yoo (KOR) v [3] Joshua Larkin (AUS)
[4] Douglas Kempsell (SCO) v Joshua Masters (ENG)
Lewis Doughty (ENG) v [8] Kush Kumar (IND)
[5] Addeen Idrakie (MAS) v Alex Noakes (ENG)
Rohan Toole (AUS) v [2] Joel Makin (WAL)