Korean players fresh and sharp on first day

LIMA - Three Korean players colored the first day of the championship and showed the audience the form they had already demonstrated in the World Cup in  Matosinhos. Dong Gung Kang was the best of the three in his match against the Peruvian Maximo Aguirre (3-0/1.956). He will be undoubtedly a dangerous opponent for Marco Zanetti tomorrow.

Chung-Bok Lee sent down the young Egyptian Sameh Sidhom almost to a figurant (3-1) and Jae Ho Cho had an easy opponent in Guido Sacci, who just like Maximo Aguirre disappointed his homeland in the third session. The Korean, in Matosinhos only stopped by Dani Sanchez in the semifinals, won 3-0, with an average of 1.730 and a run of eight.

Ramon Rodriguez enjoyed his audience two sets long move in his match against Japan's Mori Youichirou. The Peruvian seemed to be on his way to a victory after two setwins, but then he was felled by a slump. Mori won the following three sets almost unchallenged: 15-0, 15-10, 15-7.

Jean van Erp showed himself a real fighter after a few missed chances at the start of his match against Tonny Carlsen. The Dutchman was even better with his average (1.477 against 1.222), but at a score of 2-2 in sets, the Dane had a better control over his nerves and won 15-11.

Sergio Jimenez had a good start against Michael Kang (3-0), the owner of the Carom Cafe in New York. Roland Forthomme defeated his opponent Harry Reyes rather easily 3-1 (1.317) and the Mexican Javier Vera surprised Gerhard Kostistansky from Austria with a 3-2 win in the group where Jérémy Bury is the number one seeded player.