by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
At the Chinese Taipei Junior and Cadet Open he had been beaten in the final of the Junior Boys’ Singles event by the host nation’s Huang Chien-Tu (12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5); one hour earlier on the afternoon of Sunday 28th August, he had experienced the same fate when confronting Tai Ming-Wei, also from Chinese Taipei (11-8, 11-2, 13-11).
In Shanghai, it was a very different experience.
“Actually, I’m not in my best form today, that’s why I didn’t win this easily. I have to win today’s final, even if the opponent is my teammate, I will try my best, and I want to get the gold medal”, Cho Daeseong after beating Vladimir Sidorenko
Impressively, in the penultimate round, the no.3 seed, he accounted for Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko, the no.2 seed (11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4), before overcoming Japan’s Yukiya Uda, the top seed, to claim the title (8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 17-15, 6-11, 11-6). In the opposite half of the draw, at the semi-final stage Yukiya Uda had beaten Thailand’s Yanapong Panagitun, the no.4 seed (11-13, 11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8).
“I had a strong belief in myself in this match. My opponent is also my teammate. He is powerful and has a strong backhand, so it was a difficult match. In the final, I’ll face another teammate, but I’m ready to win the title”, Yuka Uda after beating Yanapong Panagitgun
Success for Cho Daeseong who becomes only the second ever Korean to win the Boys’ Singles title at an ITTF World Cadet Challenge tournament; the other player to achieve the feat is Jang Woojin who won in 2008 in Hyderabad, India.
“I didn’t expect I’ll win the final but I was better at handling the crucial moments. Uda wasn’t fully focused at the beginning of this match, so I had the opportunity”, Cho Daeseong after the final
Notably, once again it was success for Asia; the only non-Asian player to win the title is Frenchman Romain Lorentz, he won in 2008 in Helsingbörg, Sweden.
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Schedule of Play
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Boys’ Teams and Girls’ Teams
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Team – First Stage Results
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Team – First Stage Results
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Team – Main Draw
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Team – Main Draw
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Groups
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Positions 1-16
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Positions 17-32
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Groups
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Positions 1-16
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Positions 17-32
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Doubles
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Doubles
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Mixed Doubles