05/12/2012        2012 Spanish Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Success came in the team events for the Japanese duo of 17 year old Masataka Morizono and for 16 year old Shiho Matsudaira at the Spanish Junior and Cadet Open in Castell-Platja d’Aro.

On Thursday 10th May 2012 both stood proudly on the top step of the medal podium in the Palau d'Esports

Masataka Morizono partnered Kenta Tazoe to success in the Junior Boys’ Team competition.

Meanwhile, Shiho Matsudaira joined Yuki Shoji, Miki Fujihara and Yuki Arai to win Junior Girls' Team gold.

Neither Masataka Morizono nor Shiho Matsudaira suffered defeat at any stage.

In the Blood
Quite simply; they kept matters in the family.

Masataka Morizono is the younger brother of Misaki Morizono, Shiho Matsudaira is the younger sister of Kenji and Kenta Matsudaira; simply it’s in the blood!

Succeeding in tournaments that are part of the ITTF Global Junior Programme is a family business.

Notable Global Junior Programme Successes
Misaki Morizono, during her junior career, enjoyed notable success.

In 2009 she won the Junior Girls’ Singles titles on the ITTF Junior Circuit in both Sweden and Hungary, whilst at the end of the year she was crowned champion at the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals on home soil in Tokyo, having one year earlier been the runner up in Heldingborg.

World Junior Champion
Meanwhile, most notably in Cairo in December 2006, Kenta Matsudaira was crowned World Junior champion and two years later won on the ITTF Junior Circuit in Poland; as for elder brother Kenji, success came rather later.

No major junior titles to his credit but he has enjoyed success on the ITTF Pro Tour at Under 21 level and was on duty for Japan at the recent LIEBHERR World Team Championships in Dortmund.

Following Example
Success and it would seem the siblings are living up to the standards set by the illustrious trio.

After enjoying success in the team events, both remained unbeaten in the group stage of the singles competitions and both made fine starts in the main draw on Saturday 12th May 2012.

Caused Russia Pain
In the Junior Boys’ Singles event, Masataka Morizono beat Russia’s Sadi Ismailov (11-5, 8-11, 11-1, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8), before causing Russia more pain by partnering Kenta Tazoe to Junior Boys’ Doubles success, in opposition to Maxim Efroikin and Egor Timin (11-8, 11-3, 11-3),

Similarly, Shiho Matsudaira was not to be overshadowed.

Not Overshadowed
She accounted for Israel’s Nicole Trosman (11-6, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4) and partnered Yuki Arai to a Junior Girls’ Doubles success over Spain’s Sofia Barba and Maria Xiao (11-5, 11-6, 11-7).

Success, it’s hereditary.