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Enthralling Hopes Tournament Concludes Memorable Visit to Thailand

By: Dejan Papic, ITTF World Hopes Head Coach

Yodsapat Jiravipapan, the Boys' Singles winner Photo By: Courtesy of Dejan Papic

04/30/2012

A highly successful visit to Bangkok, the capital city of the south-east Asian country of Thailand came to a close on Sunday 29th April 2012; for myself, Dejan Papic, the Head Coach of the ITTF World Hopes Team, it was time to leave.

Time had passed all too quickly and most certainly I was extremely pleased with response from all concerned and the level of play to be witnessed.

Thanks to the efforts of Dr Tanin Santiwattanatarm, the Hopes Team Co-ordinator for the Table Tennis Association of Thailand, an increasingly wide pool of talent is being cultivated to form the base of a pyramid from which excellence can grow.

Close Matches
Proceedings in Bangkok concluded with a Hopes tournament, an event which proved enthralling.

The Boys’ and Girls’ Singles finals both went to five games, both being decided by the minimal two point margin; furthermore both Boys’ Singles semi-finals went the five games.

Master of Tight Situations
Winner of the Hopes Boys’ Singles was the 12th ranked boy, Yodsapat Jiravipapan, nicknamed Thim, the master of tight situations. He beat the top three seeded players en route to the title.

The difference between the 12 boys was very small; play on another day and the result could have been totally different; even the matches to decide ninth and eleventh places attracted the crowd’s undivided attention.

Recovery
In first semi-final Vachirawich Aranthanawong beat Baramee Inprom after losing the first two games and trailing 8-10 in the third!

Baramee Inprom, known to his friends as “Ice”, lost his cool after losing the third game.

Vachirawich Aranthanawong increased the pace of his footwork, reduced the speed of his forehand top spin but was the first to attack; he controlled the ball in top spin rallies as the match progressed. Conversely, Ice didn't change his rhythm but kept fighting to the end, the decisive fifth game being won by Vachirawich Aranthanawong 13-11.

Yodsapat Jiravipapan en route to victory in the Hopes Boys’ Singles event
Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

Exciting Contest
In second Boys’ Singles semi-final, Yodsapat Jiravipapan met Natchanon Ngarmprsert, the second seed, nicknamed “Om”.

Yodsapat Jiravipapan won a close first game but the next two games went to Om, who dominated with his uncompromising forehand; in the fourth game he had chances to end matters but missed the opportunities presented. Yodsapat Jiravipapan seized the opportunity and won the fifth game convincingly 11-5.

Drama
The final was real drama, it lasted 40 minutes.

Both coaches were able to help their player recover, when defeat looked imminent.

In the deciding game Yodsapat Jiravipapan trailed 1-5 but then changed his approach.

The pressure of competition, hard fought matches in Bangkok
Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

Encouragement
“Come on” was the cry from the coaches, Parinya Nonsagate, the coach of Tamolwen Khetkuen, a member of the 2009 ITTF World Hopes Team, encouraged and advised the champion elect.

Attacking more instead of blocking, Yodsapat Jiravipapan eventually secured victory; the last point being greeted by a yell of approval and a fist raised in triumph.

Vachirawich Aranthanawong, the top seed, who has a god range of services and forehand top spins, created opportunities but perhaps he was a little over confident, attacking too strongly and thus made mistakes.

Bound for Sweden
Yodsapat Jiravipapan is one of the players who will be at the Falkenberg Club in Sweden form Monday 11th to Sunday 17th June 2012 for the ITTF Hopes Training Camp and Challenge.

Enjoying the Hopes Week at the Thonburi University in Bangkok
Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

More Predictable
Excitement in the Hopes Boys’ Singles event but in the counterpart Girls’ event matters went as predicted.

Monapsorn Saritapirak beat Thapanee Phomma in the first semi-final; her experience and greater knowledge proving too great for the younger Thapanee Phomma, who had excelled to reach the semi-final causing several uses on the way.

In second Girls’ Singles semi-final, Naja Mekaporn, who uses short pimples on both sides of the racket, beat Nutkamon Komkorn, a young lady who uses reversed rubber on the forehand and short pimpled rubber on the backhand, by three games to nil.

The Final
The final commenced with Monapsorn Saritapirak comfortably winning the first game, the second was closer but she kept her nerve to win 12-10.

However, combining fast forehand and backhand attacking strokes and staying close to the table, Naja Mekaporn won the next two games to level matters.

The Hopes Girls’ Singles final in action in Bangkok
Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

The Decider
A fifth game beckoned, considering both players are only 12 years old it was an excellent contest.

Monapsorn Saritapirak went ahead 8-6 with two services to follow; it seemed she had a clear advantage but Naja Mekaporn captured the next two points. She levelled at 8-all and then attacking quickly after the service, won the next two points to hold two match points at 10-8.

A service followed by a strong attack saved the first match point but on the next point, Monapsorn Saritapirak missed a high ball; for the very first time in the whole tournament a very serious looking Naja Mekaporn smiled!

Young Talent to Note
Thailand has an increasing number of young players, one in particular to note at the Training Camp was eight year old, Thanathnan Choosatayanond who was introduced to the sport at a very early age.

She held a racket in her hand when only two years old!

Thanathnan Choosatayanond was introduced to table tennis when only 12 years old
Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

Winning and Losing
My impression is that Thai players know how to handle both winning and losing.

Although very emotional they never forget to respect their opponents, coaches and officials.

New Heights
Sometimes, their game is at a very high level and there are many reasons to believe that this generation will take the Table Tennis Association of Thailand to greater heights; for Thailand the best is yet to come.

Play in progress in the splendid facilities of the Thonburi University
Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic

Final Positions
Boys: 1. Yodsapat Jiravipapan 2. Vachirawich Aranthanawong 3. Baramee Inprom 4. Natchanon Ngarmprset 5. Chanakan Tayapitak 6. Supakron Pankhayoy 7. Jetaphat Petsuntad 8.Krindet Suksri 9. Tinnapat Chaopanya 10. Yanapong Panagitgun 11. Varote Shotelersuk 12. Puttipong Surakasamsavat

Girls: 1. Naja Mekamporn 2. Monapsorn Saritapirak 3. Thapanee Phomma 4. Nutkamon Komkorn 5. Jirutchaya 6. Sirinapa Kumpon 7. Chanisara Preecha 8. Papatchaya Hoarakkit 9. Nattaporn Petthong 10. Chanita Panicharoen 11. Watsamon Hirunperm 12. Kanyarat Munkone 13. Sasikarn Kerdtawee

Smiling faces from all concerned at the end of the Hopes Tournament
Photo courtesy of Dejan Papic