12/15/2008 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships

The 6th ITTF World Junior Championships in Madrid is over. The event in the Candidate City for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games convinced with a brand new facility, good food and an excellent organisation.

The Spanish capital was a worthy host of the biggest Junior table tennis event. Not only brought it Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania together in a competition hall, but also on the same dance floor.

 12/13/2008 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships

England’s Paul Drinkhall failed in his bid to become the second European gold medallist at a World Junior Championships. The 18 year old Englishman lost to Chen Chien-An of Chinese Taipei in five games in the final.

Drinkhall was not inferior, Chen just seemed to be a bit fresher and luckier in the close moments. Chen lost three matches during the team event but finally was the best player in singles.

 12/13/2008 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships

The superstar of the 6th ITTF World Junior Championships is China’s CAO Lisi. The 17 year old Chinese won all the events she played.

After gold with China in the Team event, CAO won the Mixed Doubles event yesterday as well as the Girls’ Doubles and the Singles event today.

 12/13/2008 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships

Like both Team events, the superpower China also won the all of the Doubles competitions. Cao Lisi and Wang Daqin prevailed without problems 4-0 against Kim/Lee of Korea Republic.

The Boys’ final was much more contested. The Korean pair Lee Sang Su and Seo Hyun Deok were 0-2 and 1-3 down in games, but did not surrender. In a spectacular seventh game with many open rallies Song Hongyuan and Yan An finally prevailed.

 12/13/2008 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships

The 6th ITTF World Junior Championships in Madrid is followed by coaches from all around the world. Among the spectators, there is also Werner Schlager.

The World champion from 2003 was not in the venue all the time, but he received an impression.

 12/13/2008 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships

England’s Paul Drinkhall reached the final of the Boys’ Singles event. The 18 year old reigning European Junior champion qualified in six games against Korea’s Lee Sang Su. Lee won the first two games, but Drinkhall stroke back winning the following two 12-10.

Only one non-Asian player could ever win the gold medal in a Singles event at the World Junior Championships. Germany’s Patrick Baum prevailed in Linz 2005. The last hurdle for Drinkhall is Chen Chien-An.

 12/13/2008 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships

Cao Lisi is about to become the big star of the World Junior Championships in the Spanish capital of Madrid. The 17 year old won the inner-Chinese semi-final match against Wang Daqin. Cao already won the gold medal in the Team event, in the Mixed Doubles yesterday evening and will play two more finals today.

Her opponent in the final will be Germany’s Amelie Solja who kept the patience in the match against Japan’s defensive player Ayuka Tanioka.