3/20/2010 2010 Malta Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Israel’s 15 year old Elad Kupperberg upset the seeding to win the Boys’ Singles title at the Malta Junior Open in Cottonera on Saturday 20th March 2010 and thus moved one step higher up the table tennis ladder of excellence.

It was his first ever title on the ITTF Junior Circuit and looking quickly through the history books, the first ever such title won by a player from Israel.

Seeded no.5, Elad Kupperberg overcame surprise finalist Sweden’s Alexander Franzen to clinch gold, having one round earlier ousted Tunisian top seed, Adem Hmam.

 3/20/2010 2010 Malta Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Singapore’s Isabelle Siyun Li won the Girls’ Singles title at the Malta Junior Open in Cottonera on Saturday 20th March 2010 and in so doing won her sixth career ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles crown.

Seeded no.1, she ousted the Pauline Chasselin of France in the quarter-finals before defeating the latter’s compatriot, Sarah Berge at the penultimate stage to book a final meeting with Egypt’s impressive Dina Meshref, the no.2 seed.

The French duo had both suffered in straight games and it was to be the same scenario in the final, with the defensive skills of the Singaporean impenetrable.

 3/19/2010 2010 Malta Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Matters went very much according to plan as the singles events commenced at the Malta Junior Open in Cottonera on Friday 19th March 2010.

The leading names remained unbeaten with few exceptions; the exceptions being realised in the Cadet Boys’ and Cadet Girls’ Singles events and also the Junior Boys’ Doubles competition.

In the Cadet Boys' and Cadet Girls' Singles events there were no great problems for the top two seeds but that was not the case when it came to Boys' Doubles.

 3/19/2010 2010 Malta Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Situated in the Mediterranean, the island of Malta is delighted for the second consecutive year to be hosting a tournament that is part of the ITTF Junior Circuit.

The Malta Junior Open is a very important event for the country’s young developing players; it gives them a chance to compete on the international stage.

 3/18/2010 2010 Malta Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Class told in the Girls’ Team event at the Malta Junior Open in Cottonera on Thursday 18th March 2010, with the top seeded Singaporean partnership of Isabelle Li and Sylvia Look securing gold.

They were in commanding form from start to finish, winning every fixture by three matches to nil. Throughout the whole event they proved themselves a class apart.

It was only in the final against France that they were in any danger of conceding an individual match.

 3/18/2010 2010 Malta Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Represented by Elad Kuperberg and Michael Tauber, Israel won the Boys’ Team title at the Malta Junior Open in Cottonera on Thursday 18th March 2010, beating Tunisia three-two in a thrilling final.

Seeded no.2, the Israelis overcame the no.1 seeds to secure gold, despite the brave efforts of Adem Hmam.

He beat both Elad Kuperberg and Michael Tauber but that was to be the sum total of Tunisian success.

 3/17/2010 2010 Malta Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Adem Hmam, 15 years old and Michael Tauber, one year older, proved to be the pick of the players on duty on the first day of play at the Malta Junior Open in Cottonera on Wednesday 17th March 2010.

Both remained unbeaten to guide their respective teams, Tunisia and Israel, to first place in the group stage matches of the Boys’ Team event.

The top two seeded teams in the event, Tunisia and Israel surrendered only one individual game in the day.