by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Earlier in the week in harness with colleague Selja Fazlic and the host nation’s Samar Hichri, she secured the Junior Girls’ Team crown; on the concluding of action she partnered Selja Fazlic to Junior Girls’ Doubles gold.
At the final hurdle the duo accounted for the combination of Portugal’s Raquel Andrade and Egypt’s Rowan Hamed (9-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-3, 11-4).
Success in the Junior Girls’ Doubles, she ended the day with success in the Junior Girls’ Singles event. Occupying the top seeded position in the event, she accounted for India’s Diya Parag Chitale, the no.4 seed, in the final (11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6) to secure the top prize.
Earlier in the day, in the latter stages Caroline Hajok had beaten Egypt’s Rowan Hamed (11-3, 11-5, 11-9, 12-10) followed by success against Tunisia’s Abir Haj Salah (9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-4).
“My opponent is a very good player, my tactics during the final were to keep changing direction; she lost her power as the match progressed.” Caroline Hajok after beating Abir Haj Salah
Impressive results
A close call against Abir Haj Salah; one day earlier it had been an even closer call for Selja Fazlic, the no.2 seed.
She had finished in second place in her group behind Egypt’s Shahd Sameh; in the opening round she found Abir Haj Salah a most worthy adversary as at the quarter-final stage did Portugal’s Raquel Andrade, the no.3 seed.
Abir Haj Salal beat Selja Fazlic in five games (11-8, 3-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-7), before in a full distance duel she ended the hopes of Raquel Andrade (3-11, 11-7, 7-11, 16-14, 11-8, 7-11, 11-7).
Noteworthy performance
Top seed
A notable effort from Abir Haj Salah; it was the very same from Diya Parag Chitale, only 13 years old.
The no.4 seed, in the later rounds she overcame Tunisia’s Mariem Ben Cheikh at the quarter-final stage (11-3, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3), prior to reserving her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Shahd Sameh (11-1, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7).
Three titles
Impressive in the Junior Girls’ Singles event; arguably she was even more impressive in the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition.
Successful earlier in the week in the Cadet Girls’ Team event in harness with Tunisia’s Manel Baklouti; she accounted for the host nation’s Fadwa Garci at the final hurdle (11-5, 11-6, 11-8), having one round earlier ended the hopes of Shahd Sameh (11-3, 11-5, 11-6).
In the counterpart semi-final Fadwa Garci had overcome colleague Farah Mahjoub (11-8, 8-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7).
“I was very well prepared for this tournament, I played three finals and I won two of them. I am very happy for this achievement” Diya Parag Chitale after beating Roa Amro
Success for Diya Parag Chitale in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, it was the same in the Hopes Girls’ Singles competition; she beat Egypt’s Roa Amro in three straight games at the final hurdle to claim the title.
Next stop Indore
Top seed
Play concluded in Hammamet, attention now turns to Indore, the 2016 India Junior and Cadet Open, a Premium Junior Circuit event, commences on Wednesday 7th September.
