by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Born on Tuesday 3rd August 2004, the 12 year old becomes the youngest ever winner of the title; she supersedes China’s Liu Shiwen who was 13 years old when she succeeded in Funchal, Portugal in 2004.
The top seed, at the final hurdle she overcame Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee, the no.5 seed, to claim the top prize (11-9, 11-6, 2-11, 11-6, 11-9). Earlier at the semi-final stage, both had ended the progress of Chinese adversaries. Miyuu Kihara had beaten Huang Yingqi (5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6); Lee Ka Yee who also played in Barbados in 2014, had accounted for Chen Yi (11-7, 11-3, 12-14, 9-11, 5-11, 11-3, 11-9).
“It was a tough match. I won four-three, Huang is a very strong player and she is also my teammate in this competition; when I was trailing, I just wanted to win every point. Finally, I did it. In the final, my only goal is to be the champion”, Miyuu Kihara after beating Huang Yingqi
Success for Miyuu Kihara means that the Girls’ Singles title at an ITTF World Cadet Challenge has been won by a player from Japan on five occasions.
The first to win was Masaki Morizono; in 2005 she succeeded in Vrsac, Serbia prior to retaining the title one year later in Cape Town, South Africa. Later in the Swedish city of Helsingbörg, Ayuka Tanioka struck gold, before more recently in 2014 in Barbados, Mima Ito was crowned champion.
“Lee Ka Yee was my toughest opponent in the whole of this competition and my good teammate as well. We played the doubles together and we are very close to each other, I’m happy that I can beat her From this competition, I think I have improved a lot”, Miyuu Kihara after the final
Time and again Mima Ito has set the record for being the youngest player to achieve distinction but when she won in Barbados she was 14 years old; the honour at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge belongs to Miyuu Kihara.
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Schedule of Play
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Boys’ Teams and Girls’ Teams
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Team – First Stage Results
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Team – First Stage Results
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Team – Main Draw
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Team – Main Draw
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Groups
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Positions 1-16
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Singles – Positions 17-32
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Groups
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Positions 1-16
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Singles – Positions 17-32
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Boys’ Doubles
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Girls’ Doubles
2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Cadet Mixed Doubles