by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Furthermore, the 16 year old succeeded in style; he emerged successful in three straight games (11-8, 11-9, 11-9).
A surprise outcome, in the corresponding semi-final, there was also a seeding upset and the opposite fortunes for Japan; Yuto Kizukuri, the no.2 seed, was beaten by the Czech Republic’s Tomas Polansky, the no.5 seed (11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8).
Success for Tomas Polansky and a degree of revenge; earlier in the year, he had experienced defeat at the hands of Yuto Kizukuri when the pair met in the same round at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open in Minsk. On that occasion Tomas Polansky had experienced defeat in a full distance five games duel (4-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8).
Surprise outcomes at the semi-final stage of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event; in the corresponding Under 21 Women’s Singles competition matters progressed as per status but for the higher rated there were close calls.
Korea’s Ji Eunchae, the no.8 seed, resisted a spirited recovery from Japan’s 12 year old Miyuu Kihara, the no.16 seed, to emerge successful (11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7); Romania’s Adina Diaconu, the no.2 seed, recovered from a two games to one deficit to best Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.3 seed (8-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-3).
Similar to Tomas Polansky, the win recorded by Adina Diaconu was somewhat of a revenge win; on their most recent meeting, the final of the Junior Girls’ Singles event at the 2016 Polish Junior and Cadet Open, Adriana Diaz had prevailed in four straight games (11-8, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6).
The finals of both the Under 21 Men’s Singles and Under 21 Women’s Singles events will be played later in the day.