Tournaments

27 Jul 2017

The only previous experience on the ITTF World Junior Circuit when competing on home soil in Indore at the Indian Junior and Cadet Open in 2015 and 2016; on her first venture beyond native shores, Yashini Sivasankar emerged at the surprise winner of the Junior Girls’ Singles event at the 2017 Jordan Junior and Cadet Open in Amman on Wednesday 26th July.

At the start of proceedings, the 17 year old, a player with no world ranking, was not amongst the names considered a major challenger for honours; there was not tangible evidence to predict the success.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Notably on her two appearances in Indore, in Junior Girls’ Singles events, she had not progressed beyond the initial group stage of proceedings. The only success of note being a semi-final Cadet Girls’ Singles finish in Indore two years ago.

Second place in the group one day earlier when beaten by Prapti Sen (11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10); one day later in the final, Yashini Sivasankar reversed the decision.

She overcame her nemesis in seven games to arrest the title (7-11, 5-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4), having earlier caused a major upset by beating Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut in the quarter-finals (11-7, 8-11, 13-11, 9-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8).

A surprise last eight win, the semi-final success was also somewhat of a surprise. She beat colleague Kushi Vishwanath, the no.9 seed (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-6) in a round where all four semi-finalists were from India. In the opposite half of the draw, after having overcome Swastika Ghosh, likewise from India (9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7), Prati Sen accounted for Vanshika Bhargava, the no.10 seed (11-7, 11-6, 11-8, 14-12).

Disappointment for Jinnipa Sawettabut but there was success; in partnership with India’s Nanapat Kola, she won the Junior Girls’ Doubles title.

At the final hurdle, they overcame Chinese Taipei’s Cai Fong-En and Chien Tung-Chuan (6-11, 13-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4), having one round earlier accounted for Manushree Patil and Prapti Sen (11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7). Defeat for one Indian partnership, in the corresponding semi-final, it was defeat for another; Cai Fong-En and Chien Tung-Chuan overcame Priyanka Pareek and Yashini Sivasankar.

Bronze for Yashini Sivasankar but later gold; a day to remember for the Indian teenager.

 Day Two: Jordan Junior and Cadet Open
Photos: courtesy of Jordan Table Tennis Federation

World Junior Circuit 2017 Jordan Junior and Cadet Open Yashini Sivasankar
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