by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
A career first ITTF World Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles title, in the latter stages Sharon Alguetti accounted Romania’s Paul Mladin (12-10, 11-5, 4-11, 11-5, 12-10), before overcoming Bulgaria’s Stefan Todorov (11-4, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7) and India’s Manush Utpalbhai Shah, the no.5 seed (11-3, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8) to reserve his place in the final.
Notably, Manush Utpalbhai Shah was a player very much in form, at the quarter-final stage, by the very narrowest of margins, he had beaten Portugal’s José Pedro Francisco, the no.2 seed (5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10).
Impressive from Sharon Alguetti on his path to the final, it was the same from Manav Vikash Thakkar. He accounted for the Czech Republic’s Tomas Koldas (11-6, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4) and Sweden’s Jonathan Thimon (11-8, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6), prior to reserving his place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Portugal’s Vitor Amorin, the no.6 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4).
Defeat for Vitor Amorin but like his colleague, José Pedro Francisco, he had impressed. In the round of the last eight he had recovered from a three games to nil deficit to beat Ireland’s Owen Cathcart, the no.10 seed (8-11, 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 15-13, 11-6, 11-6), the second round winner in opposition to Canada’s Jeremy Hazin, the no.3 seed (11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9).
An earlier than expected departure for Jeremy Hazin; in the Junior Boys’ Doubles event, life was very different.
Partnering Paul Mladin and occupying the third seeded position in the draw, the duo secured the title at the final expense of Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Manav Vikash Thakkar, the top seeds. They emerged successful by the very narrowest of five game margins (11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-13, 12-10).
Earlier at the semi-final stage, Paul Mladin and Jeremy Hazin had beaten the combination of Ireland’s Owen Cathcart and Montenegro’s Filip Radovic, the no.6 seeds (11-3, 11-9, 11-9); in the opposite half of the draw Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Manav Vikash Thakkar had ousted Portugal’s Samuel da Silva and Tiago Li, the no.5 seeds (11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5).
The Junior Boys’ Singles and Junior Boys’ Doubles events over, attention now turns to the Junior Girls’ Team and Cadet Girls’ Team competitions.
