by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Two days earlier in the group stage, facing Alaa Yehia, Farida Badawy won the first two games with ease before losing the next three to experience an unexpected defeat (5-11, 1-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10).

Alaa Yehia has no current world ranking and was thus not seeded; conversely, Fadwa Badawy commenced proceedings as the third seed.

Later, in the semi-final round, Farida Badawy ended the progress of compatriot, Shahd Sameh, by the very narrowest of five game margins (13-11, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10); meanwhile, at the same stage Alaa Yehia continued her policy of causing upsets. She beat Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci, the no.2 seed (9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6).

Thus the pair met in the final; on this occasion, Farida Badawy did not relax her grip. It was a hard fought contest but the outcome was a status advised, Farida Badawy won in four games (16-12, 8-11, 11-6, 13-11).

The top step of the podium for Farida Badawy in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event; in the Cadet Girls’ Doubles competition, partnering Malamateni Papadimitriou of Greece, it was the second step. At the final hurdle the duo experienced defeat at the hands of Fadwa Garci and the host nation’s Hana Mahmoud (11-7, 5-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-5).

Earlier in the semi-finals, Fadwa Garci and Hana Mahmoud had beaten Alaa Yehia and Egyptian colleague, Hend Fathy (11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8); Farida Badawy and Malamateni Papadimitriou had accounted for Nada Hesham and Rawan Zakaria (11-4, 12-14, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5).

Medals for Egypt, in the Hopes Girls’ Singles event, it was the complete set: gold, silver and bronze.

Hana Goda beat Jana Saad (11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7) to claim the top prize, having accounted for Roa Zaki in the penultimate round (11-7, 11-9, 11-7); in the counterpart semi-final, Jana Saad had beaten Kanzy Fawzy (9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 12-10).