by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Notably Chinese Taipei did not select Su Pei-Ling, the winner earlier in the year on the ITTF World Junior Circuit in Slovakia; for Serbia, Tijana Jokic was resigned to the bench.
“I didn’t play well in the previous matches here, so I think our coach wasn’t sure about letting me play today, that’s why I’m not in the line-up.” Su Pei-Ling
A three-nil result in favour of Chinese Taipei was the outcome with the defensive play of Tsai Yu-Chin giving her team the ideal start; they say all defenders are different but if I was to categorize the 16 year old she is very much in the guise of Korea’s Suh Hyowon, a player prepared to execute a forehand top spin when the chance arises.
She beat Dragana Vignjevic in four games (11-5, 8-11, 11-8, 14-12)
“I have played against her before, so I’m quite familiar with her style of play. I chose to play defending style mainly because when I first started playing the sport, my dad wanted me to be a defender.” Tsai Yu-Chin
Success for Tsai Yu-Chin was followed by success for Chen Ting-Ting but not without some moments of difficulty; she lost the first two games against Sabina Surjan before recovering to win the next two (9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11, 11-5).
“In the first two games, I was overthinking a little and playing too conservatively. After trailing two-nil, I focused more each stroke and each point, I focused on her weaknesses.” Chen Ting-Ting
Chinese Taipei in the driving seat, Lee Yu-Peng, a young lady who scampers about the court playing forehand top spin strokes at every opportunity, duly brought matters to a conclusion; she accounted for Izabela Lupulesku in three straight games (11-7, 11-8, 11-9).
“I think she had issues with my serves, she couldn’t receive them well, so that was my advantage in the match; when we had longer rallies, she was in a better position.” Lee Yu-Peng
Fifth place for Chinese Taipei in the Girls’ Team event, sixth spot for Serbia; for Germany it was seventh place with the United States completing the top eight names.
In the play-off contest, Germany recorded a three-one win in opposition to the United States.
Rachel Sung beat Franziska Schreiner in the opening match of the engagement but that was the sum total of success for the United States. Crystal Wang was beaten by both Sophie Klee (11-9, 11-3, 11-3) and by Franziska Schreiner (11-8, 3-11, 11-4, 17-15). The one further win for the Germans was gained in the third match of the fixture when Anastasia Bondareva beat Ishana Deb (11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-6).
