by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Successfully through to the later stages, in the penultimate round Theo Abrahamsson accounted for Russia’s Maksim Kaburkin (7-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-3, 11-7), prior to securing the title at the final expense of Frenchman Fabio Rakotoarimanana (9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7). In the opposite half of the draw, in the semi-finals, Fabio Rakotoarimanana had ended the hopes of Sergey Ryzhov, like Maksim Kaburkin from Russia (11-7, 11-6, 11-7).
Impressive performances from Theo Abrahamsson, it was the same from Prithika Pavade, a young lady very much in form; en route to gold, she ended the Japanese aspirations.
At the semi-final stage she accounted for Honomi Nakamori (11-7, 11-5, 10-12, 11-8), prior to securing the title at the final expense of Hikari Okubo (12-10, 11-7, 11-9). In the opposite half of the draw, Honomi Nakamori had beaten Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian to reserve her place in the final (11-1, 11-6, 11-4).
Meanwhile, in the Mini-Cadet Boys’ Singles event it was success for Gabriellius Camara of the Netherlands; in the Mini-Cadet Girls’ Singles competition, the top prize finished in the hands of Swathi Giri of the United States.
Gabriellius Camara beat Daniel Berzosa, a member of a group of some 20 players from Spain, to claim the top prize (11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5), having earlier at semi-final stage ousted Aziz Zarehbin of the United States (11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7). In the same round Daniel Berzosa had beaten Belgium’s Xavier Wats (11-3, 1-11, 11-5, 11-8).
A most worthy performance from Gabriellius Camara, it was likewise from Swathi Giri. She beat Germany’s Annett Kaufmann (8-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5) to book her place in the final where she overcame Egypt’s Hana Goda to claim gold (11-4, 12-14, 11-8, 11-8). Hana Goda, who earlier in the month had also been the silver medallist in Oman, had ended the hopes of Italy’s Caterina Angeli one round earlier (11-4, 6-11, 14-12, 10-12, 11-8).
Proceedings in Örebro concluded; the next stop on the 2018 ITTF World Junior Circuit is the Tunisia Junior and Cadet Open; play commences in Tunis on Monday 19th March and concludes on Friday 19th March.
