Tournaments

2018 Belgium Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

Tournament News
World Junior Circuit

Yukari Sugasawa surprise winner, Japan’s ever increasing depth of talent underlined

20 Apr 2018

Cadet Girls’ Singles gold medallist last year in Croatia but never in the final of an ITTF World Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles event, her best earlier this year in Sweden when reaching the last eight; Japan’s Yukari Sugasawa won the Junior Girls’ Singles title on Thursday 19th April at the 2018 Belgium Junior and Cadet Open in Spa.

The win endorsed the quite incredible depth of talent that currently exists in Japan among teenage girls and younger; Yukari Sugasawa is only 14 years old.

Yukari Sugasawa, the Junior Girls' Singles winner (Photo: Danilo Kesic)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Occupying the no.6 seeded position, in the main draw on the second day of play, she accounted for Belgium’s Natacha Koszulap, the no.14 seed (11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8), before overcoming Leili Mostafavi of France, the no.7 seed (11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 11-3) and Poland’s Anna Wegrzyn, the no.5 seed (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7) to reserve her place in the final.

Hard fought contests, in the title decider, life was less testing. She beat Lucie Gauthier, the no.3 seed and like Leili Mostafavi from France in four straight games (11-5, 11-8, 11-2, 11-9).

Notable performances, especially when taken into account the fact that both Leili Mostafavi and Anna Wegrzyn were players in form. Earlier both had caused major upsets by beating highly rated adversaries from Hong Kong. In round two, Leili Mostafavi had accounted for Lee Ka Yee, the no.2 seed (11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11, 8-11, 11-3); one round later at the quarter-final stage, Anna Wegrzyn had ended the progress of Wong Chin Yau, the no.2 seed (11-8, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4).

Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, in the later rounds, Lucie Gauthier had beaten Men Zhuohan of the Netherlands, the no.23 seed (5-11, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8), prior to accounting for a most impressive Japanese duo. She overcame Hikari Okubo, the no.21 seed (11-8, 11-2, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9) and Kaha Akae, a player new to the international scene and with no world ranking (11-7, 11-13, 11-1, 11-1) to reserve her place in the final.

Previously, at the quarter-final stage Kaha Akae had beaten Hungary’s Fanni Harasztovich, the no.9 seed (11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6), the second round winner in opposition to Hong Kong’s Chau Wing Sze, the top seed (11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 14-12).

Most significantly, Hikari Okubo is 12 years old, Kaho Akae in 13 years of age; further endorsement of Japan’s reservoir of excellence.

Disappointment for Hong Kong but in the Junior Girls’ Doubles event there was success; Lee Ka Yee and Wong Chin Yau secured the top prize. At the final hurdle they beat Spain’s Alba Fernandez and Ana Garcia (11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5).

Play now continues with the Junior Girls’ Team and Cadet Girls’ Team events.

World Junior Circuit 2018 Belgium Junior & Cadet Open Yukari Sugasawa

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No results found.