by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Only 16 years old, at the final hurdle he accounted for Korea’s Cho Seungmin, the no.4 seed (11-8, 11-3, 11-8), having at the quarter-final stage ousted Japan’s Yuto Kizukuri, the no.2 seed (11-6, 12-10, 14-12) and one round later China’s Xu Haidong (11-9, 11-8, 11-9), another bright young man who currently lies in second place on the ITTF World Junior Circuit Standings.
In the opposite half of the draw, Cho Seungmin had overcame China’s Niu Guangkai, the no.18 seed (14, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7), prior to ending the hopes of Hong Kong by beating Ng Pak Nam, the no.6 seed (11-8, 11-3, 11-8).
Notably, Ng Pak Nam was in form, at the quarter-final stage he had ended the progress of Japan’s Yukiya Uda, the no.23 seed (11-8, 11-6, 11-9), the player who in the opening round had caused a major upset by beaten Korea Republic’s Lim Jonghoon, the top seed (11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 11-5).
Runners up spot for Cho Seungmin in his third ITTF World Tour Under 21 Men’s Singles final; in 2016 he won in Belarus, last year in Austria, he was beaten by China’s Xue Fei in the final.
Likewise for Lin Yun-Ju, it was his third such final; his second win, moreover his second win of the year. In 2017 he was the runner up in Austria, earlier this year in January he won in Budapest.
Make no mistake, Lin Yun-Ju is a special talent, World Junior champion later this year?
