by Ian Marshall, Editor

The top seed, she beat colleague, Li Yuqi (11-9, 11-9, 13-11, 11-7) and Japan’s Haruna Ojio, the no.8 seed (11-5, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7), prior to securing the title at the final expense of Chen Yi, the no.7 seed and also from China (12-10, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7).

Chen Yi, who less than one hour earlier had also been the runner up in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event; notably accounted for Hong Kong’s Chau Wing Sze, the no.2 seed (11-3, 11-9, 4-11, 11-7, 11-6) at the quarter-final stage, prior to reserving her place in the final courtesy of success against compatriot Kuai Man, the no.7 seed. Success against Kuai Man but only just, she needed the full seven games to secure the win, only succeeding by the minimal two point margin in the decider (12-14, 11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9).

Notably, later in the day Chen Yi was to lose to Kuai Man in the Cadet Girls’ Singles final (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5).

Disappointment for Chen Yi but only 13 years old, it was the third time this year that she had reached the later stages of an ITTF World Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles event; in Thailand she had departed proceedings in round three but notably, she was a quarter-finalist in Poland, a semi-finalist in Italy.

Now the runner up in Taicang, progress points to a place on the top step of the Junior Girls’ Singles podium in the not too distant future for Chen Yi.

Matters concluded in Taicang, attention now turns to the city of Amman; the 2018 Jordan Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 25th July.