by Ian Marshall, Editor
Most impressive, Geng Linyu beat Youssef Abdel-Aziz to claim the Junior Boys’ Singles title (11-6, 11-7, 11-3, 11-9), having less than one hour earlier partnered colleague Song Zhuoheng to Junior Boys’ Doubles success. At the final hurdle they overcame Youssef Abdel-Aziz and Maciej Kolodziejczyk , a contest in which they had to withstand a determined recovery before emerging successful by the very narrowest of decisions (11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9).
In both events, Youssef Abdel-Aziz commenced matters as the top seed; both 16 years old, neither Geng Linyu nor Song Zhuoheng possess a current world ranking.
Successful together, apart it was Song Zhuoheng who almost ended the hopes of his colleague; he came the nearest to beating Geng Linyu. At the semi-final stage he extended the champion elect the full seven games (11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7), the only player to achieve the feat. Notably, one round earlier, Song Zhuoheng had beaten Chen Yuanyu, also from China (11-8, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 11-6), the third round winner in opposition to Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen, the no.2 seed (10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-2, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5).
Previously, on the second day of play, Geng Linyu had beaten India’s Manush Utpalbhai Shah, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5), before accounting for Italy’s Andrea Puppo (11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 12-10) to reserve his place in the penultimate round.
Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, en route to final, Youssef Abdel-Aziz had been in similarly impressive form. He had left in his wake Germany’s Meng Fanbo, the no.9 seed (11-9, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9, 11-8), the Czech Republic’s Adam Stalzer (11-6, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3) and Brazil’s Guilherme Teodoro, the no.7 seed (8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11) to reserve his semi-final place, where the good form continued. He accounted for China’s Song Baifu (11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5), the player who beaten Thailand’s Yanapong Panagitgun, the no.3 seed, in round two (8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7).
The Junior Boys’ Singles and Junior Boys’ Doubles events completed; attention now turns to the Junior Boys’ Team and Cadet Boys’ Team competitions; play concludes on Sunday 16th September.
