by Ian Marshall, Editor

Just as in the final of the cadet boys’ team event, in cadet boys’ singles gold medal contest Denis Izumrudov, principally a defender, beat Japan’s Sora Matsushima in five games (8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7); one day earlier the outcome had been virtually the same (6-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9).

Earlier in the round of the last eight, Denis Izumrudov had beaten Frenchman, Thibaut Poret (13-11, 12-10, 11-8), before accounting for Belgium’s Louis Laffineur (11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8) to reserve his place in the final. In the opposite half of the draw, for Sora Matsushima it was one Russian too many; at the quarter-final stage he accounted for Sergey Makarov (11-3, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6), before in the penultimate round ending the hopes of Vladislav Makarov (11-9, 11-8, 11-6).

Silver for Sora Matsushima, it was the same in the cadet boys’ doubles; partnering Haruki Michihiro, the pair experienced defeat by the very narrowest of margins when facing the French duo comprising Milhane Jellouli and Alexis Kouraichi (10-12, 13-11, 9-11, 13-11, 13-11).

Disappointment for Japan; not in the cadet girls’ singles event where Kaho Akae beat compatriot Miwa Harimoto to secure the top prize (11-9, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9); in the later rounds Kaho Akae had beaten Hungary’s Dorottya Tolgyes (11-8, 11-5, 11-3) followed by success against Sakura Yokoi, also from Japan (6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-9). Somewhat similarly, in hard fought encounters, Miwa Harimoto had beaten colleague Yura Shinohara (10-12, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9) and Croatia’s Hana Arapovic (11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5).

Gold for Kaho Akae, silver for Miwa Harimoto; in the girls’ doubles event it was the reverse scenario. In the final Miwa Harimoto and Yura Shinohara beat Kaho Akae and Hana Arapovic to secure the title. They prevailed in four games (5-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6).

Play concluded in Hodonin; attention now turns to Örebro, the Swedish Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 20th February.