by Ian Marshall, Editor

Earlier in the week she had partnered Nandeshwaree Jalim of Mauritius to junior girls’ team success; on the concluding day of play once again she joined forces with the 17 year old from the Indian Ocean island to secure junior girls’ doubles gold, before overcoming her newly found colleague in the girls’ singles final.

Impressive throughout; a straight games win (11-4, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2) was the outcome at the final hurdle in a tournament that was not only a landmark for Diya Parag Chitale, it was also a watershed moment for Nandeshwaree Jalim. It was her first ever appearance in a junior girls’ singles final at an ITTF World Junior Circuit tournament and similarly a first for Mauritius.

Earlier in the day at the semi-final stage, Diya Parag Chitale had beaten Nigeria’s Sukurat Aiyelbegan (11-8, 13-11, 11-8, 11-7); similarly, Nandeshwaree Jalim had ousted Ananya Chande (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5), like Diya Parag Chitale from India. Soon after the successful duo secured the junior girls’ doubles title at the final expense of Ananya Chande and England’s Ruby Chan (11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 12-14, 11-5).

Bronze and silver for Ananya Chande, there was also gold. She won both the cadet girls’ singles and mini-cadet girls’ singles titles, accounting for Ruby Chan in the final of the former (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6), Sukurat Aiyelbegan in the latter (10-12, 11-2, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6).

Two gold medals on the concluding day of action, she added one more; as in the junior girls’ doubles, she partnered Ruby Chan, the duo enjoying cadet girls’ doubles success. At the final hurdle the pair accounted for the host nation’s Judith Acheampong and Diana Ekua Opoku (11-2, 11-9, 11-4).

Now a break of one day; on Sunday 7th April, the 2019 African Youth, Junior and Cadet Championships commence in Accra.