by Ian Marshall, Editor
Impressively, the top step of the podium was the order of the day in both the junior girls’ team and cadet girls’ team events.
Elizabeta Abraamian, Olga Vishniakova and Natalia Malinina combined to secure the junior girls’ team title. After recording a 3-2 win against the French outfit formed by Isa Cok, Chloe Chomis and Clemence Chévallier, a 3-1 success was recorded in the final in opposition to colleagues Liubov Tentser, Arina Slautina and Vlada Voronina.
Notably, the player to cause the champions elect problems in the penultimate round was Isa Cok; she accounted for both Natalia Malinina (11-8, 11-6, 12-14, 11-5), prior to overcoming Elizabet Abraamian (11-8, 11-4, 11-3).
Team effort
A team effort secured victory; it was very much the same in the final. Elizabet Abraamian beat Liubov Tentser (11-5, 11-9, 2-11, 11-4), before Irina Slautina accounted for Olga Vishniakova (7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9) to level matters. The outcome in the balance, Natalia Malinina overcame Vlada Voronina (11-8, 11-4, 11-5), prior to Olga Vishniakova prevailing against Liubov Tentser (11-5, 11-6, 12-10) to end proceedings.
In the opposite half of the draw the semi-final stage, Liubov Tentser, Arina Slautina and Vlada Voronina had recorded a 3-0 win against the combination of Romania’s Irina Rus, Hungary’s Helga Dari and Bulgaria’s Kalina Hristova.
Similar situation
Russia in unity, it was no different in the cadet boys’ team competition. Following a 3-1 semi-final win in opposition to the partnership formed by Kazakhstan’s Alan Kurmangaliyev and the Czech Republic’s Matyas Lebeda, a full distance 3-2 margin of victory was posted in opposition to Thailand’s Napat Thanmathikom and Tanapat Thanmathikom.
Backbone if the victory in the final was Miron Vasilev. He beat both Napat Thanmathikom (11-7, 14-12, 3-11, 11-4) and Tanapat Thanmathikom (10-12, 13-11, 15-13, 11-9) whilst teaming with Ilia Koniukov to secure the doubles (11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 14-12).
Title for Czech Republic
The top step of the podium in the junior girls’ team and cadet boys’ team events for Russia; in the junior boys’ team and cadet girls’ team competitions the colour was bronze.
Represented by Ondrej Kveton, Tomas Martinko and Radek Skala, the Czech Republic secured junior boys’ team gold. After recording a 3-2 win against the outfit formed by India’s Raegen Albuquerque and Yasahansh Malik, who lined up alongside Lode Hulshof of the Netherlands, a 3-1 margin of victory secured the title at the final expense of Brazil’s Kenzo Carmo, Guilherme Teodoro and Eduard Tomoike.
Man of the moment in the penultimate round was Radek Skala, he accounted for both Raegan Albuquerque (9-11, 14-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6) and Lode Hulshof (11-7, 11-7, 11-9). Conversely in the final, he was the one player to experience defeat. He lost to Guilherme Teodoro in the opening match of the fixture (11-2, 11-7, 13-11).
Determined Tomas Martinko came to the rescue. He levelled matters, he recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Eduardo Tomoike by the narrowest of margins (6-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10), before Ondrej Kveton gave his team the lead. He beat Kenzo Carmo (8-11, 16-14, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7). Immediately following Tomas Martinko returned to the table, he overcame Guilherme Teodoro (11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9) to seal the victory.
In the counterpart semi-final, the Brazilians had recorded a 3-0 win in opposition to Russia’s Ruslan Cherkes, Damir Akhmetsafin and Maksim Bokov.
Giulia Takahashi and Laura Watanabe
Silver for Brazil, in the cadet girls’ team event it was gold; Giulia Takahashi and Laura Watanabe claimed the title at the final expense of Germany’s Jele Stortz and Mia Griesel; a 3-1 victory margin was the outcome, the same has had been realised at the semi-final stage in opposition to Russia’s Karina Iusupova, Sofia Umantes and Mariia Bordiugovskaia.
Earlier in the adjacent penultimate round fixture, the German duo had recorded a 3-2 win against Kazakhstan’s Alexandra Smirnova and Sarvinoz Mirkadirova.
Play concludes on Saturday 28th August when the titles will be decided in the individual events in the cadet age group.
