by Ian Marshall, Editor
Notably, the win in Chinese Taipei, was her third such junior girls’ singles success of the year; the week prior to her success in Sweden, she had prevailed in the Czech Republic.
Impressive, in the junior girls’ singles later rounds she beat Singapore’s Ser Lian Qian (11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7), before ending the hopes of Chinese Taipei. At the semi-final stage she ousted Hsu Yi-Chen (11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6), prior to clinching the title at the final expense of Yu Hsiu-Ting (11-8, 11-7, 11-6).
Hard earned wins
A series of noteworthy performances to capture junior girls’ singles gold, in the cadet girls’ singles competition at both the quarter and semi-final stages the success was hard earned. She needed five games to beat colleague Miwa Harimoto (11-5, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7), prior emerging successful in the penultimate round in a similar manner when opposing Hong Kong’s Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam (11-8, 11-8, 6-11, 10-12, 11-3). A place in the final booked, life was less exacting; she beat Ser Lin Qian in straight games (11-8, 11-6, 11-9).
Notably in the opposite half of the draw, in the quarter-final round, Ser Lin Qian had beaten Chinese Tapei’s Chen Yu-Chih, the player who in the group staged had overcome Kaho Akae (12-10, 11-4, 11-6); Ser Lin Qian duly reserved her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Cheng Pu-Syuan (11-5, 13-11, 11-7).
Meanwhile, in the adjacent half of the draw in the junior girls’ singles event, at the quarter-final stage Yu Hsiu-Ting accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Kao Ming (6-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6), followed by success in opposition to Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee (11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 12-10).
Two titles on the final day of play; the cadet girls’ doubles success in partnership with Hina Higashikawa made the total three in number. In the title decider, the duo accounted for compatriots Yura Shinohara and Fuwa Yumoto (11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 15-13).
Further success for Tai Ming-Wei
Success after previous success for Kaho Akae, it was the same in the junior boys’ singles event for the host’s Tai Ming-Wei, the runner up earlier this year on the ITTF World Junior Circuit in Australia, the winner last year in El Salvador.
He ended Japanese hopes; following success in opposition to colleague Peng Chih (15-17, 15-13, 11-2, 10-12, 11-5, 13-11), he beat Yu Kayama (11-9, 11-7, 11-8, 14-16, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9) and Ryoichi Yoshiyama (11-4, 11-5, 6-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6) to arrest the title. In the opposite half of the draw, in the later rounds, Ryoichi Yoshiyama had accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Li Hsin-Yu (6-11, 9-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6) and colleague Kazuki Yamada (11-2, 11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5).
Disappointment for Ryoichi Yoshiyama and Yu Kayama but there was success; together they won the junior boys’ doubles event beating Korea Republic’s Hwang Jinha and Woo Hyeonggyu in the final (13-11, 11-9, 12-10).
More gold for Chinese Taipei
Gold for Chinese Taipei in the junior boys’ singles, it was the same in the cadet boys’ singles event. Kao Cheng-Jui emerged the winner, accounting for Japan’s Hayate Suzuki in the final (5-11, 11-13, 13-11, 11-7, 11-9). Earlier in the round of the last eight, Kao Cheng-Jui had beaten colleague Chang Yu-An (11-2, 11-7, 11-7), before overcoming Korea Republic’s Park Changgeon (11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5) to reserve his place in the final.
At the same stages Hayate Suzuki had halted Chinese Taipei progress, he beat Chen Yen-Ting (13-11, 12-10, 11-6), followed by success in opposition to Liang Chen-Wei (12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 6-11, 11-7).
Similarly, in both the cadet boys’ doubles and junior girls’ doubles events there was success for Chinese Taipei; in fact it was gold and silver. In the former, at the final hurdle Wu Chiou-Shin and Zang Huan-Qi beat Chang Yu-An and Ka Cheng-Jui (13-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7); in the latter Chien Tung-Chuan and Yu Hsiu-Ting overcame Cai Fong-En and Hsu Yi-Chen (9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6).
Play in Chinese Taipei concluded, attention on the ITTF World Junior Circuit now turns to Otocec; the Slovenia Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 2nd October.
