China reign supreme in Asian Junior Table Tennis

Mumbai, September 16, 2014: The Chinese must have, at last, felt at home. They not only captured four of the six titles on offer on the concluding day, but also accomplished the feat at a home-like condition of a filled-to-the-brim Sardar Patel Stadium at the 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships today.

South Korea  took the Cadet Boys singles crown while Japan had to be satisfied with the Junior Boys doubles title.

All in all the Chinese domination was, more or less, complete taking into account the total number of medals they won in singles and doubles and in team events to six. They also won five silvers and four bronze to stay atop the medals table.

Korea, with two gold, two silver and five bronze medals are just behind the leader while Japan, with two gold, two silver and three bronze medals are third in the order. Taipei with one gold, one silver and three bronze are next with Hong Kong (0-1-5) and North Korea (two bronze) following them.

Yu Ziyang proved to be a worthy winner of the Junior Boys gold, beating teammate Liang Jingkun 4-1. It was a quick disposal and unlike the Junior Girls final, did not bring the audience to the edge of the seat. Though the southpaw, who uses powerful forehand for winners, lost the third game he did not allow any liberty to Liang as he completed the task to take the next two and the title.

Gritty Chen

Chen Xingtong saved two match points and when she got the opportunity on match point, simply served and finished with a forehand winner to beat compatriot and No. 6 seed Wang Manyu 4-3 to win the gold in the Junior Girls singles. The gripping final saw the fourth seed in a bit of a tangle in the sixth when she lost very badly to Wang to come too close for her comfort.

In fact, Wang was serving for the match at 10-9 but managed to return the ball on the net. After the deuce, visibly nervous Wang got another chance but frittered it away. All the while, Chen was keeping her cool and with Wang serving she got the vital lead only to server it out soon after for the title and deny her teammate a double here.

Packed house

The Chinese, known to be playing before a packed house, were happy to be cheered by the schoolchildren from different parts of Mumbai occupying the upper tiers. But, at the same time, the table tennis powerhouse may be unhappy to have not taking the other two medals today and also the team titles in Cadet Boys and Girls sections.

In the all-Japan Junior Boys doubles, Kazuhiro Yoshimura and Yuma Tsuboi, after being extended, finally beat compatriots Asuka Sakai and Yuto Kizukuri 3-2 to win the crown.

The match saw excellent rallies and fast paced action on the table with the two pairs complimenting each well. Sakai and Kizukuri heaved a sigh of relief when the former’s forehand winner helped them level the score after several deuces. But Yoshimura and Tsuboi kept their cool and surged ahead in the decider to win the game and the match.

Similarly, in all-China Junior Girls doubles, Wang Manyu and Chen Ke put it across Liu Gaoyang and Chen Xingtong 3-2. Playing typically aggressive game, the teams had their ups and downs with fortunes fluctuating from one extreme to another. Without conceding any ground the two pairs kept engaging themselves and when it reached the climax it was the Wang and Chen pair won the extended decider and the title.

The Results:

Junior Boys Singles (Final): Yu Ziyang (CHN) bt Liang Jingkun (CHN) 4-1 (11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7); Semifinal: Yu Ziyang (CHN) bt Zhou Qihao (CHN) 4-2 (11-4, 12-14, 13-15, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8), Liang Jingkun (CHN) bt Kim Minhyeok (KOR) 4-2 (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5).

Doubles (Final): Kazuhiro Yoshimura/Yuma Tsuboi (JPN) bt Asuka Sakai/Yuto Kizukuri (JPN) 3-2 (15-13, 11-9, 7-11, 12-14, 11-5); Semifinal: Asuka Sakai/Yuto Kizukuri (JPN) bt Ho Kwan Kit/Hung Ka Tak (HKG) 3-0 (13-11, 11-5, 11-8), Kazuhiro Yoshimura/Yuma Tsuboi (JPN) bt Lim Jonghoon/Park Jeongwoo (KOR) 3-1 (13-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5).

Junior Girls Singles (Final): Chen Xingtong (CHN) bt Wang Manyu 4-3 (12-10, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 13-11); Semifinal: Wang Manyu (CHN) bt Liu Gaoyang (CHN) 4-3 (11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 2-11, 12-10, 14-12), Chen Xingtong (CHN) bt Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) 4-1 (7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8).

Doubles (Final): Wang Manuy/Chen Ke (CHN) bt Liu Gaoyang/Chen Xingtong (CHN) 3-2 (11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10); Semifinal: Liu Gaoyang/Chen Xingtong (CHN) bt Kim Jin Hyang/Ko Un Gum (PRK) 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-7), Wang Manyu/Chen Ke (CHN) bt Lee Zion/Lee Seul (KOR) 3-0 (13-11, 11-4, 11-8).

Cadet Boys Singles (Final): An Jaeyhun (KOR) bt Hwang Minha (KOR) 4-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-9, 11-6; Semifinal:Hwang Minha (KOR) bt Lin Yun-Ju (TPE) 4-3 (11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 7-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-4), An Jaehyun (KOR) bt Yuto Kizukuri (JPN) 4-0 (11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8).

Cadet Girls Singles (Final): Sun Yingsha (CHN) bt Mu Jingyu (CHN) 4-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7); Semifinal: Mu Jingyu (CHN) bt Hirano Miu (JPN) 4-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-1, 11-7), Sun Yingsha (CHN) bt Qian Tianyi (CHN) 4-1 (11-3, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5).

A TTFI Press release