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

Taipei pair wins title; Indian challenge ends

Mumbai, September 15, 2014: The Chinese Taipei pair of Sun Chia-Hung and Chiu Ssu-Hua defeated Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Doo Hoi Kem in the final of the Mixed Junior Doubles to win the title at the 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships at the Sardar Patel Stadium here tonight.

The mixed doubles event had all the trappings of a final with rival pairs putting up a great fight. In the end, it was the Taipei combine which took the crown, thanks to the duo’s perseverance. No doubt both Ho and Doo were giving enough headaches but both Sun and Chiu were up to the task and took the first extended game at 16-14.

If one thought that was a good beginning, the duo lost the second only to pull back in the third game of fluctuating fortunes. With 2-1 up, the pair upped the ante to put it across the Hong Kong duo.

In Cadet Boys singles, top-seed Hwang Minha, No. 2 seed Japanese Yuto Kizukuri, No. 3 An Jaehyun from Korea and fifth seed Lin Yun-Ju entered the semifinals. Only Yuto was stretched a bit while the others moved up the ladder without any concern.

Similarly, in Cadet Girls it was a cakewalk for both top-seed Miu Hirano of Japan and China’s Mu Jingyu, the No. 4 seed, against their North Korean and Hong Kong rivals, respectively. But the two Chinese Qian Tianyi and Sun Yingsha it was a tough and go affair. Qian upset No. 2 seed Mima Ito of Japan 3-2 while the unseeded Sun defeated her unseeded opponent Ko Un Gum from North Korea.

Ayhika Mukherjee, the lone Indian to make it to pre-quarterfinals the Junior Girls, lost to No. 6 seed Chinese Wang Manyu 3-1 (11-5, 11-13, 8-11, 5-11, 4-11). The Indian, who began on a bright note winning the first game, failed against a sustained onslaught from the Chinese to lose the encounter.

Earlier, Ayhika and Priyadarshini Das had reached the quarterfinals of the Junior Girls doubles but the Indian pair lost to Chinese duo of Wang Manyu and Chen Ke in straight games. With that, the Indian challenge at the championships had ended.

The Results:

Mixed Junior Doubles (Final): Sun Chia-Hung/Chiu Ssu-Hua (TPE) bt How Kwan Kit/Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) 3-1 (16-14, 5-11, 17-15, 11-8).

Cadet Boys (QF): Hwang Minha (KOR) bt Chen Chun-Hsiang (TPE) 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-7), Lin Yun-Ju (TPE) bt Takuto Izumo (JPN) 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-5), Yuto Kizukuri (JPN) bt Kim Daewoo (KOR) 3-1 (12-10, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7), An Jaeyhun (KOR) bt Tan Lucas (SIN) 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, 11-6).

Cadet Girls (QF): Mu Jingyu (CHN) bt Lee Ka Yee (HKG) 3-0 (11-4, 11-1, 11-3), Qian Tianyi (CHN) bt Mima Ito (JPN) 3-2 (11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-3), Sun Yingsha (CHN) bt Hina Hayata (JPN) 3-2 (12-10, 11-5, 11-13, 5-11, 11-7), Miu Hirano (JPN) bt Ko Un Gum (PRK) 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-5).

TTFI release

No Chinese in Cadet Boys’ main draw!

Mumbai, September 15, 2014: Top four seeds in both Cadet Boys and Girls received first-round bye and will await their opponents in the quarterfinals, to be played later tonight here, at the 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships at the Sardar Patel Stadium.

But the surprising aspect that no Chinese player—only two were entered—qualified for the main draw, leaving the field open for Japan, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong and the two Koreas to exploit.  Peng Feilong and Xu Yingbin, the two Chinese, bowed out in the group stages of the match.

From among the 21 players, divided into 12 groups, only two girls—Archana Kamath and Abhinaya Ramesh—qualified for the main draw, though six were in the fray at group stages. But out of the six Indian Cadet Boys, no one made the cut, despite the hosts were allowed the luxury of two extra entries each in the two categories.

When the seeding list was out, the Japanese must have been the happiest lot to see three of their players—Miu Hirano, Mima Ito and Hina Hayata—taking the first three slots in Cadet Girls section. China’s Mu Jingyu was seeded fourth while Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee at fifth. Koreans Kim Youjin and Kim Jiho were at sixth and eighth with Chinese Qian Tianyi sandwiched between them at seventh.

As for the boys, Korean Hwang Minha was top-seeded while Yuto Kizukuri was behind him at No. 2. The other Japanese seeded include Takuto Izumo at No. 4 and Yukiya Uda at No. 8. Korean An Jaehyun was placed at No. 3 while Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Li Hsin-Yang were at Nos. 5 and 6. Kim Daewoo, the lone bottom-half Korean, got position eight.  

TTFI Press release

Hong Kong-Taipei pairs in mixed doubles final

Mumbai, September 14, 2014: The fighting qualities of Hong Kong’s pair apart, percentage play also came to the fore in the Junior Mixed Doubles event of the Reliance 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships at the Sardar Patel Stadium here today.

Understandably, Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Doo Hoi Kem, who combined well with her partner, won their semifinal encounter 3-0 against Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Tiang and Huang Yu-Chiao without much ado. The duo will now take on in the final another pair from Chinese Taipei’s Sun Chia-Hung and Chiu Ssu-Hua, which defeated North Koreans Kim Ok Chan and Kim Jinju 3-1 in the other semifinals.  The final will be played tomorrow.

However, as compared to their quarterfinal outing against the Korean pair of Kim Minhyeok and Lee Seul, the semifinal against Taipei failed to measure up both in intensity as well as attraction. Maybe, after their hard-fought win against the Koreans, the Hong Kong pair was more ease with itself, combining so well to outthought and outwit both Liao Cheng-Tiang andHuang Yu-Chiao.

But in the breathtaking quarterfinals earlier, Korea’s Kim Minhyeok and Lee Seul were leading comfortably with a 2-0 score. But Ho and Doo re-wrote the script, taking the match down to the wire to 3-2. This mixed doubles saw excellent fight, with none of the pairs conceding an inch. Matching stroke for stroke, Kim and Lee pushed the Hong Kong duo on the back foot and won by the minimal points. In the decider, too, they did exceedingly well to keep things under control and the tie went into deuce before Hong Kong’s Ho and Doo wrapped it up in style at 14-12.

In the other quarterfinals, the Chinese pair of Zhou Qihao and Chen Ke failed to match and sustain the pace of Taipei’s duo of Liao Cheng-Ting and Huang Yu-Chiao and went down in straight gains of 11-8, 11-4, 11-9.

Ayhika shines

The first stage group matches in both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls singles got underway with 16 and 14 groups, respectively. With one player from each group advancing to the next stage, the main draw, things will get tougher from tomorrow.

From the Indian point of view, Ayhika Mukherjee won both her group matches against Sri Lankan Ruvini Kannangara 3-1 and North Korean Ri Yong Hae 3-0. She, however, has to play South Korean Lee Seul tomorrow in the third round to know her fate of making it to the main draw.

Sagarika Mukherjee and Riti Shankar have won a match each but it will be tough for them to win their next matches against fancied opponents from China and Japan. Otherwise, it was curtains for Sreeja and Oishwarya Deb who lost their first matches and face bigger tests in round 2.

Results:

Junior Mixed Doubles: Semifinals: Ho Kwan Kit/Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) bt Liao Cheng-Tiang/Huang Yu-Chiao (TPE) 3-0 (11-4, 11-6, 12-10) Sun Chia-Hung/Chiu Ssu-Hua (TPE) bt Kim Ok Chan/Kim Jinju (PRK) 3-1 (11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8); Quarterfinals: Kim Ok Chan/Kim Jinju (PRK) bt Supanut W/Orawan Paranang (THA) 3-1 (5-11,  11-4, 12-10, 11-6), Sun China-Hung/Chiu Ssu-Hua (TPE) bt Cho Seungmin/Lee Zion (KOR) 3-1 (11-5, 11-9, 4-11, 12-10), Liao-Cheng-Ting/Huang Yu-Chiao (TPE) bt Zhou Qihao/Chen Ke (CHN) 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 11-9), Ho Kwan Kit/Doo Hoi Kem  (HKG) bt Kim Minhyeok/Lee Seul (KOR) 3-2 (11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 9-11, 14-12).

A TTFI Press release

China retain junior titles; Cadet crowns go to Korea, Japan

Mumbai, September 13, 2014: Table Tennis powerhouse China’s hegemony came to be questioned when they lost two of the four titles at the Reliance 20th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships, played here at the Sardar Patel Stadium today.

The gainers were, indeed, South Korea and Japan who took the Cadet Boys’ and Cadet Girls team trophies.

China just about managed to retain the Junior Boys title defeating South Korea 3-2 and the Junior Girls crown, beating Japan 3-1.  Earlier, South Korea, who had shocked China in the semifinals earlier, deservingly emerged the Cadet Boys champions.

South Korea, who were on course to annex the Junior Boys title, were 2-0 up but the Chinese fought their way back into the final winning the next three rubbers, thanks to Zhou Qihao, Liang Jingkun and Yu Ziyan who put up a brave front to thwart the rampaging South Koreans.

In the Junior Girls final, the Chinese began on a wrong note, losing the first match but came back well to beat Japan 3-1. Though Liu Gaoyang lost the opening rubber to Miyu Maeda 1-3, Chinese made amends by winning her reverse singles while Chen Xingtong and Wang Manyu, though both were stretched a bit, did not panic to give the Chinese 2-1 lead. Then Gaoyang beat Hitomi Sato in straight games to retain the trophy.   

In Cadet Boys, South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 to win the title. An Jaehyun, Kim Daewoo continuing their good form put their team 2-0 up even as Daewoo was taken to the full distance in the second singles. Then he, along with Minha Hwang, felled the Taipei pair of Yun-Ju and Li Hsin-Yang in straight games to wrap up the win.  In Cadet girls, Japan defeated China 3-2 after some struggle.

Rare upset

Earlier, a rare and the only upset of the championships happened when South Korea sent China packing in the Cadet Boys’ semifinals. The South Koreans beat the reigning champions 3-1. Except for the doubles in which Xu Yingbin and Peng Feilong combined well to beat the Korean pair of Kim Dawoo and Hwang Minha 3-2, the two Chinese lost their singles despite taking An Jaehyun and Hwang Minha the full distance.

Chinese Taipei’s Cadet Boys fought grimly in the other semifinal to ward off a Japanese threat. But the No. 2 Taipei team won 3-2 with the main difference being the gritty Chen Chun-Hsiang who won both his singles, including the decider against Japanese top player Takuto Izumo 3-2. The Japanese, after being down 0-2, levelled the score only to go down in the last game, losing by the minimal point.

Results:

Junior Boys: Final: China bt South Korea 3-2 (Yu Ziyang lost to Cho Seungmin 8-11, 10-12, 11-8, 5-11, Liang Jingkun lost to Kim Minhyeok 7-11, 11-3, 6-11, 9-11, Zhou Qihao bt Lim Jonghoon 11-7, 11-9, 11-7, Liang Jingkun bt Cho Seungmin 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, Yu Ziyang bt Kim Minhyeok 11-6, 11-3, 11-8); Semifinals: China bt Hong Kong 3-0 (Yu Ziyang bt Ho Kwan Kit 11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-5, Liang Jingkun bt Hung Ka Tak 11-6, 11-9, 11-8, Zhou Qihao bt Li Hon Ming 7-11 11-9, 11-8, 11-1), South Korea bt Chinese Taipei 3-2 (Kim Minhyeok lost Wang Tai-Wei 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, Cho Senugmin bt Liao Cheng-Ting 11-4, 12-14, 11-6, 5-11, 11-5, Lim Jonghoon bt Sun China-Hung 12-10, 13-11, 11-6, Cho Senugmin lost to Wang Tai-Wei 8-11, 4-11, 11-6, 5-11, Kim Minhyeok bt Liao Cheng-Ting 11-9, 13-11, 11-8).

Position: India bt Bahrain 3-0 to finish 9th.

Junior Girls: Final: China bt Japan 3-1 (Liu Gaoyang lost to Miyu Maeda 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 8-11, Chen Xingtong bt Hitomi Sato 10-12, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, Wang Manyu bt Sakura Mori 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, Liu Gaoyang bt Hitomi Sato 16-14, 11-7, 11-5); Semifinals: China bt South Korea 3-0 (Liu Gaoyang bt Lee Seul 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, Wang Manyu bt Lee Zion 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-3, 11-6, Chen Xingtong bt Lee Yjin 11-3, 11-7, 11-8), Japan bt Hong Kong 3-2 (Sakura Mori lost to Doo Hoi Kem 1-11, 10-12, 11-9, 5-11, Hitomi Sato bt Soo Wai Yam 16-14, 11-3, 11-5, Miyu Maeda bt Lam yee Lok 11-6, 11-8, 11-6, Hitomi Sato lost to Doo Hoi Kem 11-5, 4-11, 7-11, 7-11, Sakura Mori bt Soo Wai Yam 11-9, 13-11, 11-8).

Position: India bt Chinese Taipei 3-1 to finish 7th.

Cadet Boys: Final: South Korea bt Chinese Taipei 3-0 (An Jaehyun bt Lin Yun-Ju 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, Kim Daewoo bt Chen Chun-Hsiang 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-9); Semifinals: South Korea bt China 3-1 (Jaehuyn An bt Xu Yingbin 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-4, Minha Hwang bt Peng Feilong 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, Daewoo Kim/Minha Hwang lost to Xu/Peng 11-4, 10-12, 11-4, 5-11, 9-11, Jaehyun An bt Peng Feilong 10-12, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9), Chinese Taipei bt Japan 3-2 (Lin Yun-Ju lost to Takuto Izumo 11-13, 7-11, 11-3, 11-8, 9-11, Chen Chun-Hsiang bt Yuto Kizukuri 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4, Lin Yun/Li Hsin-Yang bt Takuto/Yukiya Uda 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 15-13, Lin Yun-Ju lost to Yuto Kizukuri 12-10, 8-11, 8-11, 8-11, Chen Chun bt Takuto Izumo 11-9, 11-13, 14-12, 9-11, 11-9).

Position: India bt Hong Kong 3-0 to finish 5th.

Cadet Girls: Final: Japan bt China 3-2 (Mima Ito bt Sun Yingsha 10-12, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8, 11-9, Miu Hirano lost to Qian Tianyi 11-5, 3-11, 11-3, 7-11, 7-11, Hirano/Mima bt Qian/Mu Jingyu 11-7, 2-11, 11-2, 14-12, Miu Hinrano lost to Sun Yingsha 9-11, 9-11, 7-11, Mima Ito bt Qian Tianyi 12-10, 3-11, 12-10, 11-6); Semifinals: China bt Hong Kong 3-0 (Qian Tianyi bt Lee Ka yee 11-9, 11-1, 11-3, Sun Yingsha bt Ng Ka Man 11-2, 11-5, 11-5, Qian/Mu Jingyu bt Lee Ka /Leung Ka Wan 14-16, 11-6, 11-7, 11-2), Japan bt South Korea 3-0 (Mima Ito bt Kim Youjin 7-11, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, Miu Hirano bt Kim Jiho 11-9, 11-8, 11-8, Mima/Hina Hayata bt Youjin/Jiho 15-13, 11-7, 11-9).

Position: India lost to Chinese Taipei 0-3 and finished 6th. 

A TTFI Press release

Indian junior girls and cadet boys and girls make QF cuts

Mumbai, September 12, 2014: India’s junior girls and cadet boys found a common whipping horse in Singapore to qualify for the second stage to lift the morale of the hosts after the Junior Boys lost their group 2 matches 0-3 to both Japan and DPR Korea at the Reliance 20 th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships at the Sardar Patel Stadium here today.

Later in the evening, Cadet Girls too made it to the knockout stage thrashing Jordan 3-0. But the Junior Boys, who have failed to make it to the quarterfinals, beat Thailand 3-2 but would be playing in the 9-14 positional matches.

India could have taken the top perch in Cadet Boys only if Manav Thakkar had sustained his aggression against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chun-Hsiang. But he won both his reverse singles and combined well with doubles partner Akaash Nath to give a tough time to Taipei. But it was Thakkar match against Chen Chun-Hsiang which set the ball rolling.

In fact, Thakkar should have won the match after leading 2-0 and in the decider 10-8. But a couple of net errors at the crucial match points reversed the fortune in favour of the Taipei boy. Undaunted, he combined well with Nath to win the doubles and his reverse singles. This was probably the trigger for the team to do well against Singapore where both Thakkar and Nath wore down their rivals to win 3-2 and go through.

As for the Junior Girls, Ayhika was the star winning both her singles against Singapore’s Hui Li Tay (11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8) and Herng Hwee Yee (8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5). The Indian, down 0-2, struck form suddenly to surprise her rival in the third game. From there, it was the Indian all the way as Yee lost the next two games tamely.

With China and South Korea in Junior Boys section and China and Japan in Junior Girls category sitting pretty with direct entry into the quarterfinals to be played tomorrow, the onus was on group toppers to maintain their pre-eminence and without a hiccup they took their appointed place after beating their rivals.

Joining them in the quarterfinal race in the Junior Boys category were DPR Korea, Kazakhstan and Singapore, while in the Junior Girls section, Chinese Taipei and Thailand besides hosts India.

In the Cadet Boys’ section, group 4 saw some extraordinary results with No. 4 team Bahrain scoring over both Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka. In terms of reputation, Bahrain was a relatively a weak team considering the potential of Kazakhstan. But the former surprised both the Kazakhs as well as the Sri Lankans to take the second place behind Japan. Bahrain beat Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka by a similar 3-0 margin while losing by the same score to Japan.

Results:

Junior Boys: Group 1: Chinese Taipei bt Singapore 3-0, Singapore bt Bahrain 3-0, Iran lost to Chinese Taipei 0-3, Bahrain lost to Iran 1-3, , Singapore bt Iran 3-1; Group 2: Japan bt Thailand 3-0, India lost to Japan 0-3, Thailand lost to DPR Korea 0-3, DPR Korea bt India 3-1, India bt Thailand 3-2 (Lalrin Puia lost to Supanut W 3-11, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, Abhishek Yadav bt Komgrit Sangpao 12-10, 11-5, 11-9, Utkarsh Gupta bt Nithipat Pimrat 11-6, 6-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, Abhishek Yadav lost to Supanut W. 5-11, 3-11, 11-7, 8-11, Lalrin Puia bt Komgrit Sangpao 11-9, 11-5, 11-8); Group 3: Hong Kong bt Kazakhstan 3-0, Hong Kong bt Qatar 3-0, Hong Kong bt Pakistan 3-0, Kazakhstan bt Pakistan 3-0, Qatar bt Pakistan 3-1; Japan bt DPR Korea 3-0; Chinese Taipei bt Bahrain 3-0; Kazakhstan bt Qatar 3-1.

Cadet Boys: Group 1: China bt Hong Kong 3-0; China bt Iran 3-0; Group2: Chinese Taipei bt India 3-2 (Lin Yun-Ju bt Akaash Nath 11-3, 11-8,1-7; Chen Chun-Hsiang bt Manav Thakkar 7-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10; Lin Yun-Ju/Lin Hsin-Yang lost to Thakkar/Nath 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 7-11; Lin Yun-Ju lost to Manav Thakkar 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11; Chen Chun-Hsiang bt Akaash Nath 12-10, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7); Chinese Taipei bt Singapore 3-1, India bt Singapore 3-2 (Akaash Nath lost to Shao Feng Ethan Poh 3-11, 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, Manav Thakkar bt Lucas Tan 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8, Thakkar/Nath bt Shao Feng/Lucas 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9, Manav Thakkar lost to Shao Feng Ethan 11-6, 8-11, 4-11, 9-11, Akaash Nath bt Lucas Tan 8-11, 5-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-7). Group 3: Korean Rep. bt Thailand 3-0; Group 4: Japan bt Sri Lanka 3-0; Japan bt Kazakhstan 3-0; Bahrain bt Sri Lanka 3-0; Bahrain bt Kazakhstan 3-0, Japan bt Bahran 3-0, Sri Lanka bt Kazakhstan 3-1.

Junior Girls: Group 1: Hong Kong bt Chinese Taipei 3-0; Hong Kong bt Sri Lanka 3-0,Chinese Taipei bt Sri Lanka 3-0; Group 2: South Korea bt Singapore 3-0; South Korea bt India 3-0, India bt Singapore 3-1 (Sagarika Mukherjee lost to Herng Hwee Yee 11-9, 11-13, 3-11, 5-11, Ayhika Mukherjee bt Hui Li Tay 11-6, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, Priyadarshini Das bt En Hui Tan 11-7, 11-7, 11-7, Ayhika Mukherjee bt Herng Hwee Yee 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5); Group 3: DPR Korea bt Thailand 3-1; DPR Korea bt Iran 3-0; Thailand bt Jordan 3-0; Iran bt Jordan 3-0, Thailand bt Iran 3-0, DPR Korea bt Jordan 3-0.

Cadet Girls: Group 1: India bt Jordan 3-0 (Shruti Amrute bt Tina Alkhoury 11-4, 11-5, 11-5, Naina bt Lima Khater 11-2, 11-5, 11-1, Naina/Archana Kamath bt Tina/Lima 11-7, 11-5, 11-1), China bt India 3-0, China bt Jordan 3-0; Group 2: Japan bt Kazakhstan 3-0, Japan bt Chinese Taipei 3-0; Group 3: Thailand lost to South Korea 1-3, Thailand bt Sri Lanka 3-0; Group 4: Hong Kong bt Singapore 3-0, Hong Kong bt Iran 3-1; Singapore bt Iran 3-1.