China complete clean sweep of titles

Hyderabad, December 16, 2012: China yet again completed a sweep of all titles on offer here at the Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships here on Sunday. Earlier in the week they had won both the boys’ and girls’ team titles.

The confirmation of a clean sweep came about when the only non-Chinese, Petrissa Solja, lost her semifinal match to Chinese top seed Zhu Yuling in the morning. And by the evening, Zhu rolled over Gu Yuting 4-0 for the girls crown.  

The speed with which she disposed of her opponent tells only half of the story. The other half is all about superior technique, appetite to add another feather to her crown and prove her top billing right. With equal felicity, she won several winners both off her back and forehands and was never in any sort of trouble after going 2-0 up. That summed up her resoluteness this evening.

Soon after Fan Zhendong overcame a two-game deficit to beat Lin Gaoyuan 4-2 (10-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4) to claim the boys singles title. Fan took his time to size up his left-handed opponent and it cost him the first two games. Once Fan had things in his grip, it became easy as he went on to take the next four without much ado. Lin made a few service errors along the way and in the ultimate analysis proved dear.

Second-seeded pair of Fan Zhendong and Liu Gaoyang made a surprising recovery to beat the top-seeded compatriots Lin Gaoyuan and Gu Ruochen 4-3 (11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8) to take gold in the boys doubles. Gu Yuting and Zhu Yuling downed Gu Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang 4-3 for girls double gold and the mixed doubles gold went to Fan Zhendong and Liu Gaoyang who beat the Lin Gaoyuan and Gu Ruochen combine 4-3.

Earlier, things became crystal clear which side of the balance is becoming heavier. No doubt, Germany’s Petrissa Solja, who excelled throughout, could not match the Chinese top seed Zhu Yuling as the latter won in straight sets. In the other semifinals, Gu Yuting defeated Gu Ruochen in the all-Chinese semifinal 4-1. In a way, the semifinals ended along expected line with the top two seeds entering the final.

A pre-determined Petrissa was straightaway into attack and went 6-3 up with her top spin play off back and forehands doing the tricks.  However, Zhu getting into her grove to level 6-6 but at 10-8 Petrissa held the advantage but her opponent saved two game points. At 11-10 Zhu took lead for the first time and a fortunate edge saw her taking the first game.

The German tried all the tricks in her bag but with her nerves settled, the Chinese had the measure of her rival. Petrissa’s receiving was poor in the second yet she ran the Chinese close. She was, however, unable to worker her angles as well and Zhu’s consistency saw her through. Though the pattern continued in the two games, the Chinese always had the upper hand to finish off the job.

Second-seeded Gu Yuting had a nervous start but overcame the early hiccups to go 1-0 up against Ruochen. Lacking in experience somewhat, Ruochen was struggling against Yuting’s controlled aggression. Yet Ruochen’s consistency level was good and that is what won her the third game. But that’s all she could do as Yuting’s percentage speed game kept improving and it had no answer from Ruochen.

The Results:

Junior Boys: Final: Fan Zhendong (Chn) bt Lin Gaoyuan (Chn) 10-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4;Semifinals: Fan Zhendong (Chn) bt Fan Shengpeng (Chn) 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4,  Lin Gaoyuan (Chn) bt Xu Chenhao (Chn) 11-4, 14-12, 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6.

Doubles: Final: Lin Gaoyuan/Xu Chenhao (Chn) bt Fan Shengpeng/Fan Zhendong (Chn) 11-8, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6; Semifinals: Fan Shengpeng/Fan Zhendong (Chn) bt Hung Tzu-Hsiang/Lee Chia-Sheng (Tpe) 11-7, 13-11, 13-11, 11-8, Lin Gaoyuan/Xu Chenhao bt Yuto Muramatsu/Asuka Sakai (Jpn) 11-7, 15-13, 11-13, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5.

Junior Girls: Final: Zhu Yuling (Chn) bt Gu Yuting (Chn) 11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8;Semifinals: Zhu Yuling (Chn) bt Petrissa Solja (Ger) 12-10, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, Gu Yuting (Chn) bt Gu Ruochen 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5.

Doubles: Final: Gu Yuting/Zhu Yuling (Chn) bt Gu Ruochen/Liu Gaoyang (Chn) 8-11, 11-5, 5-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-4; Semifinals: Gu Yuting/Zhu Yuling (Chn) bt Miyu Maeda/Ayuka Tanioka (Jpn) 11-7, 12-10, 11-4, 11-3, Gu Ruochen/Liu Gaoyang bt Irina Ciobanu/Bernadett (Rou) 11-7, 2-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-2.

Mixed Doubles: Final: : Fan Zhendong/Liu Gaoyang (Chn) bt Lin Gaoyuan/Gu Ruochen (Chn) 4-11, 4-11, 12-10, 4-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-9; Semifinals: Lin Gaoyuan/Gu Ruochen (Chn) bt Xu Chenhao/Zhu Yuling (Chn) 11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, Fan Zhendong/Li Gaoyang (Chn) bt Frederick Jost/Petrissa Solja (Ger) 6-11, 13-10, 5-111, 11-1, 8-11, 11-3, 12-6.

TTFI Press release

German girl breaches China wall

Hyderabad, December 15, 2012: The Berlin Wall may have come down way back in 1989, but it took quite some time for Solja Petrissa, a German, to make a dent into the China wall here at the ongoing Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships here on Saturday.

Fifth-seeded Petrissa, who had beaten No. 1 seed Zhu Yuling in the team championships the other day, punctured the pride of China yet again, toppling fourth seed Liu Gayong 4-2 (6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8) to earn her entry into the semifinals where she will taken on Zhu Yuling tomorrow. ThusPetrissa has stopped a clean sweep of medals by China.

In girls’ other quarterfinals, Zhu Yuling had her anxious moments before overcoming her Romanian opponent Bernadette Szocs 4-0 while No. 2 seed Gu Yuting accounted for No. 7 Ayuka Tanioka of Japan 4-0 and fourth seeded Gu Ruochen defeated Lily Zhang, No. 10 seed, by the same margin of 4-0. The other semifinal pits Gu Yuting against Gu Ruochen.

What made Petrissa’s day here was the superb technique she adopted to counter her Chinese rival. The German was put up a great show of good service and equally good receive.

The 18-year-old Germany later admitted: “I watched her videos before the match and initially tried to play to her forehand but then I found she was good at it. So I changed strategy midway and played to her backhand. Initially I had problems with my serve too but as I began to play better, the serve too got better. I tried to focus on ball to ball and not push at the ball. Difficult to say if this is my best win as I cherish the title victory at the U-21 German open,” said the fifth seed.

As for the other Chinese who made the semifinal grade, their matches turned out to be one-sided affairs, including the one against Japanese Ayuka Tanioka whose rhythm was upset by Gu Yuting right from the word go.  

However, in the junior boys section, it will be all Chinese semifinals. Sixth seed Fan Shengpeng packed off No. 4 Simon Gauzy of France 4-3 in a thrilling quarterfinal match. The other quarterfinals did not generate the same kind of fervour with Fan Zhendong beating Yuto Muramatsu of Japan 4-1, Xu Chenhao demolishing Benedikt  of Germany 4-0 and Lin Gaoyuan completing the against Japanese Yoshida Masaki with a 4-1 verdict.

Indian challenge ends

Earlier in the day, the Indian challenge came to an end when Ayhika Mukerjee and Suthirtha Mukherjee exited in the pre-quarterfinals with their heads held high. Ayhika, proved to the best among the Indian lot, as she managed to take a game off her US opponent Zhang Lily, going down 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 4-11, 7-11 while poor Suthirtha succumbed to the Chinese second seed Gu Yuting in straight sets.

Ayhika later admitted that her opponent was more experienced but she could have extended to one or two games more. “After winning the first game, I should have attacked more but Lily was too good with her backhand scorchers. She blocked well and her returns were too good,” said the 15-year-old Kolkatan.

But Suthirtha found herself pitted against a red hot Gu Yuting who is expected to reach the final here.  Expectedly, Gu sent down a barrage of forehands and backhands straightaway unsettling the Indian. The pattern continued throughout the 25-minute match that the No. 2 seed won 11-2, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3.  

Nevertheless, Suthirtha was happy about her performance here. “I got the right exposure here and I am happy about it. Playing against Gu was intriguing and it showed when I stood against an opponent of her caliber,” confessed Suthirtha.

In the boys section, two other seeds fell by the way in the morning when fifth and sixth seeded Asuka Sakai from Japan in the top half and Tristan Flore from France, respectively, bowed out in the round of 16. Sakai lost to unseeded Fan Shengpeng 1-4 while another unseeded Chinese Zu Chenhao blanked out Flore 4-0.

Results: Quarterfinals:

Junior Boys: Fan Zhendong (Chn) bt Yuto Muramatsu (Jpn) 11-7, 11-9, 13-11, 9-11, 12-10, Fan Shengpeng (Chn) bt Simon Gauzy (Fra) 8-11, 11-8, 11-13, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, Xu Chenhao (Chn) bt Benedikt (Ger) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7, 12-10, Lin Gaoyuan (Chn) bt Yoshida Masaki (Jpn) 13-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5.

Junior Girls: Solja Petrissa (Ger) bt Liu Gaoyang 6-11, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, Zhu Yuling (Chn) bt Bernadette Szocs (Rou) 11-8, 12-10, 11-6, 15-13, Gu Yuting (Chn) bt Ayuka Tanioka (Jap) 11-7, 12-10, 13-11, 11-3, Gu Ruochen (Chn) bt Lily Zhang (USA) 11-6, 11-2, 11-5, 11-9. 

A TTFI Press release

Ayhika, Suthirtha enter pre-quarterfinals

Hyderabad, December 14, 2012: Using a rare combination of rubbers is like a double-edged sword. It cuts both ways. But for Ayhika Mukherjee, ranked 64 here, it yielded desired results as the 15–year-old first upset No. 6 seed Doo Hoi Kem from Hong Kong 4-3 and then accounted for No. 24 ranked South Korean Lee Dasom 3-1 to move into the pre-quarterfinals of the main draw at the ongoing Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships here on Friday.

Another hosts’ paddler, Suthirtha Mukherjee, who won 4-3 (11-2, 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 13-15, 11-8)against Caroline Kumahara, joined Ayhika in the round of 32 to keep the tricolor afloat on a day Manika Batra, India’s highest-ranked at No. 29, faltered to deceive and went down to eighth seeded Romanian Bernadette Szocs 4-2.

However, all the three boys—Sudhanshu Grover, Rohit Rajasekhar and Arjun Ghosh—failed after entering the main draw and surrendered meekly.

The entire burden of carrying India into the next round rested on Manika but she was outclassedBernadette Szocs 11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-3. Manika had earlier beaten Germany’s Anja Schuh 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.

With the focus shifting to the two Mukherjee girls and with Ayhika in the best form of her life, it was left to the duo. Ayhika just rolled over the Korean without much trouble, but Suthirtha, after leading 3-0, wilted under constant pressure coming from her Brazilian opponent.

The fifth game between Suthirtha and Caroline turned out be the decisive in letting the latter grow in confidence. At 4-0 the Indian was broken by the Brazilian who took the next seven points on the trot to take the game. In the next, the Brazilian ran her opponent neck and neck before restoring parity. At 3-3, it was anybody’s match, but the Indian prevailed over Caroline to the delight of the crowd. In the first round Suthirtha accounted for Sandrfa Wabik of Poland 4-11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8

In fact, the girls were a notch better with five out of six making the grade, including local girl Karnam Spoorthy who was the lucky-loser entrant. The other girl, T. Reeth Rishya, who qualified from her group yesterday failed to use the opportunity.

Ayhika’s example should be an eye-opener for other juniors. The girls from Kotkata did the impossible, particularly after being down 1-3. No doubt, she took the first game rather easily but losing the next three not only drained her out emotionally but morally too. A pep talk with coach Kamalesh Mehta at the end of the fourth game did wonders for her.

From then on the teenager was a transformed person. The anti-rubber and forehand which provided a variety play to Ayhika put her on an advantageous position as her opponent was struggling to gauge the spin and speed. Ayhika’s went full blast and kept her chances alive after taking the fifth game. In the sixth, she kept her cool and won with a forehand winner. Then in the decider, the Indian was in complete command and slowed down cleverly to outwit the Hong Kong girl 11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8.

As was to expect in a world meet like this, the Chinese and the Japanese dominated the proceedings

.

Results: (Only Indians):

Junior Boys: Lee Chia Cheng (Tpe) bt Sudhanshu Grover 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, Antoine Hachard (Fra) bt Rohit Rajasekhar 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9, Lin Gaoyuan (Chn) bt Arjun Ghosh 11-3, 11-6, 11-1, 11-4.

Junior Girls: (Round 1): Manika Batra bt Anja Schuh 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, Britt Eerland (Ned) bt T. Reeth Rishya 12-10, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, Gu Rouchaen (Chn) bt Karnam Spoorthy 11-3, 11-5, 12-10, 11-1, Ayhika Mukherjee bt Doo Hoi Kem 11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8, Suthirtha Mukherjee bt Sandra Wabik (Pol) 4-11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8;(Round 2): Bernadette Szocs (Rom) bt Manika Batra 11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 5-11, 11-3, Ayhika Mukherjee bt  Dasom Lee (Kor) 6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10, Sutirtha Mukherjee bt Caroline Kumahara 11-2, 11-5, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 13-15, 11-8.

A TTFI Press release

Ayhika stuns sixth seed Doo Hoi Kem

Hyderabad, December 14, 2012: Using a rare combination of rubbers is like a double-edged sword. It cuts both ways. But for Ayhika Mukherjee, ranked 64 here, it yielded desired results. The 15–year-old played her heart out to upset No. 6 seed Doo Hoi Kem from Hong Kong 11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 to move into the second round of the main draw at the ongoing Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships here on Friday.

On a day that saw the domination by Chinese, Japanese and Korean paddlers with just one upset, two other Indian girls joined Ayhika in the second round, providing a silver lining which the three boys—Sudhanshu Grover, Rohit Rajasekhar and Arjun Ghosh—failed after entering the main draw. They all, including Grover, surrendered meekly.

In fact, the girls were a notch better with five out of six making the grade, including local girl Karnam Spoorthy who was the lucky-loser entrant. The other girl, T. Reeth Rishya, who qualified from her group yesterday failed to use the opportunity.

Ayhika’s example should be an eye-opener for other juniors. The girls from Kotkata did the impossible, particularly after being down 1-3. No doubt, she took the first game rather easily but losing the next three not only drained her out emotionally but morally too. A pep talk with coach Kamalesh Mehta at the end of the fourth game did wonders for her.

From then on the teenager was a transformed person. The anti-rubber and forehand which provided a variety play to Ayhika put her on an advantageous position as her opponent was struggling to gauge the spin and speed. Ayhika’s went full blast and kept her chances alive after taking the fifth game. In the sixth, she kept her cool and won with a forehand winner. Then in the decider, the Indian was in complete command and slowed down cleverly to outwit the Hong Kong girl.

Ayhika next takes on Korean Lee Dasom who is ranked 24. But if only the Kolkatan can repeat what she did in the morning, Dasom can have some real problems.

As for Manika, highest ranked Indian at 29, Anja Schuh was no match as the former won 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 to quickly dispose of her German opponent. The Indian will next play Romanian Bernadette Szocs, who is seeded 8 here and someone who has proved her mettle in the team game. But it is not beyond Manika, who has had a very satisfying outing so far.

Suthirtha Mukherjee accounted for Sandrfa Wabik of Poland 4-11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8 in the first round and will take on Brazilian Caroline Kumahara, who is seeded No. 14 here.  Earlier, Caroline had beaten higher ranked South Korean Lee Zion. In other words, the Indian will be wary of his Brazilian opponent in the second round.

Results: (Only Indians):

Junior Boys: Lee Chia Cheng (Tpe) bt Sudhanshu Grover 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, Antoine Hachard (Fra) bt Rohit Rajasekhar 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9, Lin Gaoyuan (Chn) bt Arjun Ghosh 11-3, 11-6, 11-1, 11-4.

Junior Girls: Manika Batra bt Anja Schuh 11-9, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, Britt Eerland (Ned) bt T. Reeth Rishya 12-10, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8, Gu Rouchaen (Chn) bt Karnam Spoorthy 11-3, 11-5, 12-10, 11-1, Ayhika Mukherjee bt Doo Hoi Kem 11-8, 11-13, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-8, Suthirtha Mukherjee bt Sandra Wabik (Pol) 4-11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8. 

A TTFI Press release

Double delight for Thade

Chandrakiran L. Thade, International table tennis umpire

Hyderabad, December 13, 2012: It was a double whammy for Chandrakiran L. Thade, International Umpire, officiating at the World Junior Table Tennis Championships here at Hyderabad. The first good news was regarding his fourth meet and waiting for the interview to complete the process of the Blue Batch status, a certification which is a must for eligible to be officiating in Olympic Games. Even as he was celebrating his success, the news about his clearing the International Referee certification, too, came.

Thade, who is an Assistant Secretary at the central office of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in Mumbai, joins the select band of double certification in table tennis, a rarity.

Thade said he owed his success to several people in the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), particularly its secretary-general Dhanraj Choudhary and N. Ganeshan, the only competition manager for International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in India.  He considers them both as their mentors. He considers Ganeshan as his guru who helped him grow at every stage.

Thade now feels that he would like to help people from his fraternity. “This is the least I can give back to the sport and my fellow referees and umpires. I got something from my peers and would like to pass on the tricks of trade,” feels Thade.

With his motivation level touching a new high, Thade’s endeavour would be to represent the country in international championships and make the country proud.

A TTFI Press release

Manika, Rohit enter main draw; Arjun in hunt

Hyderabad, December 13, 2012: At least one Indian boy and one girl have made it to the main draw of the singles events at the ongoing Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships here on Thursday, lifting the drooping shoulders in the Indian camp.

With two paddlers from each group qualifying for the main draw, a couple of more Indians making the grade are very much in the realm of possibility. However, a clear picture about that likelihood will be known only after the last set of matches to be played later this evening.

Nevertheless, two boys—Arjun Ghosh and Rohit Rajasekhar—brought broad smiles and a lot of cheers on an otherwise a lengthy and dreary day at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium with their courageous performances. Taking advantage of their fifth and six entries as hosts, they made most of the opportunity that was provided to them.

Making their maiden appearances on the international scene, Arjun Ghosh and Rohit Rajasekhar delighted the home supporters, surprising their experienced opponents. What was striking about them was the way the duo displayed their skillful feat, toppling the more experienced Czechs.

In fact, Czech paddlers may not have anticipated something of this sort. Ghosh downed Michal Benes 15-13, 11-6, 11-8, 4-11, 16-14 to keep the Indian interest alive but what brought down the roof was Rohit’s class act. The match against Jakub Seibert not only kept the spectators glued to their seats, but even forced some of them lose a lot of nails as Rohit won by the thinnest of margins. Down 1-3, Rohit staged an excellent recovery to stun his opponent with a seven-game win 4-11, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 14-12, 11-9.

At the end of a one and a half hours duel, the 14-year-old Ghosh paid tributes to his coach. “My coach told me to take advantage of Banes’ weak backhand and keep keeping the ball in play before going for the kill,” he said. Coach Bhawani Mukherjee said he told Ghosh to serve in the middle of the table and use short spin services.

The 16-year-old Rohit, unlike Ghosh, took his time to get used to the pace of his opponent. However hard he tried to slow down the game, the Indian was caught unawares at times. But some advice from the coach to keep his rival engaged saved the day for him. Rohit later admitted his folly of not able to adjust to the backhand drives of Seibert. “I realized his backhand was too strong for me so I had to play more to the centre and to the forehand.”

Manika Batra had an easy meat in Yousra Helmy of Egypt, winning her match 14-12, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4 and the Indian got a walkover from Lucia Truksova of Slovakia to move into the main draw.

The other qualifiers among boys are Chiu Chung Hei (Hkg), Choi Deo Khwa (Kor), Jang Woo Jin (Kor), Xu Chenhao (Chn), Jakub Dyjas (Pol), Leonardu Mutti (Ita), Frederik Jost (Ger), Konrad Kulpa (Pol), David Reitspies (Cze), Clerence Chew Zhe Yu (Sin), Tamas Lakatos (Hun), Kim Min Hyeok (Kor), Marc Rode (Ger), Hung Ka Tak (Hkg), Lim Jong Hoon (Kor), Liao Cheng-Ting (Tpe), Ondrej Bajger (Cze), Luka Fucec (Cro), Omar Bedair (Egy) and Adam Szudi (Hun).

As for the girls, Britt Eeerland (Ned),  Lee Ching Wan (Hkg), Miyu Kato (Jpn), Nina Mittelham (Ger), Yumi Jung (Kor), Bernadett Balint (Rou), Lea Rakovac (Cro), Lee Dasom (Kor), Theresa Kraft (Ger), Marina Berho (Fra), Alina Arlouskaya (Blr), Sandra Wabik (Pol), Minnie Soo Wai Yam (Hkg), Katsiary Baravok (Blr), Laura Pfefer (Fra), Lam Yee Lok (Hkg), Chiu Ssu-Hua (Tpe), Yousra Helmy (Egy) and Carelyn Cordero (Pur).

Results: (Only Indians):

Group 2: Li Ching Wan (Hkg) bt Ayhika Mukerjee 12-10, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6; Group 3: Miyu Kato (jpn) bt T. Reeth Rishya 11-6, 1-13, 11-6, 11-7; Group 5: Yumi Jung (Kor) bt Suthirtha Mukherjee 11-8, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 12-10; Group 6: Bernadett Balint (Rou) bt Mallika Bhandarkar 4-11, 10-12, 11-3, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8; Group 8: Dasom Lee (Kor) bt Karnam Spoorthy 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7; Group 13: Manika Batra bt Yousra Helmy (Egy) 14-12, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4, Manika Batra got a walkover from Lucia Truksova of Slovakia.

Group2: Choi Deo Khwa (Kor) bt Utkarsh Gupta 11-6, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9; Group 4: Xu Chenhao (Chn) bt Abhishek Yadav 11-2, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6; Group 7: Frederic Jost (Ger) bt Sudhanshu Grover 11-1, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11, 10-12, 14-12 11-3; Group 16: Lim Jong Hoon (Kor) bt Sabhay Virmani 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4; Group 22: Arjun Ghosh bt Michal Benes (Cze) 15-13, 15-6, 15-8, 4-11, 16-14; Group 23: Rohit Rajasekhar bt Jakub Seibert (Cze) 4-11, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 14-12, 11-9.

A TTFI Press release

Chinese paddlers sweep team championships titles

Hyderabad, December 12, 2012: The China wall was too strong and too long to penetrate. As expected  the Chinese paddlers swept clean the team championships titles, for anything less could have prompted shake-ups in the government bureaucracy that oversees the sport back home.

After all, table tennis is a source of national pride in China with some even jokingly calling it ‘China ball.’ Hence, it was no surprising that their boys and girls teams giving a thrashing to Japan at the ongoing Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships here on Wednesday. The verdicts: boys won 3-1 and the girls 3-0.

When Zhendong Fan began in a whirlwind fashion against Masaki Yoshida to win 11-9, 11-5, 11-7, it looked as if the Chinese were going through the motions. The impression got strengthened further when Gaoyuan Lin accounted for Yuto Muramatsu in straight games of 11-3, 11-9, 11-4. But the Chinese perhaps didn't reckon that Asuka Sakai could match their wits against Chenhao Xu 6-11, 13-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9 to delay the inevitable. Then Zhendong Fan took charge and countered the defensive Muramatsu well. Despite taking a game off his Chinese rival, Muramatsu couldn't do much against a clever Fan, who slowed down his game to give the Japanese a measure of his own medicine.

Gu Yuting and Zhu Yuling had been there and seen it before. After all, they were part of the squad that lost to Japan in 2010 championships. That loss at Bratislava—the only time they lost—must have been still rankling in their minds when they took on the Japanese in the final here.

There was a pattern to the Chinese win here. Yuling Zhu gave a perfect start winning 3-0 against Mima Ito 3-0 before Yuting Gu, though a little patchy, running over Ayuka Tanioka for a similar score line. Incidentally, Tanoika too was part of the winning squad at Bratislava in the final two years ago. But the spark was missing from the Japanese. Without prolonging their agony, Ruochen Gu put the issue beyond Miyu Maeda to win 3-1. 

It must be said to the credit of Ito, all of just 12, taking on the experienced Zhu, particularly in the second game. The Japanese had chances coming her way, but the 17-year-old Chinese was a hard nut to crack. Her attacking strokes, both off back and forehands, were too scorching for Ito.

In comparison, Taioka was too defensive and it had paid dividends in her earlier matches. But the clever Yuting was up to the task and simply rolled over her opponent without giving any hint of being troubled despite having been stretched by the Japanese teenager. In the third game, Yuting marched ahead at 8-2 and accomplished the job very efficiently.

Unlike her teammates, Ruochen Gu is a first-timer at the worlds and she had a match in Miyu Maeda it was her first Volkswagen World Junior Championships final. No doubt, the southpaw from Japan took the first game, attacking her way to penetrate into the loose defence of Gu. But the Chinese was too quick to get into her rhythm to level and employing her topspin to great effect decimated Maeda in the next three games for the set and the championship title.

Earlier, Romanian boys outwitted South Korea 3-2 and USA downed Croatia 3-1 to end their campaign here at fifth and sixth positions, respectively. Among the girls, it was Chinese Taipei who finished fifth, beating Poland 3-1 and Germany defeated Hong Kong 3-2 to end behind them. 

The Results:

Junior Boys (Final): China bt Japan 3-1 (Zhendong Fan bt Masaki Yoshida 11-9, 11-5, 11-7, Gaoyuan Lin bt Yuto Muramatsu 11-3, 11-9, 11-4, Chenhao Xu lost to Asuka Sakai 11-6, 11-13, 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, Zhendong Fan bt YutoMuramatsu 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6).

Positions 5-8: Romania bt South Korea 3-2, USA bt Croatia 3-1.

Junior Girls (Final): China bt Japan 3-0 (Yuling Zhu bt Mima Ito 11-6, 13-11, 11-3, Yuting Gu bt Ayuka 11-9, 11-8, 11-2, Ruochen Gu bt Miyu Maeda 9-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-4).

Positions 5-8: Chinese Taipei bt Poland 3-1, Germany bt Hong Kong 3-2. 

A TTFI Press release

Fan brings cool breeze to Chinese camp

Hyderabad, December 11, 2012: The Chinese fortress was shaken a bit when the French barrage from Enzo Angles hit Shengpeng Fan, but the Asian powerhouse arrested any further damage with a return of fire from Zhendon Fan to restore order with a 3-1 victory to enter the boys’ final of the Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here today. Their rivals in the final tomorrow will be Japan, who beat South Korea 3-1.

For China, Fan did the repair work when it was needed the most a comprehensive 3-0 triumph over Tristan Flore. Earlier, he beat France’s top guy Simon Gauzy in a convincing way. In fact, when Angles reduced China’s lead to 1-2 in the third match, it must have given a minor headache to them. But Fan put all end to the French ambition in double quick time.

Eighteen-year-old Masaki Yoshida emerged the hero on the day after his close battle against Taipei’s Chia-Sheng Lee in the quarters. But for him the Japanese would not have made it to the semifinals. Once in the semis, they were a confident-looking bunch and it reflected in their game against Korea, who failed to resist their assault beyond delaying the proceedings.   

Earlier, the Chinese girls too had some hiccups, but their No. 1 Yuling Zhu pulled it off by winning both her singles to beat Hong Kong 3-1. For the first time in the championships, some chinks were spotted in the Chinese as well as Japanese citadels.

Though the Chinese nipped the German challenge in the bud, the Japanese girls struggled hard against a much-improved Hong Kong.  Germany’s Petrissa Solja had a mixed bag winning her first match against Yuting Gu but failed to comprehend China’s No. 1 player Yuling Zhu in the reverse singles which ultimately put China in final.

Displaying a never-say-die attitude, Hong Kong began strongly against Japan winning their first rubber through Hoi Kem Doo, their best bet. She first accounted for Miyu Maeda 3-1 and then took on Ayuka Tanioka’s challenge gamely to win the gripping five-setter.

Girls better than boys

The Manika Batra-led Indians could not withstand the Chinese Taipei onslaught and wilted under constant pressure to lose 0-3. But they blanked out the Netherlands 3-0 to finish eleventh in the championships.

In the morning, Manika was able to take just a game off her Taipei opponent Hsin Huang while Reeth Rishya was full of errors against Yu Wen and went down in straight sets. Karnam Spoorthy, playing her first match in the championships, did well to stretch Ya-Ting Hsu and even take the first game. But that was all she could do as Hsu just rolled over her without much inhibition.

Against the Netherlands, however, the Indian girls started with Spoorthy who beat Rianne van Duin 3-0 and then Manika Batra downed Alice Barendregt for a 2-0 lead. Suthirtha Mukherjee rounded off the score with a 3-1 verdict against Kim Vermaas.  

Indian boys eventually finished 16th after losing their positional match to a higher-ranked Egypt 3-1. The onus was on Abhishek Yadav to win his both singles, but the left-hander won the first and faltered to deceive in the other against Omar Bedair. He, in fact, helped Egypt finish ahead of India.

Despite leading 5-1 at change over in the decider of his reverse singles against Bedair, Yadav allowed seven straight points to his opponent to concede the lead. The Indian had his chance yet again at 11-10, but his push and prod at a crucial stage only helped his rival who made it 11-11 by breaking Yadav. Then he held his serve and broke Yadav once again to put the issue beyond India. Sudhanshu Grover had earlier stretched his opponent Omar Bedair to the wire and Utkarsh Gupta managed just a game against Abdel-Rahman. 

Results:

Junior Boys: (Semifinals): China bt France 3-1 Zhendong Fan bt Simon Gauzy 11-9, 11-5, 11-2, Gaoyuan Lin bt Tristan 11-9, 11-8, 11-9, Shenpeng Fan lost to Enzo Angles 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 12-14, Zhendong Fan bt Tristan Flore 11-9, 11-9, 11-3), Japan bt South Korea 3-1 (Masaki Hoshida bt Deokhwa Choi 11-7, 11-3, 11-3, Yuto Muramatsu bt Woojin Jang 13-11, 11-4, 5-11, 4-11, 13-11, Asuka Sakai lost to Minhyeok Kim 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 5-11, Yuto Muramatsu bt Deokhwa Choi 10-12, 11-9, 13-11, 11-6).

Quarterfinals: South Korea bt Hong Kong  3-0 (Woojin Jang bt Chung Hei Chiu 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, Deokhwa Choi bt Hong Ming Li 11-5, 11-8, 11-8, Minhyeok Kim bt Ka Tak Hung 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 7-11, 11-3), France bt Poland 3-0 (Simon Gauzy bt Konard Kulpa 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, Tristan Flore bt Jakub Dyjas 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, Antooine Hachard bt Michal Bankosz 9-11, 14-12, 11-2, 11-5), China bt Germany 3-0 (Zhendong Fan bt Benedikt Duda 11-6, 11-6, 11-4, Gaoyuan Lin bt Frederick Jost 11-9, 11-6, 11-9, Shengpeng Fan bt Liang Qiu 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4), Japan bt Chinese Taipei 3-2 (Yuto Muramatsu lost to Chia-Sheng Lee 6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 7-11, Masaki Yoshida bt Tzu-Hsiang Hung 11-7, 12-10, 11-6, Asuka Sakai lost to Cheng-Ting Liao 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11, Yuto Muramatsu bt Tzu-Hsiang Hung 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, Masaki Yoshida bt Chia-Sheng Lee 12-10, 19-17, 11-6).

Positions: 9-12: Czech Republic bt Belgium 3-2, Brazil bt Hungary 3-1; Positions: 13-16: Argentina bt Italy 3-0, Egypt bt India 3-1 (Shady Magdy lost to Abhishek Yadav 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 7-11, Omar Bedair bt  Sudhanshu 4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-13, 11-7, Abdel-Rahman Mohamed bt Utkarsh Gupta 11-7, 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, Omar Bedair bt Abhishek Yadav 11-9, 6-11, 12-14, 11-9, 13-11).

Junior Girls: (Semifinals): China bt Germany 3-1 (Yuting Gu lost to Petrisa Solja 12-10, 7-11, 7-11, 9-11, Yuling Zhu bt Theresa Kraft 11-4, 11-2, 11-6, Ruochen Gu bt Anja Schuh 11-6, 8-11, 14-12, 11-8, Yuling Zhu bt Petrissa Solja 11-6, 11-7, 11-5), Japan bt Hong Kong 3-2 (Miyu Maeda lost to Hoi Kem Doo 6-11, 8-11, 15-13, 9-11, Ayuka Tanioka bt Ching Wan Li 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, Mima Ito bt Yee Lok Lam 11-7, 11-3, 11-7, Ayuka Tanioka lost to Hoi Kem Doo 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 4-11, 10-12, Miyu Maeda bt Ching Wan Li 11-4, 11-6, 11-8).

Quarterfinals: China bt South Korea 3-0 (Yuting Gu bt Yumi Jung 11-4, 11-8, 11-5, Yuling Zhu bt Zion Lee 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, Ruochen Gu bt Dasom Lee 11-4, 11-7, 11-6), Japan bt Romania 3-0 (Ayuka Tanioka bt Bernadett Balint 11-3, 11-8, 11-5, Miyu Madea bt Bernadette Szcos 11-5, 14-12, 12-10, Miyu Kato bt Irina Coibanu 14-12, 11-4, 11-6), Hong Kong bt Croatia 3-1 (Ching Wan Li lost to Lea Rakovac 14-16, 5-11, 8-11, Hoi Kem Doo bt Mateja Jeger 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2, Wai Yam Minnie Soo bt Ivana Tubkanec 12-14, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, Hoi Kem Doo bt Lea Rakovac 11-3, 11-4, 7-11, 11-3), Germany bt USA 3-2 (Patrissa Solja bt Prachi Jha 11-4, 11-6, 11-6, Teresa Kraft bt Lily Zhang 10-12, 11-1, 11-3, 11-3, Anja Schuh bt Isabel Chu 11-6, 13-11, 11-3, Patrissa Solja bt Lily Zhang 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5, Teresa Kraft bt Prachi Jha 13-11, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11,11-5).

Positions: 9-12: Chinese Taipei bt India 3-0 (Hsin Huang bt Manika Batra 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, Yu-Wen Huang bt T. Reeth Rishya 11-7, 11-3, 11-8, Ya-Ting Hsu bt Karnam Spoorthy 7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 12-10), Russia bt Netherlands 3-1, Chinese Taipei bt Russia 3-0, India bt Netherlands (Karnam Spoorthy bt Rianne van Duin 11-2, 11-8, 11-5, Manika Batra bt Alice Barendregt 11-5, 11-3, 11-3, Suthirtha Mukherjee bt Kim Vermaas 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7).

TTFI Press release

Impregnable Chinese book their quarterfinals slots

Hyderabad, December 10, 2012: When you have a classy quartet in your ranks, the coach’s job is half done. The other half becomes a formality when the Group of Four happens to be from China.  This is what most teams in fray here at the Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, dread about the awesome Chinese, much to their chagrin.

Though seeded No. 3 here, the Chinese boys remain the team to beat as they mowed down their opponents in the two matches they played today to enter the quarterfinals. First, they beat Belgium 3-0 and followed it up with another 3-0 victory over Chinese Taipei.  Their girls, having been given the top slot as holders of the title, downed Croatia and then Russia, both with a 3-0 margin, to stamp their authority yet again and took their appointed place.  

Japanese boys and girls have kept their quarterfinal date with destiny and continued their rampaging way while South Korean boys were not far behind the two Asian powerhouses. The Korean girls, however, lost to Hong Kong in their second match after blanking out India 3-0. Hong Kong took the top spot in Group G, beating India 3-2 in a tight match. Nevertheless, today’s group matches only reaffirmed the podium places for all the Big Three teams, with Hong Kong lurking around.

Indian Girls lose plot

The Indian girls’ team damaged its quarterfinal chances in the morning by going down to No. 3 South Korea 0-3, did well against No. 6 Hong Kong but only marginally. Manika Batra’s heroics apart, there was nothing to write home about as T. Reeth Rishya, our last hope, went down in both her singles paving the way for Hong Kong and Korea’s passage into the quarters from the group. Now the Indians, seeded No. 13 here, will play for positions between 9 and 12.

As for the Indian boys, they had no problems in putting it across Australia 3-0 but failed to sustain the tempo against Italy and went down 1-3.  Except for Abhishek Yadav, who won against Alessandro Baciocchi 3-2 (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 9-11, 11-6), the rest failed pushing India on the back foot. Left-hander Leonardo Mutti, who played brilliantly, took both his singles against Sudhanshu Grover and Abhishek Yadav. India will now play for positions 15-16.

Results: (Stage 2):

Junior Boys: Group E: Japan bt Hungary 3-0 (Masaki Yoshida bt Adam Szudi 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, Asuka Sakai bt Tamas Lakatos 11-8, 12-10, 11-9, Yuto Muramatsu bt Nandor Ecseki 11-7, 11-7, 11-6), Japan bt Poland 3-1 (Asuka Sakai lost to Jakub Dyjas 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 3-11, Yuto Muramatsu bt Konard Kulpa 11-6, 13-11, 11-9, Masaki Yoshida bt Michal Bankosz 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8, Yuto Muramatsu bt Jakub Dyjas 11-9, 3-11, 11-7, 11-6).

Group F: France bt Hong Kong 3-0 (Simon Gauzy bt Ka Tak Hung 12-10, 11-7, 11-7, Enzo Angels bt Chung Hei Chiu 6-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-5, Tristan Flore bt Siu Hang Lam 11-4, 11-2, 11-6), France bt Brazil 3-0 (Simon Gauzy bt Hugu Calderano 18-16, 11-7, 11-5, Tristan Flore bt Eric Jouti 11-9, 11-6, 11-5, Antonie Hachard bt Vitor Ishiy 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9).

Group G: China bt Belgium 3-0 (Shenpeng Fan bt Robin Devos 11-9, 12-10, 11-0, Gaoyuan Lin bt Florent Lambiet 11-8, 11-1, 14-12, Chenhao Xu bt Martin Allegro 13-11, 11-7, 11-8), China bt Chinese Taipei 3-0 (Zhendong Fan bt Chia-Sheng Lee 11-4, 13-11, 9-11, 11-3, Gaoyuan Lin bt Tzu-Hsiang Hung 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, Chenhao Xu bt Cheng-Ting Liao 12-10, 11-7, 11-8).

Group H: South Korea bt Czech Republic 3-0 (Deokhwa Choi bt David Retispies 11-4, 11-8, 11-9, Woojin Jang bt Ondrej Bajger 11-3, 11-8, 11-8, Minhyeok Kim bt Jakub Seibert 8-11, 15-13, 11-8, 11-5), South Korea bt Germany 3-1 (Woojin Jang lost to Benedikt Duda 5-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6, 7-11, Deokhwa Choi bt Frederik Jost 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, Minhyeok Kim bt Marc Rode 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3, Deokha Choi bt Benedikt Duda 5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4).

Junior Girls:

Group E: China bt Croatia 3-0 (Yuling Zhu bt Lea Rakovac 11-8, 11-8, 11-6, Yuting Gu bt Mateja Jeger 11-4, 11-4, 11-5, Ruochen Gu bt Ivana Tubikanec 11-7, 11-9, 11-2), China bt Russia 3-0 (Yuting Gu bt Elizaveta Khlyzova 11-3, 11-3, 11-6, Ruochen Gu bt Daria Chernova 11-3, 11-4, 11-3, Gaoyang Liu bt Ekaterina Guseva 11-3, 11-3, 11-3).

Group F: Japan bt Chinese Taipei 3-0 (Ayuka Tanioka bt Ya-Ting Hsu 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8, Miyu Maeda bt Yu-Wen Huang 6-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-3, Mima Ito bt Ssu-Hua Chiu 8-11, 11-6, 11-2, 6-11, 11-8), Japan bt Germany 3-0 (Ayka Tanioka bt Petrissa Solja 13-11, 11-8, 11-9, Mima Ito bt Theresa Kraft 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, Miyu Kato bt Nina Mittleham 9-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-6).

Group G: South Korea bt India 3-0 (Dasom Lee bt T. Reeth Rishya 10-12, 11-1, 13-11, 11-8, Yumi Jung bt Manika Batra 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 2-11, 11-8, Zion Lee bt Suthirtha Mukherjee 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4),  Hong Kong bt South Korea 3-1 (Hoi Kem Doo lost to Yumi Jung 13-11, 8-11, 8-11, 3-11, Ching Wan Li bt Dasom Lee 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, Wai Yam Minne Soo bt Byoinim Kim 12-10, 11-6, 11-9, Hoi Kem Doo bt Dasom Lee 11-7, 11-9, 11-9), Hong Kong bt India 3-2 (Hoi Kem Doo bt T.Reeth Rishya 11-5, 11-3, 11-4, Ching Wan Li lost to Manika Batra 4-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, Wai Yam Minne Soo bt Suthirtha Mukherjee 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, Hoi Kem Doo lost to Manika Batra 11-7, 11-5, 13-15, 6-11, 9-11, Ching Wan Li bt T. Reeth Rishya 11-7, 11-7, 11-6).

Group H: Romania bt Netherlands 3-2 (Bernadette Szocs bt Kim Vermass 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, Irina Ciobanu lost to Britt Eerland 9-11, 4-11, 8-11, Bernadett Balint bt Alice Barendregt 11-6, 13-11, 11-7, Bernadette Szocs lost to Britt Eerland 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 6-11, 10-12, Irina Ciobanu bt Kim Vermass 11-8, 11-4, 11-4), USA bt Romania 3-1 (Lily Zhang bt Irina Cibanu 11-5, 11-5, 11-3, Crystal Wang lost to Bernadette Szocs 2-11, 7-11, 5-11, Prachi Jha bt Roxana Istrate 13-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-8, Lily Zhang bt Bernadette Szocs 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 12-10).

Positions 13-20:

Junior Boys:: India bt Australia 3-0 (Sudhanshu Grover bt Heming Hu 9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9, Abhishek Yadav bt Dillon Cathcart 11-3, 11-6, 11-5, Utkarsh Gupta bt Ivan Sulfaro 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 12-10), Italy bt USA 3-1 (Leonardo Mutti bt Kunal Chodri 11-6, 11-2, 11-9, Alessandro Baciocchi lost to Grant Li 5-11, 11-9, 14-16, 8-11, Maurizio Massarelli bt Kanak Jha 8-11, 11-8, 12-14, 11-9, 13-11, Leonardo Mutti bt Grant Li 14-12, 11-7, 11-3), Egypt bt Chile 3-1 (Shady Magdy lost to Gustavo Gomez 10-12, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, Omar Bedair bt Sebastian Roman 4-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-5, Bassel Alaa bt Alfonso Olave 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, Omar Bedair bt Gustavo Gomez 11-8, 11-7, 11-1),  Argentina bt New Zealand 3-0 (Juan Daher bt Roger Rao 11-5, 11-6, 11-4, Pablo Saragovi bt Kevin Wu 11-8, 11-9, 11-5, Nicolas Galvano bt Daniel Lowe 13-11, 11-9, 11-5), Italy bt India 3-1 (Alessandro Baciocchi lost to Abhishek Yadav 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, Leonardo Mutti bt Sudhanshu Grover 11-7, 11-2, 11-6, Damiano Seretti bt Utkarsh Gupta 11-13, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4, 11-4, Leonardo Mutti bt Abhishek Yadav 11-6, 14-12, 11-8).

Junior Girls: Egypt bt Australia 3-0 (Yousra Helmy bt Anna Du 10-12, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8, Dina Meshref bt Kayla Coombs 11-3, 11-7, 11-5, Alia Doaa bt Vy Bui 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5), Belarus bt Venezuela 3-0 (Alina Arlouskaya bt Gremlis 11-5, 11-4, 11-3, Katsiaryana Baravok bt Winberly Montero 10-12, 8-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-6, Maryia Kuchuk bt Josmary Lucena 11-9, 11-8, 11-6), France bt Wales 3-0 (Laura Pfefer bt Megan Phillips 11-7, 11-3, 15-13, Sara Berge bt Charlotte Carey 8-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10, Marie Migot bt Angharad Phillips 11-4, 11-9, 11-5), Brazil bt Puerto Rico 3-1 (Karina Hayama bt Carelyn Cordero 13-11, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, Caroline Kumahara bt Daniely Rios 11-8, 4-11, 11-2, 15-13, Bruna Alexandre lost to Melanie Diaz 11-7, 14-16, 4-11, 11-5, 3-11, Caroline Kumahara bt Carely Cordero 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 13-11, 11-9).

TTFI Press release

Indian girls in Stage 2, but boys lose their way

Hyderabad, December 9, 2012: Even as the Indian girls huffed and puffed their way to Stage 2, beating France 3-1, the boys failed to match their wits against Hong Kong, who beat the hosts 3-1 to march into the next stage in the Volkswagen 2012 World Junior Table Tennis Championships at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium here on Sunday. 

With just the top team from each group making the grade, the Indian girls now join Group F and are pitted against France and Brazil. In Stage 2, only two teams will advance to the quarterfinals and the girls definitely have an uphill task. However, the boys will have to be content with playing for positions from 13 to 20 after their loss to Hong Kong. 

Even for the girls, it was not a cakewalk against a tough France. But what clinched the issue in their favour was the crucial second match between T. Reeth Rishya and Marina Berho which the former eventually won 2-0 to put India up. Though Suthirtha Mukherjee lost her rubber to in a tough fight to Laura Pfefer 3-2, Manika Batra, who gave a rousing start against France, settled the matter in her reverse singles against Marina to win 3-1.

Coach Kamlesh Mehta did admit that not knowing much about France proved to be an advantage. “When you don’t know much about your opponent, you are always cautious. That is how our girls began and eventually finished on top,” said Mehta.

But unfortunately, the boys’ team lost its plot after Sudhanshu Grover gave a brilliant start to their campaign winning against Chung Hei Chiu. The aggressive Grover was up to the task after he was pushed on the back foot in the first game. He reverted to his own attacking form that it paid rich dividends. Nevertheless, their No. 1 player Abhishek Yadav was too error-prone against Hong Kong’s No. 1Ka Tak Hung and the latter without allowing any liberty shut out the Indian southpaw.

Utkarsh Gupta, despite being down 0-2, came back strongly against Siu Hang Lam to level the score at 2-all before wilting under pressure against his rival who played a tactical game to outwit Gupta taking the game at 11-9 for the match. 

Earlier, the boys had defeated Chile 3-0 and the girls’ beat Australia by the same margin. Abhishek Yadav played a patchy game against Sebastian Roman in the first match, but the Indian countered him well after the first two games to put India on a winning way.

Sudhanshu Grover accounted for Gustavo Gomes despite dropping the first game and Utkarsh Gupta completed the formality by beating No. 3 Chilean Juan Lamadrid in straight sets.

The girls’ match against Australia had some ups and downs but the hosts were in control of the rubber with Manika Batra beating Vy Bui 3-0. Then Reeth Rishya downed Anna Du despite in considerable trouble against the latter’s topspin. Reeth blocked well and that helped her as well as India’s cause as they took a 2-0 lead. The promising Suthirtha Mukherjee simply ran over Sara Tan in the third rubber.

The best match of the championships so far turned out to be the one between Chinese Taipei and Egypt which the former’s girls team won 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. Dina Meshref did her star act for Egypt by winning both her matches but their No. 1 Alia Doaa failed in her efforts losing both her matches.

Results:

Junior Boys:

Group A (Stage 1): Hong Kong bt Chile 3-0 (Ka Tuk Hung bt Gustavo Gomez 9-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5, Chung Hei Chiu bt Sebastian Roman 11-3, 11-7, 11-8, Hong Ming Li bt Alfonso Olave 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10), India bt Chile 3-0 (Abhishek Yadav bt Sebastian Roman 17-15, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, Sudhanshu Grover bt Gustavo Gomez 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9, Utkarsh Gupta bt Juan Lamadrid 11-6, 11-6, 12-10), Hong Kong bt India 3-1 (Chung Hei Chiu lost to Sudhanshu Grover 9-11, 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, Ka Tak Hung bt Abhishek Yadav 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, Siu Hang Lam bt Utkarsh Gupta 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9, Chung Hei Chiu bt Abhishek Yadav 11-6, 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 11-2).

Group B (Stage 1): Czech Republic bt USA 3-1 (David Reitspies bt Kunal Chodri 11-8, 101-12, 11-9, 11-7, Ondrej Bajger bt Grant Li 11-6, 11-5, 11-5, Michal Benes lost to Theodore Tran 11-13, 11-2, 5-11, 11-7, 7-1, David Reitspies bt Grant Li 11-7, 14-12, 11-9), Egypt bt USA 3-0 (Omar Bedair bt Kunal Chodri 11-8, 11-6, 11-4, Shady Magdy bt Kanak Jha 11-5, 11-7, 11-9, Abdel-Rahman Mohammad bt Theodore Tran 11-5, 11-8, 11-4), Czech Republic bt Egypt 3-0 (David Reitspies bt Omar Bedair 11-6, 11-9, 13-11, Ondrej Bajger bt Shady Magdy 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10, Jakub Seibert bt Abdel-Rahman Mohammad 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-3), Belgium bt Italy 3-1 (Florent Lambiet bt Leonardo Mutti 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 7-11, 11-8, Robin Devos lost to Alessandro Baciocchi 14-12, 9-11, 9-11, 9-11, Martin Allegro bt Damiano Seretti 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9, Robin Devos bt Leonardo Mutti 9-11, 11-9, 17-15, 11-9).

Group C (Stage 1): Belgium bt New Zealand 3-0 (Florent Lambiet bt Kevin Wu 11-5, 11-9, 11-2, obin Devos bt Roger Rao 11-4, 11-3, 11-9, Martin Allegro bt Daniel Lowe 11-3, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5),  Italy bt New Zealand 3-0 (Alessandro Baciocchi bt Roger Rao 14-12, 11-9, 11-8, Leonardo Mutti bt Kevin Wu 11-7, 11-9, 11-8, Damiano Seretti bt Liam Young 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7).

Group D (Stage 1):Hungary bt Australia 3-0 (Nandor Ecseki bt Heming Hu 11-6, 11-3, 11-3, Marton Szita bt Ivan Sulfaro 11-5, 11-7, 11-0, Adam Szudi bt Nathan van der Heiden 11-4, 11-6, 11-8), Argentina bt Australia 3-1 (Fermin Tenti bt Ivan Sulfaro 11-6, 11-7, 11-7, Juan Daher lost to Heming Hu 11-9, 8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 8-11, Fermin Tenti bt Heming Hu 6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 12-10), Hungary bt Argentina 3-1 (Marton Szita bt Fermin Tenti 11-4, 11-8, 11-6, Tamas Lakatos bt Pablo Saragovi 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5, Nandor Ecseki lost to Juan Daher 9-11, 11-7, 6-11, 7-11, Tamas Lakatos bt Fermin Tenti 10-12, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5).

Junior Girls:

Group A (Stage 1): Croatia bt Venezuela 3-0 (Mateja Jeger bt Winberly Montero 11-2, 11-2, 11-9, Lea Rakovac bt Gremlis Arvelo 11-5, 11-5, 11-8, Ivana Tubikanec bt Josmary Lucena 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 12-10), Caroline Kumahara bt Winberly Montero 11-3, 11-4, 11-8, Karina Hayama bt Gremlis Arvelo 11-9, 11-5, 11-6, Bruna Alexandre bt Josmary Lucena 11-3, 11-7, 11-6).

Group B (Stage 1): Chinese Taipei bt Puerto Rico 3-0 (Yu-Wen Huang bt Carelyn Cordero 11-9, 11-8, 11-4, Hisn Huang bt Daniely Rios 8-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, Ya-Ting Hsu bt Melanie Diaz 11-5, 11-6, 11-5), Egypt bt Puerto Rico 3-1 (Alia Doaa bt Carelyn Cordero 3-11, 7-11, 8-11, Dina Meshref bt Daniely Rios 9-11, 12-10, 13-11, 11-4, Dina Meshref bt Carelyn Cordero 11-5, 11-4, 11-8), Chinese Taipei bt Egypt 3-2 (Hsin Hung bt Alia Doaa 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2, Ya-Ting Hsu lost to Dina Meshref 11-5, 8-11, 11-13, 10-12, Yu-Wen Huang bt Yousra 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-6, Hsin Hung lost to Dina Meshref 3-11, 6-11, 12-10, 5-11, Ya-Ting Hsu bt Alia Doaa 11-4, 11-3, 12-10).

Group C (Stage 1): France bt Australia 3-0 (Laura Pfefer 11-3, 11-7, 11-7, Sarah Berge bt Vy Bui 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, Marina Berho bt Kayla Coombs 11-5, 11-6, 11-5), India bt Australia 3-0 (Manika Batra bt Vy Bui 11-8, 11-7, 11-8, T. Reeth Rishya bt Anna Du 11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-6, Suthirtha Mukherjee bt Sarah Tan 11-5, 11-1, 11-8), India bt France 3-1 (Manika Batra bt Sara Berge 11-7, 11-8, 11-4, T. Reeth Rishya bt Marina Berho 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, Suthirtha Mukherjee lost to Laura Pfefer 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 120-10, 9-11, Manika Batra bt Marina Berho 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9).

Group D (Stage 1): Belarus bt Wales 3-1 (Katsiaryna Baravok bt Angharad 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, Alina Arlouskaya bt Charlotte 11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 13-11, Maryia Kuchuk bt Megan Phillips 10-12, 14-16, 11-7, 14-12, 11-9), Netherlands bt Wales 3-1 (Kim Vermaas bt Angharad 11-6, 11-2, 11-7, Alice Barendregt lost to Charlotte Carey 11-5, 2-11, 10-12, 5-11, Britt Eerland bt Megan Phillips 11-2, 11-7, 11-5, Kim Vermaas bt Charlotte Carey 11-8, 11-3, 11-6).

TTFI Press release