by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
She completed a clean sweep of all three titles on offer in the five day tournament.
First title
The winner of the Junior Girls’ Team title three days earlier in harness with Mak Tze Wing and Liu Qi, on the concluding day of action she partnered Mak Tze Wing to success in the Junior Girls’ Doubles competition.
Meanwhile, later in the day, she overcame her partner at the final hurdle to win her first ever ITTF World Junior Girls’ Singles title.
Impressively Minnie Soo Wai Yam, justified her top seeded billing in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, accounting for Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling at the semi-final stage (11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-6) prior the clinching the title at the final expense of Mak Tze Wing, the no.5 seed (10-12, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7).
Mak Tze Wing in outstanding form
Successful earlier in the year in Thailand, Mak Tze Wing was very much the player to attract the attention; at the semi-final stage she recovered from a two games to nil and three games to one deficit to beat Japan’s Miyu Nagasaki, the no.2 seed (3-11, 11-13, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9).
Status justified in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, it was the very same in the Junior Girls’ Doubles competition; the top seeds, Mak Tze Wing and Minnie Soo Wai Yam combined to beat Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Chia-Yun and Wu Yi-Hua to secure the title (11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 11-9).
Gold for Wong Chin Yau
Outstanding performances from Hong Kong in the Junior Girls’ Singles and Junior Girls’ Doubles events; it was the same in the counterpart Cadet Girls’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Doubles competitions.
An all-Hong Kong final saw Wong Chin Yau overcome Lee Ka Yee to secure the Cadet Girls’ Singles top prize (11-5, 12-10, 12-10).
Overcame top seed
Earlier at the quarter-final stage Wong Chin Yau had beaten Chinese Taipei’s Chang Ju-Chia (14-12, 5-11, 11-4, 3-11, 11-6) before causing a major upset by overcoming Japan’s Miyu Nagasaki, the top seed (8-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-5) to reserve her place in the final.
In the opposite half of the draw Lee Ka Yee had accounted for India’s Prapti Sen at the quarter-final stage (15-13, 11-4, 11-4), before ousting colleague, Leung Ka Wan in the penultimate round (11-5, 11-2, 11-6).
Partners in harmony
Opponents in the final of the Cadet Girls’ Singles event; in the Cadet Girls’ Doubles competition they were allies.
In harmony at the final hurdle they beat Chinese Taipei’s Cai Fong-En and Jhou Ting-Yu (11-7, 11-9, 11-6).
Next stop
Play concluded in Chinese Taipei; the next stop on this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit is Hammamet; the Sopal 2016 Tunisia Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 31st August.
