World Junior Circuit

Unbeaten throughout, Siddharta Almeida adds Boys’ Singles title to earlier success

29 Aug 2016

Winner earlier in the week of the Junior Boys’ Team title in partnership with Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Wilson, Brazil’s Siddharta Almeida emerged as the most successful player at the 2016 El Salvador Junior and Cadet Open.

Staged in the country’s capital city of San Salvador, on the concluding day of action, he won the Junior Boys’ Singles title and in so doing completed the whole tournament unbeaten.

Siddharta Almeida, a first ITTF World Junior Circuit Boys' Singles title (Photo: Gerardo Lopez)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The no.2 seed he staved off the challenge of Puerto Rico to secure the top prize.

Puerto Rican challenge

At the quarter-final stage he accounted for Gabriel Perez (11-4, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6), before overcoming Franisco Matias, the no.6 seed (9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9) and Sebastian Echavarria, the no.8 seed (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7) to reserve the top step of the medal podium and thus win his first ever ITTF Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles title.

Notably the Puerto Ricans were all in good form. One day earlier Gabriel Perez had been the surprise winner of his group, whilst at the quarter-final stage Francisco Mattias had overcome Aaron Wilson the no.3 seed (6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8).

Likewise, Sebastian Echavarria had recorded a quarter-final win over Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish, the surprise first round winner over Sweden’s Oskar Danielsson, the no.4 seed (15-13, 17-15, 11-8, 12-10). One round later, Sebastian Echavarria had raised the eyebrows even more by overcoming colleague Yomar Gonzalez, the top seed (11-5, 13-11, 11-6, 11-6).

Jacobo Vahnish

A quarter-final exit in the Junior Boys’ Singles event for Jacobo Vahnish; in the counterpart Cadet Boys’ Singles competition it was success.

He beat Costa Rica’s José Perez (13-11, 11-6, 11-2) to claim the title, having at the semi-final stage ousted Ecuador’s Bryan Escobar (11-2, 12-10, 11-5); in the counterpart penultimate round contest, José Perez had defeated Paraguay’s Elias Apud (5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10).

The third step of the podium for Elias Apud; in the Hopes Boys’ Singles event it was the top step; he beat Sweden’s Love Iwarsson in the final to claim the title (11-7, 15-13, 11-9).

Tunisia next on itinerary

Matters concluded in El Salvador; 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.

 

World Junior Circuit El Salvador Junior and Cadet Open

Read more

Once again clean sweep for Giulia Takahashi

15 Mar 2020 World Junior Circuit

Familiar foes cause major upsets to reach last eight

14 Mar 2020 World Junior Circuit

Most prominent progress but no shortage of surprise qualifiers

13 Mar 2020 World Junior Circuit

Brazil shares honours, Chile and Peru claim titles

12 Mar 2020