World Junior Circuit

Rowan Hamed excels but efforts in vain, host nation’s hopes alive and well

01 Sep 2016

Three outfits on duty in the Junior Girls’ Singles event at the Sopal Tunisia Junior and Cadet Open in Hammamet; at the close of the first day of action, there was good news for the host country.

The trio comprising Fadwa Garci, Abir Haj Salah and Mariem Ben Cheikh emerged successful in their opening contest but the victory was not without some nervous moments, when facing their colleagues Islam Wenaiss and Ferdaoues Manaa who partnered Egypt’s Rowan Hamad.

Rowan Hamed impressed on opening day (Photo: courtesy of Tunisian Table Tennis Federation)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Perhaps somewhat predictably, it was Rowan Hamed who caused the host nation problems, she accounted for both Habir Haj Salah (11-4, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9) and Fadwa Garci (11-9), 11-9, 5-11, 11-8).
Spirited resistance

However, when facing colleagues, it was a different story; Islam Wenaiss was beaten by Fadwa Garci (11-8, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6) and by Habir Haj Salah (11-6, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6).

Spirited resistance from Islam Wenaiss, it was even more spirited from Ferdaoues Manaa; in the third match of the fixture, she almost turned the tables in favour of her team. She extended Mariem Ben Cheikh the full five games distance (8-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6).

Again impressivetesting

Impressive from Rowan Hamed, later in the day she was also impressive in opposition to the trio for by Germany’s Selja Fazlic and Caroline Hajok who joined forces with Tunisia’s Samar Hichri.

A three-one result was the outcome in favour of the latter trio with Ramed Hamed recording the one success; in the opening match of the fixture she overcame Selja Fazlic (11-4, 12-10, 12-10).

Success in the opening contest but not later in the day; in the fourth engagement she was beaten by Caroline Hajok but not without a stern fight (11-9, 11-5, 12-10).

Sandwiched in between, Caroline Hajok beat Ferdaaoues Manaa (11-2, 11-3, 11-4), before in a hard fought full distance duel Samar Hichri accounted for Islam Wenaiss (8-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7).

Remaining fixturetesting

One fixture remains; Fadwa Garci, Abir Haj Salah and Mariem Ben Cheikh face Selja Fazlic, Caroline Hajok and Samar Hichri to determine the outcome of the title.

Likewise two unbeaten teams

Two teams unbeaten on the initial day of action in the Junior Girls’ Team competition; it was the same in the Cadet Girls’ Team event where, in the initial stage of proceedings, there were two groups in action.

The combination of Tunisia’s Manel Baklouti and Diya Parag Chitale remained unbeaten, as did the Egypt ‘A’ combination formed by Roa Amro and Shahd Samed.

Play concludestesting

Play in the Junior Girls’ Team and Cadet Girls’ Team event concludes on Thursday 1st September.

World Junior Circuit Tunisia Junior and Cadet Open Caroline Hajok Selja Fazlic Rowan Hamad

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