by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

In contests that went the full five match distance; at the semi-final stage against Serbia ‘A’, Jiri Martinko beat both Pero Tepic (9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5) and Aleksa Gacev (11-7, 12-10, 11-5); before in the final accounting for Bahrain’s Rashed Sanad in a titanic five games duel (13-11, 11-3, 11-13, 6-11, 13-11) and in an equally closely fought duel Montenegro’s Filip Radovic (13-15, 11-6, 11-13, 13-11, 14-12) to seal the Czech win.

The further wins for the Czech Republic were recorded by Patrik Klos. Against Serbia ‘A’, he accounted for Pero Tepic in the vital fifth and deciding match of the fixture (12-10, 11-7, 12-10). Later in the final, in the opening match of the engagement, he defeated Filip Radovic (1-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3).

Meanwhile, the successes for Serbia were recorded by Aleksa Gacev against Patrik Klos (1-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-3) and by Aleksa Adamovic in opposition to Tomas Koldas (11-7, 11-4, 3-11, 11-8); for the eventual runners up, the positive outcomes were posted by Vitor Amorin and by Rashed Saned.

In the third match of the encounter, Portugal’s Vitor Amorim beat Tomas Koldas (11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7), Rashed Sanad overcame Patrik Klos (13-11, 11-4, 11-5).

In the counterpart Junior Boys’ Team semi-final the combination of Vitor Amorin, Filip Radovic and Rashed Sanad had accounted for the Serbian trio formed by Niksa Martinovic, Florian Fenyvesi and Matija Joviic by three mathes to one.

The one win for the host nation trio was recorded by Florian Fenyvesi; in the second match of the engagement, he beat Rashed Sanad (8-11, 15-13, 12-10, 11-8).

Success for the Czech Republic in the Junior Boys’ Team event; in the Cadet Boys’ Team event, it was success for the Croatian partnership of Ivor Ban and Jakov Jakelic.

At the final hurdle, a three-one success was recorded against Romania with Ivor Ban the mainstay of the victory.

He beat both Marius Radoi (11-7, 11-6, 11-9) and Mihai Nemaciuc (12-10, 11-7, 6-11, 11-3), whilst also partnering Jakov Jakelic to doubles success (6-11, 11-3, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8). The one success for Romania was recorded by Mihai Nemaciuc; in the opening match of the fixture, he overcame Jakov Jakelic (11-8, 11-7, 14-12).

Earlier at the semi-final stage Ivor Ban and Jakov Jakelic had accounted for the Qatari duo of Abdulaziz Al-Abdulla and Nawaf Al-Malki by three matches to nil.

Similarly Mihai Nemaciuc and Marius Radoi had been in impressive form; they had overcome the Czech Republic partnership of Tomas Martinko and Dalibor Skopal by three matches to one. The one success for the Czech Republic had come in the doubles when Tomas Martinko and Dalibor Skopal posted a five games win (11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8).

Team events concluded, matters come to a close on Sunday 9th October with the Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Boys’ Doubles events.

2016 Serbia Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Junior Boys’ Team event
2016 Serbia Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Junior Girls’ Team event
2016 Serbia Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Cadet Boys’ Team event
2016 Serbia Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Cadet Girls’ Team event