by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publication’s Editor

Takuto Izumo and Masaki Takami, the no.2 seeds, overcame Pavel Daunarovich and Valentin Henin of Belarus at the quarter-final stage (11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6) in a round that witnessed defeat for colleagues and top seeds, Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda, as well as for Romania’s Alexandru Manole and Rares Sipos, the no.3 seeds.

Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda experienced defeat at the hands of Italy’s Antonino Amato and Daniele Pinto (9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5), for Alexandru Manole and Rares Sipos, the French duo comprising Irvin Bertrand and Le de Nodrest ended aspirations (11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7).

Defeats in the round of the last eight; for Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin and Tai Ming-Wei it was defeat one round earlier. They were beaten by the combination comprising Kanak Jha of the United States and the Czech Republic’s Jan Valenta, who recovered from a two games to nil deficit to secure victory (5-11, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-8).

Impressive against the fourth seeds; Kanak Jha and Jan Valenta maintained their good form in the quarter-finals, they accounted for Germany’s Meng Fanbo and Kay Stumper (12-10, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 11-6) to keep their title hopes alive.

At the semi-final stage Antonino Amato and Daniele Pinto meet Kanak Jha and Jan Valenta; Irvin Bertrand and Leo de Nodrest confront Takuto Izumo and Masaki Takami.

Three surprise semi-finalists in the Junior Boys’ Doubles event; in the counterpart Junior Girls’ Doubles competition it was the reverse situation.

The host nation’s Orsolya Feher and Leonie Hartbricht emerged as the unexpected duo to reserve a last four place. At the quarter-final stage they overcame the Russian duo comprising Elizabet Abraamian and Ekaterina Zironova (11-8, 11-8, 11-9), very much the in-form pair.

Earlier in the second round they had beaten Romania’s Andreea Clapa and Andreea Dragoman, the no.3 seeds (11-8, 11-8, 11-6), prior to ousting the French combination of Romane Le Scour and Leili Mostafavi (7-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8).

Meanwhile, for the other leading pairs it was a successful day but not without some moments of thought.

Notably Japan’s Yuko Kato and Maki Shiomi, the top seeds, had to withstand a brave recovery executed by the combination of Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus and Norway’s Ilka Doval (11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 9-11, 11-4).

A hard fought quarter-final win for Yuko Kato and Maki Shiomi; for Hong Kong’s Mak Tze Wing and Minnie Soo Wai Yam, the no.2 seeds, as for Russia’s Kristina Kazantseva and Valeria Shcherbatykh, the no.4 seeds, like was more comfortable.

Mak Tze Wing and Minnie Soo Wai Yam beat Spain’s Ana Garcia and Zhang Xuan (12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6); Kristina Kazantseva and Valeria Shcherbatykh overcame Nolwen Fort and Lucie Gauthier of France (12-10, 11-6, 11-6).

Kristina Kazantseva and Valeria Shcherbatykh meet Mak Tze Wing and Minnie Soo Wai Yam in the semi-finals; Yuko Kato and Maki Shiomi oppose Orsolya Feher and Leonie Hartbricht.

Play in both the Junior Boys’ Doubles and Junior Girls’ Doubles events conclude on Thursday 3rd November.

2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: First Stage – Junior Boys’ Singles
2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: First Stage – Junior Girls’ Singles

2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Junior Boys’ Doubles
2016 Hungarian Junior and Cadet Open: Main Draw – Junior Girls’ Doubles