by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Was it a surprise win for Amalraj Anthony? Perhaps that was not the situation; past results were in his favour.

The pair had met twice previously on the international scene, on both occasions in 2012, on both occasions the verdict went in favour of Amalraj Anthony. He emerged successful in the encounter at the Liebherr World Team Championships and on the GAC Group World Tour in Bremen; success in Germany, now five years later it was success in Chile.

Meanwhile, for Soumyajit Ghosh the situation was somewhat different; he had met Philipp Floritz on one previous occasion in an international tournament and he had experienced defeat and a heavy defeat.

The pair met in the opening round of the Boys’ Singles event at the Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Championships in the northern Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias; on that occasion Philipp Floritz, when representing his native Germany, had won in four straight games (11-9, 11-8, 11-6, 14-12).

“I felt very good, winning the first two games was important; then I felt I was in control of the match. For sure playing my doubles partner and colleague, Amalraj, in the final will be very difficult.” Soumyajit Ghosh.

In Santiago the result was very different; Cartagena de Indias was avenged.