by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
In a competition where teams finishing in first and second places in each of the four groups advanced to the main draw; Lin Yen-Chun, Peng Chih and Wang Guan-Ru progressed alongside the Malaysian trio formed by Christopher Goh, Ling Yi and Ng Wan Sing.
Top spot for Chinese Taipei ‘A’; for Chinese Taipei ‘B’ it was second spot but second spot with honour. They experienced a three-one defeat at the hands of Hong Kong’s Chan Yee Sun, Chong Kai Ning and Wong Hon Lam, the top seeds; the player to excel for Chinese Taipei being Ho Jui-Lin, in the opening match of the fixture he accounted for Wong Hon Lam in a full distance five games encounter determined by the very narrowest of margins in the deciding game (11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9).
First place in the group for Hong Kong ‘A’; it was the same for Hong Kong ‘B’ and Singapore ‘A’, the two further outfits which fielded World ranked players.
Singapore ‘A’, the no.2 seeds, represented by Pang Yen En Koen, Wong Yan Kai and Jabez Law remained unbeaten to secure first place in their group ahead of Thailand ‘A’ represented by Thyme Sanglertsilpachai, Chetthanabodi Chanpen and Nawin Mekamporn but it was almost role reversal.
The contest between Singapore ‘A’ and Thailand ‘A’ went to the wire with Wong Yan Kai emerging the hero of the hour in a three-two victory; in the concluding match of the fixture, he accounted for Thyme Sanglertsilpachai in a dramatic five games duel (9-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11).
Tense moments for Singapore ‘A’; not so for Hong Kong ‘B’; the combination of Lau Chun Kit, Shih Wing Hang and Yiu Kwan To topped their group without conceding a single individual match. India ‘B’ represented by Jash Amit Modi, Sujan Bharadwaj and Nagesh Verenker finished in second place.
At the quarter-final stage Hong Kong ‘A’ meets India ‘B’, Thailand ‘A; opposes Chinese Taipei ‘A’; in the opposite half of the draw it is Hong Kong ‘B’ versus Malaysia, Chinese Taipei ‘B’ against Singapore ‘A’.
Play in the Cadet Boys’ Team event concludes on Thursday 11th May.
Photos: Nakares Terakashimi
