by Neha Aggarwal
Feng Yi-Hsin, the top seed, made an impressive run to win the title. In the final, he beat Russia’s Maksim Grebnev in an extremly close three-two match. Grebnev started off well winning the first game 11-7, but Feng Yi-Hsin responded back with snatching the second game 11-3. Level at one-one, both the players put up a great show but the Russian was the better off winning the third game 11-3. Since the fourth game started, it seemed like Feng Yi-Hsin transformed into a different player as he wrapped up the next two games 11-4, 11-5.
Feng Yi-Hsin won (7-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4,11-5).
In the semi finals, he beat the no.4 seed Japan’s Jo Yokotani in five games (11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9). On the other side, Maksim Grebnev, the third seed, upset Japan’s Kakeru Sone, the second seed in the tournament. The Russian won 3-1 (4-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8).
Japan was left disappointed in the boys, as both the contenders lost in the semi-finals but the girls did them proud. Yumeno Soma, the top seed in the tournament asserted her dominance, defeating team mate Honami Nakamori in the final. Soma won in straight games (11-8, 11-8, 11-9).
Very impressively, Soma lost only one game en route winning the title. That was the quarter-finals against Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian (8-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-3).
In the semi-final she beat Chinese Taipei’s fourth seed Chien Tung-Chuan in straight games (11-8, 11-8, 11-9). On the other side, Honami Nakamori beat Russia’a Arina Slautina 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 12-10).
