Challenge Series

European finalists, once again attract attention

06 Oct 2017

Opening rounds of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event completed at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Polish Open in Czestochowa on the morning of Friday 6th October, the names to attract the attention were those of Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko, Sweden’s Truls Moregard and to the delight of the host nation, Marek Badowski.

Meanwhile, in the counterpart Under 21 Women’s Singles event it was Italy’s Giorgia Piccolin and Croatia’s Sun Jiayi who raised the eyebrows.

Vladimir Sidorenko who beat Kanak Jha (Photo: Robert Valai)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
All caused upsets with pride of place going to Vladimir Sidorenko and Truls Moregard, the players who at the most recent two European Youth Championships have contested the Cadets Boys’ Singles final; on both occasions the verdict going in favour of the Russian.

Impressive in 2016 in Zagreb and earlier this year in Guimarães; both were impressive in Czestochowa.

In the second round of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event, Vladimir Sidorenko accounted for Kanak Jha of the United States, the no.12 seed (8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6) and a player destined later this year for the Liebherr Men’s World Cup; Truls Moregard ended the hopes of Portugal’s Diogo Chen, the no.13 seed (11-8, 11-5, 14-12).

Notable performances from Vladimir Sidorenko and Truls Moregard, it was the same from Marek Badowski, imposingly he beat Aliaksandr Khanin of Belarus in three straight games in their second round encounter (11-5, 11-3, 11-8).

Meanwhile, in the Under 21 Women’s Singles event, the winner on the ITTF World Junior Circuit in Croatia and Slovenia, Sun Jiayi underlined the fact that she is a contender for honours. In the opening round, she accounted for Marie Migot of France, the no.11 seed (11-13, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9).

Success for Croatia contrary to seeding, there was also the reverse scenario; Dorina Srebrnjak, the no.14 seed was beaten in round one by Giorgia Piccolin (11-6, 14-12, 3-11, 14-12).

Surprises but not where the leading names were concerned. In the Under 21 Men’s Singles event, Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa booked his third round place courtesy of success against Hong Kong’s Li Hon Ming (13-11, 10-12, 11-9, 15-13); Lam Siu Hang, the no.2 seed, and also from Hong Kong, accounted for Poland’s Marco Golla (11-9, 11-2, 13-11).

Meanwhile, in the Under 21 Women’s Singles where just one round has been completed; Romania’s Adina Diaconu, the top seed, beat Finland’s Anna-Sofia Erkheikki (11-9, 11-7, 11-4), Japan’s Miyuu Kihara, the no.2 seed, ended the hopes of England’s Emily Bolton (11-6, 11-6, 11-6).

Challenge Series 2017 Polish Open Truls Moregard Vladimir Sidorenko

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