by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
The no.4 seed, at the semi-final stage he accounted for Frenchman, Bastien Rembert, the no.2 seed and the winner earlier in the year on home soil in Metz (11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8), prior to securing the title at the expense of Romania’s Rares Sipos, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6).
Two outcomes contrary to status; in the corresponding semi-final contest it had been the very same scenario. Rares Sipos had beaten Artur Abusev, the top seed and like Denis Ivonin from Russia (11-3, 12-10, 11-4, 5-11, 11-13, 11-7).
Undoubtedly, a memorable day for Denis Ivonin and a memorable tournament; three days earlier in harness with Artur Abusev and Sweden’s Jens Holmqvist it had been Junior Boys’ Team gold. On the concluding day of play, in partnership with Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke, bronze in Junior Boys’ Doubles event was the end result but no pair came closer to beating the champions elect.
At the semi-final stage, Denis Ivonin and Azeez Solanke, the no.4 seeds, mounted a brave recovery before experiencing defeat by the minimal two point margin when facing Frenchmen Remi Menand and Bastien Rembert, the top seeds (11-3, 11-3, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9).
A scare for Remi Menand and Bastien Rembert, in the final life was less dramatic; a straight games win was posted in opposition to the combination of Portugal’s José Pedro Francisco and Austria’s Maciej Kolodaiejczyk, the no.3 seeds (11-4, 11-3, 11-9). One round earlier, José Pedro Francisco and Austria’s Maciej Kolodziejczyk had ended the hopes of the host nation; they accounted for Youssef Abdel-Aziz and Karim El-Hakem, the no.6 seeds, in a closely contested five games engagement (11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9).
Play now concluded in Sharm El-Sheikh, attention now turns to the state of Uttar Pradesh; the 2017 India Junior and Cadet Open begins in Great Noida on Saturday 28th October.
