World Junior Circuit

Four out of ten, low marks for leading names

30 Oct 2017

Japan’s Maki Shiomi and Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabut, the respective top two seeds in the Junior Girls’ Singles event at the 2017 India Junior and Cadet Open in Greater Noida, both negotiated their initial phase group contests without defeat on Monday 30th October.

It was the same for the host nation’s Yashini Sivasankar and for Singapore’s Zhang Wanling but for the other six leading names in a competition that witnessed ten groups in the initial phase, there were defeats

Varuni Jaisawal who beat Archana Girish Kamath (Photo: courtesy of Organising Committee)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

India’s Archana Girish Kamath and Selena Selvakumar were both beaten by compatriots; Archana Girish Kamath, the no.3 seed, experienced defeat at the hands of Varuni Jaiswal (11-6, 11-9, 5-11, 4-11, 11-2), Selena Selvakumar, the no.4 seed, was beaten by Surbhi Patwari (11-7, 11-6, 11-2).

Meanwhile, for Moumita Das, the no.5 seed and Priyanka Pareek, the no.6 seed, likewise from the host nation, it was defeat at Korean hands. Yoo Siwoo overcame Moumita Das (11-6, 5-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6), Lee Seungmin accounted for Priyanka Pareek (11-3, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4).

Defeat for notable names competing on home soil; there was also defeat for one notable visitor and a reversal of fortunes for India; Kazakhstan’s Zauresh Akasheva suffered at the hands of Anush Kutumbale (12-10, 11-3, 11-9).

Troubled times; but there was a saving grace for the leading names who experienced defeat, it was there only defeat. Thus, in each instance second place in the group and a passport to the main draw was secured; for those who had upset the pecking order it was a day without defeat and thus progress to the main draw as a group winner.

Players finishing in first and second positions in each group advanced to the knock-out rounds.

However, there was one exception to the rule; the host nation’s Manushree Patil, the no.10 seed, was beaten by both colleague Prapti Sen (11-4, 11-4, 11-3) and by Korea’s Lee Dagyeong (11-8, 11-9, 11-4). Third place in the group was the end result and thus no progress to the main draw; Lee Dagyeong accounted for Prapti Sen (11-6, 11-8, 11-6) to secure first place in the group.

Surprises, not in the initial phase of the Cadet Girls’ Singles event; India’s Vanshika Bhargave and Anusha Kutumbale, the two players on duty who possess world rankings, duly remained unbeaten top their respective groups.

Play continues in the Junior Girls’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles events on Tuesday 31st October.

World Junior Circuit 2017 India Junior and Cadet Open Maki Shiomi Yashini Sivasankar Zhang Wanling Jinnipa Sawettabu Varuni Jaiswal

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