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ITTF Challenge

2017 ITTF Challenge, Belgium Open

Tournament News
Challenge Series

Shunsuke Togami and Li Yu-Jhun secure first titles decided in De Haan

03 Nov 2017

Impressive performances, undoubtedly increasing in confidence as play progressed, Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and Chinese Taipei’s Li Yu-Jhun won the respective Under 21 Men’s Singles and Under 21 Women’s Singles events in De Haan on Friday 3rd November, the first titles to be decided at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Belgium Open.

Both emerged successful some contrary to predictions, Shunsuke Togami more so than Li Yu-Jhun who started proceedings occupying the no.15 seeded spot, as opposed to his female counterpart who was the no.3 seed.

Li Yu-Jhun delighted to win a first ever Challenge Series Under 21 Women's Singles title (Photo: Ireneusz Kanabrodzki)

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

A place in the quarter-final reserved, Shunsuke Togami recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat German qualifier, Dennis Klein (7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5), prior to ending the hopes of Hong Kong.

He accounted Lam Siu Hang, the top seed (11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8) in the penultimate round before securing the title at the expense of Ng Pak Nam, the no.4 seed (11-3, 11-8, 11-9).

“I am very surprised to win this title. There were a lot of good players present here in Belgium. My win in this final is really important for my world ranking. We have a good generation of Japanese players. The goal is to break through on the international scene. My goal is to be number one. I will have to beat my Japanese friends then I think.” Shunsuke Togami

Notably it was the third consecutive Japanese adversary for Ng Pak Nam; at the quarter-final stage he had beaten Yukiya Uda, the no.6 seed (6-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-8), before ending the hopes of Yuki Tanaka, the no.27 seed (7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7) and a player in form. In the third round he had beaten Slovenia’s Darko Jorgic, the no.2 seed (9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-9), prior to recording a quarter-final success in opposition to Belgium’s Martin Allegro (7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7).

Success against Hong Kong for Shunsuke Togami on the penultimate day of play; for Li Yu-Jhun it was very much success against Korea. After recording a quarter-final success against Russia’s Ekaterina Guseva, the no.7 seed (11-6, 11-5, 11-7), she beat qualifier Kim Yedam by the very narrowest of margins (8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 13-11), prior to securing the title at the final expense of Lee Zion, the top seed (8-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-6).

“I am very happy. I never won a tournament like this. This title gives my confidence a big boost. Now I am going to party with my friends.” Li Yu-Jhun

In the opposite half of the draw in the penultimate round, in the later rounds, Lee Zion ousted Romanian qualifier Alina Zaharia (11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4) before ending the hopes of Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, the no.4 seed (11-9, 11-2, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6).

All smiles for Shunsuke Togami (Photo: ireneusz Kanabrodzki)

 

Challenge Series 2017 Belgium Open Shunsuke Togami Li Yu-Jhun

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Day 3 - 2017 Belgium Open