by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

In the title deciding contest Huang Fanzhen and Qian Tianyi accounted for compatriots Chen Yi and Wu Yanchen (11-6, 12-10, 11-4), a fact that underlined the dominance of the Chinese girls.

They provided all four Junior Girls’ Singles semi-finalists. After recording a quarter-final success against Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus (11-2, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5), Qian Tianyi, the top seed, reserved her place in the final at the expense of Wu Yanchen (11-1, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5), the player who one round earlier had ousted Canada’s Isabelle Xiong (11-2, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7), a young lady very much in form. In the third round she had caused an upset of note by overcoming Romania’s Tania Plaian, the no.4 seed (11-6, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9).

Likewise in the third round it was defeat for Tania Plaian’s compatriot, Andreea Dragoman, the no.2 seed, she was beaten by Huang Fanzhen (11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10) who then ousted Russia’s Ekaterina Zironova (12-10, 11-8, 15-13, 11-5), prior to overcoming colleague Chen Yi (11-6, 12-10, 11-7, 11-1) to reserve her place in the final.

Earlier at the quarter-final stage, Chen Yi had beaten surprise quarter-finalist, Russia’s Olga Vishniakova (9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 11-5), the third round winner in opposition to Rachel Sung of the United States (11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6). Notably in round two Rachel Sung had ousted Maharyta Baltishite of Belarus, the no.3 seed (11-9, 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-7).

Surprises but not where Qian Tianyi was concerned; she beat Huang Fanzhen in four straight games to secure the title (11-5, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7).

Play continues with action in the Junior Girls’ and Cadet Girls’ Team events.