by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Only 14 years old, Yukari Sugasawa overcame colleague, Hikari Okubo in the Cadet Girls’ Singles final (11-2, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8), having one round earlier also accounted for a Japanese colleague, she beat Kaho Akae (8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8).

In the opposite half of the draw, in the penultimate round Hikari Okubo had beaten Lucy Farcy of France (11-6, 11-4, 11-5).

Success against Kaho Akae, immediately preceding the Cadet Girls’ Singles final, it had been Cadet Girls’ Doubles success success in harness with Kaho Akae; the duo accounted for Hungary’s Irisz Laskai and Dorottya Tolgyes (11-4, 14-12, 11-2) to seal the top prize.

Repeat success, it was almost the same for the host nation’s Adrien Rassenfosse, the winner of the Cadet Boys’ Team title the previous day in harness with Nicolas Degros; a place in the final against Spain’s Arnau Pons but after the end of the second game injury forced withdrawal from proceedings (12-10, 11-8, w/o).

Earlier at the semi-final stage Arnau Pons had beaten China’s Gao Shentong (6-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9); Adrien Rassenfosse had ended the hopes Fabio Rakotoarimanana of France (12-10, 11-9, 11-8).

Defeat for Fabio Rakotoarimanana, success for Arnau Pons; in the Cadet Boys’ Doubles final it was the reverse scenario; Fabio Rakotoarimanana in partnership with colleague Felix Lebrun accounted for Iker Gonzalez and Arnau Pons (11-7, 11-9, 11-4) to secure the title.

Gold for Spain and there was more gold; Daniel Berzosa won the Hopes Boys’ Singles title, he beat Russia’s Roman Vinogradov in the final (11-8, 11-9, 11-8); meanwhile, the latter’s colleague Sofia Umanets emerged successful in the Hopes Girls’ Singles events, she overcame Ireland’s Sophie Earley in the final (11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11).

Play concluded in Spa, attention now turns to Metz; the 2018 French Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 25th April.