by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Kuang Li beat Xiang Peng in the Junior Boys’ Singles final (11-8, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9); soon after Xiang Peng overcame Kuang Li in the Cadet Boys’ Singles final (8-11, 13-11, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8); a unique occurrence.

In the Junior Boys’ Singles event, a competition which the previous day had witnessed a host of upsets, Kuang Li accounted for Frenchman Leo de Nodrest, the no.11 seed (11-2, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7) and Hong Kong’s Su Zhi (11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8) to reserve his place in the final.

Hard fought contests, in the opposite half of the draw it was the same for Xiang Peng. After having ousted Frenchman, Bastian Rembert, the no.4 seed (7-11, 11-9, 12-10, 13-11, 11-7), he ended the hopes of colleague, Xu Yingbin, the no.2 seed. He prevailed in a closely fought seven games encounter, decided by the very narrowest of decisions (12-10, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9).

Meanwhile, in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, Xiang Peng, the no.4 seed, accounted for Korea’s Park Gyeongtae, the no.8 seed (12-10, 9-11, 11-2, 11-5) and India’s Payas Jain, the no.2 seed (11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-1) to reach the final; Kuang Li, the no.7 seed, overcame Singapore’s Andy Wong Yan Kai (11-7, 11-3, 8-11, 14-12), before ending the hopes of compatriot Zhu Jiaqi (11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4).

Success for China, in the Hopes Boys’ Singles event, it was success for India; Havish Amit Asrani emerged successful, at the final hurdle he beat Hong Kong’s Man (11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8).