by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

The no.2 seed, at the final hurdle she accounted for compatriot, Qian Tianyi, the top seed (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8), having progressed to the final in style.

She surrendered just one individual game en route; that being in the third round against Japan’s Yukari Sugasawa, the no.15 seed (8-11, 11-5, 12-10, 11-3, 11-5), after in the previous having ousted Camille Lutz of France (11-5, 11-7, 11-8, 11-1).

A quarter-final place reserved, she beat Marharyta Baltushite of Belarus, the no.7 seed (11-3, 11-7, 11-2, 11-3), prior to reserving her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to the host nation’s Anna Wegrzyn, the no.14 seed (11-4, 11-8, 11-2, 11-5).

Notably, one round earlier, Anna Wegrzyn had beaten China’s Chen Yi (5-11, 16-14, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 12-10), the second round winner when facing Romania’s Andreea Dragoman, the no.4 seed (12-10, 17-15, 11-2, 11-8).

Impressive from Shi Xunyao, it was the same from Qian Tianyi; she advanced to the final recording straight games victories in every round.

She accounted for Poland’s Zhai Ziyi (11-2, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6) and Japan’s Reina Aso (12-10, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5), prior to recording a quarter-final success against Russia’s Anastasia Kolish, the no.5 seed (11-7, 11-8, 11-6, 11-2) and a semi-final victory in opposition to colleague Guo Yuhan (11-6, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9).

Earlier, Guo Yuhan had recorded a third round win against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ting-Ting, the no.3 seed (11-7, 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9), before ending the progress of Lucie Gauthier of France, the no.8 seed (11-3, 3-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9).

It was for Qian Tianyi her third ITTF World Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles final of the year; she won in France before, as in Poland, being the runner up in Thailand.