by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Against Li Yumeng and Lin Lequan in the decisive gold medal contest, Zdena Blaskova gave her team the ideal start by beating Li Yumeng (11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8), before Lin Lequan accounted for Annika Lundström to level matters (11-6, 12-10, 11-7).

Parity, the European duo secured the doubles (11-7, 11-8, 11-8) to gain the ascendancy, before by the narrowest of margins, Annika Lundström ended matters by overcoming Li Yumeng (12-10, 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9).

A hard earned win, at the semi-final stage it was arguably even harder; a three-two margin of victory was the result in opposition to Canada’s Chen Yu-Hsuan and Ivy Liao.

Mainstay of the victory was Zdena Blaskova; she accounted for Chen Yu-Hsan in the opening match of the fixture (11-7, 11-8, 11-4), before in the vital fifth contest defeating and Ivy Liao (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 13-11). The one further success for the victors was recorded by Annika Lundström; in the fourth match of the engagement, she overcame Chen Yu-Hsan (11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3).

Victory in a full distance semi-final contest for the champions elect; for Li Yumeng and Lin Lequan in the same round, life had been much less exacting. They had recorded a three-nil win in opposition to the host nation’s Laura Lai and Joyce Xu.

Play in the Junior Girls’ Team event now concluded, attention turns to the Junior Girls’ Singles competition; a two day event, play concludes on Thursday 31st May.