by Ian Marshall, Editor
At the final hurdle a three-one win was the end result against Japan in the Cadet Boys’ Team competition; Kuang Li being very much the architect of the victory.
In the second match of the fixture, he beat Rikuto Maede (11-8, 9-11, 16-14, 11-7), before bringing matters to a close in the fourth encounter by overcoming Ryoichi Yoshiyama (9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-5, 11-8); sandwiched in between he partnered Tao Yuchang to doubles success (8-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9).
The one success for Japan was recorded in the opening match of the encounter when Ryiochi Yoshiyama overcame Han Xinyuan (13-11, 11-4, 11-9).
Earlier at the quarter-final stage with Tao Yuchang resigned to the bench, China had recorded a three-one win against the Chinese Taipei duo of Tsai Peng-Yuan and Kuo Yu-Liang, before with Tao Yuchang returning to doubles action in partnership with Kuang Li, a three-nil win was secured in opposition to Hong Kong’s Baldwin Chan Ho Wah.
Notably, the one success for Chinese Taipei was somewhat of a surprise; in the opening match of the fixture Tsai Pang-Yuan beat Kuang Li (11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9).
“I lost the first match so we were in low spirits; we overcame the pressure and eventually made it.” Kuang Li
Impressive from the Chinese trio; en route to the final, it had been the same from Ryoichi Yoshiyama and Rikuto Maede. In the round of the last eight they recorded a three-nil win against the combination of Australia’s Finn Luu and New Zealand’s Nathan Xu, prior to posting the same margin of victory in the penultimate round when confronting China’s Chen Yaxuan and Chen Yuanyu.
Comprehensive success for China in the Cadet Boys’ Team event; it was the same in the Cadet Girls’ Team competition.
A direct entry to the semi-finals, the three-nil win was the end result at the semi-final stage against Japan’s Miwa Harimoto and Anne Hesawa, before the same victory margin was secured in opposition to Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Lam and Phoebe Hui Wai in the final.
Success by three matches to nil in the title decider but arguably the score-line was harsh on Hong Kong; the opening two matches both went the full five games distance.
Kuai Man gave China the ideal start by beating Ng Wing Lam (6-11, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-1), before Chen Yi recovered from a two games to nil deficit to overcome Phoebe Hui Wai (9-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9) and Kuai Man joined forces with Li Yuqi to win the doubles (9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-6).
In the opposite half of the draw; Ng Wing Lam and Phoebe Hui Wai, who had also received a direct entry to the semi-finals, beat the Chinese combination of Ding Zige, Li Zeyan and Ye Xiuyu by three matches to one.
The one success for the Chinese outfit was recorded in the opening match of the fixture when Ding Zige beat Phoebe Hui Wai (10-12, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9).
Team events concluded, attention now turns to the individual competitions.
