by Ian Marshall, Editor

On the penultimate day of action, Hiroto Shinozuka, whose name appears at no.64 on the current Under 18 Boys’ World Rankings, had caused a major upset by beating China’s Kuang Li, the no.2 seed and winner of the Junior Boys’ Singles title earlier in the year in Thailand.

Impressively, he had won in three straight games (12-10, 11-5, 11-7); on the concluding day of action he maintained that form. In the round of the last he beat Hong Kong’s Choy Chun Kit, the no.7 seed (11-9, 11-5, 11-7), followed by respective success against the host nation duo of Chen Yaxuan, the no.12 seed (11-6, 14-12, 11-3) and Tao Yuchang, the no.5 seed (11-5, 11-6, 11-6).

In the opposite half of the draw; in the latter stages Tao Yuchang had also faced Japanese opposition. He had recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Kazuki Hamada (8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-4), prior to reserving his place in the final courtesy of success against Haruki Harada (13-11, 6-11, 14-12, 11-5).

Success for Hiroto Shinozuka in a most imposing manner; for Kuai Man, life was more testing.

After overcoming Hong Kong’s Phoebe Hui Wai, the no.6 seed (11-7, 11-8, 11-9), she lost the opening two games against Hina Kizuka, before winning the next three to book her place in the final (7-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7). A testing hurdle overcome, in the final she accounted for colleague, Chen Yi, the top seed, to arrest the title (11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5).

In the adjacent half of the draw, in the quarter-final round Chen Yi had beaten Japan’s Yua Yamasaki (11-4, 11-5, 11-4), prior to securing her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to colleague, Li Yuqi, the no.5 seed (4-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4, 11-4).

Matters concluded in Taicang, attention now turns to the city of Amman; the 2018 Jordan Junior & Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 25th July.