by Ian Marshall, ITTF Editor
Mainstay of the success in the Girls’ Team final against Canada, the no.4 seeds, was Rachel Sung, a confrontation that was arguably closer than the overall score-line may suggest; the first three matches all went the full five games distance.
After Ivy Laio had beaten Amy Wang (11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9), to give Canada the early lead, Rachel Sung accounted for Joyce Xu to level matters (11-9, 4-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-4).
The contest in the balance, Rachel Yang recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Isabelle Xiong by the very narrowest of margins (9-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9). The win swayed the momentum in favour of the United States. Rachel Sung, confident following her earlier success, duly brought matters to a conclusion; she overcame Ivy Lao in four games (11-7, 11-5, 3-11, 11-3).
Impressive from Rachel Sung, in the Boys’ Team final, it was likewise from Kanak Jha against Argentina, the no.2 seeds; a contest which followed the same pattern as that of their female counterparts.
Kanak Jha beat Santiago Lorenzo in the second match of the fixture (11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8), after Martin Bentancor had given Argentina the ideal start by narrowly beating Nicholas Tio (11-4, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 12-10).
Parity, Sharon Alguetti prevailed against Leandro Fuentes (11-3, 11-6, 11-6) to give the United States the lead to set the scene for Kanak Jha to conclude proceedings. He duly obliged, he accounted for Martin Bentancor in three straight games (11-9, 11-4, 11-7).
Play in the team events over, the focus now turns to the individual events; play concludes on Sunday 15th July.
