by Ian Marshall, Editor
Earlier, he had won the Cadet Boys’ Team event alongside Zeng Beixun and Zhu Jiaqi, before partnering the former to Cadet Boys’ Doubles gold.
Success meant he added to his impressive list of performances on this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit.
He won the Junior Boys’ Singles event in Poland; he was the runner up in Thailand, a semi-finalist in France and Italy. In addition he was crowned Cadet Boys’ Singles champion in Italy and Thailand, whilst being a silver medallist in France.
In Hong Kong, in the Cadet Boys’ Singles final, Xiang Peng beat Japan’s Hiroti Shinosuka, the winner one month earlier in China (9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-9), having in the penultimate round accounted for Thailand’s Chettanabodi Chanpen, the no.14 seed (7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6). In the opposite half of the draw, at the semi-final stage, Hiroti Shinosuka who was not seeded, had beaten Zeng Beixun, the no.10 seed (11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-9).
“My opponent in the final was very strong and I was very glad that I could claim the Cadet Boys’ Singles title. Every match is very different. Any past records didn’t put any pressure on me; I focused on every single match. I’m happy that it paid off.” Xiang Peng
Impressive from Xiang Peng on the concluding day of action in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, it was exactly the same in the Cadet Boys’ Doubles competition where they ended the aspirations of Hong Kong.
The top seeds, at the final hurdle they beat Yiu Kwan To and Yu Nok, the no.5 seeds (13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5), having booked their place in the title deciding contest courtesy of success in opposition to Baldwin Chan Ho Wah and Choy Chun Kit, the no.4 seeds (5-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4). In the opposite half of the draw, Yiu Kwan To and Yu Nok had accounted for Japan’s Sora Matsushima and Ryoichi Yoshiyama (11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5).
Play concluded in Hong Kong, attention now turns to Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar for the 2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships, which commence on Monday 13th August; also to Central America for the El Salvador Junior and Cadet Open scheduled to begin on Wednesday 15th August.
