by Ian Marshall, Editor
Notably at the final hurdle each accounted for the player with whom earlier in the week, they had enjoyed both team and doubles success.
The no.2 seed, in the final of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event, Tai Ming-Wei beat Kao Min-Chi, the no.4 seed (11-6, 6-11, 12-14, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6), a player very much in form. After recording a quarter-final success against Sahil Puri of the United States (11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7), he had overcome Canada’s Jeremy Hazin, the top seed (11-2, 11-7, 14-12, 11-3).
Notably, for Kao Min-Chi it was his first appearance of the year on the ITTF World Junior Circuit, a most creditable performance.
Conversely for Tai Ming-Wei, who at the quarter-final stage had beaten Canada’s Alexander Bu, the no.5 seed (11-3, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6) and one round later colleague, Wang Chen-You, the no.11 seed (11-5, 12-10, 11-7, 10-12, 15-13); it was his fifth such excursion of the year. However, it was by some distance his best; previously he had competed in France, Poland, Jordan and Hong Kong, never reaching the later rounds.
Somewhat differently for Fang Sih-Han it was her second appearance of the year, her second final; in Jordan she had been beaten in the title deciding contest by colleague, Chen Ting-Ting. A second final of the year, it was also, her second career ITTF World Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles title; in 2016 she had won in Jordan.
The no.9 seed, having accounted for Lavanya Maruthapandian, the no.15 seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-1, 12-10) in the quarter-finals, she overcame colleagues to secure the top prize. At the quarter-final stage she beat Chen Tsai-Ni (11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 15-13); in the final Tsai Yu-Chin, the top seed (10-12, 4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5).
In the later stages in the opposite half of the draw, Tsai Yu-Chin had beaten Chile’s Natalie Ramos, the no.8 seed (11-4, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4), followed by success in opposition to Guatemala’s Hidalynn Zapata, the no.7 seed (11-9, 11-4, 11-7, 12-10).
Titles for Chinese Taipei, attention now turns to home soil; the 2018 Chinese Taipei Junior and Cadet Open commences on Wednesday 22nd August.
