by Ian Marshall, Editor

Success but it was hard fought success and not without defeat; he played a total of nine matches over the four day period to claim the title.

Currently no world ranking in the age group; thus required to start at the very beginning, on the opening day of play he was beaten by Poland’s Maciej Kubik (11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-9). Second place in the group was his lot, a place in the second stage secured and then no further defeats.

However, on the concluding day of action, he came very close to bidding farewell; there was more than one nervous moment.

At the semi-final stage he beat Romania’s Rares Sipos, the no.4 seed, by the minimal two point margin in the deciding seventh game (7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4, 13-15, 10-12, 11-9), before in a similarly dramatic manner, clinched the title by overcoming Germany’s Gerritt Engemann (9-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9), likewise a player who had been required to start his journey in the first stage of play.

A close defeat for Gerritt Engeman, in the penultimate round it had been a close win; he had recovered from a two games to nil deficit to record a six games success in opposition to Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko (3-11, 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9).

Bronze for Vladimir Sidorenko in the men’s singles event, it was the same in the men’s doubles; partnering Denis Ivonin, the Russian duo suffered at the hands of Slovakia’s Adam Brat and Tibor Spanik (10-12, 11-9, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9).

Success for Adam Brat and Tibor Spanik, a place in the final but there was to be no gold; they were beaten by Slovenia’s Peter Hribar and Darko Jorgic (11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3).

Earlier in the penultimate round Peter Hribar and Darko Jorgic had ended the progress of Italy’s Antonino Amato and Daniele Pinto (11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-6).