by Ian Marshall, Editor

At the final hurdle of the junior boys’ singles event, Quan Kaiyuan accounted for Japan’s Horoto Shinosuka (7-11, 9-11, 13-11, 12-10, 17-15, 11-5), having in the latter stages overcome Japan’s Yuma Tanigaki (11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-2, 11-5) and India’s Manush Utpalbhai Shah (11-4, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4).

Impressive from Quan Kaiyuan, it was equally impressive from Yuan Yuan. At the quarter-final stage she accounted for Japan’s Kaho Akae (12-10, 11-7, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5), before overcoming colleagues Chen Yi (11-8, 11-2, 5-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8) and Wu Yangchen (11-6, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9) to secure the title.

Disappointment for Chen Yi but not in the cadet girls’ singles event where she emerged successful. She accounted Japan’s Miwa Harimoto in the final, offering no presents on her adversaries 11th birthday; she succeeded in three straight games (11-8, 11-8, 11-7).

A convincing success for Chen Yi, for Chen Yaxuan in the cadet boys’ singles final, life was much more exacting; in opposition to Korea Republic’s Gil Minseok, he required the full five games, securing victory by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game (11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 3-11, 12-10).

Gold for China in the junior and cadet age group categories; in the mini-cadet girls’ singles event it was the same but not in the counterpart mini cadet boys’ singles competition.

Zhang Jinglei won the min-cadet girls’ singles event beating Singapore’s Ser Lin Qian in the final (7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9); in the counterpart mini-cadet boys’ singles competition, Korea Republic’s Oh Junsung prevented a Chinese clean sweep, in the final he overcame colleague, Lee Hoyun (8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 15-13).

Proceedings concluded in Taicang, the next tournament on the ITTF World Junior Circuit is the 2019 Hang Seng Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open; play commences on Wednesday 7th June.