by Ian Marshall, Editor
Following success in the later rounds of the junior boys’ singles event, accounting for India’s Yasansh Malik (11-9, 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 5-11, 3-11, 11-8) and the Czech Republic’s Tomas Martinko, the no.3 seed (11-7, 11-5, 12-10, 11-7), Guilherme Teodoro overcame Russia’s Damir Akhmetsafin, the no.7 seed (11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-8) to secure his second such career ITTF World Junior Circuit title; last year he won in Paraguay.
In the opposite half of the draw, Damir Akhmetsafin had ousted colleagues and players in form. At the quarter-final stage he had overcome Semen Shevin (7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 19-17, 11-9, 11-9), before in an equally tense full distance seven games encounter recovering from a three games to nil deficit to end the progress of Rusian Cherkes (9-11, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7).
Notably, in the opening round Semen Shevin had beaten Slovakia’s Felip Delincak, the no.4 seed (11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-13, 6-11, 11-8, 11-3), Rusian Cherkes had prevailed in opposition to India’s Raegan Albuquerque, the top seed (2-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-13, 13-11, 11-8, 12-10).
Success for Guilherme Teodoro in the junior boys’ singles final against Damir Akhmetsafin; in the junior boys’ doubles title decider it was a similar outcome; partnering Eduardo Tomoike, a four games win was recorded against Damir Akhmetsafin and Rusian Cherkes (11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7).
Similarly impressive
Impressive from Guilherme Teodoro, it was the same in the junior girls’ singles event from Elizabet Abraamian. At the final hurdle she accounted for colleague, Natalia Malinina, the no.6 seed (10-12, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3, 11-5), having earlier in the day recorded a quarter-final win against Uliana Dronova of Belarus (9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7, 14-12). Later in a similar six games contest at the semi-final stage, she prevailed against Isa Cok of France, the no.3 seed (11-7, 15-13, 11-13, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8).
Good form from Elizabet Abraamian en route to the final, it was arguably even better from Natalia Malinina; she caused upset after upset. In the quarter-final round she beat Amy Wang of the United States, the top seed (14-12, 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7), prior to reserving her place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to colleague Olga Vishniakova, the no.4 seed (6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 12-10).
Title secured
Noteworthy efforts, in the junior girls’doubles final, life was very similar; Elizabet Abraamian partnered Russian colleague, Liubov Tentser to success, in the title deciding contest, the duo overcame the combination formed by Croatia’s Ana Arapovic and Amy Wang (11-9, 11-7, 11-6).
Play concluded in the individual events in the junior age group category, attention now turns to the team competitions.
