by Ian Marshall, Editor
Following a 3-0 penultimate round win in opposition to Japan’s Kazuki Hamada, Hayata Suzuki and Sora Matsushima; no changes to the selection, the Chinese Taipei trio comprising Tai Ming-Wei, Huang Yu-Jen and Huang Yan-Chen recorded the same margin of victory in the final when facing colleagues Li Hsin-Yu, Feng Yi-Hsin and Yang Xhi-Xing.
A comprehensive margin of victory but arguably closer than the score-line may suggest; the opening two matches both went the full five games distance. Tai Ming-Wei beat Li Hsin-Yu (6-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-8), before in a similarly tense encounter Huang Yu-Ju overcame Feng Yi-Hsin (11-9, 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9) to double the advantage. Matters concluded in a rather less dramatic manner; Huang Yan-Cheng accounted for Yang Zhi-Xing in straight games (11-7, 11-4, 11-7).
Earlier in counterpart semi-final, Li Hsin-Yu, Feng Yi-Hsin and Yang Xhi-Xing had posted a 3-1 win when facing the combination of Korea Republic’s Park Gyeongtae and Park Minjun, who joined forces with Iran’s Amin Ahmadian.
Imposing performance
Impressive from Tai Ming-Wei, Huang Yu-Jen and Huang Yan-Chen, it was the same in the junior girls’ team event from the Japanese trio comprising Kaho Akae, Reina Aso and Hina Higashikawa.
After recording a 3-0 semi-final win against Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yee, Chau Wing Sze and Wong Chu Yau, a 3-1 win was claimed in opposition to Chinese Taipei’s Chien Tung-Chuan, Yi Hsiu-Ting and Cai Fong-En.
Mainstay of the success in the final was Kaho Akae, she accounted for both Chien Tung-Chuan (13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9) and Yu Hsiu-Ting (6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6). The one further win for Japan was recorded by Reina Aso, in the second match of the engagement, she beat Yu Hsiu-Ting (6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-6); for Hong Kong, the one success came courtesy of Cai Fong-En. In the third match, she defeated Hina Higashikawa (11-4, 11-9, 11-5). The Chinese Taipei trio had received a direct entry to the semi-final round.
Hard fought success
Success for Japan in the junior girls’ team event, it was the same in the cadet girls’ team competition. Sachi Aoki and Miwa Harimoto struck gold at the expense of Chinese Taipei. A hard fought 3-2 win against Chen Tsai-Ni and Liu Ru-Yun was followed by a 3-1 margin of victory in opposition to Chu Yi-Ching and Tsai Yun-En.
Backbone of the victory in the final was Miwa Harimoto; she overcame both Chu Yi-Ching (8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8) and Tsai Yun-En (11-8, 11-5, 11-8).
Name to note
Miwa Harimoto, the younger sister of Tomokazu Harimoto is a name to note, in the cadet boys’ team event, the player to attract the attention was Park Changgeon, he guided Korea Republic to the top step of the podium.
Partnering Kim Min-Su, facing Chinese Taipei in the later rounds, at the semi-final stage he beat both Kao Cheng-Jui (12-10, 11-6, 11-2) and Chang Yu-An (11-5, 11-9, 11-9) in a 3-2 victory. One round later by the same margin, when oppsing Zhang Huan-Qi, Yen Kun-Lin and Shih Yu-Kai, he accounted for Yen Kun-Lin (12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9) and Zhang Huan-Qi (11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-3) to seal the top prize for his team.
In the counterpart semi-final, the Chinese Taipei trio had recorded a 3-1 win in opposition to Hong Kong’s Yu Nok and Baldwin Chan Ho Wah.
Team events concluded, on Friday 27th September the focus turns to the initial stages of the junior boys’ and junior girls’ singles events, as well as the cadet boys’ singles and cadet girls’ singles competitions.
