by Ian Marshall, Editor
The 15 year old accounted for Ines Matos (15-13, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5) in the second match of the fixture, before in the crucial fifth and deciding contest recovering from a two games to nil deficit to beat Patricia Santos (9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8); the one further success for Spain was secured in the third match when Luisa Pintos accounted for Joana Lopes (11-3, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9).
A dramatic final, at the semi-final stage earlier in the day life for the Spanish trio had been less exacting; a 3-1 win had been the order of proceedings in opposition to the combination of Faith Tung of the United States, who joined forces with England’s Mollie Patterson and Millie Rogove.
Somewhat differently, in the corresponding semi-final, it had been a severe test for the Portuguese; a full distance 3-2 margin of victory had been the outcome in opposition to the international outfit comprising the host nation’s Ines Batista, Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci and Chana Van der Venne of the Netherlands.
Mainstay of the victory was Patricia Santos, in the second match of the engagement she beat Fadwa Garci (11-5, 11-6, 11-7), before in vital fifth, accounting for Ines Batista (14-12, 12-10, 11-8).
Clear cut
Narrow margins, in the later stages of the junior boys’ team event, life was more clear cut. A 3-1 win was the result for Chile’s Nicolas Burgos and Jorge Paredes in partnership with Moldova’s Vladislav Ursu at the final expense of Italy’s Marco Cappuccio, John Oyebode and Andrea Puppo.
Runner up in the junior boys’ singles two days earlier, Nicolas Burgos was the guiding hand. He overcame Andrea Puppo (11-8, 11-5, 11-13, 10-12, 11-6), prior to bringing matters to a close by beating John Oyebode (11-8, 11-1, 9-11, 11-4).
“I came to this tournament with good preparation for the World Junior Championships next week in Thailand, my results in this open have better than I expected. It was the first time I have played a junior boys’ singles final, in the team event I reach the podium and won. In the World Junior Championships our goal as a team is to qualify for the main draw. In singles, I expect to go as far as possible in the event and in doubles, we can do well in Thailand.” Nicolas Burgos
Earlier at the semi-final stage it had been defeat for Spain. Miguel Nuñez, Norbert Tauler and Albert Vilardell, experienced a 3-1 reverse at the hands of Nicolas Burgos, Jorge Paredes and Vladislav Ursu; for Iker Gonzalez, Marc Gutierrez and Miguel Angel Pantoja, it was the same margin of defeat when facing Italy’s Marco Cappuccio, John Oyebode and Andrea Puppo.
Romanians in form
Impressive performances but the most impressive of all accrued in the cadet boys’ team event; Romania’s Andrei Teodor Istrate, Horia Stefan Ursut and Drags Alexandru Bujor were in no mood for charity.
A 3-0 semi-final win was recorded against the pairing of the Czech Republic’s Matyas Lebeda and Belgium’s Gabriel Stanescu, before by the same margin the title was secured in opposition to Tom Closset, also from Belgium and Peru’s Carlos Fernandez.
In the opposite half of the draw, at the semi-final stage, Tom Closset and Carlos Fernandez had recorded a 3-0 win against the pairing formed by England’s Connor Green and Brazil’s Leonardo Izuka.
Egyptian duo adds to title haul
Convincing performances, it was similar in the cadet girls’ team event. Egypt’s Farida Badawy and Hana Goda, who two days earlier had struck junior girls’ doubles gold, proved once again in harmony. Success by the 3-1 margin was the result in the semi-final against Veranika Varabyova and Vera Vokava of Belarus, the same as in the title decider when confronting Spain’s Yanira Sanchez and Eugenia Sastre.
Earlier, in the penultimate round a 3-2 win had been the outcome for Yanira Sanchez and Eugenia Sastre when facing Italy’s Caterina Angelia and Nicole Arlia.
The cadet boys’ singles, cadet girls’ singles, cadet boys’ doubles and cadet girls’ doubles events bring play to a conclusion on Sunday 17th November.
