Full of Hope but Titles Denied Host Nation as Chinese Taipei and Korea Prevail
2016 Thailand Junior and Cadet Open
Courtesy of ITTF
The day started full of hope for the host nation on Sunday May 15th at the SET 2016 Thailand Junior and Cadet Open in Bangkok with eyes focused on Pattaratorn Passara and Yanapong Panagitgun.
Alas for the supporters of the bright young teenagers it was not to be; in the Junior Boys’ Singles event it was a quarterfinal exit for Pattaratorn Passara, for Yanapong Panagitgun the silver medal in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event was the reward for his efforts.
Satisfactory Performance
Defeat for Pattaratorn Passara in the round of the last eight but occupying the ninth seeded position in the event, he could reflect on a more than satisfactory performance; especially having on the previous day beaten Hong Kong’s Ng Pak Nam, the top seed in the second round (7-11, 13-11, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8).
On the concluding day of action, it was defeat at the hands of Korea’s Baek Hogyun and arguably a surprise defeat; the Korean has no current world ranking.
Worthy Opponent
However, the form displayed in Bangkok underlined the fact that Baek Hogyun is a most worthy adversary.
After beating Pattaratorn Passara (12-10, 11-6, 11-2, 11-5), he accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chun-Hsiang, the no.8 seed (11-7, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9), before experiencing defeat in the final at the hands of Huang Chien-Tu, the no.2 seed and like Chen Chun-Hsiang, also from Chinese Taipei (11-4, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7).
An impressive display by Huang Chien-Tu who, after beating Korea’s Park Gyeongtae at the quarter-final stage in five games (11-6, 11-5, 11-4, 10-12, 12-10), needed six games in the penultimate round to end the exploits of colleague Tai Ming-Wei, the no.18 seed (10-12, 11-2, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8).
Third Title
Victory for Huang Chien-Tu meant that he climbed two steps higher than last year in Thailand and collected his third career ITTF World Junior Boys’ Singles title.
In 2015 he was beaten at the semi-final stage by colleague, Yang Heng-Wei, the eventual winner, after in 2012 having won in both Guatemala and El Salvador when only 14 years old.
Korean Ends Hopes
Meanwhile for Yanapong Panagitgun it was so near yet so far.
At the quarter-final stage he beat Iran’s Amin Ahmadian, the no.7 seed (11-4, 11-8, 11-6) and the player he had beaten in the Cadet Boys’ Singles final earlier in the year in Doha, before accounting for Korea’s Cho Daesong (11-5, 11-13, 11-7, 11-9), a player with no current world ranking, to secure his place in the final.
Success against one Korean but not against a second; at the final hurdle, Yanapong Panagitgun was beaten by Park Gyeontae, the no.3 seed, in four games (6-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5).
Earlier in Proceedings
Earlier at the quarterfinal stage, Park Gyeontae had also caused Thailand heartaches by beating Veerapat Puthikungasern (11-6, 4-11, 11-4, 11-7), before ousting Hong Kong’s Tsang Tsz Tsun to reserve his place in the title deciding contest.
Presently Veerapat Puthikungasern has no world ranking and was not seeded; Tsang Tsz Tsun was the no.6 seed.
Next Stop Senec
Play concluded in Bratislava, next on the ITTF World Junior Circuit calendar is the 2016 Slovak Junior Open; play starts in Senec on Thursday May 19th.
Visit SET 2016 Thailand Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Golden Series Junior Circuit website for complete results and coverage.
