June 25, 2016

Feng Yujin & Wu Yue Assert Authority, Capture North America Cup Titles

Courtesy of ITTF

Debutants, Feng Yujin and Wu Yue won the respective Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles titles at the ITTF-North America Cup in Burnaby, British Columbia on the Friday June 24th, as the United States dominated proceedings.

Both players qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, neither was extended the full seven games distance en route to claiming the top prize.

Road to Top Prize
At the final hurdle, Feng Yijun, the top seed, accounted for Kanak Jha, the no.2 seed, the winner in 2014 when the tournament was also staged in Burnaby (11-6, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10).

An impressive performance, it had been the same earlier in the day. At the quarter-final stage of proceedings he had beaten Canada’s Marko Medjugorac, the no.5 seed (11-5, 11-3, 11-4, 11-8), before reserving his place in the final courtesy of success against compatriot Sharon Algueti, the no.4 seed (11-8, 15-13, 11-5, 11-5).

Kanak Jha
Likewise in the opposite half of the draw Kanak Jha had impressed as he caused the host nation pain.

In the opening round he beat Alexander Moran, the no.6 seed (11-5, 15-13, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8), before ending the hopes of Jeremy Hazin, the no.3 seed (17-15, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9).

Same for Women
An all United States final in the Men’s Singles event, it was exactly the same in the counterpart Women’s Singles competition as Wu Yue, the no.4 seed, overcame Zheng Jiaqi, the no.3 seed (11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9); the win having an air of revenge.

Five years ago at the United States Open in 2011, the two had met at the semi-final stage of the Women’s Singles event; on that occasion Zhen Jiaqi had won in straight games.

Defeated Former Champions
Pertinently on the journey to the final, both Wu Yue and Zheng Jiaqi had beaten former champions.

After accounting for Canada’s Alicia Cote, the no.6 seed (11-4, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2), Wu Yue overcame compatriot, Lily Zhang, the top seed (12-10, 11-9, 13-11, 11-4).

Similarly, in the penultimate round, Zheng Jiaqi defeated Canada’s Zhang Mo, the no.2 seed (8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9, 11-7), after having recorded a first round success against Ivy Liao, the no.8 seed and also from Canada (11-5, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7).

Previous Success
Notably Zhang Mo was the defending champion having won in both 2014 in Burnaby and last year in Markham.

Furthermore, it is the first time in the history of the competition that she has failed to reach the final. She did not compete in Westchester in 2013, the year Lily Zhang won beating Ariel Hsing in the final; in 2011 and 2012 on both occasions staged in Mississauga she was the runner up. On each occasion she was beaten by Ariel Hsing of the United States.

World Cup Qualification
Feng Yujin qualifies to compete in the Liebherr Men’s World Cup, Wu Yue in the Women’s World Cup; both tournaments to be held later this year.

Congratulations All Winners & Participants!

MEN’S SINGLES
Final
– FENG Yijun def. JHA Kanak 4-1 (11-6,11-5,6-11,11-7,12-10)
Semi-Finals
– FENG Yijun USA def. ALGUETTI Sharon USA 4-0 (11-8,15-13,11-5,11-5)
– JHA Kanak def HAZIN Jeremy CAN 4-0 (17-15, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9)

WOMEN’S SINGLES
Final
– WU Yue USA def ZHENG Jiaqi USA 4-1 (11-9,11-5,7-11,13-11,11-9)
Semi-Finals
– WU Yue USA def ZHANG Lily USA 4-0 (12-10,11-9,13-11,11-4)
– ZHENG Jiaqi USA def ZHANG Mo CAN 4-1 (8-11,11-8,11-5,11-9,11-7)

Visit ITTF.com for full results, photos and more.

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