First for Angela Guan, Double First for Zhang Kai, Clean Sweep for United States
Courtesy of ITTF
Runner up one year ago, Angela Guan reversed the decision at the Butterfly 2015 Canadian Junior and Cadet Open in Markham on the afternoon of Thursday May 14th by beating her nemesis of 2014.
In the final of the Junior Girls’ Singles event, occupying the no.3 seeded position in the draw, she accounted for compatriot, Prachi Jha, the top seed (11-7, 10-12, 12-14, 11-8, 12-10, 13-11) to secure her first ever such title.
A first for Angela Guan, in the counterpart Junior Boys’ Singles event, it was a double first for Zhang Kai, also from the United States, in his first ever appearance on the ITTF Junior Circuit, he secured gold.
Close Semi-Final
No World ranking, he accounted for colleague Jack Wang, the no.2 seed, in the final (7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7), having experienced a testing encounter at the semi-final stage.
He was extended the full seven games distance by a fellow American in the guise of Krishnateja Avvari (6-11, 11-5, 3-11, 12-10, 11-2, 6-11, 11-9).
Jack Wang Impressive
Success in the final against Jack Wang, a player in form; at the quarterfinal stage he had beaten top seed and defending champion, Kanak Jha (11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11), before booking his place in the final, courtesy of a penultimate round success against Kunal Chodri, the no.3 seed (15-13, 12-10, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4).
An early exit for Kanak Jha, who one day earlier had suffered defeat in the group stage against Zhang Kai (11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6); a player who, despite his close call against Krishnateja Avvari, was a step ahead of the field.
He had an extra gear and when needed was able to press the accelerator hard and move into overdrive.
Always Won
“Certainly I felt confident before the final against Jack, we must have played seven or eight times and I’ve always won”, smiled Zhang Kai, who hails from Beijing and has been living in New York for two years.
He plays at the Westchester Club, the host for the ITTF-North America Cup two years ago.
Too Passive
“In the first game against Jack I was too passive”, continued Zhang Kai. “The toughest match was in the semi-final, Krishnateja was hard to play against, he served well and the umpire faulted me four of five times on my service; also, sometimes I didn’t use the right tactics.”
Defense Prevails
A first title for Zhang Kai, it was the same for Angela Guan whose increasing well-honed defensive skills withstood the attacking attributes of Prachi Jha.
“I think that when compared with one year ago my backspin play is more secure; also I’m able to change the play more, I think I’m better with my attacking play”, said Angela Guan. “I wasn’t at all sure that I could reach the final, I’ve lost to Prachi more times than I have beaten her; also I had to play Crystal, my team mate, in the semi-finals and I’ve lost to her many times.”
At the semi-final stage, Angela Guan beat Crystal Wang, the no.2 seed, in six games (11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7); in the opposite half of the draw, Prachi Jha had ousted Canada’s Vida Sieu (11-4, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3).
Relaxed
“I felt relaxed, I wasn’t under any pressure today”, added Angela Guan. “My aim was to gain a podium finish.”
The goal was achieved Angela Guan secured a podium finish and the best step of all, the top step.
It was success for the United States and it was more success. They won every title on offer over the four day period.
