Second Suffers Defeat but Secures First Place, Elizabet Abraamian Excels
2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge
Courtesy of ITTF
First place for Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi in the initial group stage of the Girls’ Singles event at the 2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on Thursday October 29th but it was a hard earned top spot.
Occupying the second seeded position, she made a fine start to her campaign with straight games wins against Nandeshwaree Jalim of Mauritius (11-4, 11-3, 11-5) and Egypt’s Marwa Alhodaby (11-4, 11-9, 11-6) but in her concluding contest she was beaten by Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian in a full distance five games encounter (11-9, 4-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5).
Games Ratio
However, in the opening match in the group, Elizabet Abraamian had experienced a straight games defeat at the hands of Marwa Alhodaby (6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-4).
The end result was that Bruna Takahashi, Elizabet Abraamian and Marwa Alhodaby, finished with two wins apiece; games ratio was the determining factor.
First place went to Bruna Takahashi (5:3), followed by Elizabet Abraamian (4:5) and Marwa Alhodaby (3:4).
Composure
“I had to compose myself so much during this match, it was so difficult as Bruna is the second seed and she is a very good player”, reflected Elizabet Abraamian. “I knew that Bruna has a very good backhand so I had to play on her forehand; also I had to change the rhythm of the match a great deal, playing with a lot of top spin, changing the dynamic of the game.”
Only 12 years old and a member of the Hopes Team in Sharm El-Sheikh, Elizabet Abraamian gave a most mature performance.
“My coach was motivating and encouraging me so much; that really helped”, added Elizabet Abraamian.
Sixth Seed Suffers
Defeat for Bruna Takahashi but first place in the group; there was also defeat for Russia’s Anastasia Kolish, the no.6 seed.
She was beaten by Korea’s Choi Haeeun (11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12) and had to settle for second place in the group; Choi Haeeun remained unbeaten to top the group.
Played Intelligently
“I thought from the beginning that if I play well I can beat her”, said Choi Haeeun. “I had to do more attacking and change the direction of the play from forehand to middle or backhand.”
Intelligently Choi Haeeun varied the play.
“Anastasia was very strong, she had so much power, so I had to stay close to table and not go away”, added Choi Haeeun. “I had to to attack as much as possible; I hope I can reach the semi-final.”
Leading Names Succeed
Problems for Bruna Takahashi and Anastasia Kolish but there were no such problems with the other leading names.
Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz duly topped her group as did Romania’s Andreea Dragoman, Sweden’s Christina Källberg and Crystal Wang of the United States.
Likewise it was first place for Japan’s Maki Shiomi and the Czech Republic’s Zdena Blaskova.
Second Places
Meanwhile, second positions and thus passports to the main draw were secured by Canada’s Ivy Liao, Egypt’s Mariam Alhodaby, Thailand’s Jinnipa Sawettabu, India’s Srushti Haleangadi, Egypt’s Rinad Fathy and Grace Yang of the United States.
Girls’ Doubles
Meanwhile, as matters commenced in the Girls’ Doubles event, the first round saw successes for the leading pairs.
Adriana Diaz and Bruna Takahashi, the top seeds, beat Egyptian twin sisters Mariam Alhodaby and Marwa Alhodaby (11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9); while Andreea Dragoman and Christina Källberg accounted for the Oceania partnership of New Zealand’s Cheng Zhiying and Australia’s Georgina Newton (11-1, 11-5, 11-4).
Next in Line
No great problems for the top two seeded pairs, it was the same for the next in the order of merit.
Zdenka Blaskova and Anastasia Kolish, the no.3 seeds, beat Elizabet Abraamian and Egypt’s Sara Elhakem (11-4, 11-6, 11-4), Crystal Wang and Grace Yang of the United States, the no.4 seeds, overcame the partnership formed by Nandeshwaree Jalim of Mauritius and South Africa’s Lekeasha Johnson (11-9, 11-8, 11-7).
Main Draw
Play in the main draw of all events continues of Friday October 30th.
View all results from today’s matches at the 2015 World Cadet Challenge.
Follow the Events:
- Boys Singles
- Girls Singles
- Boys Doubles
- Girls Doubles
- Mixed Doubles
Watch today’s ITTF’s World Cadet Challenge video streams, plus visit ITTF for complete coverage.
