(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)
Sharon Alguetti responds, wins in Belgrade
Bronze medallist earlier in the year in Argentina, Sharon Alguetti of the United States emerged as the somewhat surprise winner of the Junior Boys’ Singles title at the 2017 Serbia Junior and Cadet Open in Belgrade on Thursday 5th October.
The no.4 seed, at the final hurdle he beat India’s Manav Vikash Thakkar, the top seed and having won the previous week in Slovenia, very much the man in form; the 16 year old American emerged successful in hard fought seven games duel (11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 14-12, 8-11, 8-11, 11-7).
A career first ITTF World Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles title, in the latter stages Sharon Alguetti accounted Romania’s Paul Mladin (12-10, 11-5, 4-11, 11-5, 12-10), before overcoming Bulgaria’s Stefan Todorov (11-4, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7) and India’s Manush Utpalbhai Shah, the no.5 seed (11-3, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8) to reserve his place in the final.
Notably, Manush Utpalbhai Shah was a player very much in form, at the quarter-final stage, by the very narrowest of margins, he had beaten Portugal’s José Pedro Francisco, the no.2 seed (5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5, 12-10).
Impressive from Sharon Alguetti on his path to the final, it was the same from Manav Vikash Thakkar. He accounted for the Czech Republic’s Tomas Koldas (11-6, 11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-4) and Sweden’s Jonathan Thimon (11-8, 11-4, 11-5, 11-6), prior to reserving his place in the final courtesy of success in opposition to Portugal’s Vitor Amorin, the no.6 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4).
Defeat for Vitor Amorin but like his colleague, José Pedro Francisco, he had impressed. In the round of the last eight he had recovered from a three games to nil deficit to beat Ireland’s Owen Cathcart, the no.10 seed (8-11, 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 15-13, 11-6, 11-6), the second round winner in opposition to Canada’s Jeremy Hazin, the no.3 seed (11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9).
An earlier than expected departure for Jeremy Hazin; in the Junior Boys’ Doubles event, life was very different.
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