Successful in Sharm El-Sheikh, Yang Shuo Wins on Home Soil in Taicang
2016 China Junior and Cadet Open
Courtesy of ITTF
Winner of the Boys’ Singles event last October at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge, Yang Shuo added to his list of international titles by being crowned Junior Boys’ Singles champion at the 2016 China Junior and Cadet Open in Taicang on Tuesday July 26th.
Still young enough to compete in the cadet ranks, competing on home soil, the 15 year old accounted for Xu Haidong in an all Chinese final (11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8) to reserve the top step of the medal podium.
Extracted Revenge
Earlier at the semi-final stage he had beaten colleague Yuan Licen (12-10, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5) and thus gained revenge for the defeat experienced the previous week in Hong Kong.
On that occasion, he lost to his compatriot at the quarterfinal stage, after having made a brave recovery (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-5). In the corresponding semi-final in Taicang, Xu Haidong had ended the progress of Iran’s 13-year-old Amin Ahmadian (11-2, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3).
Three Titles
Success meant that Yang Shuo collected his first ever ITTF World Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles title but not the first at an ITTF World Junior Circuit tournament.
At the Nikon 2016 Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open, he had joined forces with Victor Liu of the United States to win the Cadet Boys’ Team title, whilst earlier in the proceedings in Taicang, he had clinched the top prize in the Junior Boys’ Team event when lining up alongside Xu Haidong and Yuan Licen.
Reached Final in Pyongyang
Furthermore, for Yang Shuo, in Taicang, when he competed in the Junior Boys’ Singles title deciding match, it was his fourth final in an international event this month.
In the first week in July, he had played in the 2016 ITTF World Tour Pyongyang Open; partnering Zhao Zhaoyan, the pair reached the final, losing to Chinese National Team colleagues, Cao Wei and Xu Yingbin.
Cadet Boys’ Singles
The top step of the podium for China in the Junior Boys’ Singles event; it was the same in the counterpart Cadet Boys’ Singles competition with, likewise the efforts of Amin Ahmadian ending in the penultimate round.
He was beaten Cao Yantao (15-13, 12-10, 14-12) who progressed to secure the title by beating colleague, Yu Zhengyang, in the final in a full distance five games encounter (11-4, 6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6). In the adjacent semi-final, Yu Zhengyang overcame Chinese Taipei’s Chang Kuang-Chi (11-8, 11-4, 11-6).
Gold for United States
Titles for the host nation, there was also a title for the United States.
Nikhil Kumar accounted for Hong Kong’s Xu Yue to win the Mini Cadet Boys’ Singles event (11-3, 11-5, 11-8).
Congratulations Nikhil Kumar, Mini-Cadet Boys Singles Champion!
USA’s Nikhil Kumar Mini-Cadet Boys Singles Champion – Photo courtesy of ITTF
