Top Seeds Secure Last Eight Place in Commanding Style but Problems for Next in Line
2016 Thailand Junior and Cadet Open – ITTF Golden Series Junior Circuit
Courtesy of ITTF
First place in the group in the initial stage of proceedings and thus a safe passage to the main draw was the lot of the top seeded Hong Kong trio comprising Ng Pak Nam, Kwan Man Ho and Wong Ho Hin on the first day of play, Wednesday May 11th, in the Junior Boys’ Team event at the SET 2016 Thailand Junior and Cadet Open in Bangkok.
They recorded three matches to nil wins against the outfit formed by Australia’s Rohan Dhooria, who joined forces with the Iranian duo of Amin Ahmadian and Arian Khosrinejad, before succeeding by the same margin in opposition to the Korean trio comprising Baek Hogyun, Kim Suhwan and Song Junhyun.
The Koreans duly recorded a three-nil success in opposition to the combination of Rohan Dhooria, Amin Ahmadian and Arian Khosrinejad; thus securing second place in the group and a passport to the main draw.
Teams finishing in first and second positions in the first stage of all team events advance to the main draw.
Very Different
A comfortable journey to the main draw for the top seeds; for the next in line in an event that witnessed four groups in the initial stage, life was very different.
Chinese Taipei ‘A’, the no.2 seeds, with Huang Chien-Tu, Cai Ruei-Fong and Chen Chun-Hsiang in action experienced testing times against the Malaysian outfit formed by Wong Chun Chuen, Leong Chee Feng and Mohamad Syazwan Salmi; a three-two victory margin was the end result.
It was the same for their colleagues Chen Jun-Ting, Lai Chi-Chien and Hsu Po-Hsuan on duty for Chinese Taipei ‘B’ and occupying the second seeded position in the event. They needed the full five games to overcome the Australian outfit formed by Dominic Huang, Xavier Dixon and Jake Duffy.
Singaporean Sadness
Eventual success for both Chinese Taipei outfits and both unbeaten; it was not the scenario but for the fourth seeded Singapore team formed by Ethan Poh Shao Feng, Tay Ming Han Maxxe and Darren Loy Meng Hean, it was defeat.
They suffered at the hands of the Japanese trio comprising Yuhi Itami, Kei Hanami and Fumiya Igarashi; all players new to the international scene.
Early Lead
It was a result very much against expectations, one that did not appear to be likely after the opening two matches.
Ethan Poh Shao Feng beat Yuhi Itami in the opening match of the fixture (9-11, 11-1, 11-9, 11-8), before Tay Ming Han Maxxe doubled the Singaporean advantage by overcoming Kei Hanami in a full distance five games duel (11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-8).
Singapore honing in on victory, it was at that stage matters changed dramatically; the next three contests were all decided in three straight games in favor of Japan. Fumiya Igarashi beat Darren Loy Meng Hean (11-7, 11-3, 11-8), Yuhi Itami defeated Tay Ming Han Maxxe (11-3, 11-7, 11-4), before Kei Hanami defeated Ethan Poh Shao Feng (11-8, 11-6, 12-10).
Only Defeat
The Japanese trio remained unbeaten, whilst for Singapore it was their only defeat; thus both teams advanced to the main draw.
Defeat for Singapore; it was nervous moments for both Chinese Taipei ‘A’ and Chinese Taipei ‘B’.
Leong Chee Feng
The players to cause the problems for Chinese Taipei ‘A’ when facing Malaysia was Leong Chee Feng; he beat both Cai Ruei-Fong (11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6) and Huang Chien-Tu (11-9, 7-11, 13-11, 12-10).
Alas for Malaysia that was to prove their only success. Mohamad Syazwan was beaten by Chen Chun-Hsiang in the third match of the fixture (11-9, 11-4, 11-5). Additionally, Wong Chun Cheun suffered in the opening match of the engagement in opposition to Huang Chien-Tu (12-10, 11-7, 11-2) and in the fifth and concluding contest of the fixture when confronting Cai Ruei-Fong (11-5, 11-7, 11-2).
Australia
A brave effort by Malaysia, it was the same for Australia with Lai Chi-Chien proving the savior of the Chinese Taipei ‘B’ Team.
He accounted for both Xavier Dixon (12-14, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8) and Dominic Huang (11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6) with the one further success being recorded by Chen Jun-Ting; in the vital fifth and deciding match of the contest, he overcame Xavier Dixon (11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3).
The wins for Australia were secured by Dominic Huang in the opening match of the fixture against Chen Jun-Ting (11-6, 11-6, 11-9) and in the third contest by Jake Duffy in opposition to Hsu Po-Hsuan (12-10, 11-3, 8-11, 11-8).
Eventual Outcome
Second place in the group was the end result for Malaysia; the defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei `A’ being their only reverse; for Australia it was a different outcome.
Prior to the contest against Chinese Taipei ‘B’, they had suffered an agonizing three-two defeat against the Korea ‘B’ Team of Kim Yeneung, Oh Juhyeong and Ha Sungbin; before in their concluding fixture of the day losing the Thailand ‘C’ Team trio of Nutchapat Siripattananuntakul, Chaikamon Khumseewai and Purit Verakultawan by three matches to one.
Nutchapat Siripattananuntakul, Chaikamon Khumseewai and Purit Verakultawan finished in runners up spot; in their second fixture of the day, they overcame Kim Yeneung, Oh Juhyeong and Ha Sungbin by three matches to one.
Cadet Boys’ Team Event
Difficult times for three of the top four seeds in the Junior Boys’ Team event; in the Cadet Boys’ Team event, which also saw four groups in the first stage, it was top place at the end of the day.
Chinese Taipei ‘A’ with Tai Ming-Wei, Feng Yi-Hsin and Huang Yan-Cheng in action secured first place in their group, as did the next outfits in the order of merit.
It was top spot for the Singapore ‘A’ Team trio of Beh Kuh Ting, Gerald Yu and Pang Yew En Koen as it was for Korea ‘A’ who selected from Cho Daesong, Park Gyeongtae, Hwang Jinha and Yang Yechan.
Host Nation Success
Impressive performances it was the same from the host nation trio of Veerapat Puthikungasern, Yanapong Panagitgun and Supakron Pankhaoyoy; representing Thailand ‘A’ they duly topped their group and thus advanced to the main draw.
Team Events Conclude
Play in both the Junior Boys’ Team and Cadet Boys’ Team event concludes on Thursday May 12th.
View results and full coverage at 2016 Thailand Junior and Cadet Open – ITTF Golden Series Junior Circuit.
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