ITTF World Youth Championships in Tunisia concluded yesterday with Japan’s Miyuu KIHARA and China’s LIN Shidong have emerged as U19 singles champions on an unforgettable final day of action.
Flavien COTON brought home the U15 Boys’ Singles title following back-to-back wins over Japanese opposition on the final day. Surviving a tense semifinal encounter against Takumi TANIMOTO in the morning session (11-8 7-11 12-14 11-8 9-11 11-9 11-9) COTON set up a title showdown with Kazuki YOSHIYAMA later in the day. Responsible for eliminating top-ranked Alan KURMANGALIYEV in the last four YOSHIYAMA made a bright start to the final but couldn’t convert as COTON chalked up four of the six games in his favour to lift the trophy (10-12 13-11 8-11 11-5 11-6 11-9).
Slovakia’s Samuel ARPAS and Hungary’s Balazs LEI clinched gold in Under 15 Boys’ Doubles Event by beating Japan’s Kazuki YOSHIYAMA and Takumi TANIMOTO in the final. French pairings Flavien COTON and Nathan LAM won bronze.
Displaying excellent form in the run up to the final day Miyuu KIHARA was presented with an enormous test at the semifinal hurdle which she passed with flying colours defeating 2021 champion KUAI Man 4-1 (8-11 11-8 11-6 12-10 13-11). With the trophy in sight Kihara produced one last dazzling display to see off compatriot Miwa HARIMOTO (11-7 4-11 11-7 11-9 11-8) to confirm her status as World Youth champion and World Youth No.1.
China’s LIN Shidong left Rades with the U19 Boys’ Singles title. In doing so Lin came away with a clean sweep of titles winning all four U19 titles on offer in Tunisia. French star Felix LEBRUN provided the opposition in the semifinals and gave Lin a good run for his money but saw his hopes dashed across six games (9-11 11-7 11-9 10-12 11-7 11-9). French Felix LEBRUN and Romania’s Darius MOVILEANU both clinched bronze.
In Under 19 Boys’ Doubles Japan’s Hayate SUZUKIA and Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE won silver and French Felix LEBRUN and Thibault PORET won bronze.
In Under 19 Girls’ Doubles French Charlotte LUTZ and Prithika PAVADE halted in final and clinched silver whilst Germany’s Annett KAUFMANN and Mia GRIESEL won bronze
In Under 19 Mixed Event Felix LEBRUN and Prithika PAVADE of France and Poland’s and Japan’s combination of Maciej KUBIK and Miwa HARIMOTO clinched bronze.
In Under 15 Girls’ Doubles Germany’s Eireen Elena KALAITZIDOU and French Alesia SFERLEA won bronze as well as French duo Leana HOCHART and Gaetane BLED.
In Under 15 Mixed Event Alan KURMANGALIYEV of Kazakhstan and Hana GODA of Egypt beat Maria BERZOSA of Spain and Tiago ABIODUN of Portugal in the final. Bronze medalists are William BERGENBLOCK of Sweden and Natalia BOGDANOWICZ of Poland.
