Japan’s Maharu YOSHIMURA clinched the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Zagreb (Croatia) Open. He inflicted the pain in the hearts of the host nation supporters by beating TAN Ruiwu at the final hurdle (9-11 11-9 11-9 6-11 5-11 3-11).
In semi final TAN overcame Alvaro ROBLES of Spain in six games (11-7 8-11 11-7 6-11 11-3 11-9) whilst YOSHIMURA needed five to beat LEE Sangsu of Korea (11-4 11-7 11-4 7-11 11-8).
In the final duel of the Women’s Singles Event between SHAN Xiaona of Germany and CHOI Hyojoo of Korea Asian player prevailed in five games (11-5 11-7 7-11 11-9 11-3). Previously CHOI beat Mima ITO of Japan in full distance thriller (11-7 9-11 10-12 10-12 11-8 11-7 11-7) whilst SHAN halted the progress of YANG Haeun of Korea (11-6 5-11 11-7 4-11 6-11 11-7 11-13) in another seven games match.
Poland’s Jakub DYJAS and Korea’s CHOI Hyojoo won the respective Under 21 Men’s Singles and Under 21 Women’s Singles titles. It is the first time either player had won an ITTF World Tour title.
Jakub DYJAS occupied the no.2 seeded position in the draw. In the later stages he overcame Frenchman Alexandre CASSIN in the round of the last eight (11-5 9-11 12-10 11-8) before accounting for Portugal’s João GERALDO the no.3 seed (11-9 11-3 11-8) to book his place in the final against Germany’s Benedikt DUDA the no.4 seed. DYJAS emerged successful by the very narrowest of margins in a tension packed full distance five games final (9-11 11-7 10-12 11-8 13-11) against a young man very much in form.After beating Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR in the quarter-finals (11-9 9-11 11-3 12-10) he overcame Japan’s Yuya OSHIMA the top seed in the penultimate round (11-9 3-11 11-9 13-11).
In an all Korean Women’s Doubles final the seeded outfit succeeded against the partnership that had been required to negotiate the preliminary rounds. Second seeds JEON Jihee and YANG Haeun overcame CHOI Hyojoo and JUNG Yumi in three straight games (11-5 11-6 11-9).
