2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Sharm El-Sheikh
With nine medals in total Europe is the best team in overall standings at the end of the 2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Sharm El-Sheikh. The successful row that started with the gold and silver in Team’s Event continued in Cadet Boys and Girls singles doubles and mixed doubles events.
“We had great 11 days packed with quality work and good results. We seized every opportunity that arose to improve our game and to compete with the best. I am proud of the fighting spirit the team spirit and unity that out team showed. I think this will bring a great energy to our youngsters and great motivation for the future work. In addition I think it will also give us hope that we can do something similar in senior category. I am grateful for all support we had from ETTU and our sponsor TIBHAR ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR.
Romania’s Cristian PLETEA Lithuania’s Medardas STANKEVICIUS and Sweden’s Truls MOREGARD had combined to secure gold for Europe in the Boys’ Team event but they did not stop there. All three secured the medals in the singles event. The player from who was least expected –Truls MOREGARD went further; he clinched silver. Top seeded Cristian PLETEA won bronze after he beat STANKEVICIUS in the match for the third position. Swede lost his final encounter against YANG Shuo of China (12-14 12-10 10-12 11-8 9-11 13-11 11-6).
Romania’s Andreea DRAGOMAN also clinched silver. In the final she suffered by the hands of Brazil’s Bruna TAKAHASHI (8-11 11-3 10-12 12-10 11-9 6-11 9-11). In the semi final Russia’s Anastasia KOLISH also lost against TAKAHASHI (10-12 6-11 11-8 10-12 8-11). Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic and KOLISH clinched silver in Cadet Girls Doubles Event. In the final they lost against Japan’s CHOI Haeeun and Maki SHIOMI (3-11 12-14 11-8 6-11).
At the quarter-final stage Cristian PLETEA beat Korea’s SONG Hyunjun the no.5 seed (7-11 11-8 4-11 9-11 11-9 11-7 11-5); Medardas STANKEVICIUS the no.7 seed upset the order of merit by overcoming Jack WANG of the United States the no.4 seed (11-9 11-9 11-2 6-11 12-10) whilst Truls MOREGARD excelled all expectations to beat Japan’s Koyo KANAMITSU the no.2 seed. MOREGARD emerged successful by the very narrowest of margins in a seven games thriller (11-9 11-6 9-11 9-11 11-4 9-11 11-9).
In the quarterfinal of the Boys Doubles Event Truls MOREGARD and Medardas STANKEVICIUS justified their no.3 seeded position by overcoming the combination of Argentina’s Martin BENTANCOR and Brazil’s Guilherme TEODORO by the very narrowest of margins (2-11 11-5 12-10 9-11 16-14).
In the semi-finals Truls MOREGARD and Medardas STANKEVICIUS lost against Koyo KANAMITSU and Yang SHUO (9-11 9-11 9-11).
In the Mixed Doubles Event MOREGARD partnering Adriana DIAZ clinched gold whilst Cristian PLETEA with CHENG Zhiying won bronze.
