2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge
At the 2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Suva European players clinched nine medals – gold in Mixed Doubles Event; silver in Cadet Boys Teams and Cadet Boys Doubles; bronze medals in Cadet Girls Teams Cadet Boys Singles two in Cadet Girls Singles and Cadet Boys Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
“It’s really great result for European Team! Boys played without top four players SIDORENKO MOREGARD STUMPER and KULCZYCKI. In addition girls cased great upset because Elena ZAHARIA is only 12 years old Elizabet ABRAAMIAN 13 years old but they are already at the same level with Asians. Both are the part of the ETTU Development Program ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR.
In the Mixed Doubles the favorites prevailed with NIU Guankai and Jamila LAURENTI taking the title as they defeated the Latin America and Asia duo of Diogo SILVA and RYU Hanna. But the pair were both louder and the more physical on the table than their opponents. The Chinese and Italian duo won the match 2-1 (-11 7 6). In the penultimate stage SILVA and RYU overcame Belgium’s Olav KOSOLOSKY and Canada’s ZHOU Benita 2-0 (2 8)
In the Boys’ doubles final FENG Yi-Hsin and NIU Guankai over Team Europe’s Csaba ANDRAS and Martin FRIIS. Despite spectacular rallies the score line was a one sided 3-0 (7 11 7). Previously in the match for final FENG and NIU overcame Russia’s Maksim GREBNEV and KOSOLOSKY 3-1 (2 -11 7 10).
In singles Romania’s ZAHARIA were halted on the penultimate hurdle. Japan’s Yumeno SOMA prevailed 4-0 (10 2 4 8) before she beat China’s HUANG to reach the gold. In semis Russia’s ABRAAMIAN lost against HUANG 4-0 (4 7 3 8). In the contest for third position ABRAAMIAN overcame ZAHARIA 3-1 (9 9 -9 5).
Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary suffered by the hands of NIU Guankai of China in the semis of the Cadet Boys Singles Event 4-1 (7 14 8 -4 9). In the final NIU beat FENG Yi Hsin to win gold.
