2018 World Junior Championships
At the 2018 World Junior Championships in Bendigo Europe secured three more medals. In the Junior Boys Singles Event Romania’s Cristian PLETEA reached the semifinal as well as two parings – Irvin BERTRAND and Leo DE NODREST of France and Maksim GREBNEV and Lev KATSMAN of Russia.
On His way to the semis Cristian overcame China’s YU Heyi in the quarters in straight games (10-12 11-13 9-11 7-11). Previously he beat LI Hsin-Yang of Taipei (6-11 8-11 4-11 3-11) and India’s Jeet CHANDRA (8-11 5-11 8-11 8-11) both in straight games again.
For Europe at least one silver and bronze are guaranteed. Irvin BERTRAND and Leo DE NODREST will meet Maksim GREBNEV and Lev KATSMAN in semis. In quarterfinal French pairings overcame Japan’s Shunsuke TOGAMi and Yukiya UDA (9-11 9-11 11-6 4-11). In two opening rounds they were better than China’s XU Yingbin and YU Heyi (12-10 14-12 11-6) and Stefan Peko and Jakub YELENIKA of Slovakia (11-8 11-7 11-9).
Maksim GREBNEV and Lev KATSMAN beat Romania’s pairings Cristian PLETEA and Rares SIPOS in full five games (11-6 7-11 11-9 7-11 11-8) USA’s Sharon ALGUETI and Kanak JHA (11-6 12-14 11-13 11-5 7-11) Brazil’s Guilherme TEODORO and Rafael TORINO (6-11 14-12 13-11 8-11 5-11).
