2016 ITTF World Cadet Challenge
The first part of the 2016 ITTF World Cadet Challengein Shanghai is over. Both European Teams – girls and boys – managed to clinch the bronze medals.
This year’s edition is a very special one for double Asian opposition since China as host nation has a team too. They played alongside the traditional Continental teams of Africa Oceania Latin America North America Asia and ITTF Hopes Team. The performance of European team was just enough to overcome every opposition except the Asians. Girls have beaten Latin America and Ocenia and boys prevailed against Africa and Hopes Team in the group but both faced the defeats against China; girls 0-5 boys 2-3; which lead to an early semi-final clash against Asia.
“Girls Coach Csilla BATORFI decided Tanja PLAJAN (ROU) Anastasia KOLISH (RUS) and Zdena BLASKOVA (CZE) will play. After opening defeat of PLAJAN against Asian Nr 1 JPN Miyuu KIHARA KOLISH gave a hard fight the Chinese HUANG Yingqui however she lost in a 5-set battle and couldn`t level the match up. It was still not over as BLASKOVA tried her best to come back in the fourth game against HGK Lee Ka Ye to turn the things around. However the opponent proved to be too strong and after saving set points the Hong Kong player sealed the generally comfortable win of Asian Team (3-0) ” explained Team Manager Europe Jarek KOLODZIEJCZYK.
All credit for girls; despite semi-final disappointment they were back at the table and have put together a very impressive performance in a bronze medal match against North America. After more than two hours Europe prevailed 3-2 with KOLISH BLASKOVA and WEGRZYN (POL) each contributing with one point. The Pole paid back the credit given her by coach Csilla BATORFI in this match by playing her best table tennis to decide the last match against CAN Ivy Liao in four sets in Europe’s favour and thus making the two wins of North America’s Nr 1 Amy Wang not enough to steal the victory for the USA/CAN combination.
In the final Asia dominated China and won 3-0.
“It was the same result but bit different scenario in boys campaign. Already in the group the match against China was lost with the narrowest margin (2-3) with Russia’s Vladimir SIDORENKO and Italy’s Carlo Rossi earned the points for Europe while Austria’s Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK was unable to contribute. The semi-final against Asia was extremely close. After storming come back from 0-2 in the opening match performed by SIDORENKO against Korea’s CHO Daeseong Europe took the lead. Carlo ROSSI has put great pressure on Asia’s Nr 1 JPN Yukija UDA but failed to execute in deciding moments of the 3rd and 4th set. In the third encounter Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK came back from 1-2 in sets and 2-6 in the fourth against THA PANAGITGUN Yanapong to earn himself two match points in the decider (10-8) but failed to account on it. This proved to be the turning point of the match as UDA having 2-1 lead of his team has put a mighty performance in the encounter between the number ones beating SIDORENKO 3-1 and sealing Asia`s victory ” reported Team Manager Europe Jarek KOLODZIEJCZYK.
Coach Marc CLOSSET did great job to raise the heads after this disappointment and motivated boys to a convincing 3-0 win over North America in a bronze medal match. Carlo ROSSI has shined beating Victor LIU 3-0 SIDORENKO overcame Sharon ALGUETTI USA (3-0) before Csaba ANDRAS (HUN) finished the business by overcoming CAN Edward Ly in five sets to give Europe’s Team the third place overall.
Asia clinched gold after convincing 3-0 win in the final against China.”
