2016 French Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Premium Junior Circuit,
At the 2016 French Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Premium Junior Circuit in Metz, 17 years old Joe SEYFRIED was a host nation star player today. Young Frenchman clinched the title in the Junior Boys’ Singles Event. In the final, seeded no. six overcame LAI Chi-Chien of Taipei, player who occupies the seceding position no. 20 1:4 ( 8-11, 11-7, 10-12, 2-11, 2-11).
However, newly crowned champion faced the strongest challenger in the semi final of the event. At the penultimate hurdle he overcame Takuto IZUMO of Japan, no. two seed 4:2 (11-4,11-6,10-12,12-10,7-11,11-9).
No. one seed Tomas POLANSKI of Czech Republic, surprisingly concluded his journey in Singles in the Round of 16, but in Doubles Event, in combination with LAI Chi-Chien of Taipei, reached the final. At the final hurdle Maksim KISELEV and Nikita YARUSHIN of Russia halted their progress to clinch the title 2:3 (6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9, 13-15). In the semis POLANSKI and LAI Chi-Chien beat Takuto IZUMO and Yuki MATSUYAMA of Japan 1:3 (9-11,11-5,7-11,7-11), whilst KISELEV and YARUSHIN succeeded against German pairings Tobias HIPPLER and Nils HOHMEIER 3:0 (11-9,11-5,11-4).
In the final of the Junior Girls’ Singles Event seeded no. four Yuko KATO of Japan beat Daria CHERNORAY of Russia seeded number 14 in straight games (6-11, 9-11, 4-11, 6-11). Previously, in the semi final, Daria beat her teammate Kristina KAZANTSEVA in full distance duel 3:4 (11-8, 3-11,10-12, 11-3, 12-10, 8-11, 8-11). KAZANTSEVA seeded no. 11, beat top seed Kana TAKEUCHI of Japan in the Round of 16 to create big upset – 3:4 (14-16,11-5,11-8,12-10,12-14,14-16,6-11).
In second semi final duel in another clash between the representatives from the same country Yuko overcame Miyu NAGASAKI in the match which also went full distance (8-11,11-5,6-11,9-11,11-9,12-10,11-8).
In the Junior Girls’ Doubles Event LIU Qi and MAK Tze Wing of Hong Kong beat Daria CHERNORAY and Maria MALANINA of Russia 3:1 (11-8,11-8,10-12,12-10). In semis LIU Qi and MAK Tze Wing overcame Germany’s Julia KAIM and Lotta ROSE 3:0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-8), Russia’s pairings overcame their compatriots Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Ekaterina ZIRONOVA 0:3 (3-11,8-11,9-11).