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The bronze medal was the end result for Hong Kong in the Junior Boys’ Team event at the Reliance 2014 Asian Junior Championships in Mumbai on Saturday 13th September.
Star of the show for the Hong Kong Junior Boys’ Team was unquestionably Ho Kwan Kit, the winner earlier in the year of the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Philippines Open.
He gave an outstanding performance as Hong Kong secured first place in their group following comprehensive three-nil wins against Qatar (Mohammad Al-Sulati, Mohammad Abdulhussein), Kazakhstan (Bekulan Zhamal, Kirill Gerassimenko) and Pakistan (Muhammad Rameez, Salman Virk, Abdul Haseeb) to top their group.
However, it was at the quarter-final stage that the Hong Kong trio and particularly Ho Kwan Kit excelled.
They beat Japan by three matches to one with Ho Kwan Kit the guiding hand. He beat Asuka Sakai (11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5), before more significantly overcoming Yuto Muramatsu (11-2, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9), silver medallist at the recent Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games, to seal a most impressive victory.
The remaining win for Hong Kong came from Hung Ka Tak; he accounted for Yuma Tsuboi (6-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-4); the one success for Japan was recorded by Yuto Muramatsu, in the opening match of the contest, he overcame Li Hon Ming (11-9, 11-4, 11-6).
Success at the quarter-final stage but in the penultimate round it was defeat at the hands of the champions elect, China.
Once again Ho Kwan Kit gave a most creditable performance; he extended Yu Ziyang, the winner two months ago of the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Korea Open, the full five games distance (11-7, 7-11, 13-11, 4-11, 11-5) but alas for Hong Kong it was to be a three matches to nil defeat.
Liang Jingkun accounted for Hung Ka Tak, with Zhou Qihao ending matters by beating Li Hon Ming (7-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-1).
A notable quarter-final success for Hong Kong against Japan; in the Cadet Boys’ Team event it was the reverse scenario.
A three-nil defeat was the end result for the trio of Cheng Pak Hei, Lau Chun Kit and Wong Ho Hin against Takuto Izumo and Yuto Kizukuri.
Takuto Izumo beat Wong Ho Hin (11-6, 11-7, 11-7), Yuto Kizukuri accounted for Lau Chun Kit (11-5, 11-8, 11-7); before Takuto Izumo and Yukiya Uda combined to win the doubles at the expense of Cheng Pak Hei and Wong Ho Hin (11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7).
Hong Kong had finished in second place in the group stage, behind China (Peng Feilong, Xu Yingbin) but ahead of Iran (Mehdi Jalili, Amin Amhadian).
Article by: Ian Marshall
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