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Disappointment earlier in Vilanova de Gaia at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games World Qualification Tournament; sadness in Metz at the Road to Nanjing Series – Europe event; in Thailand’s capital city it was joy.
Hong Kong’s Hung Ka Tak, at the third time of asking, booked his place in the forthcoming Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
At the Asian Continental Qualification Tournament on Sunday 6th April he beat Lebanon’s Mohamad Hamie (11-6, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4) and Qatar’s Abdulrahaman Al-Naggar (11-3, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9) to claim his invitation letter to visit the historical Chinese city in August.
The success means that Hong Kong has a full complement of players for the table tennis event at the prestigious multi-sport gathering.
At the World Youth Olympic Games Qualification Tournament, Doo Hoi Kem secured her place in the Girls’ Singles event; she will partner Hung Ka Tak in the Team competition.
“I am very excited because I’ve lost before in the previous two qualification tournaments, today was the day of victory; I knew I could win the match”, said Hung Ka Tak. “Abdulrahaman was very powerful; I think my speed was crucial, it stopped him playing his really strong strokes.”
Success for Hong Kong; there was double success for India; both Abishek Yadav and Sutirtha Mukherjee claimed Nanjing places.
Abishek Yadav beat Malaysia’s Leong Chee Fong (11-3, 11-5, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9) and Singapore’s Yin Jing Yuan (11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 11-6); whilst Sutirtha Mukherjee accounted for Lebanon’s Patricia Homsy (11-5, 11-6, 11-4, 11-7) and Malaysia’s Angeline Tang An Qi (11-5, 11-4, 11-2, 11-9).
Sutirtha Mukherjee was never in serious danger but that was not the situation for Abishek Yadav in his crucial match against Yin Jing Yuan; in the vital seventh game, at the change of ends he trailed 1-5; the change of scenery seemingly worked wonders.
He won the next seven points and conceded just one more before securing victory.
“Yin Jing Yuan directed most of his serves to my forehand, I wasn’t confident; often I returned into the net”, said Abishek Yadav who gradually adapted to the situation.
“My coach told me to attack more with my backhand, I wasn’t confident until later on when I became more consistent”, continued Abishek Yadav. “In the seventh game I focused on trying to return service well and follow my services with a strong attack.”
Success for Abishek Yadav, who in succeeding, had turned the tables; one day earlier had suffered defeat in the group qualification stage against Yin Jing Yuan (11-6, 11-8, 11-7).
“After yesterday’s defeat we developed a strategy to focus on direct attacking strokes towards the middle of the table; this stopped Ying Jing Yuan punching the ball strongly”, said Muralidhara Rao, the Indian coach on duty. “Yin Jing Yuan is very fast and also I told Abishek to focus on his opponent’s backhand and fight like a lion; he did just that!”
A delighted Muralidhara Rao, who is very experienced in the field of coaching; he is the uncle and mentor of Sharath Kamal Achanta, India’s top player and now at no.39 on the Men’s World Rankings.
Equally, Sutirtha Mukherjee was delighted and pleased to have the support of Muralidhara Rao.
“I knew that I had to try my best to win the game to get to go to Olympics”, said Sutirtha Mukherjee. “I thought a great deal about my services; my coach told me during the game to vary my attacks, he was a big part of my victory.”
Disappointment for Singapore with the defeat of Yin Jing Yuan but there was success.
Yang Herng Hwee booked her ticket to Nanjing courtesy of victory over Uzbekistan’s Regina Kim; the Singaporean won in four straight games (11-3, 11-5, 11-5, 12-10).
“I just wanted to win, I just did my best in the match”, said Yang Herng Hwee. “I think my services gave me the advantage, I was a little nervous but I was able to impose my style of play.”
Four places decided, four remain, two further boys and two further girls will gain invitations on the evening of Monday 7th April; the door is still open.
Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo by: Manfred Schillings
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