Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang was the player to cause the biggest upset on the opening day of play, Wednesday 27^th February 2013, at the Italian Junior and Cadet Open in Lignano.

Not only did he cause the biggest upset, he caused the host nation the greatest grief.

The 16 year old beat Italy’s Leonardo Mutti in five games (10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-2, 11-9) to book his place in the quarter-finals against all odds.

Leonardo Mutti, the winner of the Cadet Boys’ Singles title at the European Youth Championships in Istanbul in 2010, was the no.2 seed in Lignano; conversely Lam Siu Hang was the no.9 seed.

Hong Kong in Form
An impressive performance; it was one of four upsets and one of three most creditable performances from Hong Kong.

In addition to Lam Siu Hang, 15 year old colleague, Hung Ka Tak, the no.4 seed, duly booked his place in the last eight, as did Li Hon Ming, the no.11 seed who was also on the surprise list.

He beat Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Tu, the no.5 seed in a desperately close seven games encounter (13-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11, 14-12), after rather more comfortably Hung Ka Tak had ended the hopes of Russia’s Andrey Semenov (11-7, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11).

Further Upsets
Two surprises, the remaining two were caused by the Czech Republic’s Tibor Pavlik and the host nation’s Alessandro Baciocchi who flew the flag for Italy.

Tibor Pavlic beat Argentina’s Fermin Tenti, the no.8 seed (4-11, 12-10, 14-12, 11-6, 11-13, 11-13, 11-9); whilst Alessandro Baciocchi ousted the Czech Republic’s Jakub Seibert, the no.7 seed (7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 14-12, 11-8).

Alessandro Baciocchi is the no.12 seed, Tibor Pavlic, the 21^st highest World ranked player in the event.

Seeds Progress
Surprises but not for the remaining three names; relatively comfortable journeys were in order.

Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia-Sheng, the no.1 seed, beat compatriot Yang Hong-Wei (11-8, 11-8, 13-11, 11-8) to continue his progress; whilst the Czech Republic’s David Reitspies, the no.3 seed, defeated Italy’s Mauricio Massarelli (11-5, 11-5, 12-10, 11-8).

Similarly Singapore’s Clarence Chew, the no.6 seed, was in commanding form. He ended the hopes of the Slovak Republic’s Michal Pavolka (11-9, 8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-1).

Success for Hosts
Sadness for Italy in the Junior Boys’ Singles event but in the Junior Boys’ Doubles competition, there was success.

Alessandro Baciocchi and Leonardo Mutti, the no.3 seeds, booked their place in the last eight pairs by beating Slovenia’s Deni Kozul and Tom Sfilogoj (11-6, 11-4, 11-6); whilst Maurizio Massarelli and Jordy Piccolin caused the one upset.

They ousted Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes and Fermin Tenti (11-3, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 11-3) to reserve their place in the last eight.

More Success for Hong Kong
Meanwhile, success continued for Hong Kong; Lam Sui Hang and Li Hon Ming, the no.5 seeds duly progressed to the quarter-finals as did Hung Ka Tak in partnership with Russia’s Andrey Semenov, the no.6 seeds.

Also, quarter-final places were secured by Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia-Sheng and Liao Cheng-Ting, the no.1 seeds and by the Slovak Republic duo of Roman Rezetka and Patrik Vlacuska, the no.7 seeds. Not to be left out, the partnership formed by Singapore’s Clarence Chew in harness with Chinese Taipei’s Yang Heng-Wei, the no.4 seeds, also progressed with ease.

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall

Photo By: Richard Kalocsai