Silver and bronze came the way of Hong Kong in the Junior Boys’ Team and Junior Girls’ Team events at the Italian Junior and Cadet Open in Lignano on Saturday 2^nd March 2013.

In the Junior Girls’ Team event, the trio formed by Lam Yee Lok, Mak Tze Wing and Minnie Soo Wai Yam finished in runners up spot; whilst in the counterpart Junior Boys’ Team competition it was a semi-final exit from Hung Ka Tak, Lam Siu Hang and Li Hon Ming.

Second place for Lam Yee Lok, Mak Tze Wing and Minnie Soo Wai Yam but they came so close in the final to ousting the top seeded Japanese team formed by Rira Ishikawa, Ayane Morita and Kana Takeuchi.

A three-nil semi-final win recorded against the Slovak Republic team comprising Lucia Truksova, Eva Jurkova and Miriama Krsiakova; Hong Kong sped into a two matches to nil lead in the final.

Minnie Soo Wai Yam overcame Kana Takeuchi (11-5, 11-4, 11-8) and Lam Yee Lok defeated Ayane Morita (14-12, 11-9, 11-13, 11-8) before Japan mounted a recovery.

Rira Ishikawa accounted for Mak Tze Wing (11-6, 11-9, 11-3), Ayane Morita beat Minnie Soo Wai Yam (11-4, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10), with Kana Takeuchi maintaining her nerve to complete the recovery. Once again beating Lam Yee Lok (11-9, 11-8, 13-11).

Two days earlier, Lam Yee Lok had won the Junior Girls’ Singles title but on the opening day of play, in the group stage of proceedings, had been beaten by Kana Takeuchi in three straight games (11-9, 11-6, 11-2).

On the penultimate day, in the vital contest, history was repeated.

Meanwhile, for Hung Ka Tak, Lam Siu Hang and Li Hon Ming; it was defeat in the penultimate round at the hands of the host nation, with Leonardo Mutti the player to orchestrate the downfall.

He beat Lam Sui Hang (11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5) and Hung Ka Tak (14-16, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5); the one further Italian win came from Alesandro Baciocchi in the decisive fifth match of the contest. He defeated Lam Siu Hang in four games (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6).

The wins for Hong Kong came from Hung Ka Tak in the opening match of the duel against Alessandro Baciocchi (12-10, 6-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7) and in the third contest when Li Hon Ming defeated Maurizio Massarelli (11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4).

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall