Success came the way of the host nation in the Junior Boys’ Team event at the French Junior and Cadet Open in Metz on Saturday 9^th March 2013 but it was a hard fought success.

The trio comprising Enzo Angles, Mehdi Bouloussa and Alexandre Robinot was stretched the limit.

Occupying the top seeded position, France ‘A’ withstood a brave challenge by the Hong Kong trio formed by Hung Ka Tak, Lam Sui Hang and Li Hon Ming to secure the title.

Mainstay of the French success was Enzo Angles, the winner of the Junior Boys’ Singles title two days earlier and now elevated to second spot on the ITTF Junior Circuit Boys’ Standings.

In the final he beat Li Hon Ming in the opening encounter (11-9, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9), before, in the pressure cooker atmosphere of the crucial deciding match, overcoming Hung Ka Tak, in a similarly hard fought four games duel (11-7, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4).

The one remaining win for the French outfit came from Mehdi Bouloussa against Hung Ka Tak in the second match of the fixture (11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7).

Meanwhile, for Hong Kong, in the respective third and fourth matches of the contest, Lam Siu Hang defeated Alexandre Robinot (11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10) and Li Hon Ming overcame Mehdi Bouloussa (11-8, 11-6, 11-6).

 “Honestly, we didn’t expect to have a so tough match; Mehdi and Alex played in the French Pro League on Tuesday evening and had to wake up very early on Wednesday to come here”, explained Enzo Angles who had gone through the whole tournament unbeaten.

In addition to winning the Junior Boys’ Singles event, he also won the Junior Boys’ Doubles crown with Alexandre Robinot.

 “They didn’t feel it the first day but they were really tired today; I’m also quite tired but I succeeded in keeping a good concentration and a consistent level to my game”, continued Enzo Angles. “They fought back to two-one and then two-all but now I am a regular member of the team and they can have confidence in me; I was here for my team, especially in the final, I think they can rely on me.”

Certainly Enzo Angles responded when the time came; Jacques Mommessin, the National Coach for the French Junior Boys’ Team was a proud man.

“I’m a very a happy coach, my boys played intelligently”, he said. “It’s necessary to be one hundred per cent physically and mentally ready in these type of matches; in this tournament, Enzo really showed that he was the boss!”

He was very much in charge and at the semi-final stage he had given France ‘A’ the perfect start against Japan ‘A’ by beating Tonin Ryuzaki in the opening match (11-7, 11-8, 11-5).

The win set the tone for the contest; Mehdi Bouloussa overcame Yuto Kizukuri (11-6, 11-9, 11-5), with Alexandre Robinot defeating Takuto Izumo (11-8, 11-6, 11-8) to bring matters to a close against the seventh seeds.

However, great credit must go to Hong Kong, the no.3 seeds; they caused an upset of note in the semi-finals by beating France ‘B’, the no.2 seeds, by three matches to one.

Lam Sui Hang overcame Alexandre Cassin (11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7), France levelled with Andrea Landrieu defeating Hung Ka Tak (15-13, 11-4, 13-15, 11-9), before Li Hon Ming overcame Can Akkuzu (7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8).

Hung Ka Tak concluded matters; he defeated Alexandre Cassin to complete the Hong Kong victory (11-8, 14-12, 7-11, 11-6).

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall