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One week earlier, on the concluding day of play at the Italian Junior and Cadet Open in Lignano, Hong Kong’s Minnie Soo Wai Yam had dominated proceedings by winning the Cadet Girls’ Singles title and, with Mak Tze Wing, had donned the Cadet Girls’ Doubles crown.
Seven days later, on Sunday 10th March 2013, she repeated the feat at the French Junior and Cadet Open in Metz.
Once again she was anointed Cadet Girls’ Singles champion and once again she secured the top prize in the Cadet Girls’ Doubles competition with Mak Tze Wing.
A Step Ahead
Minnie Soo Wai Yam proved herself a step above her all adversaries.
She surrendered just one individual game en route to securing the top step of the medal podium; that being against the host nation’s Malaurie Mathieu at the quarter-stage. Minnie Soo Wai Yam succeeded in four games (5-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-9).
A place in the semi-finals booked, she ousted England’s Ho Tin Tin, the no.3 seed (11-6, 11-7, 11-2), before securing the title at the expense of Belgium’s Lisa Lung, the no.4 seed (11-7, 15-13, 11-8).
Testing Semi-Final for Lisa Lung
No great problems for Minnie Soo Wai Yam en route to the final but it was not the same scenario for Lisa Lung.
After overcoming Austria’s Karoline Mischek in the quarter-finals in three straight games (11-6, 11-9, 11-4), she was extended the full distance by Germany’s Julia Kaim, the no.8 seed (6-11, 12-10, 0-11, 13-11, 11-8).
Disappointment for France
Joy for Hong Kong but for the host nation it was disappointment with title hopeful, Marie Migot, being forced to withdraw from tournament.
There were no medals for France with, alongside Malaurie Mathieu, Emilie Jaffeux departing in the round of the last eight.
She was beaten by Ho Tin Tin but gave a fine account extending the English girl to five games (8-11, 14-12, 7-11, 11-5, 11-5) and was not downhearted with her performance.
Made Mistakes
“It would have been great to win especially again a top five European ranked player here in Metz in my home town”, reflected Emilie Jaffeux. “She was better than me, I made several stupid mistakes; maybe I’m a little tired, both in my legs and mentally, I‘ve played a lot of matches in this tournament.”
Cadet Girls' Doubles Gold
Many matches but few, if any, played more than Minnie Soo Wai Yam who, earlier in the day, partnered Mal Tze Wing to Cadet Girls’ Doubles gold.
The no.2 seeds, they beat Germany’s Julia Kaim and Luisa Sager, the no.6 seeds, in the semi-finals (7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8), before overcoming the French pairing of Malaurie Mathieu and Leili Mostafavi in the final (11-8, 11-7, 11-8).
More than Compensation
Alas for France, the top seeds, Camille Campion and Marie Migot withdraw from proceedings but the efforts of Malaurie Mathieu and Leili Mostafavi compensated for the disappointment.
“It was the first time we had played together so it’s a good result; without Hong Kong in the draw, it would have been perfect!” smiled Leili Mostafavi. “The final was too difficult for us, especially with the return of service; they never made any mistakes on the first attack, unlike us.”
Better than Expected
Defeat but it was better than expected.
“At the start of the competition, we expected to win the first round and that’s all”, added Malaurie Mathieu. “We had a very good understanding, our games are complementary; Leila top spins the ball very well, so the adversary must block and that makes it ideal for me to smash.”
Penultimate Round
At the semi-final stage, Malaurie Mathieu and Leili Mostafavi had beaten Austria’s Sandra Fuchs and Karoline Mischek, the no.9 seeds (11-4, 11-6, 11-7).
Defeat in the final but a silver medal was a fine effort; on the concluding day there was no stopping Hong Kong, no stopping Minnie Soo Wai Yam.
Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo By: Rémy Gros
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