Not listed amongst the top eight seeds, China represented by Yu Ziyang, Lvu Xiang and Fang Yinchi won the Junior Boys' Team title at the Nikon Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open on Thursday 8th August 2013; furthermore, they won in a most impressive manner.

They surrendered just one individual match en route to gold; that being in the final against Chinese Taipei 'A', the third seeds, when a three matches to one result was posted.

The one player to suffer defeat was Fang Yinchi; in the third match of the fixture he was beaten by Lin Hsueh-Yu by the very narrowest of margins (11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 4-11, 12-10).

In Charge
However, wins from Yu Ziyang against Wen Wei-Chieh in the opening match of the contest (11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3), followed by success for Lv Xiang in opposition to Yang Heng-Wei (11-7, 11-3, 11-7) put China in charge of proceedings.

Matters closed with Lv Xiang returning to the table to beat Wen Wei-Chieh in five games to seal gold (11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6).

Chinese Taipei Trio in Form
A fine effort by the Chinese trio, who had overcome an outfit very much in form en route to the final.

At the quarter-final stage, they had beaten the team formed by Canada Lester Lee who joined forces with Carl Ahlander-Johansson and Anton Kallberg by three matches to one, with Anton Kallberg the player to cause the Chinese Taipei trio problems.

He beat Wen Wei-Chieh in the second match of the fixture (11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4) but that was his team only success. Yang Heng-Wei accounted for Carl Ahlander-Johansson (7-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-7), Lin Hsueh-Yu defeated Lester Lee (12-10, 12-10, 11-9) with Wen Wei-Chieh bringing matters to a conclusion. He overcame Carl Ahlander-Johansson (12-10, 11-6, 11-5).

Beat Top Seeds
An impressive start to the Chinese Taipei campaign in the Junior Boys' Team event; the semi-final performance was even more impressive. 

In top form they posted a three matches to nil win against the top seeded Japan 'A'  Team of Tonin Ryuzaki, Naoki Matsuda and Masahiro Otsuka.

Same Margin
Success by the margin of three matches to nil for Chinese Taipei in their semi-final encounter; it was the same for China at both quarter and penultimate round stages.

In the round of the last eight they overcame the Hong Kong 'C' Team trio of Hung Wah Tak, Tsoi Ka Wai and Tang Chi Hin by three matches to nil, before administering the same punishment to Japan 'B' team of Ryotaro Ogata, Masato Kakitsuka and Tomo Miyazaki in the semi-finals.

Cadet Boys' Team Gold
The silver medal for Chinese Taipei in the Junior Boys' Team event, in the counterpart Cadet Boys' Team competition it was gold.

Represented by Huang Chien-Tu and Yu Cheng-Feng, a three-nil semi-final win was posted against the Hong Kong 'B' Team duo of Leung Ho Ching and Chu Hoi Man before a three-one success was recorded in the final in opposition to the Swedish partnership of Adam Blomqvist and Omid Khoshbakht.

Mainstay of Success
Backbone of the Chinese Taipei success in the final was Huang Chien-Tu. He beat both Omid Khoshbakht (11-7, 11-6, 11-9) and Adam Blomqvist (15-13, 2-11, 11-3, 11-7); whilst teaming with Yu Cheng-Feng to secure the doubles (11-4, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5).

The one success for Sweden was recorded by Adam Blomqvist; in the second match of the fixture, he defeated Yu Cheng-Feng (8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5).

Swedes in Form
At the semi-final stage, the Swedes had accounted for the Chinese Taipei 'B' Team outfit of Chen Chun-Hsiang, Tang Cheng-Yen and Chi Huang-Yang by three matches to nil.

Individual Events Begin
Team events over, the individual events commence on Friday 9th August 2013.

Live on YouTube and Exciting on FlickR
The final session of play at the Nikon Hong Junior and Cadet Open will be streamed live on YouTube between 2.00pm and 5.30pm local time. Also visit the FlickR Gallery for photographs of the event. 

Nikon Hong Junior and Cadet Open: The Final Session of Play 
Nikon Hong Junior and Cadet Open: Photo Gallery on FlickR

Article By: ITTF - Ian Marshall

Photo By: Donald Chin