It was the day of the second seeds in both the Junior Girls' Team and Cadet Girls' Team events at the Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open on Thursday 8th August 2013.

China represented by Hu Limei, Chen Xingtong and Jian Yue secured gold in the Junior Girls' Team competition in a most impressive fashion, never seriously threatened.

Meanwhile, in the counterpart Cadet Girls' Team event, the top prize went to the Hong Kong 'B' Team partnership of Liu Qi and Mak Tze Wing. The host had just cause to celebrate.

Mima Ito Poses Problems
At the final hurdle of the Junior Girls' Team event, China recorded a three-one success against the top seeded Japanese outfit formed by Mima Ito, Miyu Maeda and Hitomi Sato, with Mima Ito the player to cause the champions elect problems.

She accounted for Hu Limei (11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8), before Chen Xingtong defeated Miyu Maeda (16-14, 10-12, 11-8, 16-14) and Jang Xue defeated Hitomi Sato (11-4, 11-9, 11-5) to give China the advantage. 

Matters concluded with Hu Limei returning to the fray; she overcame Miyu Maeda in three straight games (11-4, 12-10, 11-7) to secure the title.

Not Troubled
En route to the final, neither China nor Japan had been troubled; both recording three-nil quarter and semi-final wins.

In the round of the last eight China accounted for the Chinese Taipei 'B' Team of Chih De-Rong, Hsu Ya-Ting and Chen Yen-Hsin, before overcoming the Japan 'B' Team trio of Ayane Morita, Rira Ishikawa and Kana Takeuchi in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile at the same stages, Japan 'A' defeated Chinese Taipei 'A', who fielded the outfit of Chin Hsiao-Chun, Tsui Pao-Wen and Lin Po-Hsuan; before overcoming the Hong Kong 'A' line up of Doo Hoi Kem, Lam Yee Lok and Wong Chung Wei to secure their place in the final.

Same Scenario
Success for the second seeds in the Junior Girls' Team event, it was the same scenario in the Cadet Girls' Team competition, with the Hong Kong 'B' duo of Liu Qi and Mak Tze Wing overcoming the Singapore 'B' pairing of Ang Wan Qi and Gladys Wong in the final by three matches to two.

Ang Wan Qi gave the Singaporeans the perfect start by beating Liu Qi (11-13, 11-3, 11-8, 11-7), before Hong Kong hit back with Mak Tze Wing accounting for Gladys Wong (11-5, 11-2, 11-2) and then teaming with Liu Qi to win the doubles against Ang Wang Qi and Gladys Wong (11-5, 11-4, 11-6).
In form, Ang Wang Qi returned to the table to beat Mak Tze Wing (11-9, 11-4, 11-6), before Liu Qi concluded matters by defeating Gladys Wong in three straight games (11-6, 12-10, 11-7).

Surprise Finalists
Singapore 'B', the ninth seeds, proved to be very much the surprise package of the tournament.

Having beaten top seeds, Hong Kong 'A' (Minnie Soo Wai Yam, Vanness Leung Tsz Ching) in the group stage of proceedings one day earlier; they maintained their good form on the second day of action with Ang Wan Qi very much the star attraction.

Ang Wan Qi Mainstay Against Brazil
At the quarter-final stage against Brazil she beat both Bruna Takahashi (11-7, 11-4, 11-5) and Leticia Nakada (14-12, 6-11, 11-8, 11-9), whilst teaming with Gladys Wong to secure the doubles (11-8, 11-8, 11-9). 

The one win for Brazil was recorded by Leticia Nakada, in the second match of the fixture, she accounted for Gladys Wong (11-6, 11-9, 11-8).

Again the Guiding Hand
Similarly, at the semi-final stage, it was Ang Wan Qi who guided the Singaporeans to victory in opposition to Hong Kong 'D'.

She overcame both Leung Ka Wan (11-3, 11-8, 11-4) and Lee Ka Yee (11-7, 11-6, 11-3), whilst with Gladys Wong securing a straight games doubles success (11-6, 11-8, 11-6); the once success for Hong Kong 'D' came from Lee Ka Yee. In the second match of the contest, she defeated Gladys Wong (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 15-13).

Mak Tze Wing in Form
An Wang Qi was certainly a player to catch the eye on the second day of action, as was Mak Tze Wing for Hong Kong 'B'.

At the quarter-final stage, Mak Tze Wing beat both Tsai Yu-Chin (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5) and Wen Ruei-Ling (11-9, 11-9, 11-4) in a three-one win over Chinese Taipei 'A'. The one remaining win for Hong Kong 'B' came from Liu Qi in the second match of the fixture against Wen Rue-Ling (11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 6-11, 11-4); whilst for Chinese Taipei 'A', their one success was recorded in the doubles.

Liang Yu-Chien and Wen Ruei-Ling beat Liu Qi and Mak Tze Wing in five games (7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7).

Semi-Final Upset
Success against Chinese Taipei 'A'; at the semi-final stage the Hong Kong 'B' duo caused an upset by beating colleagues and top seeds, Hong Kong 'A'.
Minnie Soo Wai Yam accounted for both Mak Tze Wing (11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3) and Liu Qi (13-11, 14-12, 11-4) but those were the only successes for the pre-tournament favourites.

Vanness Leung Tsz Ching was beaten by Liu Qi (11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2) and by Mak Tze Wing in the vital concluding match of the duel (11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7), after Liu Qi and Mak Tze Wing had combined to secure the doubles against Minnie Soo Wai Yam, Vaness Leung Tsz Ching in four games (11-5, 7-11, 13-11, 13-11).

Individual Events Start
The team events now concluded; 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