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Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes and Hong Kong’s Kwan Man Ho were the players to cause the major upsets in the first stage of the Boys’ Singles event at the 2013 ITTF Cadet Challenge in the Slovenian town of Otocec on Friday 1st November.
Both remained unbeaten, overcoming seeded opposition to secure first places in their respective groups.
Horacio Cifuentes accounted for Russia’s Maxim Chaplygin, the no.4 seed (3-11, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12, 11-6); whilst Kwan Man Ho overcame the Czech Republic’s Tomas Polansky, the no.5 seed (19-17, 7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8).
Second Place Assured Main Draw Places
However, there was consolation for Maxim Chaplygin and Tomas Polansky; both secured second places in the group and thus advanced to the main draw.
Close Call for Seventh Seed
Second places in the group for Maxim Chaplygin and Tomas Polansky; it was the same for Kanak Jha of the United States, the no.7 seed.
He was beaten by Egypt’s Karim El-Hakim in his opening contest in five games (3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7) but recovered to overcome the host nation’s Darko Jorgic in five games (11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9).
Nerves
"I think during the first match and the night before I was nervous and overbought the match”, reflected Kanak Jha. “I started well, but then got shaking and my confidence went down; as my confidence went down, his went up."
A defeat for the host nation’s leading light but he completed his first phase matches in a ruthless manner, he accounted for Karim El-Hakim in three straight games (11-7, 11-3, 11-5).
"Before the match against Darko, I knew I had to play better, I focused more and tried to stick to my strategy and I guessed it worked”, explained Kanak Jha. "I was very nervous and hopeful for Darko to win as this was my only chance to advance; thankfully he did and I progress to the knockout stages."
Games Ratio
All three players defeated New Zealand’s Dean Shu; thus games ratio was needed to determine the top three positions. First place went to Darko Jorgic (5:3) followed by Kanak Jha (4:5) and Karim El-Hakim (3:4).
“After the loss in the afternoon I really prepared psychologically for my final match in the groups”, said Darko Jorgic. “I was constantly telling myself that I can make it and I played a fantastic match; I am happy with the draw and expect myself to reach the quarter-finals."
Problems for Aliaksandr Khanin
Problems for three seeded players, there were problems for one more.
Aliaksandr Khanin of Belarus, the no.8 seed, suffered defeat at the hands of Congo Brazzaville’s Michel Lignandzi (13-11, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 11-7) but accounted for Slovenia’s Tilen Cvetko (11-8, 11-4, 11-1) and Brazil’s Gustavo Yokota (11-8, 11-8, 11-8).
Alas for Michel Lignandzi, it was his only success; he was beaten by Gustavo Yokota (11-5, 11-6, 11-7) and by Tilen Cvetko (11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-7). However, like Michel Lignandzi, it was the only win for Tilen Cvetko; in addition to his defeat at the hands of Aliaksandr Khanin, he was beaten by Gustavo Yokota (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9).
Result Determines Order
Thus both Aliaksandr Khanin and Gustavo Yokota finished the group with two wins each; Tilen Cvetko and Michel Lignandzi each possessed one win.
In such cases the result between the players concerned determines the outcome.
Therefore, it was first place for Aliaksandr Khanin and second spot Gustovo Yokota.
Similarly, it was third place for Tilen Cvetko with Michel Lignandzi in fourth position.
No Great Problems
Difficulties for four notable names but there were no such difficulties for the top three seeds in the first stage of the Boys’ Singles event.
China’s Wang Chuqin, the top seed, duly finished in first place in his group as did Korea’s Hwang Minha and Japan’s Takuto Izumo.
Top place for the top three, it was also first place for the fifth seed; Kunal Chodri from the United States remained unbeaten to secure first place in his group.
Boys' Doubles
Meanwhile, in the Boys’ Doubles event, the top four pairs all enjoyed first round success.
Japan’s Takuto Izumo and China’s Wang Chuqin, the top seeds, duly booked quarter-final places as did the second seeded combination of Korea’s Hwang Manha and Hong Kong’s Kwan Man Ho.
Similarly, there was success for Aliaksandr Khanin of Belarus and the Czech Republic’s Tomas Polansky, the third seeds as there was for the fourth seeded Unites States partnership of Kunal Chodri and Kanak Jha.
Semi-Finalists Decided
Play proceeds to the semi-final stage of both the Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Boys’ Doubles events on Saturday 2nd November.
Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo by: Courtesy of Slovenian Table Tennis Association
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