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Argentina’s Horatio Cifuentes, Hong Kong’s Kwan Man Ho and the host nation’s Darko Jorgic were the players to catch the eye, as matters progressed to the quarter-final stage of the Boys’ Singles event at the 2013 ITTF Cadet Challenge in the Slovenian city of Otocec on Saturday 2nd November.
Against the odds, all three had finished their first stage matches in first position in their respective groups; eight groups in the initial phase of proceedings, Kwan Man Ho is the no.10 seed, Darko Jorgic is one place lower with Horacio Cifuentes being the no.14 seed.
One day later all three maintained their momentum to secure first round victories.
Impressive Wins
Horacio Cifuentes beat Slovenia’s Erik Paulin (11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6), Darko Jorgic accounted for Canada’s Alexander Moran in a full distance five games due (11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-4); whilst Kwan Man Ho defeated Austria’s Andreas Levenko (13-15, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9).
The Plan
“My first plan was to control the rhythm of the match; when I was able to play with my speed it was easier for me to win the points”, said Horacio Cifuentes who won the first three games but then had to stave off a spirited revival from Erik Paulin.
“When, the score was three-two, I didn't panic”, explained Horacio Cifuentes. “I started to mix up my spin to my opponent’s backhand which helped me regain control of the match.”
Defeats Followed
Success for the three players who had been surprise group winners; for those they had beaten to secure top spot in the group it was opening round defeat.
Russia’s Maxim Chaplygin, the no.4 seed, who had finished in second place behind Horacio Cifuentes in the group phase, was beaten by Japan’s Takuto Izumo, the no.3 seed (12-10, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8).
Likewise, Kunal Chodri of the United States, the no.6 seed, who had finished in runners up spot on day earlier behind Kwan Man Ho, suffered defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic’s Tomas Polansky (11-5, 11-7, 11-5, 11-4); whilst Kanak Jha, the no.7 seed and also from the United States, departed at the hands of Aliaksandar Khanin of Belarus (11-7, 16-18, 11-5, 11-7, 12-10).
Top Two Seeds Win
In the remaining first round Boys’ Singles matches, China’s Wang Chuqin, the no.1 seed beat Romania’s Cristian Pletea (11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 10-12, 13-11) and Korea’s Hwang Minha, the no.2 seed, ended the hopes of Brazil’s Gustavo Yokota (9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9).
Quarter-Finals
At the quarter-final stage, in the top half of the draw Wang Chuqin meets Tomas Polansky and Aliaksandar Khanin opposes Takuto Izumo; in the lower half Horacio Cifuentes plays Kwan Man Ho, Darko Jorgic confronts Hwang Manha.
Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo by: Courtesy of Slovenian Table Tennis Association
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