Brazil’s Hugo Calderano survived but he was the only one of the top four names in the Boys’ Singles event at the 2014 ITTF Circuit Finals in the Portuguese city of Vila Nova de Gaia who ended the day, Friday 24th January, unbeaten.

Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting and Yang Heng-Wei, the respective second and fourth seeds, both suffered defeats as did Korea’s Kim Minhyeok, the third seed.

Hong Kong and the Czech Republic caused the damage.

Upsets
Man of the moment was Lam Siu Hang, he performed a dramatic recovery to beat Liao Cheng-Ting (13-11, 11-13, 8-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11-5, 14-12), before Hong Kong compatriot, Hung Ka Tak, followed suit to overcome Kim Minhyeok (11-9, 13-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-9).

The Czech Republic’s David Reitspies ended the day’s action by accounting for Yang Heng-Wei (9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2).

Positive Response
Earlier in the day Lam Siu Hang had impressed by beating Egypt’s Shady Magdy (13-11, 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9) but I wondered if he could respond in the face of adversity.

Was it in his character to be able to recover when defeat stared him in the face; against Liao Cheng-Ting he answered the question in the most positive manner.

Trailed in Seventh Game
In the decisive seventh game he was down 3-7, it seemed that defeat was to be the scenario.

However, he recovered to trail by one point at 6-7, understandably Liao Cheng-Ting elected for “Time Out”. The break seemed to have worked; Liao Cheng-Ting held two match points at 10-8 but Lam Siu Hang had his two serves to follow.

He made full use of that fact and he levelled at 10-all before, when receiving service holding match points at 11-10 and 12-11; at his third attempt he converted.

Adjusted to Services
One wondered after losing two match points, had the chance gone? Also, both players in the final crucial stages from 10-all were winning points when receiving service.

“He became used to my services”, said Lam Siu Hang. “After we spoke earlier you gave me confidence; that’s why I won!”

I’m not so sure about that; Lam Siu Hang is so polite, courteous and well mannered, a credit to Hong Kong.

Hand Shaking
“I won those points receiving service but my hand was shaking”, smiled Lam Siu Hang. “Today my backhand was good but I’ve beaten top seeded players before and then lost in the quarter-finals.”

No doubt coach, Zhao Peng, will speak with his charge; Lam Siu Hang beat the second seed, so surely he can take far more positives than negatives. Also, he is the only player in the group to remain unbeaten after two match apiece.

Hung Ka Tak Follows Suit
Success for Lam Siu Hang was followed almost immediately with victory for Hung Ka Tak against Kim Minhyeok; less dramatic Hung Ka Tak won in five games (11-8, 7-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-8).

Most certainly the young man from Hong Kong played at a higher level than one day earlier.

Mentally Better
“Mentally I was better today; yesterday I spent too much time thinking about winning and losing”, said Hung Ka Tak. “Today, I focused on the tactics and on my technique; also today my footwork was much better than yesterday.”

The mental aspect as always was vital in the win recorded by Hung Ka Tak.

“I’d played Kim Minhyeok once before and I lost”, added Hung Ka Tak. “We played in the team event at the World Junior Championships in 2011 and I lost three-two.”

Unbeaten
Victory for Hung Ka Tak meant that like Lam Siu Hang, he completed the day unbeaten.

Earlier Hung Ka Tak had overcome Sweden’s Elias Ranefur (11-8, 7-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-8).

Form Maintained
Two wins for Hung Ka Tak; it was the same for David Reitspies. Earlier he had beaten Spain’s Michel Vilchez (11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4); against Yang Heng-Wei he maintained his formed to post a six games win (9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2).

“He is very safe on his forehand so I concentrated on playing backhand to backhand and then switch to his forehand; he then played across to my forehand and then I played my forehand down the parallel to his backhand”, explained a delighted David Reitspies. “Also, I felt comfortable receiving service, either short of using my backhand banana flip when her served half-long.”

Impressive Wins for Hugo Calderano
Three upsets meant that Lam Siu Hang, Hung Ka Tak and David Reitspies, alongside Hugo Calderano were the four players to end the first day of play in the Boys’ Singles event at the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals unbeaten.

Hugo Calderano, having overcome Portugal’s Diogo Chen in his opening match (11-6, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8) concluded his day’s work with a five games success against Canada’s Chen Hongtao (11-6, 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4).

Schedule
Play in the first stage of both the Boys’ and Girls’ Singles events conclude on Saturday 25th January being followed by the quarter-finals; the semi-finals and final bring matters to a conclusion on Sunday 26th January.

Please visit ITTF's Event Website for more information.

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall
Photo by: Rita Taborda