4/8/2010        KVB Kunlun 2010 New Zealand Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Junior Circuit

A series of entertaining matches, entertaining in terms of both table tennis and vocal gymnastics, in the Boys’ Singles event at the KVB Kunlun New Zealand Junior and Cadet Open set the tournament alight, as play commenced in the second stage of proceedings on Thursday 8th April 2010.

No player was more vocal or animated than Kevin Wu, playing in front of his home Auckland crowd against Dillon Cathcart from Australia.

The young man, who earlier in the week had booked his place in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August, showed no inhibitions and displaying a positive attitude emerged successful.

Better Start
It was Cathcart who made the better start claiming the first game and he held a lead in game two.

However, from that moment on the adrenalin kicked in for the pint sized Kevin Wu, his vocal cries after each point could be heard from all corners of the stadium.

Although the next four games were close, it was the Kiwi who looked in control and he booked his quarter final place with a four games to one victory.

Entertaining Duel
Another entertaining match was Australia’s Heming Hu against Ocean Belrose from Tahiti.

Heming Hu is a talented player with a workman-like attitude, where as Ocean Belrose is gifted with supreme feeling for the ball and unmatched athleticism; he is equally at home either attacking fast from close to the table or from retrieving the ball from the nether regions of the court.

The score line finished as four games to nil in favour of the Australian, but the match was much closer than the score suggests; with Heming Hu winning both the second and third games by the closest of margins, it broke the back of Belrose and he could not recover.

Winning Ways Continue
Meanwhile Daryl Hung from Hong Kong continued on his winning way as he cruised to a straight games victory over Hanson Ling from the host nation.

Also, the strongly built Alexander Yao kept his medal chances alive when he overpowered the fleet of foot Oliver Scarlett from New Zealand in straight games.

Second Seed Progresses
Similarly, second seed Tanapol Santiwattanatarm from Thailand also progressed through to the quarter final when he polished off Cheng Zhiyang from New Zealand in straight games.

However, New Zealand did have a reason to smile, as Thom Nguyen battled hard to beat David Fielding from Australia to the tune of four games to one.

Hong Kong Players in Form
In addition the Hong Kong duo of Li Hon Ming and Lam Siu Hang claimed the final two quarter final berths when they defeated Kong Lingnan from New Zealand and Jesse Bricknell from Australia respectively.

New Zealanders Excel
Meanwhile in the Junior Girls’ Singles event New Zealand had reason to rejoice with three players booking quarter-final places.

Natalie Paterson defeated Vaihiria Gaumet from Tahiti, cadet Sophia Dong upset Kayla Coombs from Australia, and Jennifer Tseng held all the aces against Louisa Manico from the Cook Islands.

Remaining Duel
The one remaining opening round match saw Australia’s Vy Bui defeat New Caledonia’s Fleur Dumortier in straight games.

Fleur Dumortier will be looking for revenge when the pair meet again tomorrow morning in the Cadet Girls’ Singles quarter final.

Eyes widen open and full of concentration but
for New Zealand’s Oliver Scarlett it was defeat at hands of Alexander Yao.

Photo by Scott Houston

Boys’ Singles Quarter-Finals
Daryl Hung (Hong Kong) v Thom Nguyen (New Zealand)
Alexander Yao (United States of America) v Kevin Wu (New Zealand)
Heming Hu (Australia) v. Li Hon Ming (Hong Kong)
Tanapol Santiwattanatarm (Thailand) v Lam Siu Hang (Hong Kong)

Girls’ Singles Quarter-Finals
Wong Chung Wan (Hong Kong) v Natalie Paterson (New Zealand)
Anna Du (Australia) v Sophia Dong (New Zealand)
Julia Wu (New Zealand) v Vy Bui (Australia)
Lily Phan (Australia) v Jennifer Tseng (New Zealand)
 

Posted April 2010