Honours Even: Traditional Oceania Powerhouses Share Junior Team Gold

Historically the most successful countries in Oceania in sporting realms, New Zealand and Australia, emerged predominant at the close of proceedings in the Boys’ and Girls’ Team events at the KVB Kunlun New Zealand Junior and Cadet Open in Auckland on Wednesday 7th April 2010.

New Zealand captured gold and silver in the Boys’ Team event, whilst Australia bagged the same medals in the same order in the Girls’ Team competition.

In the Boys’ Team competition it was the partnership of Kong Lignan and Kevin Wu who completed proceedings on the top step of the medal podium; whilst in the counterpart female competition, that honour went to Kayla Combs and Anna Du.

Early Advantage
The crucial contest between the unbeaten outfits in the Boys’ team event saw New Zealand ‘A’ gain control from the beginning when Kong Lingnan displayed his best level against the fancied Heming Hu from Australia.

After conceding the first game, it was Kong Lingnan who moved into overdrive to reel off the next three games to give New Zealand ‘A’ the perfect start.

Short Lived Advantage
However, the advantage was short lived.

Australia’s Jesse Bricknell controlled matters in his match against Kevin Wu to record a comprehensive straight games victory to even up proceedings.

Next into the arena for the crucial doubles match came the left handed Kong Lingnan and right handed Kevin Wu; they soon gained the ascendancy to record a three games to one victory and put New Zealand ‘A’ within one match of the gold medal.

Gold for New Zealand
Advantage New Zealand, as was the case in the Oceania Youth Olympic Games Qualification tournament on Thursday 1st April, it was Kevin Wu who overpowered Heming Hu in the fourth match of proceedings to end matters.

The 15 year old Kiwi turned an opening game reverse into a four games victory to hand New Zealand ‘A’ a three matches to one victory and the gold medal.

Alas, for Heming Hu, he did not enjoy his best form on the day and finished with two defeats to his name.

Bronze Medal
The bronze medal went to Oliver Scarlett and Thom Nguyen of New Zealand ‘B’; they accounted for New Zealand ‘C’ to the tune of three matches to one in the deciding duel.

Impressive Performances
In the Junior Girls’ Team event, both Australia and New Zealand had not conceded any matches in the opening four rounds of play.

The situation was clear; the team that was victorious would claim the gold medal and the silver medal would be going home with the loser of the encounter.

Powerful Start
In the opening match it was the powerful Anna Du who gave Australia an ideal start when she recorded a three games to one victory over Natalie Paterson. New Zealand quickly levelled proceedings, however, when Julia Wu disposed of Kayla Coombs in straight games.

In the crucial doubles match, it was the Australian pairing who made the better start and they were never headed on their way to a straight games victory.

Revenge
The fourth match saw Anna Du face Julia Wu.

At the Oceania Youth Olympic Games Qualification tournament on Thursday 1st April it was Julia Wu who had ousted Anna Du and in doing so dashed the hopes of the Australian claiming a berth in Singapore.

In the KVB Kunlun New Zealand Junior and Cadet Open Girls’ Team final, there was revenge for Anna Du. She recorded a straight games victory to ensure the gold medal went home with Australia.

Anna Du will be left to ponder where things went wrong on Thursday 1st April; however, a gold medal on the World Junior Circuit is certainly a noteworthy achievement.

Bronze Medal
The bronze medal went to the Tahiti pairing of Brenda Lui and Vaihiria Gaumet; they recorded three matches to nil victories over Fiji and the Cook Islands to secure third spot.