Monday, September 21, 2009
9:12 AM
ITTF Argentina Junior Open - Youth Paddlers Aiming for World Junior Circuit Finals in Japan
One week earlier at the Ecuador Junior Open in Guayaquil, Li Siyun Isabelle won the Girls’ Team, Girls' Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles titles; in Buenos Aires, one week later on Sunday 20th September 2009, she achieved exactly the same feat at the Argentina Junior Open. On the other hand, Chew Zhe Yu Clarence managed to clinch the Gold Medal in the Cadet Boys' Singles and 2 Bronze Medals.

In the girls' singles, Isabelle Li succeeded in six games, winning 4-11, 13-11, 10-12, 11-6, 12-10, 11-4, having earlier ousted Paraguay’s Lucero Ovelar, Hong Kong’s Shermaine Lam and Sandy Gavilan, also from Paraguay. Similarly in the Cadet Girls’ Singles, Brazil’s Caroline Kumhara did pose some questions to Isabelle in the finals. However, having lost the opening game, Isabelle Li seized control to eventually record a definitive victory; she succeeded 10-12, 11-6, 11-1, 11-2.

Earlier on, Hong Kong’s Shermaine Lam in partnership with Isabelle Li captured the top prize in the Girls’ Team competition. At the semi-final stage, Isabelle and Shermaine proved too secure for the Brazilian partnership of Amanda Marques and Karin Fukushima. The Brazilians captured the doubles to provide a glimmer of hope but the defensive skills of Isabelle Li were too safe for both Amanda Marques and Karin Fukushima with Shermaine Lam overcoming the latter to add the one further vital win. In the finals, Isabelle and Sherrmaine succeeded without the loss of a single game.

Isabelle did not take part in any doubles event.

Meanwhile, Clarence partnered Spain's Robles Alvaro in the Boys' Team Event. However, they settled for Bronze, having found Top Seeds Belgium too strong. Clarence also suffered early round defeats in the Boys' Singles Event. Attacking strongly from both wings and with a definitive goal in mind, Lauric Jean accounted for Clarence in the Quarter Finals.

Defeat for Clarence in the Boys’ Singles event but just as seven days earlier in Ecuador, it was success in the Cadet Boys’ Singles competition. In Ecuador he had recovered from a 10-8 deficit in the final fame of the gold medal contest to beat top seed, Argentina’s Pablo Saragovi. In Buenos Aires he defeated top seeded Saragovi once again and once again in a thrilling five games duel; only this time it was in the quarter-finals and he was not required to save match points. A quarter-final win over Pablo Saragovi was followed by a semi-final success against Nicolas Galvano, also from Argentina and a final success over Brazil’s Eric Jouti. Clarence emerged successful, winning 11-5, 20-18, 14-12.

Clarence Chew pocketed another Bronze Medal in the Doubles Event. Partnering his teammate from the team event, they charged into the Semi Finals causing upsets against higher ranked oppositions. But history repeated itself once again. Clarence and Robles Alvaro suffered in the hands of Belgium!

Clarence and Isabelle will be heading towards Chile Junior Open, which is also the last ITTF Junior Open in the 2009 Junior Circuit.




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