Monday, September 14, 2009
7:24 AM
ITTF Ecuador Junior Open - Singapore's Biggest Gold Medal Haul
Singapore ruled supreme at the Ecuador Junior Open in Guayaquil which concluded play on Sunday 13th September 2009, winning a total of 6 out of the 8 gold medals available, despite fielding only 2 players. Clarence Chew won both the Junior Boys’ Singles and Cadet Boys’ Singles events whilst his female compatriot, Isabelle Li succeeded in both the Junior Girls’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles competitions.

Throughout the tournament, Isabelle Li was in a class of her own. In the final of the Girls’ Singles event, her exquisite defensive skills proved too great for Ecuador’s Tania Almendariz, whilst in the final of the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition it was the same story in opposition to Sweden’s Maria Engelson. The model of composure Isabelle Li beat Tania Almendariz 11-7, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 whilst in opposition to Maria Engelson she succeeded 11-9, 12-10, 11-8.

Between matches at the Ecuador Junior Open, Isabelle Li had sat quietly in one of the bedrooms at the local National Olympic Committee’s Headquarters, reading the Bible. Coolness brought Isabelle Li success and it did the same for Clarence Chew but he was tested to the very limit.

In the final of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event he trailed Argentina’s Pablo Saragovi 8-10 in the vital fifth game; he levelled at 10-all, then saved another match point before securing victory. Clarence Chew won 7-11, 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 13-11. A tough Cadet Boys’ Singles win and a hard fought Junior Boys’ Singles success. In the battle of the left handers he beat Chile’s Manuel Moya in six games. Clarence Chew, displaying outstanding control, succeeded 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8.

Earlier on, Isabelle alongside Sweden’s Josefin Lund, was awarded the Girls’ Team crown. Not to be outdone, the combination of Singapore’s Clarence Chew and Samuel Galvez enjoyed success as well.

The talented left hander, Clarence Chew proved the backbone of the final victory. He beat both Pablo Saragovi and Emir Baca whilst teaming with Samuel Galvez in what proved the vital doubles. The inter-continental duo secured success by the very narrowest of five game margins. The one success for Argentina came in the second contest of the fixture with Emir Baca defeating Samuel Galvez.

Meanwhile, throughout the Junior Girls' Team event, the defensive skills of the Singaporean proved too secure for her adversaries, none could read the varying degrees of spin on the ball and really possessed the technical skills to penetrate the solid backspin skills of the Asian teenager. Equally, the forehand topspin play when required by Isabelle Li was equally secure. In the final, Li accounted for both Judith Morales and Karen Rojas in straight games with the one further win against the vanquished being in the doubles. The one success for the South Americans came in the opening match of the duel when Koren Rojas defeated Josefin Lund in four games.




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