India’s Manav Thakkar was on song and waltzed into the junior boys’ singles final of the SET 2017 Thailand Junior & Cadet Open, and ITTF World Junior Circuit Golden Series tournament, in Bangkok.
The third-seeded Gujarat paddler Manav, was in outstanding form and brooked little opposition as he demolished all his opponents by convincing 4-0 margins leading up to the final round, according to information received here, on Sunday.
Meanwhile, upcoming Indian talents, Preyesh Suresh Raj and Tharun Shanmugam provided more cheer by winning the silver medal and bronze medals respectively in the Hopes Boys singles event.
In the Hopes final, Iran’s Mohammad Amin Samadi managed to overcome Preyesh 3-2 (11-9,8-11,11-7,8-11,11-2). Earlier, Tharun lost in to Mohammad Amin Samadi 0-3 (7-11, 5-11, 9-11) in the semi-final. In the other semi-finals, Preyesh rallied from the loss of the first two games to put it across Yong Izaac Quek of Singapore 3-2 (8-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6).
In today’s Junior Boys semi-final match, the Indian Manav breezed past Japan’s Seiya Nishimura 4-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6). Earlier, in the quarter-finals Manav sidelined Singapore’s Jun Gerald Yu Zong 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 14-12, 11-4).
In the final, Manav will take on Fumiya Igarashi of Japan who defeated Taipei’s Hsin-Yang Li 4-3 ( 11-9,12-10,8-11,8-11,5-11,13-11,11-8) in the other semi-final.
Meanwhile in the round-16 match played late on Saturday evening, Manav blanked Hong Kong’s Chun Kit Lau 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6). However, his compatriot Jeet Chandra fell by the wayside losing to Ming-Wei Tai 3-4 (11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 22-8, 6-11, 7-11, 7-11).
Manushree Patil the lone Indian to make it to the last 16 in the Junior Girls event, also fell by the wayside losing in straight games 0-4 to Asuka Sasao of Japan.
Results — Junior Girls’ singles (round 16): Manushree Patil (IND) lost to Asuka Sasao (JPN) 0-4 (3-11,6-11,9-11,6-11).
Junior Boys’ singles (Round 16): Manav Thakkar (IND) beat Chun Kit Lau (HKG) 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6); Jeet Chandra (IND) lost to Ming-Wei Tai 3-4 (11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 22-8, 6-11, 7-11, 7-11).
Quarter-finals: Manav Thakkar (IND) beat Jun Gerald Yu Zong (SGP) 4-0 (11-9, 11-6, 14-12, 11-4).
Semi-finals: Manav Thakkar (IND) beat Manav Thakkar (IND) beat Seiya Nishimura (JPN) 4-0 (11-4, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6); Fumiya Igarashi (JPN) beat Hsin-Yang Li (TPE) 4-3 ( 11-9,12-10,8-11,8-11,5-11,13-11,11-8)
Hopes Boys’ singles (quarter-finals): Tharun Shanmugam (IND) beat Pitiyage Silva (SRI) 3-2 (5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11, 11-4);Preyesh Suresh Raj (IND) beat Navid Shams (IRI) 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-5); Jash Modi (IND) lost to Yong Izaac Quek (SGP) 2-3 (4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 5-11, 2-11).
Semi-finals: Tharun Shanmugam (IND) lost to Mohammad Amin Samadi (IRI) 0-3 (7-11, 5-11, 9-11);Preyesh Suresh Raj (IND) beat Yong Izaac Quek (SGP) 3-2 (8-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6).
Finals: Mohammad Amin Samadi (IRI) beat Preyesh Suresh Raj (IND) 3-2 (11-9,8-11,11-7,8-11,11-2).