05 Aug 2017
First place in the group one day earlier when, against expectations, finishing ahead of Singapore’s Andy Wong Yan Kaoi, the no.11 seed, the host’s Pau Yik Man continued to upset the odds one day later, Saturday 5th August, in the Cadet Boys’ Singles event at the Hang Seng 2017 Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open.
No current world ranking, making his first steps in international waters, the 14 year old reserved his place in the penultimate round.
Pau Yik Man, upset the odds to reach the last four (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Table Tennis Association Ltd)
by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
After recording wins against Thailand’s Nawin Mekamporn (11-5, 14-12, 11-7) and Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Kai-Jen (12-10, 7-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-6); Pau Yik Man caused a major quarter-final upset by overcoming colleague, Maurice Chong Kai Ning, the top seed (11-8, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9).
A surprise semi-finalist and he was not alone; Nikhil Kumar of the United States, the no.5 seed, after beating Hong Kong’s Yiu Kwan To, accounted for Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen, the no.2 seed (11-5, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6) to clinch a semi-final berth.
Defeats for the top two seeds but not for the next two names in the order of merit; Portugal’s Tiago Li, the no.3 seed and Hong Kong’s Lau Chun Kit, the no.4 seed Both duly reserved their places the last four.
Tiago Li accounted for Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Kai-Cheng (11-7, 11-3, 11-8) and Hong Kong’s Choy Chun Kit (5-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-2) to book his place in the penultimate round. Meanwhile, Lau Chun Kit recorded a second round win over Singapore’s Andy Wong Yan Kai, before securing a quarter-final success in opposition to Michael Tran of the United States, the no.6 seed (11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8).
At the semi-final stage, Pau Yik Man meets Tiago Li; Lau Chun Kit opposes Nikhil Kumar.
One surprise Cadet Boys’ Singles semi-finalist; it is the same situation in the Cadet Boys’ Doubles competition. Singapore’s Baldwin Chan Ho Wah and Chan Yee Shun, the no.6 seeds, emerged as the surprise pairing to reach the round of the last four. At the quarter-final stage they ousted Nikhil Kumar and Michael Tran, the no.6 seeds (11-2, 8-11, 11-7, 11-7).
In the penultimate round Baldwin Chan Ho Wah and Chan Yee Shun meet Hong Kong’s Maurice Chong Kai Ning and Yiu Kwan To; in the opposite half of the draw Lau Chun Kit and Wong Hon Lam, the no.2 seeds, confront Singapore’s Pang Yew En Koen and Andy Wong Yan Kai, the no.4 seeds.
Proceedings in Hong Kong conclude on Sunday 6th August.
