Japan Clinches Gold in Thrilling Climax to Youth Olympic Games
August 26, 2010

Koki Niwa, the only player to remain unbeaten throughout the whole tournament Photo By: Monthly World Table Tennis

Courtesy of ITTF Represented by 15 year old Koki Niwa and 16 year Ayuka Tanioka, Japan secured the gold medal in the Team event at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore on Thursday August 26, 2010. They beat the Korean partnership of Kim Dong Hyun and Yang Ha Eun in an electrifying contest that brought matters in the table tennis events to an exciting conclusion.

Koki Niwa and Ayuka Tanioka recorded a two matches to one victory over the Korean partnership of Kim Dong Hyun and Yang Ha Eun with every match in the fixture being decided in full five games duels.

The no.1 seeds beat the no.2 seeds to secure the top prize.

Perfect Start for Korea
Yang Ha Eun gave Korea the perfect start by eventually penetrating the defensive skills of Ayuka Tanioka, before Koki Niwa leveled matters by overcoming Kim Dong Hyun.

Closest of All
The win recorded by Koki Niwa meant that a deciding doubles match was needed; as in the two singles matches, the contest went to a nail-biting fifth game and it proved the closest of all three duels.

In an encounter that ebbed and flowed, the Japanese partnership secured victory in the deciding game 11-9; the minimal two point margin was the difference between gold and silver.

One Step Higher
It was for Yang Ha Eun one step higher on the medal podium when presentations were made; in the Girls’ Singles event earlier in proceedings she had beaten Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut to clinch the bronze medal, in the Team event there was a silver lining.

Personal Triumph
Meanwhile, for Koki Niwa it was a personal triumph.

Three days earlier he had won the gold medal in the Boys’ Singles event, on the final day of play he added a second.

He left Singapore as unquestionably the player of the tournament, unbeaten in the Boys’ Singles event and unbeaten in the Team event; it was a splendid display from a young man who was under pressure.

Coped with Pressure
In both events he was the top seed, in both events he justified that seeding and most definitely has happy memories of the First Youth Olympic Games.

Unquestionably he has set standards for others to follow; high standards, very high standards indeed. Should the current format be retained his success can only ever be equaled, never beaten.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, their precious sun shone brightly.