Gold for World Hopes Team in Schiltigheim, Kanak Jha Secures Top Prize

August 27, 2012

Courtesy of ITTF

Success in the Under 12 Boys' Singles event meant that Kanak Jha of the United States emerged at the most successful member of the ITTF World Hopes Team when the Euro Mini Champs at Schiltigheim came to a conclusion on Sunday August 26, 2012.

At the final hurdle he beat Germany's Jannik Xu in four games to clinch the title (11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 11-7), having at the semi-final stage overcome ITTF World Hopes Team compatriot Medardas Stankevicius of Lithuania (12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9).

Fine performances from Kanak Jha and from Medardas Stankevicius; also in the Under 12 Boys' Singles event there were notable efforts from two further members of the ITTF World Hopes Team.

Quarterfinalists
Canada's Jeremy Hazin and Sweden's Vilmer Georgsson both reached the quarterfinal stage of proceedings before experiencing defeat.

The progress of Jeremy Hazin was halted by the eventual silver medalist Jannik Xu (15-13, 11-4, 12-10); whilst Vilmer Georgsson was beaten by Romania's Cristian Pletea (11-9, 12-10, 11-7), who one round later, also fell to Jannik Xu in what must be one of the closest finishes in an international competition this year.

Jannik Xu won in a full distance five games duel in a dramatic fashion 7-11, 13-11, 12-10, 8-11, 17-15).

Four Players in Last Eight
Four players from the ITTF World Hopes Team in the quarterfinals of the Under 12 Boys' Singles event and it was the same for the girls; alas none ventured further.

Sweden's Kristina Kallberg, the Thailand duo of Naja Mekamporm and Monapsorn Saritapirak plus Maragarita Baltushite of Belarus all progressed to the round of the last eight.

Champion Elect
Kristina Kallberg was beaten by Russia's Maria Taylakova (11-7, 11-6, 11-9), who at the semi-final stage, suffered defeat at the hands of Romania's Andreea Drogman (11-4, 4-11, 11.6, 11-7); the champion elect.

In the final Andreea Drogman overcame Moldova's Ecateri Smiganovscaia (11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-4) to secure the top prize.

Moldovan Progress
At the quarterfinal stage the Moldovan had ousted Margarita Baltushite (11-6, 11-3, 11-6) before ending hopes of Nadezhda Bogdanova of Belarus (11-2, 11-9, 11-4) in the semi-finals; the player who in the round of the last eight had defeated Monapsorn Saritapirak (11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-2).

More Than Satisfactory
A total of eight players in the quarter-finals, one of whom eventually secured a silver medal and another gold was, in the opinion of Zita Pidl (Team Manager) and Dejan Papic (Head Coach) a most satisfactory performance; arguably the best performance overall in the history of the ITTF World Hopes Program.

Russians Impressive
Meanwhile, in the Under 11 Boys' Singles and Under 11 Girls' Singles events, Russia was very much to the fore.

Anastasia Kolish accounted for beat Russian colleague, Kristina Kazantseva in the final of the Under 11 Girls' Singles (14-12, 5-11, 11-7, 2-11, 14-12); whilst in Under 11 Boys' Singles event Artem Tikhonov reached the final, losing to Antoine Doyen of France (6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5).

Entry
Overall, a total of 359 players from 39 countries took part in what was the eighth edition of the tournament.

Download Results
Euro Mini Champs 2012: Full Results

Members of the ITTF World Hopes Team with Head Coach, Dejan Papic (back row � third from left)
Photo By: Zita Pidl