Japan Stages Epic Comeback, Clinches U15 Mixed Doubles Title as China Prevails in U19 Category at ITTF World Youth Championships 2023
Written by I Dig SportsDay 6 of the ITTF World Youth Championships in Nova Gorica concluded with thrilling Mixed Doubles finals that showcased Chinas continued dominance alongside commendable performances from their opponents.
In an intense showdown in the U15 Mixed Doubles final at the ITTF World Youth Championships, Sun Yang and Yan Yutong from China clashed with Japans Tamito Watanabe and Yuna Ojio. The Japanese pair exhibited exceptional skills and resilience, challenging the Chinese duo in an exhilarating match. Despite being down 2-1 in sets, the remarkable comeback by Watanabe and Ojio stunned the Chinese as they claimed victory, securing the U15 Mixed Doubles title.
Meanwhile, in the final match of the day, U19 Mixed Doubles final, spectators were treated to an enthralling face-off between Chinas Lin Shidong and Kuai Man and the impressive duo of Izaac Quek and Annett Kaufmann. The match witnessed moments of sheer determination and skill from both pairs. Despite a valiant effort by Quek and Kaufmann, it was the Chinese pair that secured Chinas victory, claiming the U19 Mixed Doubles title in a hard-earned triumph. ITTF Executive Board member Seung Min Ryu and ITTF Youth Commissioner Heike Ahlert joined Slovenia Table Tennis Association President Tomaž Kralj in presenting the medals and trophies during the award ceremony.
In other semifinal battles, standout performances marked the advancement to the finals. Japans Ryuusei Kawakami and Tamito Watanabe secured their spot in the U15 Boys Doubles final and will face Hsu Hsien-Chia and Kuo Guan-Hong from Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, Indias Jennifer Varghese and Divyanshi Bhowmick displayed exceptional teamwork in the U15 Girls Doubles semifinal against the French duo, Leana Hochart and Nina Guo Zheng, and will face Japans Yuna Ojio and Mao Takamori in tomorrows final.
The U19 Boys Doubles showcased an intense clash where Lin Shidong and Wen Ruibo from China emerged victorious in a tight match against Keishi Hagihara and Milosz Redzimski. Moreover, Annett Kaufmann and Anna Hursey convincingly won the semifinal in the U19 Girls Doubles against the Polish pair Anna Brzyska and Zuzanna Wielgos, securing a spot in the final.
Prepare for an exhilarating finals day as the spotlight shifts to the Boys and Girls Doubles Finals across the U15 and U19 categories. Dont miss a moment of the actionwatch live on the World Table Tennis YouTube channel for thrilling matchups and stay updated with live match results here. Relive the intensity of each day through a collection of captivating event photos available on ITTF Flickr.