Runner up in the Girls Singles event at the Joola German Youth Open in January, Romania’s fifteen year old Camelia Postoaca experienced a roller coaster day at the Bahrain Open Junior Championships in Manama on Saturday 8th March 2008; first it was an unexpected defeat, then it was an unexpected win.

Seeded five, she lost in the group stage to Korea’s Cheon Se Eun; finished in second place in her group, thus she qualified for the main draw where she overcame second seed, Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching in five games to reach the quarter-finals.

Similarly Cheon Se Eun progressed to the last eight; she defeated Yana Drykina in round two.

Defeats
Camelia Postoaca was one of three seeded players to suffer defeat in the first stage of proceedings, finish in second place in the group and progress to the main draw.



Seventh seed, Romania’s Anamaria Sebe lost to Hong Kong’s Ng Wing Nam, progressed to the main draw and then suffered at the hands of fourth seed, Hong Kong’s Zena Sim. Meanwhile, eighth seed, Korea’s Li Pil Rang lost to Romania’s Bernadette Szocs who made the most of her opportunity by overcoming Egypt’s Noha Yossry in the opening round to book a place in the quarter-finals.

Upset
Defeat for Li Pil Rang in the group stage but not in the main draw where like, Camelia Postoaca, she caused an upset; in the opening round she defeated third seed, Alena Dubkova of Belarus.

However, for Ng Wing Nam it was the reverse scenario. She was beaten in the opening round by Korea’s Bang Ji Ae.

One Step Better
Success for Korea with three players (Cheon Se Eun, Bang Ji Ae, Lee Pil Rang) all through to the quarter-finals whilst for Romania it was one step better; they enjoyed four victories in round two.

In addition to the successes of Bernadette Szocs and Camelia Postoaca, sixth seed Andrea Dospina recorded a first round victory over Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Fung whilst top seed Cristina Hirici defeated Korea’s Kim A Young at the same stage.

More Success
A good day for Romania in the Girls’ Singles event and it was the same in the Girls’ Doubles.

Top seeds Cristina Hirici and Anamaria Sebe overcame Egypt’s Reem El Shoubary and Noha Yossry to reach the semi-finals, whilst second seeds, Andrea Dospina and Camelia Postoaca overcame Alena Dubkova and Ala Shakun at the quarter-final stage.

Fourth Seeds Lose
Victories for the top two seeded pairs and also for the third seeds; Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching and Ng Wing Nam beat Korea’s Kim Seul Ki and Lee Pil Rang but for fourth seeds, Singapore’s Isabelle Li and Zena Sim it was a quarter-final defeat.

They lost to the Koreans, Bang Ji Ae amd Cheon Se Eun.

One Seed Falls
Meanwhile, in the Cadet Girls’ Singles event, three of the top four seeds progressed safely to the semi-final stage. The one faller was third seed, Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Tee; she lost in the quarters to seventh seed, Korea’s Cheon Se Eun.

No Problems
However, for top seed Singapore’s Isabelle Li, second seed Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and third seed Korea’s Bang Ji Ae it was a trouble free last eight round; all three recorded straight games victories.

Isabelle Li beat Egypt’s Nadeen Eldwalrtly, Bernadette Szocs ended the hopes of Sweden’s Kristina Zetterstrom and Bang Ji Ae accounted for Katsiaryna Baravok of Belarus.

Articol publicat de Ian Marshall pe pagina oficiala a Federatiei Internationale de Tenis de Masa, www.ittf.com.