Russia’s Kirill Skachkov and Romania’s Elizabeta Samara won the Under 21 Men’s and Under 21 Women’s Singles titles at the Polish Open in Warsaw on Saturday 29th November 2008.

At the final hurdle Skachkov beat Ukraine’s Yaroslav Zhmudenko, whilst Elizabeta Samara defeated Germany’s Zhenqi Barthel.

Kirill Skachkov won 11-7, 12-10, 15-13, 3-11, 11-6 whilst Elizabeta Samara prevailed in even more impressive style; she won 11-4, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4.

Second Titles
It was for both their second ITTF Pro Tour Under 21 titles of the year.

Kirill Skachkov succeeded at the Erke Qatar Open in March whilst Elizabeta Samara won in Korea on the very last day of May.


Top Seed
Seeded no.1 Kirill Skachkov beat Croatia’s Borna Kovac, compatriot Mikhail Paykov and Serbia’s Zsolt Pete to reach the semi-final stage where he accounted for the Czech Republic’s Lubomir Jancarik before overcoming Zhmudenko.

Only on one occasion was Skachkov extended the full seven games; that was by Paykov in the second round.

Path to Gold
Meanwhile, Elizabeta Samara, seeded no.2, accounted for Alena Dubkova of Belarus, Russia’s Elena Troshneva and Maria Zelenova before beating Japan’s Yuka Ishigaki in the semi-finals, the player she had overcome in the final in Korea.

Top Seed Falls
Success for Samara but disappointment for top seed, Singapore’s Yu Meng Yu; she suffered a second round defeat at the hands of Turkey’s Ildiz Meral Ali who then experienced semi-final sadness.

She was beaten in four straight games by Zhenqi Barthel.

Articol publicat de Ian Marshall pe www.ittf.com