The Indian boys defeated Japan for the second time and finished fifth in the Asia-Oceania world junior under-14 tennis tournament on Saturday.
India improved on its league performance by winning the doubles as well in the match for the fifth spot. Actually, the Japanese made a request to have the doubles rubber despite the singles matches proving decisive. It was, however, a missed opportunity for the host as the players had the potential to figure in the top four and qualify for the WJT final to be staged in Prostejov, Czech Republic, in August.
Captain Vishaal Uppal said it was one spell of bad tennis, against New Zealand, that cost the team a qualification spot and a better placing.
Taipei triumphsMeanwhile, in the final, Chinese Taipei’s strike force proved its superiority against New Zealand though the Kiwis made a spectacular fight.
Finn Reynolds, in particular, was very impressive as he handled the power-game and sizzling serves of Chen-Jui Ho to take the issue to a third set. However, Ho won the decider 6-0.
The Director General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Jiji Thomson, congratulated the finalists for the high quality tennis before presenting the prizes to the top four teams which secured their place in the WJT final.
The results: Final:Chinese Taipei bt New Zealand 2-0 (Yu-Hsiang Su bt Macsen Sisam 6-3, 5-7, 6-2; Chen-Jui Ho bt Finn Reynolds 6-1, 4-6, 6-0).
Third place:Korea bt Thailand 2-0 (Park Uisung bt Saranpahon Siriwanichkul 6-1, 6-1; Han Seonyong bt Tonkla Mulada 6-2, 1-6, 6-1).
Fifth place:India bt Japan 3-0 (Adil Kalyanpur bt Kai Kawano 6-1, 4-6, 6-1; Siddhant Banthia bt Naoki Tajima 6-4, 6-3; Adil Kalyanpur & Vikash Singh bt Kazuma Aoki & Kai Kawano 6-3, 6-3).
Final placings: 1. Chinese Taipei, 2. New Zealand, 3. Korea, 4. Thailand, 5. India, 6. Japan, 7. Australia, 8. Indonesia, 9. China, 10. Malaysia, 11. Hong Kong, 12. Kazakhstan, 13. Lebanon, 14. Turkmenistan, 15. Singapore, 16. Uzbekistan.
