New Delhi, April 24: In the four team competitions at the 2017 ITTF Belgium Junior and Cadet Open, which concluded yesterday, the Indian paddlers captured the Junior Girls' and Cadet Girls' team. The group stage of the Junior Girls’ Team competition featured four groups of three teams, and the top seeds India were drawn into Group A alongside France and a mixed nationality team of Argentine, Swedish and Thai competitors.

Heading into the day’s action the top two seeds were the favourites to reach the final with both India and Belgium having booked their places in the semi-finals.  

India took on Amy Wang of the USA who put in a terrific performance for the mixed nationality team as she picked up a brace of wins in the final, but with England’s Denise Payet losing out to Archana Kamath (8-11, 3-11, 9-11) and Moumita Dutta (7-11, 6-11, 6-11) alongside a defeat for Croatia’s Marta Vukelic against Priyanka Pareek (8-11, 7-11, 7-11) the title went to India by 3-1 verdict.

Victory for India in the Junior Girls’ Team tournament was matched in the Cadet Girls’ Team draw as the squad of Diya Chitale and Anusha Kutumbale produced a 3-1 upset against Hungary ‘A’, while Ireland’s Owen Cathcart and Norway’s Borgar Haug claimed the Cadet Boys’ Team crown with a 3-2 triumph over Belgium ‘A’.

Archana Kamath led India to a strong opening in the group as her brace of victories against France’s Aline Rocher (11-6, 11-5, 5-11, 12-10) and Juliette Gasquez (11-8, 11-6, 11-8) helped the group favourites to a three-one win.

India then picked up a second win with Archana Girish Kamath, Moumita Dutta and Priyanka Pareek overpowering opponents Camila Kaizoji of Argentina (11-5, 12-10, 11-3), Thailand’s Monapsorn Saritapirak (9-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8) and Tova Zarins of Sweden (11-8, 11-7, 11-8) to claim top spot in Group A and set up a meeting in the last four with Norway, who emerged as Group D winners.

Group A victors in the Junior Girls’ Team category, and in a similar fashion India also achieved the same feat in the Junior Boys’ Team event with three-nil triumphs against Spain and Norway sealing a place in the semi-finals.

However, the identity of India’s semi-final opponents would be decided in a thrilling Group C finale as Russia held off the challenge of the mixed team of Lithuania and Dominican Republic.

Despite a brave showing from Lithuania’s Medardas Stankevicius, who registered two wins for his team, victories over Rimas Lesiv for Anton Kotov (9-11, 13-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8) and Ilya Isakov (11-4, 6-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5), and a positive result for Pavel Linov against Pedro Cabrera of the Dominican Republic (11-4, 11-4, 11-6) set up a last four encounter with India.

Diya finishes with silver

The Cadet Girls’ Singles final featured the top seed taking on the third seed as Amy Wang of the USA went up against India’s Diya Parag Chitale in the battle for the trophy. Diya endured a tough path to the final and headed into the title decider having dropped five games across her three previous matches in the category, Amy Wang on the other hand had been in terrific form losing just the one game in the main draw which came about in her semi-finals encounter.

Yet, despite Amy Wang arguably being heralded as the slight favourite to prevail it was Diya Parag Chitale who made the brighter start to the final as the Indian star claimed the opening end.

However, Amy Wang stepped up her performance and with the next three consecutive games going in her favour the USA representative secured the silverware (8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8).