Young Paddlers Win Big In Sweden

2020 ITTF World Junior Circuit Swedish Junior and Cadet Open, Safir International Tournament

From left, Ser Lin Qian, Izaac Quek Yong and Nicholas Chong Xin Le

At just 13 years old, Izaac Quek Yong has won his first gold medal at the Cadet Boys’ Singles event in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Junior Circuit, Swedish Junior and Cadet Open.

The top seed, listed third place on the current under-15 Cadet Boys’ world ranking, punched above his weight in the Cadet Boys’ Singles matches on 23 February 2020. Without conceding a single match, he took on Sohan Gilles of France (11-3, 11-5, 11-6), Conor Green of England (12-10, 11-5, 14-12) and Oscar Birriel (11-8, 11-9, 11-6) Puerto Rico, before continuing his outstanding form to beat Simeon Martin of Canada in the finals. Izaac ended the day with a convincing win of 11-8, 11-9, 11-8. Izaac has also bagged two bronzes in the Junior Boys’ Singles and Doubles event with Nicholas Chong Xin Le, while Jayden Tan Kai Yang came in third at the Mini-Cadet Boys’ Singles.

“I’m very happy, this is my first victory on the ITTF World Junior Circuit. It was difficult to win and I had to work hard but I won all matches 3-0 in games. I have improved a lot lately and in this tournament, my forehand drive was much better. I practise five hours a day six days a week.” said 13-year-old Izaac.

The girls produced equally stunning results. Ser Lin Qian impressed with a Junior Girls’ Singles silver, while Zhou Jingyi brought home a bronze from the Cadet Girls' Singles match.

At the Safir International Tournament, Izaac, Koh Junhao and Jingyi also put up a strong showing with a gold and bronze from Izaac in the Under 14 and Under 16 Boys’ Singles events respectively, a gold from Jingyi in the Under 16 Girls’ Singles event, and a bronze from Junhao in the Under 14 Boys’ Singles event.

RESULTS

2020 World Junior Circuit, Swedish Junior and Cadet Open

Cadet Boys' Singles

1st – Izaac Quek Yong

Cadet Girls' Singles

3rd – Zhou Jingyi

Junior Boys’ Singles

3rd – Izaac Quek Yong

Junior Girls’ Singles

2nd – Ser Lin Qian

Junior Boys' Doubles

3rd – Izaac Quek Yong and Nicholas Chong Xin Le

Mini-Cadet Boys’ Singles

3rd – Jayden Tan Kai Yang

Safir International Tournament

Under 14 Boys’ Singles

1st – Izaac Quek Yong

3rd – Koh Junhao

Under 16 Girls’ Singles

1st – Zhou Jingyi

Under 16 Boys’ Singles

3rd – Izaac Quek Yong