SWEDISH INT’L – World Junior Champion takes first Challenge

World Junior Champion Kento Momota of Japan took his second title in a row in Europe, making the Swedish International Challenge the biggest title of his career so far on the junior stage.  Not only did he have to go three games to take the final from Dutch veteran Eric Pang, but Momota had already taken care of home favourite and European Championship runner-up Henri Hurskainen in the early rounds.

Spain’s Carolina Marin is a long way from the 4th spot at which she wrapped up her best ever year on the European circuit, in 2011, but she is still 5th among Europeans in the world women’s singles rankings and she played as the top seed, too, beating Swiss challenger Nicole Schaller in two quick games to take the title.

The Netherlands were up for all 3 doubles titles, in addition to Pang’s singles bid, and although Jelle Maas and Iris Tabeling failed together, allowing Germany its only title, in the mixed doubles, they triumphed apart, with their respective doubles partners.  Tabeling and Selena Piek, in particular, rose to the challenge of silencing home favourites Emelie Lennartsson / Emma Wengberg in the final match of the day.

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