Gold for Görkem and silver for Josi in Turkey
At the WTT Youth Contender Antalya, which was held in Turkey from 16 to 19 January, compass player Görkem Öcal won gold in the U15 mixed doubles and compass player Josi Neumann reached the finals in the U17 and U19 age groups. Josi faced the child prodigy Hana Goda from Egypt in both finals, which was too big a task for her. No wonder – although Goda is only 16 years old, she is already ranked 29th in the world – in the women’s category!
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Josi Neumann made it from the group stage to the knockout phase in the singles event in both the U17 and U19 age group. In the U17 knockout phase, she easily defeated Aylin Asgarova from Azerbaijan, but had some problems with Sidelya Mutlu from Bulgaria in the quarter-finals. Josi was already 2:0 down before winning the last three games 11:7, 11:9 and 11:4.
Josi defeated Loy Ming Ying from Singapore 3:1 in the semi-final, but Hana Goda was simply too strong in the final – 6:11, 6:11, 4:11. Nevertheless, it was an impressive performance. Josi Neumann was born in 2010, four years younger than Goda.
“Yes,” comments compass expert coach Evelyn Simon. “Josi and Hana Goda were the two best players in this tournament and it was a good experience for Josi to play these two matches against Hana. It was also a good opportunity for Josi to play in Antalya. And now it’s back home to focus more on training.”
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Josi Neumann, left, with Hana Goda, number 29 in the women's world rankings, at the award ceremony. Photo: WTT
Strong victory over Lai
In the U19 singles, Josi defeated Chloe Lai from Singapore (3:1) and Viktoria Persova from Bulgaria 3:0 before facing Hana Goda again. This time, Josi managed to take a set in her favour.
Josi also took part in the U19 mixed, where she and her partner Giacomo Izzo reached the top 8 after losing to a pair from the host country.
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U15 mixed final. Görkem Öcal and his left-handed partner Elif Akyurek, above, defeated Lilly Vandenbulcke and Manoe Jasinski from Belgium. Photo: WTT
Görkem wins mixed
Turkey’s Görkem Öcal won the mixed event in the U15 age group together with his compatriot Elif Akyurek. The pair defeated Utku Kirbac/Esila Yalcin 3:0 in the quarter-finals, while Khadeeja Elhakim/Kyrylo Spyrydonov from Egypt and Ukraine had no chance in the semi-finals, losing their matches in straight games. In the final, Görkem and Elif won 3:1 against the Belgian pairing of Lilly Vandenbulcke/Manoe Jasinski – 8:11, 14:12, 11:8, 11:7.
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Görkem Öcal goes for a strong backhand. Photo: WTT
In the singles competition, Görkem made it through to the round of 16 in the U17 age group. In the U15 age group, he beat Noah Genart from Belgium and Parham Golestani from Iran before losing 3:2 to his compatriot Berk Oztorak in the semi-finals. Görkem led 2:1, but lost the last two sets 5:11 and 8:11.
compass player Alexander Malov also took part in Antalya. He did not make it past the group stage in the U15 event and lost to Faraz Shakiba in the first round of the knockout phase in the U13 event without winning a set.
All results and information under the following links:
Gold for Görkem and silver for Josi in Turkey
Gold for Görkem and silver for Josi in Turkey
At the WTT Youth Contender Antalya, which was held in Turkey from 16 to 19 January, compass player Görkem Öcal won gold in the U15 mixed doubles and compass player Josi Neumann reached the finals in the U17 and U19 age groups. Josi faced the child prodigy Hana Goda from Egypt in both finals, which was too big a task for her. No wonder – although Goda is only 16 years old, she is already ranked 29th in the world – in the women’s category!
none
Josi Neumann made it from the group stage to the knockout phase in the singles event in both the U17 and U19 age group. In the U17 knockout phase, she easily defeated Aylin Asgarova from Azerbaijan, but had some problems with Sidelya Mutlu from Bulgaria in the quarter-finals. Josi was already 2:0 down before winning the last three games 11:7, 11:9 and 11:4.
Josi defeated Loy Ming Ying from Singapore 3:1 in the semi-final, but Hana Goda was simply too strong in the final – 6:11, 6:11, 4:11. Nevertheless, it was an impressive performance. Josi Neumann was born in 2010, four years younger than Goda.
“Yes,” comments compass expert coach Evelyn Simon. “Josi and Hana Goda were the two best players in this tournament and it was a good experience for Josi to play these two matches against Hana. It was also a good opportunity for Josi to play in Antalya. And now it’s back home to focus more on training.”
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Josi Neumann, left, with Hana Goda, number 29 in the women's world rankings, at the award ceremony. Photo: WTT
Strong victory over Lai
In the U19 singles, Josi defeated Chloe Lai from Singapore (3:1) and Viktoria Persova from Bulgaria 3:0 before facing Hana Goda again. This time, Josi managed to take a set in her favour.
Josi also took part in the U19 mixed, where she and her partner Giacomo Izzo reached the top 8 after losing to a pair from the host country.
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U15 mixed final. Görkem Öcal and his left-handed partner Elif Akyurek, above, defeated Lilly Vandenbulcke and Manoe Jasinski from Belgium. Photo: WTT
Görkem wins mixed
Turkey’s Görkem Öcal won the mixed event in the U15 age group together with his compatriot Elif Akyurek. The pair defeated Utku Kirbac/Esila Yalcin 3:0 in the quarter-finals, while Khadeeja Elhakim/Kyrylo Spyrydonov from Egypt and Ukraine had no chance in the semi-finals, losing their matches in straight games. In the final, Görkem and Elif won 3:1 against the Belgian pairing of Lilly Vandenbulcke/Manoe Jasinski – 8:11, 14:12, 11:8, 11:7.
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Görkem Öcal goes for a strong backhand. Photo: WTT
In the singles competition, Görkem made it through to the round of 16 in the U17 age group. In the U15 age group, he beat Noah Genart from Belgium and Parham Golestani from Iran before losing 3:2 to his compatriot Berk Oztorak in the semi-finals. Görkem led 2:1, but lost the last two sets 5:11 and 8:11.
compass player Alexander Malov also took part in Antalya. He did not make it past the group stage in the U15 event and lost to Faraz Shakiba in the first round of the knockout phase in the U13 event without winning a set.
All results and information under the following links:
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