Two Top-4 Finishes for Görkem at Youth Star Contender Doha
compass-supported Görkem Öcal of Turkiye finished in the top four twice at the first WTT Youth Star Contender of 2026, which took place in Doha, Qatar from 23rd to 25th January. Taavi Samaraweera, a ten-year-old compass summer camp participant from Sri Lanka, made it to the semi-final of the U15 doubles event.
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Görkem Öcal hits a forehand smash in Doha. Photo: WTT Global
In the U19 event, Görkem, aged 14, came second in his group and qualified for the play-off stage. In the round of the last 16, he was defeated by Benyamin Faraji of Iran, losing 1:3 (7:11, 11:9, 5:11, 4:11). Faraji went on to win the whole tournament.
Görkem was number one in his group in the U15 category. In the play-offs, he beat Abdulrahman Al Taher of Kazakhstan and Lai Yong Ren of Malaysia 3:2, having been 0:2 down in games, before finally winning the decider 12:10. Görkem lost to Ma Yeongmin of the Republic of Korea in the semifinal, in straight games – 9:11, 7:11, 4:11.
Also advances to doubles semifinals
In the U19 boys’ doubles event, Görkem and his compatriot Kenan Kahraman reached the semifinals. There, they were defeated by Benyamin Faraji (Iran) and Lee Seung Soo (Korea Republic) in a five-game match, losing the decider 11:13.
Finally, in the U15 mixed doubles event, Görkem and his partner Ela Yonter made it to the last 16, where they lost to Lam Sheung Man and Yeung Yee Lam of Hong Kong in a deciding game, losing 9:11.
It is also worth mentioning ten-year-old Taavi Samaraweera from Sri Lanka, who participated in the compass Summer Camp in Eslöv in August 2025. He achieved a notable result by reaching the semifinal of the U15 doubles event, partnering with Koh Wei Yeow from Malaysia.
Youth Contender at the same venue in the same week
Before the Youth Star Contender, a Youth Contender event was held in Doha from 19th to 22nd January.
In the U19 main event of this tournament, Görkem won two matches before losing in the quarterfinals to Hung Che-Yen of Chinese Taipei, with a final score of 1:3 (11:8, 9:11, 2:11, 4:11).
In the U17 playoffs, Görkem won two matches, against Rakan Al-Zoubi of Jordan 3:0 and Kanggeon Choi of Korea Republic 3:1, before losing in the quarter-finals to Hong Kong’s Li Ki Ho in straight games.
Görkem also reached the top 8 in the U15 mixed doubles, pairing with compatriot Ela Yonter. The Turkish pair won one match before losing to Lai Yong Ren and Amelie Jia of Malaysia and Germany in the quarterfinals.
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Taavi Samaraweera (left) and Ryan Almjanoomi on the award ceremony in Doha. Photo: WTT
Taavi won U11 event
More information and all results can be found at:
Two Top-4 Finishes for Görkem at Youth Star Contender Doha
Two Top-4 Finishes for Görkem at Youth Star Contender Doha
compass-supported Görkem Öcal of Turkiye finished in the top four twice at the first WTT Youth Star Contender of 2026, which took place in Doha, Qatar from 23rd to 25th January. Taavi Samaraweera, a ten-year-old compass summer camp participant from Sri Lanka, made it to the semi-final of the U15 doubles event.
none
Görkem Öcal hits a forehand smash in Doha. Photo: WTT Global
In the U19 event, Görkem, aged 14, came second in his group and qualified for the play-off stage. In the round of the last 16, he was defeated by Benyamin Faraji of Iran, losing 1:3 (7:11, 11:9, 5:11, 4:11). Faraji went on to win the whole tournament.
Görkem was number one in his group in the U15 category. In the play-offs, he beat Abdulrahman Al Taher of Kazakhstan and Lai Yong Ren of Malaysia 3:2, having been 0:2 down in games, before finally winning the decider 12:10. Görkem lost to Ma Yeongmin of the Republic of Korea in the semifinal, in straight games – 9:11, 7:11, 4:11.
Also advances to doubles semifinals
In the U19 boys’ doubles event, Görkem and his compatriot Kenan Kahraman reached the semifinals. There, they were defeated by Benyamin Faraji (Iran) and Lee Seung Soo (Korea Republic) in a five-game match, losing the decider 11:13.
Finally, in the U15 mixed doubles event, Görkem and his partner Ela Yonter made it to the last 16, where they lost to Lam Sheung Man and Yeung Yee Lam of Hong Kong in a deciding game, losing 9:11.
It is also worth mentioning ten-year-old Taavi Samaraweera from Sri Lanka, who participated in the compass Summer Camp in Eslöv in August 2025. He achieved a notable result by reaching the semifinal of the U15 doubles event, partnering with Koh Wei Yeow from Malaysia.
Youth Contender at the same venue in the same week
Before the Youth Star Contender, a Youth Contender event was held in Doha from 19th to 22nd January.
In the U19 main event of this tournament, Görkem won two matches before losing in the quarterfinals to Hung Che-Yen of Chinese Taipei, with a final score of 1:3 (11:8, 9:11, 2:11, 4:11).
In the U17 playoffs, Görkem won two matches, against Rakan Al-Zoubi of Jordan 3:0 and Kanggeon Choi of Korea Republic 3:1, before losing in the quarter-finals to Hong Kong’s Li Ki Ho in straight games.
Görkem also reached the top 8 in the U15 mixed doubles, pairing with compatriot Ela Yonter. The Turkish pair won one match before losing to Lai Yong Ren and Amelie Jia of Malaysia and Germany in the quarterfinals.
none
Taavi Samaraweera (left) and Ryan Almjanoomi on the award ceremony in Doha. Photo: WTT
Taavi won U11 event
More information and all results can be found at:
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