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Kenta Matsudaira moving one step nearer gold in the Cairo International Stadium

12/17/2006
Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira won the Boys’ Singles title at the 4th ITTF World Junior Championships in Cairo on Sunday 17th December 2006, beating China’s Xu Ke in a final between two players who are still young enough to compete in the cadet age group category.

Kenta Matsudaira is fifteen years old, whilst Xu Ke is fourteen; incredibly, in a tournament for players under the age of eighteen two cadets contested the gold medal.

It was a contest full of exciting topspin rallies with Kenta Matsudaira winning 11-5, 10-12, 11-9, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9.


Crucial
Undoubtedly the crucial stage of the proceedings was the fifth game.

Kenta Matsudaira had game points at 11-10 and 12-11; on the latter he succeeded and had a stroke of fortune but that’s sport. A return from the Japanese teenager clipped the top of the net, Xu Ke returned but high and Kenta Matsudaira drilled a forehand topspin past his adversary. Kenta Matsudaira, to his credit and true to his character, raised his arm in apology.

Locked
One game away from victory, the two players were locked together at 8-all, then at 9-all, then it was match point to Kenta Matsudaira and he was serving.

Xu Ke is a brave young man, he moved quickly, he looked for a forehand topspin, he missed the ball completely. Kenta Matsudaira raised both arms in triumph.

Fantastic
“It was a fantastic performance, it’s hard to find words to describe how well he played”, said an emotional Japanese coach, Mazakazu Kawano. “He played his best, his very best.” Mazakazu Kawano was delighted, it was arguably his finest hour as a coach. “Kenta kept such a good mental level today”, he continued. “His win is very special.”

It was a very special performance; “I can’t compare the way he played with anyone else, he was just tremendous”, continued Mazakau Kawano. “Hidetoshi Oya and Taku Takakiwa made errors returning service against the Chinese; that was Kenta’s strength, he returned service incredibly well; that was the key to his victory.”

Better Feeling
Yet again, service and return of service was highlighted as the key feature of the match and for Japan it was a much better feeling leaving the Cairo International Stadium than it had been a year ago in Linz.

“Last year Jun Mizutani reached the final and he lost to Patrick Baum”, continued Mazakazu Kawano. “Kenta winning today, it more than makes up for that loss, I’m so excited, it’s fantastic, absolutely fantastic.”


Thrilling End
It was a thrilling end to the 4th ITTF World Junior Championships and the most placid man in the hall; that was Kenta Matsudaira. He seemed bemused and wondered what all the fuss was about; all he had done was win a table tennis match.

May I just remind him that the match he had won had made him the World Junior champion!

Calm
Perhaps, that’s why he does so well; he doesn’t let his emotions run wild. He maintains control, he doesn’t panic.

“Saving four match points against Dimitrij Ovtcharov really boosted my confidence”, said Kenta Matsudaira. “Before the final I felt confident and winning the fifth game was crucial.”

Positive
Earlier in the year he had reached the final of the Boys’ Singles event at the ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals in Vrsac and lost. “Yes I was really disappointed to lose then”, said Kenta Matsudaira, who would seem to have learnt from that experience. “I decided today to be really positive not passive”, he added. “I don’t know what to think I feel fantastic.”

Podium
The four medallists stood on the podium, the Japanese national anthem played and Dimitrij Ovtcharov looked in wonder thinking of the four match points he’s surrendered the semi-finals.

No doubt he was thinking, the anthem should have been `Deutschland Deutschland Uber Alles’.

It wasn’t, it was Japan’s day; Kenta Matsudaira, winner of the Boys’ Singles title at the ITTF World Cadet Challenge in 2005 was the World Junior Boys’ Singles champion 2006.

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Ich dachte anfangs, dass damit angedeutet werden sollte, dass die Japaner ihre Ausbildung in Deutschland bekommen, aber das ist wohl falsch.