Jayden Chen came so close to securing some silverware in the Under-11 Boys’ Singles out in Portugal, while Joseph Hunter and Kai Lun Chow also tested themselves at the WTT Youth Contender Vila Real.

Joseph Hunter, a silver medallist in the men’s doubles from last year’s Mark Bates Ltd National Championships, was taking part in the Under-19 Boys’ Singles event. Having been drawn in qualifying group 2 alongside France’s Flavio Mourier and Argentina’s Nicolas Callaba, it was going to be a tough ask to progress. Despite two sterling performances, Hunter wasn’t able to take the win against either opponent, losing 3-1 to Mourier and narrowly missing out on an incredible comeback to lose to Callaba, 3-2.

In the Under-15 Boys’ Singles event, Kai Lun Chow took an opening match walkover win over Alexander Malov of Spain, before going onto progress to the knockout stages after a strong 3-0 win over Jose Ruivo of Portugal. In the Round of 16, Chow took on Kevin Ahlers of the Netherlands in a back and forth matchup. Despite going 2-1 up in the third 16-14, Ahlers proved too strong, and won the remaining games to come out on top 3-2.

The Under-13 Boys’ Singles featured both Kai Lun Chow and Jayden Chen. Chow took 3-0 wins in all three of his group stage matches over Angel Melendez of Spain and Portugal’s Joao Seramota and Martim Silva. Chen had a tougher time progressing, after an early 3-0 defeat to Alexander Malov of Spain, but managed to secure a spot in the knockouts after seeing off Santiago Diao of Portugal 3-1.

In the Round of 16, Chow continued his top performances with another clean sweep win over Spain’s Antonio Ruiz, while Chen persevered with a close 3-2 victory over home player Francisco Romualdo. In the Quarter-final, Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindira ended Chow’s winning streak, taking the fifth and deciding game 11-9 to hand Chow a 3-2 loss. Chen, on the other hand, pressed on and defeated Rodrigo Lourenco 3-0 to progress to the semi-finals.

At this stage of the event, Chen had the opportunity to avenge his compatriot, as he then took on Joseph Sebatindira. Unfortunately, the Ugandan proved too strong, and moved onto the final after winning all three games in succession. Sebatindira went onto win the Under-13 Boys’ event.

Jayden Chen put on a fantastic display in the Under-11 Boys’ Singles, eventually finishing runner up. In the Group stages, Jayden Chen whittled down all three of his opponents with a 3-0 win over Spain’s Antonio Ruiz, and 3-1 wins over Portuguese athletes Junior Aruna and Joao Carneiro. He then progressed by seeing off two Portuguese opponents in Francisco Romualdo (3-0) in the quarter-final, followed by Vincente Cardodo (3-1) in the semi-final. Here he faced familiar counterpart, Joseph Sepatindira, who once again beat Chen 3-0, to win his second title of the weekend.

Results

U19 Boys’ Singles
Group 2
Flavio Mourier (FRA) bt Joseph Hunter 3-1 (11-8, 13-15, 11-6, 11-9)
Nicolas Callaba (ARG) bt Joseph Hunter 3-2 (11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 10-12, 11-8)

U15 Boys’ Singles
Group 1
Kai Lun Chow bt Alexander Malov (ESP) 3-0 (walkover, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0)
Kai Lun Chow bt Jose Ruivo (POR) 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-5)

Round of 16
Kevin Ahlers (NED) bt Kai Lun Chow 3-2 (6-11, 11-7, 14-16, 11-9, 11-8)

U13 Boys’ Singles
Group 1
Alexander Malov (ESP) bt Jayden Chen 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 11-4)
Jayden Chen bt Santiago Diao (POR) 3-1 (7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 14-12)
Group 7
Kai Lun Chow bt Angel Melendez (PRI) 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-8)
Kai Lun Chow bt Joao Seramota (POR) 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-6)
Kai Lun Chow bt Martim Silva (POR) 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-4)

Round of 16
Jayden Chen bt Francisco Romualdo (POR) 3-2 (9-11, 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 11-6)
Kai Lun Chow bt Antonio Ruiz (ESP) 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-2)

Quarter-finals
Jayden Chen bt Rodrigo Lourenco (POR) 3-0 (11-7, 16-14, 11-8)
Joseph Sebatindira (UGA) bt Kai Lun Chow 3-2 (5-11, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9)

Semi-finals
Joseph Sebatindira (UGA) bt Jayden Chen 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-4)

U11 Boys’ Singles
Group 3
Jayden Chen bt Antonio Ruiz (ESP) 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-9)
Jayden Chen bt Junior Aruna (POR) 3-1 (11-4, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4)
Jayden Chen bt Joao Carneiro (POR) 3-1 (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-4)

Quarter-finals
Jayden Chen bt Francisco Romualdo (POR) 3-0 (11-8, 14-12, 11-7)

Semi-finals
Jayden Chen bt Vincente Cardoso (POR) 3-1 (11-6, 6-11, 11-3, 11-9)

Final
Joseph Sebatindira (UGA) bt Jayden Chen 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-8)