Ruby Chan had a 100% record as she and India’s Ananya Chande won the Cadet Girls’ Team gold at the Ghana Junior & Cadet Open.
The pair started with a walkover win and then qualified for the semi-finals by defeating Ghana 3-0. It was the same score against DR Congo in the semi-finals to set up a final against Nigeria.
And although Chande lost the opening match to Sukurat Aiyelbegan, Chan levelled the score in a deciding fifth set against Sadiat Alimat Akeem.
They combined to win the doubles and Chan then sealed the gold medal with a 3-0 victory over Aiyelbegan.
James Smith is the only other English player competing in Accra and he teamed up with Alfredo Sanchez of Costa Rica in the Junior Boys’ Team event.
They qualified for the semi-finals with group victories over Ghana III and DR Congo II, with Smith unbeaten, but lost their final group match 3-0 to eventual champions Nigeria and were then beaten 3-1 by DR Congo in the semi-finals.
Both Chan and Smith will also play the singles and doubles competitions – the latter alongside their respective team partners.
Results
Junior Boys’ Team
Group 2
England-Costa Rica 3 Ghana III 1
James Smith bt Benjamin Ofori 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8)
Desmond Osei bt Alfredo Sanchez 3-2 (11-8, 11-6, 11-13, 11-13, 11-9)
Smith & Sanchez bt Ofori & Osei 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-7)
Smith bt Osei 3-1 (11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9)
England-Costa Rica 3 DR Congo II 0
Sanchez bt Bongo 3-1 (11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2)
Smith bt Josue Olenga 3-0 (11-6, 11-9, 12-10)
Smith & Sanchez bt Bongo & Olenga 3-0 (11-9, 11-5, 11-9)
Nigeria 3 England-Costa Rica 0
Azeez Solanke bt Smith 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-7)
Emmanuel Augustine bt Sanchez 3-0 (13-11, 11-7, 11-7)
Augustine & Abayomi Animasahun bt Smith & Sanchez 3-0 (13-11, 11-9, 11-9)
Semi-finals
DR Congo 3 England-Costa Rica 1
Sanchez bt Christian Mbongia 3-2 (11-6, 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9)
Exauce Ngefuassa bt Smith 3-1 (11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5)
Mbongia & Ngefuassa bt Smith & Sanchez 3-1 (9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4)
Mbongia bt Smith 3-0 (11-7, 11-7, 11-3)
Cadet Girls’ Team
Group 1
England-India 3 Ghana III 0 (w/o)
England-India 3 Ghana 0
Ananya Chande bt Diana Ekua Opoku 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-3)
Ruby Chan bt Judith Acheampong 3-0 (11-3, 13-11, 11-5)
Chan & Chande bt Opoku & Acheampong 3-0 (12-10, 12-10, 11-7)
Semi-finals
England-India 3 DR Congo 0
Chande bt Lily Dinanga 3-0 (11-1, 11-8, 11-5)
Chan bt Julie Kayembe 3-0 (11-3, 11-1, 11-8)
Chan & Chande bt Dinanga & Kayembe 3-0 (11-3, 11-1, 11-6)
Final
England-India 3 Nigeria 1
Sukurat Aiyelbegan bt Chande 3-1 (11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7)
Chan bt Sadiat Alimat Akeem 3-2 (11-7, 10-12, 13-15, 11-6, 11-4)
Chan & Chande bt Aiyelbegan & Akeem 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8)
Chan bt Aiyelbegan 3-0 (13-11, 11-5, 11-9)