Sajad Ali picked up a good 3-2 win but was unable to get past the group stage at the Slovenia Junior & Cadet Open.
The London Academy player came from 2-1 down to shade a close match against Hungary’s Bontond Varga 11-9 in the fifth in the group stage of the Cadet Boys’ Singles, but defeats to Czech and Slovenian opponents meant he was unable to qualify. He also went out at the same stage of the Junior Boys’ Singles.
Ali partnered Atai Kasymov of Kyrgyzstan in the boys’ doubles in both the Cadet and Junior age groups, as well as in the Cadet Boys’ Team event. They were eliminated at the first hurdle – the round of 32 – in both doubles events and were beaten by Romania and South Korea in the group stage of the team competition.
Results
Cadet Boys’ Singles
Group 16
Sajad Ali bt Botond Varga (HUN) 3-2 (11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9)
Daniel Kostal (CZE) bt Ali 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-7)
Tomi Pugliese Stuva (SLO) bt Ali 3-0 (11-5, 11-5, 11-9)
Cadet Boys’ Doubles
Round of 32
Luka Jokic & Bor Klesnik (SLO) bt Sajad Ali (ENG) & Atai Kasymov (KGZ) 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-6)
Junior Boys’ Singles
Group 12
Borna Petek (CRO) bt Sajad Ali 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-3)
Andrei Istrate (ROU) bt Ali 3-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-3)
Kwon Hyuk (KOR) bt Ali 3-0 (11-7, 11-5, 11-4)
Junior Boys’ Doubles
Round of 32
Kim Byeonghun & Kim Yoseph (KOR) bt Sajad Ali (ENG) & Atai Kasymov (KGZ) 3-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-3)
Cadet Boys’ Team
Group 4
Romania 3 England/Kyrgyzstan 0
Dragos Bujor bt Atai Kasymov 3-0 (11-2, 11-6, 11-3)
Luca Oprea bt Sajad Ali 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-7)
Bujor & Oprea bt Kasymov & Ali 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-7)
South Korea 3 England/Kyrgyzstan 0
Lee Jungmok bt Kasymov 3-0 (11-1, 11-3, 11-3)
Kwon Hyuk bt Ali 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-5)
Lee & Kwon bt Kasymov & Ali 3-0 (11-2, 11-8, 11-2)