VietNamNet Bridge – Japanese teenager Narumoto Ayami brushed aside South Korea's Park Cha-ra with a brilliant performance in the women's singles final of the Golden Racket International Table Tennis Tournament on Saturday at Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium, HCM City.

The diminutive 17-year-old beat the taller and older Park 11-4, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6 to win Japan's second gold medal of the tournament.

"The final was not as tough as I expected and I was in control all the time," Ayami said, adding that she would study at university next year but will still keep playing table tennis in the hope of playing at bigger competitions.

Japan's other gold medal was in the women's team competition after they thrashed the HCM City team 3-0 in the final.

Japanese players also won one silver and one bronze in the men's singles and one bronze in the women's singles competitions respectively.

"We have clubs where talented players have been selected from a very young age, some as young as seven years old," said Japan's national team head coach Kawano Masakazu. "Young players frequently play in the competitions held by the clubs and they are also exposed to international events. Classes are also opened regularly to improve the skills and knowledge of players and coaches at all levels."

South Korea also enjoyed success at the tournament with two gold medals in the men's singles competition - won by Lee Kwon-jin - and the men's team competition.

Singapore won two silvers, one in the men's team competition and the other in the men's singles event.

Vietnamese players won two medals at the competition. HCM City's women came second in the team competition and Tran Tuan Quynh of Ha Noi won a bronze when he shared third place with a Singaporean opponent.

VietNamNet/VNS