La Hunn Lam readies for the return during practice before a game at the 2023 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in Lautoka, Fiji.
THE NMI’s La Hunn Lam won the Boys Singles 14 event of the 2023 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships Tuesday in Lautoka, Fiji.
In the first set of his title match against Guam’s Junhyuk Seo, Lam played aggressively and crushed his opponent, 6-1.
In the second set, Lam continued to apply pressure, but Seo managed to break through to win one game. However, Seo suffered an injury and was forced to retire early, handing victory to Lam who was ahead 4-1.
“It was a great experience for me,” Lam said. “It’s always exciting and challenging to play against good players who are from other countries. I am happy that I played good. My game feels a lot stronger than last year, and I will work hard and win next year too.”
For Lam, Tahiti’s Toanui Lee-Tham, who is a good friend of his, was his toughest opponent.
In their semifinal match on Sunday, Lam had already secured the first set, 6-2, and was leading the second set as well, 5-2, when he popped his ankle.
A physical therapist advised him to retire. “I was shocked,” Lam said. “My ankle was painful, but I couldn’t give up. I just needed one more game to win the match, so I decided to go on. I am proud of myself for making it in the end,” he added. He won the second set, 6-2.
When asked what’s next for him, Lam said: “I will go back to Saipan and train with coach Jeff, Colin and the other NMI players. I will keep trying to be a better player.”
Third place
For his part, the NMI’s Nasson Wessel finished third in the Boys Singles 14 event after defeating Tahiti’s Toanui Lee Tham in a three-set match.
It was a fairly even match as both players filled the court with several exchanges. The first set was eventually claimed by Wessel in an extended bout, 7-5. However, Tham bounced back in the second set, 6-2. The third and final set was hard fought, but Wessel outlasted his opponent to triumph 10-8.
Lam will have another title shot, this time in the Boys Doubles 14 event after he and Wessel defeated Tahiti’s Nicholas Montaigut and Matehau Sacault, 6-4, 6-2.
Lam and Wessel will face their fellow NMI players Ryon Choi and Siwoo Lee, who won against the FSM’s Dontrick Daniel and Guam’s Junhyuk Seo via a walkover.
The NMI’s Anne Lee, for her part, defeated Vanuatu’s Ashanti Ligo, 6-3, 6-4 to finish seventh in the Girls Singles 14 event.
