by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

She heads the Belarus challenge at the forthcoming 2017 China Junior and Cadet Open, in Taicang; play commences on Wednesday 21st June and concludes on Sunday 25th June.

An ITTF Golden Series World Junior Circuit tournament, she lines up alongside colleagues Nadezhada Bogdanova and Maharyta Baltsushite.

Always enthusiastic, full of energy, Daria Trigolos is a most worthy opponent, the task is now to move to the next step; her best Junior Girls’ Singles finish on the ITTF World Junior Circuit being last year in Poland, when she reached the semi-final stage.

However, in partnership with Nadezhada Bogdanova, she has enjoyed quite notable success in recent times. Earlier this year the duo reached the Junior Girls’ Doubles final at the 2017 Spanish Junior and Cadet Open whilst arguably event more impressive, they were runners up at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Croatia Open in Zagreb.

Unfortunately for the duo there is no Junior Girls’ Doubles event in Taicang.

Competing in China is a daunting prospect for the Europeans; it is the same for all whether from nearby Korea or further distant from Oceania. Australia’s Rohan Dhooria is named on the entry alongside Fijian sisters Sally Yee and Grace Rosi Yee. In their own continent they excel, outside the boundaries, life is more difficult; in many ways the visit to Taicang will be a learning experience.

Notably, earlier this year in April, Rhohan Dhooria was the runner up in the Junior Boys’ Singles event at the 2017 Oceania Junior and Cadet Championships, whilst both Sally Yee and Grace Rosi Yee progressed to the quarter-final round of the Junior Girls’ Singles competition.

Similarly, Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish is on duty, at the recent Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Latin American Qualification Tournament, he finished just one place short of sealing his ticket to the Argentine capital.

Gaining experience and learning is very much the prime factor for the visitors to Taicang; however, for one young lady, a place on the podium is very much the goal.

Singapore’s 12 year old Zhou Jingyi will not doubt have eyes set on a medal in the Hopes Girls’ Singles event. Last year in Doha, she was the runner up in the Challenge tournament that concluded the ITTF World Hopes Week; perhaps more relevant, earlier this year she won in Thailand.

Play commences with the team events.