by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Winner of the Women’s Singles title on the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour in Tokyo, the following week the runner up in Chengdu, the name of Sun Yingsha attracts the attention.

She lines up alongside six colleagues who all impressed in Taicang. Qian Tianyi, Shi Xunyao, Liu Weishan, Wang Tianyi, Huang Yingqi and Kuai Man all appear on the entry list.

In Taicang Qian Tianyi won the Junior Girls’ Singles event beating Liu Weishan in the final, having at the quarter-final stage accounted for Huang Yingqi and one round later, Shi Xunyao, the winner of the Girls’ Singles event at the Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships.

Similarly, Wang Tianyi excelled; she was beaten by Liu Weishan at the semi-final stage, whilst Kuai Man lost to Shi Xunyao in the round of the last eight. Quarter-final defeats for Huang Yingqi and Kuai Man but there was a podium place. Huang Yingqi beat Kuai Man in the final of the Cadet Girls’ Singles event.

Losses only at the expenses of colleagues, for the seven boys who are competing in the colours of China in Asan, it is a somewhat similar situation. Xu Fei, Wang Chuqin, Xu Yingbin, Song Zhuoheng and Niu Guankai are on duty, as are Yu Heyi and Yu Zhengyang.

Notably Yu Heyi and Yu Zhengyang did not compete in Taicang but the others were present. Wang Chuqin beat Xu Yingbin in the final of the Junior Boys’ Singles event, having in the penultimate round accounted for Xu Fei, the quarter-final winner in opposition to Niu Guankai.

Likewise, for Song Zhuoheng, it was a last exit; he was beaten by Xu Yingbin; quarter-final exits for Niu Guankai and Song Zhuoheng but, as with Huang Yingqi and Kuai Man, there was a place on the podium.  Niu Guankai accounted for Song Zhuoheng in the final of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event.

A strong contingent; certainly it is difficult to back again China. Pertinently, there is no Tomokazu Harimoto, Miu Hirano, Mima Ito or Hina Hayata in the Japanese line-up, they are on duty at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum Open.

Yuto Kizukuri, the winner of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event the recent Seamaster ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open, is named on the entry list as are female counterparts Miyu Nagasaki, Miyuu Kihara and Yuka Minagawa who have all made their presence felt on the this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit.

Meanwhile, for the host nation, eyes very much focus on An Jaehyun, Cho Daeseong and Hwang Minha. An Jaehyun is presently listed at no.3 on the current Under 18 Boys’ World Rankings, Cho Daeseong at no.8, Hwanh Minha at no.13.

Host nation names to note, for the Korean girls, Kim Jiho, listed at no. 12 on the present day Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings, leads the way; whilst a name to note is that of Shin Yubin.

Now a familiar name on the ITTF World Junior Circuit, she stands at no.5 on the current Under 15 Girls’ World Rankings.

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Prospectus

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Schedule of Play

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entry List – Players

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entry List – Team Seeding

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: First Stage – Junior Boys’ Team Event (Wednesday 28th June)

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: First Stage – Junior Girls’ Team Event (Wednesday 28th June)

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: First Stage – Cadet Boys’ Team Event (Wednesday 28th June)

2017 ITTF Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: First Stage – Cadet Girls’ Team Event (Wednesday 28th June)