by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

All three have proved most worthy competitors on this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit but have yet to make the stride that reserves the top step of the medal podium.

In the Czech Republic Dragana Vignjevic reached the semi-final stage, Sabina Surjan was a quarter-finalist; in Italy, Tijana Jokic also advanced to the round of the last eight.

Belgrade presents a major opportunity and it is very much the same for Archana Girish Kamath. She won in Agadir at the 2016 Morocco Junior and Cadet Open but the best this year on the ITTF World Junior Circuit is a semi-final finish in Belgium.

Undoubtedly Sabina Surjan, Dragana Vignjevic and Tijana Jokic represent Serbia’s best hopes in the Junior Girls’ Singles event as well as in the Junior Girls’ Team and Junior Girls’ Doubles competitions.

However, within the top eight there are two further host names; Andjela Menger and Radmila Tominjak are the sixth and seventh rated players respectively but as yet neither has advanced to the latter stages this year on the ITTF World Junior Circuit, a second round exit has been the furthest of their adventures. Andjela Menger reached the second round in the Czech Republic, Radmila Tominjak in Italy.

It is the same situation for Germany’s Sophie Klee, her best is the second round in Poland but like Radmila Tominjak, she has time on her side; both are only 14 years old.

Montenegro’s Ivona Petric completes the top eight names; similarly, she has yet to advance to the latter stages of a 2017 ITTF World Junior Circuit tournament.

Play commences with the qualification group stage of the Junior Boys’ Singles and Junior Girls’ Singles events.