by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

A top 16 finish is the goal but with each of the six continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania – plus the host nation eligible for representation in each of the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events in Luxembourg, a top 12 place is very much the target.

Notably, on the Boys’ Standings, the top 11 names have all now completed the minimum two continent appearance criteria in order to qualify for the Finals.

Semi-finalists in Egypt, Frenchman Bastien Rembert and Russia’s Artur Abusev, climb the list; Bastien Rembert moves from no.4 to no.2 (3,430 points), Artur Abusev from no.6 to no.3 (3,110 points).  Likewise, Remi Menand, also from France makes progress. He advances from no.16 to no.11 (1,802 points); steadfast, Austria’s Maciej Kolodziejczyk remains at no.9 (1,998 points). In Egypt both Remi Menand and Maciej Kolodziejczyk reached the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, not present in Egypt, India’s Manav Vikash Thakkar continues in top spot (3,455 points); Kanak Jha of the United States drops two places to no.4 (2,950 points), as does Argentina’s Francisco Sanchi to no.5 (2,895 points). In somewhat similar vein, Chinese Taipei’s Feng Yi-Hsin falls one position to no.6 (2,706 points), a situation that also applies to Sharon Alguetti of the United States (2,090 points). Romania’s Cristian Pletea retains the no.10 spot(1,866 points).

Thus in those top 11 names, the only continents not represented are Africa and Oceania. However, following the Egypt Junior and Cadet Open, both quarter-finalists in Cairo, Egypt’s Youssef Abdel-Aziz and Australia’s Rohan Dhooria, are undoubtedly set to receive a Finals invitation. Youssef Abdel-Aziz moves from no.57 to no.41 (1,030 points); Rohan Dhooria advances from no.22 to no.22 (1,330 points).

Top spot retained on the Boys’ Standings; it is the same on the Girls’ Standings. Japan’s Maki Shiomi continues to lead (4,000 points) and by playing in the forthcoming India Junior and Cadet Open will complete the two continent criteria.

Colleague Miyu Nagasaki remains in second place (2,450 points) ahead of Hong Kong’s Wong Chin Yau (2,419 points) and China’s Liu Weishan (2,380 points). Next in line to Selena Selvakumar is Japan’s Yuka Minagawa, she falls one place to no.6 (2,300 points).

Similarly, for the chasing group, it is a drop of one place. Romania’s Adina Diaconu is now at no.7 (2,230 points), pursued by Croatia’s Sun Jiayi (2,200 points), Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ting-Ting (2,191 points) and Amy Wang of the United States (2,040 points). Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling (1,964 points) and Belgium’s Lisa Lung (1,886 points) complete the top 12 names.

Pertinently, in addition to Selena Selvakumar; Miyu Nagasaki, Wong Chin Yau and Adina Diaconu have met the two continent basic requirement criteria, as have Chen Ting-Ting, Amy Wang, Su Pei-Ling and Lisa Lung.

Names to note and one further name to note following the conclusion of play in Cairo is that of the Egypt’s Marwa Alhodaby, beaten by Selena Selvakumar in the final, she moves from no.184 to no.46 (860 points).

No national association may be represented in the Finals by more than two players in each of the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events; the best three results in each continent are taken into consideration when calculating points.

2017 ITTF World Junior Circuit: Boys’ Standings (Monday 16th September)

2017 ITTF World Junior Circuit: Girls’ Standings (Monday 16th September)