by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
A semi-final place may be just be sufficient in order to receive an invitation to the ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals to be staged early next year in February in Luxembourg.
Furthermore, such a finish could well be in his grasp; he is the no.2 seed in the Junior Boys’ Singles event behind Frenchman, Irvin Bertrand, a player to some extent like Rares Sipos has yet to really shine. He competed on both home soil in France and in Poland but did not reach the latter rounds.
It is a similar scenario for Belgium’s Florian Cnudde, the no.3 seed, Chinese Taipei’s Li Hsin-Yang, the no.4 seed and Italy’s Matteo Mutti, the no.6 seed; the latter rounds this year have proved elusive.
Conversely, amongst the leading names Jules Rolland, like Irvin Bertrand from France and the no. 5 seed, has enjoyed success as has been the situation for Egypt’s Youssef Abdel-Aziz, the no.7 seed and Japan’s Aoto Asazu, the no.8 seed. All have reached the semi-final stage; Jules Rolland in Poland, Youssef Abdel-Aziz in Slovenia and Aoto Asazu in Sweden.
Differing fortunes on this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit for the leading names in Szombathely but for the players who complete the top ten names there has been notable success.
Both Austria’s Maciej Kolodziejczyk and Argentina’s Francisco Sanchi are undoubtedly Luxembourg bound; notably Maciej Kolodziejczyk won in Italy, Francisco Sanchi was the runner up in Paraguay and Spain as well as on soil in Buenos Aires.
In Hungary they will no doubt cement top ten places on the Standings; moreover could they be major challengers for a place on the podium?
