by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Undoubtedly for the host nation, Hasan Alhourani and Khaled Khader will spearhead the quest for honours; both are players who impressed earlier in the year in February at the 2018 Oman Junior and Cadet Open staged in Muscat.

Notably Qatar will present a strong challenge for places on the podium in a region of the world which in addition to Qatar and Jordan includes the Arab countries of Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

Venue for the tournament is the Princess Sumaya Hall.

The tournament comprises Junior Boys’ Team and Junior Girls’ Team events; teams finishing in first and second places in each event will qualify for the 2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships to be staged later in the year from Monday 13th to Saturday 18th August in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Fawaz Sharabi, President of the Jordan Table Tennis Federation, recently advised local media that he aims to organise a tournament of the high standards and anticipates staging such competitions in the future.

Notably, the 2018 Jordan Junior and Cadet Open is scheduled to be staged in Amman from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th July; an event, just as the Oman Junior and Cadet Open being one that provides a major opportunity for young players in the Middle East and the Gulf Area of the world to demonstrate the skills.

Furthermore on Friday 6th April, Jordan will be the focal point for World Table Tennis Day; the Zaatari Refugee Camp, located on the border with Syria will be the principal event.