by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

Pang Yew En Koen and Jacobo Vahnish accounted for the Cook Islands combination of Jonah Moeauri and Toka Williams; the gap between young players well versed in the rigours of international play in both Asia and Europe, against those whose upbringing is virtually restricted to the Pacific islands was more than evident.

Let us hope that it is a motivational force for the Cook Islands players who were able to witness at first-hand what can be achieved.

It was the same for Owen Cathcart and Laurens Devos against Sileno Vakauliafa and Petelo Luaki from Wallis and Futuna, players from an island with a population of less than 12,000.

Similarly, in their second fixtures of the day, it was defeat by three matches to nil. Jonah Moeauri and Toka Williams suffered at the hands of New Zealand’s Daniel Jefferies and Alex Wilson; for Sileno Vakauliafa and Petelo Luaki it was a reverse when facing Australia’s Ben Gould and Mateo Dvorni.

Pang Yew En Koen and Jacobo Vahnish face Daniel Jefferies and Alex Wilson to decide first place in the group; likewise, Daniel Jefferies and Alex Wilson confront Ben Gould and Mateo Dvorni.

Meanwhile, in the Cadet Boys’ Team competition where there are also two groups in the initial stage; China’s Ji Xinyue, Sun Haoran and Wang Hongxiang remained unbeaten to secure first place in their group. In the corresponding group Fiji’s Jai Chauhan and Vicky Wu alongside New Zealand’s Park Sangyong and Nathan Xu remained unbeaten.

Proceedings in the Junior Boyss’ Team and Cadet Boys’ Team events conclude on Tuesday 5th June.