China favourites to retain titles

12 Aug 2018

Note the top two names on the current Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings; then consider the top two positions on the ITTF World Junior Circuit Standings. They are the same; they reflect the awesome strength of China at the forthcoming 2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships which commence in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on Monday 13th August.

Shi Xunyao and Qian Tanyi head China’s challenge in the Junior Girls’ Team event; the top seeds they line up alongside Guo Yuhan and Zhang Binyue. Similarly players who have impressed on this year’s ITTF World Junior Circuit.

Shi Xunyao heads the China's Junior Girls' Team Challenge (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Table Tennis Association Ltd)

by Ian Marshall, Editor

It is very much the same with regards to the Junior Boys’ Team competition. The quartet formed by Niu Guankai, Xu Yingbin, Yu Heyi and Xiang Peng is quite awesome.

Significantly, Yu Heyi heads the ITTF World Junior Circuit Standings but the name to note for the future is Xiang Peng. Earlier this year he won the Junior Boys’ Singles event in Poland, whilst claiming Cadet Boys’ Singles titles in both Italy and France.

Likewise in the Cadet Boys’ Team event Kuang Li and Zeng Beixun join forces with Xiong Mengyang. At the SET Thailand Junior and Cadet Open Kuang Li and Xiang Peng faced each other in both the Junior Boys’ Singles and Cadet Boys’ Singles finals. Honours were shared; Kuang Li won the former, Xiang Peng, the latter. Furthermore, earlier in the year in Poland Kuang Li and Zeng Beixun secured the Cadet Boys’ Team title.

Impressive formations, the Cadet Girls’ Team outfit is no different. Chen Yi, Kuai Man and Li Yuqi comprise the trio. Impressively, at the recent 2018 Hang Seng Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open, Chen Yi won her fourth ITTF World Junior Circuit Cadet Girls’ Singles title of the year.

Pertinently one month earlier in Taicang she had been the runner up; she was beaten Kuai Man in the final. Also Li Yuqi is no stranger to success; in Poland she was a silver medallist.

In each of the four events, China occupies the top seeded positions; last year in Asan they completed a clean sweep, in Nay Pyi Taw, they are favourites for gold, an understatement.

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Prospectus

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Schedule of Play

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Seeding – Junior Boys’ Team

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Seeding – Junior Girls’ Team

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Seeding – Cadet Boys’ Team

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Seeding – Cadet Girls’ Team

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries – Junior Boys’ Singles

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries – Junior Girls’ Singles

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries – Junior Boys’ Doubles

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries – Junior Girls’ Doubles

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries – Junior Mixed Doubles

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries – Cadet Boys’ Singles

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships: Entries – Cadet Girls’ Singles

2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships Shi Xunyao

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18 Aug 2018 2018 Asian Junior and Cadet Championships