by Ian Marshall, Editor

Notably, in addition, André Bly is the top seed alongside colleague Ousmane Coulibaly in both the junior boys’ doubles and the junior boys’ team events, the latter being the competition that starts the five day itinerary.

Next in line in the order of merit is England’s James Smith, present earlier this year in Örebro at the Swedish Junior and Cadet Open, a tournament in which he impressed. He reached the third round of the junior boys’ singles event losing to the champion elect, the host nation’s Truls Moregard.

A challenge for honours from England, there is also a major challenge from Congo Democratic; Noredi Bongo, Rabby Kasota, Josue Olenga and Christian Mbongia all appear amongst the leading names. The notable member of the group is Christian Mbongia, last year he reached the quarter-final round of the junior boys’ singles event in the Ivory Coast; his colleagues have yet to make their mark on the international scene.

Also amongst the leading names on duty in Accra is that of Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Al-Shareif; present earlier this year in Bahrain, he reached the quarter-final round of the cadet boys’ singles event. In Accra he is the no.5 seed in the junior boys’ singles competition. In the cadet boys’ singles, he leads the list; he is named ahead of Congo Democratic’s Exauce Ngefuassa, colleague Salem Alsuwailem and the Ivory Coast’s Jean-Pierre Bayala.

Most certainly a name to note, as is that of Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke, he is the player who completes the top eight junior boys’ singles names; last year he competed in the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, his best performance being fifth position in the men’s singles event at the African Youth Games in July.

Players from Asia, Africa and Europe compete; in addition Pan America is represented, present earlier this year in Sweden, the name of Costa Rica’s Alfredo Sanchez appears on the entry list.