by Ian Marshall, Editor

No stranger, twin sister Katarzyna Wegrzyn is the no.3 seed, a quarter-finalist last year on the ITTF World Junior Circuit in Hungary; challengers for honours apart, they are also major challengers together. They form the junior girls’ doubles top seeds, next in line being Russia’s Kristina Kazantseva and Olga Vishniakova.

A force with which to be reckoned in the junior girls’ doubles event, Russia is most prominent in the junior girls’ singles competition. Kristina Kazantseva, the winner earlier this year in Bahrain is the no.2 seed, Ekaterina Zironova is the no.6 seed; not to be overlooked Anastasia Kolish is one place below. Notably last year Ekaterina Zironova emerged the winner in Egypt, Anastasia Kolish was a quarter-finalist in Poland, as well as at the European Youth Championships.

Worthy records on the ITTF World Junior Circuit, it is very much the same from the remaining leading names on duty in Spa. Germany’s Franziska Schreiner, runner up last year in Canada is the no.4 seed, India’s Swastika Ghosh, two months ago a semi-finalist in Bahrain is the no.8 seed. Each will be hoping for better outcomes than at the recently completed French Junior and Cadet Open in Metz. Both departed proceedings in the third round.

Direct entries to the main draw, the one further name that receives such a privilege and is not required to compete in the qualification group stage is Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yu-Chin, the no.5 seed; last year she was the runner up in both Chinese Taipei and El Salvador.

Notable names but note those of two players who must compete in the initial phase; both quarter-finalists last year in Hungary, Chinese Li Yuqi and Huang Yingqi both appear on the entry list.

Play on the opening day of action focuses on the junior girls’ singles and junior girls’ doubles events.