by Ian Marshall, Editor

Notably in addition to her appearance in England’s capital city, Parleen Kaur was on duty in a very different climate later in the year; in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands she was the junior girls’ singles runner up, a tournament in which colleague Michelle Wu also excelled, she reached the semi-final round.

In Darwin, Parleen Kaur is the no.3 seed in the junior girls’ singles competition, Michelle Wu is the next name in the order of merit. Prominent names, they are also prominent in the junior girls’ team competition; they line up alongside compatriot Matilda Alexandersson. They occupy the no.2 seeded position behind the Chinese Taipei combination of Cai Fong-En, Chien Tung-Chuan and Yu Hsin-Ting.

Favourites for gold, in the junior girls’ singles event it is somewhat the same. Chien Tung-Chuan is the top seed, followed immediately by Cai Fong-En; Yu Hsin-Ting is the no.5 seed ahead of Matilda Alexandersson. Hong Kong’s Phoebe Hui Wai and Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam complete the top eight names.

Contenders for honours in the junior girls’ singles competition, in the cadet girls’ singles event, Phoebe Hui Wai and Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam are very much candidates for podium places. Cadet girls’ singles quarter-finalist last year on the ITTF World Junior Circuit in China and Thailand as well as on home soil in Hong Kong, in Darwin Phoebe Hui Wai is the top seed; Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam, who is yet to progress to the later rounds, is the no.3 seed.

A strong representation from Hong Kong, in fact they occupy the top four places; like Phoebe Hui Wai, a quarter-finalist last year in home turf, Yann Ho Ching is the no.2 seeds, Ma Yat Sum is the no.4 seed.

Understandably, Hong Kong occupies the leading positions in the cadet girls’ team event. Phoebe Hui Wai, Kong Tsz Lam and Yenn Ho Ching form the top seeded trio; Chelsea Chan Shiu Lam and Wong Hoi Tung occupy the no.2 spot.

Play commences with the team events.