Eyes focused on Saki Shibata but for local eyes they will be honed in the direction of Natalia Partyka, who ever since 2008 in Beijing has competed in both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, setting records that one wonders will ever be surpassed.

However, at open international tournaments, she has yet to climb the next hurdle to gain a women’s singles podium place. It is the same for her colleague, Natalia Bajor who in Gliwice is the no.6 seed and with Natalia Partyka the no.2 seed in the women’s doubles.

They are listed one place behind Saki Shibata and compatriot Satsuki Odo who are seeking an unprecedented eighth such ITTF Challenge Series such title.

Equally, Satsuki Odo, only 15 years old and the no.8 seed, has made her presence felt in ITTF Challenge Series women’s singles events; last year she reached the penultimate round in both Slovenia and Croatia. Additionally, behind Belgium’s Lisa Lung, she is the no.2 seed in the women’s singles event.

Most successful

However, amongst the principal names on duty in Gliwice, the most successful last year was Portugal’s Shao Jieni, in November she prevailed in Indonesia.

She is the no.3 seed in ahead of Japan’s Minami Ando; Chile’s Paulina Vega is the no.6 seed, Stéphanie Loeuillette of France, the no.7 seed.

Notably in 2018, Minami Ando was a semi-finalist in Belarus and Slovenia, one year earlier Paulina Vega reached the last eight in Brazil.

Croatia prevalent

Meanwhile, in the men’s singles, in more than one way Croatia is to the fore. Tomislav Pucar, the nation’s leading player, last year a semi-finalist on home soil is the top seed. He is one place ahead of Panagiotis Gionis of Greece who won at ITTF Challenge Series tournaments in Zagreb in both 2017 and 2018.

Immediately following is Brazil’s Vitor Ishiy with Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa next on the list; Argentina’s Horacio Cifuentes, Frenchman Can Akkuzu, the host nation’s Jakub Dyjas and Ecuador’s Alberto Miño complete the top eight.

Notably at ITTF Challenge Series tournaments Mizuki Oikawa won in 2018 in Slovenia, last year Vitor Ishiy was a semi-finalist in Paraguay. Similarly Can Akkuzu progressed to the penultimate round in 2018 Croatia as did Alberto Miño in 2015 in Chile. One step higher, Jakub Dyjas was the runner up last year in Slovenia.

Liking for Poland

It is a stage Horacio Cifuentes, the under 21 men’s singles winner last year in Spain and Paraguay, has yet to reach in the men’s singles arena. However, he has enjoyed success in Poland, last year when the tournament was staged in Wladislawowo in October, he partnered Gaston Alto to men’s doubles gold; this year the Argentine duo occupies the top seeded spot.

Meanwhile, in the under 21 men’s singles event, Frenchman Jules Rolland and England’s Tom Jarvis occupy the respective top two seeded places.