Six girls and six boys along with their coaches participated in the week-long training camp, which featured two table tennis sessions per day, delivered in close cooperation with the CTTC’s coaches and players, including regular fitness and warm-up sessions led by Zhen Chaoying.

During this week of hard work on and off the table, two educational sessions were held: the first one, delivered by Zhen Chaoying, focused on the method of the regular training system at the CTTC and the training system in China in general, which was highly interesting to everyone involved. The second one was conducted by ITTF High Performance Manager Massimo Costantini, outlining and explaining the important factors needed to become a future champion.

During this session, participants were asked to work through some tasks set some days earlier, focusing on the topics of History of the Topspin, History of the Defensive Game, History of Female World Champions, History of the World’s Best Players. The players were divided into four groups, each having a spokesperson presenting their work. This group work held everyone’s attention and brought an element of fun to the educational session.

This inaugural Hopes Selection Camp gave an opportunity to last year’s World Hopes to train and cooperate again, building strong relationships and team spirit across continents. This year’s Hopes Team will be selected from training and competition performance at activities and events during the last year. The 2019 Hopes Team will be announced by the beginning of August.

“Firstly, many thanks to ITTF for their help in the development and performance of younger players. During the past week, we had an excellent opportunity to practice with great players and better coaches: Max Costantini and Zheng Chao Yin. We continue learning every day. Truly, we were very happy this week at the training camp in China.” – Francisco Javier Berzosa (Coach, ESP)

“What a wonderful learning experience for players and coaches at the China Table Tennis College in Shanghai. Led by Max Constantini, with input from the Chinese coaches, the players learned some very valuable tips  over the seven day camp at this custom built table tennis venue with 120 tables on three floors. Great to renew friendships with the coaches that were In Totorri in October.” – Conn Higgins (Coach, IRL)

“It was a mixed workload at the table, following the Chinese everyday, regular work while keeping in mind that we had a competition to prepare, because the camp was also functional for the upcoming ITTF China Cadet & Junior Open. We also dedicated some time to team matches (with the strengthening of team spirit as the target) as well as individual matches as an additional test for a better evaluation. Overall, this was a very good experience in terms of hard work at the table, off the table and developing their mental strength.” – Massimo Costantini (ITTF High Performance Manager, ITA)

“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to participate in this Hopes Selection Camp. All the structure available, gym, hotel, food were of an excellent level. It is also worth mentioning the great work done by Massimo Contantini, in addition to the training sessions, the feedback in relation to each athlete was very valuable. Congratulations on the Hopes Project and I hope to have the opportunity to participate more often in this type of training in the future.” – Jorge Franck (Coach, BRA)

Participants:

In the Dominican Republic, Sharon Alguetti was beaten at the final hurdle by colleague Kanak Jha (11-7, 11-7, 12-10, 11-6), Amy Wang suffered at the hands of Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz (9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-5, 7-11, 13-11), a contest in which she held match point in the deciding game.

Both Kanak Jha and Adriana Diaz, the dominant players in the history of the tournament are now out of the age group; new names will be added to the role of honour. Notably Kanak Jha is the only ever winner of the boys’ singles title; he won at the inaugural edition in 2016 in Burnaby, then repeated the success in 2017 in Buenos Aires, before last year completing the hat-trick in Santo Domingo. For Adriana Diaz, the only difference is that in the girls’ singles event in the Argentine capital city she was beaten in the final by Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi (7-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, 13-11, 6-11, 12-10).

Notably performances but most notable is that last year in the Dominican Republic, the only title not to finish in the hands of the United States was the girls’ singles; in Cancun the Stars and Stripes could well be in line for a full house. Sharon Alguetti is the no.4 seed in the boys’ singles event behind Chile’s Nicolas Burgos, Brazil’s Guilherme Teodoro and colleague Nikhil Kumar. In the boys’ doubles Nikhil Kumar and Michael Minh Tran occupy the no.3 seeded spot; Nicolas Burgos and colleague Andres Martinez head the list, next in line is the partnership formed by Brazil’s Guillerme Teodoro and Rafael Torino.

A prominent United States presence, it is even more prominent in the mixed doubles event, Nikhil Kumar and Amy Wang head the list, Sharon Alguetti and Crystal Wang being the next in the order of merit. Meanwhile, in the girls’ singles competition, Amy Wang, Rachel Sung and Crystal Wang occupy the respective top three seeded positions; in the girls’ doubles Amy Wang and Crystal Wang lead the line ahead Rachel Sung and Rachel Yang, the defending champions.

Similarly in both the boys’ team and girls’ team events the United States is in top spot. Sharon Alguetti, Nikhil Kumar, Victor Liu and Michael Minh Tran form the boys’ team selection being listed ahead of Chile’s Nicolas Burgos, Sebastian Gonzalez, Andres Martinez and Jorge Paredes. Brazil’s Lauro Sebold, Guilherme Teodoro, Eduardo Tomoike and Rafael Torino reserve the third seeded spot.

In the girls’ team competition, Rachel Sung, Amy Wang, Crystal Wang and Rachel Yang comprise the United States squad; Canada’s Sophie Gauthier, Ivy Liao, Joyce Xu and Benita Zhou form the second seeded outfit. Guatemala’s Lucia Cordero, Mercedes Mendizabal and Hidalynn Zapata occupy the third seeded position.

Outfits finishing in the top three places in each of the boys’ team and girls’ team events, qualify for the 2019 World Junior Championships to be staged later this year in late November and early December in Bangkok, Thailand.

by Ian Marshall, Editor

Romania’s Bernadette Szocs, the top seed experienced defeat at the hands of Luxembourg’s 56 year old Ni Xia Lian (11-7, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 8-11, 11-7), a player who has a distinct liking for Tokyo.

It was in that city in 1983, some 12 years before Bernadette Szocs was born, when Ni Xia Lian made her World Championships debut. She was a member of the gold medal winning Chinese team and partnered Guo Yuehua to mixed doubles success.

“This was a crazy match that made everyone nervous. I had a chance to finish the duel in the fifth game but I lost my focus. In next game, Bernadette was really good but when the decisive fifth game came, I had a better head. Szocs is very young and she improves with each tournament; sometimes more experience could help a little. Everybody comes prepared here, there is no doubt about it but sometimes the pressure is too high.” Ni Xia Lian

Defeat for Bernadette Szocs came after Germany’s Han Ying had proved too secure in defence for Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, the no.2 seed (12-10, 13-11, 13-11, 11-8).

“It was close, because in each game Polcanova commenced with new tactics. She did not play in her usual style and she changed things in each game; that gave her a little advantage but I have a good record against her and I was very confident. I managed to recover every time.” Han Ying

Success for one defender, soon after it was success for another; Russia’s Polina Mikhailova beat Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm, the no.3 seed (11-5, 11-13, 9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8).

“I never won against Matilda before and we have played so many times against each other; when I managed to win the opening game; that give me slight advantage. It boosted my confidence and I think it affected her game too. She made mistakes on first ball, which is not usual. Also, I had my downs. I lost the second game after I led 10-8. After that I lost third very easy. When we reached decisive game I told myself “yell, shout, do whatever it takes, just win”. I do not know how I managed to win.” Polina Mikhailova

The results mean that Germany’s Petrissa Solja is the highest ranked player remaining in the women’s singles event; in the fourth round, the no.4 seed, she beat Poland’s Li Qian, the reigning European champion (12-14, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10, 11-5).