The goal is to gain a place in the ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge to be staged in Muscat, Oman from Thursday 25th to Wednesday 31st July for which there are places for two boys and two girls from the African continent.

Very much at the helm of proceedings in Kinshasa will be Ramzi B.H Mabrouk, the Development Manager for the African Table Tennis Federation, he will assist Eva Jeler, the head coach in a week when education will be very much at the forefront of activities.

In order for players to attend the event, financial support from the International Table Tennis Federation to assist with expenses has been organized.

Proceedings commence with accreditation and a team leaders meeting on Wednesday 4th December, a gala dinner will be held on Saturday 7th December.

Overall a total of five age categories will be organised with men’s team and women’s team, in addition to men’s singles and women’s singles events, being held. The age groups are 40-49 years, 50 to 59 years, 60 to 69 years and 70 to 79 years in addition to 80 years and over.

All matches will be best of five games, except in the 80 years and over category when it will be best of three games.

In the team events for men, the current system employed at the World Championships of three players per team will be adopted (A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X); for the women it will be two players for the singles with a further two eligible for the doubles (A v X, B v Y, Doubles, A v Y, B v X). An exception is made in the 80 and over years category where a fixture comprises two singles matches followed by a doubles.

Notably in addition to the traditional trophies, the winning team in each category receives US$400.00, the runners up US$200.00 with each of the bronze medal outfits collecting US$100.00. Similarly, in the individual events, first place is awarded US$150.00, the runner up $80.00, the bronze medallists US$50.00.

Overall, a total of 800 players will be accepted; including the gala dinner, the entry fee per team event is US$180.000 for four players; for the individual competitions it is US$15.00 per person. However, for any player who wishes to compete only in the individual events and does not wish to attend the gala dinner, the cost is US$30.00; for accompanying guest gala dinner coupons may be purchased for the sum of US$30.00 each.

Contact:

Daniel Wu, Organising Committee
Tel: 86-13962751487 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Peter Ma, Asia Pacific Table Tennis Veteran Union Mr. Peter Ma
Tel: 852-90390210 Fax: 852-23081200 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2019 Asian Cup Veteran Open Championships: Prospectus (issued Thursday 16th May)
2019 Asian Cup Veteran Open Championships: Entry Form

Success and success as expected, Kuai Man started the day the most prominent name in the qualification event; the top 16 seeds gaining a direct entry to the main draw.

Likewise amongst the leading names on initial phase duty, India’s Prapti Sen and for Japan’s Reina Aso secured first positions but there were plenty of surprises. No less than 11 players who have no under 18 girls’ world ranking, ended the day in first place in their respective groups.

Japan’s Yuka Aoki, Noa Fukuoka and Misa Inayoshi all secured top spots, a situation that applied also the Korea Republic’s Lee Dagyeong and Lee Youngi. Likewise, there were first places for Mexico’s Arantxa Cossio Aceves and Kheith Rhynne Cruz of the Philippines; similarly, it was pole position for Hong Kong’s Karen Lee Hoi Man and for India’s Poymantee Baisya.

Names making their mark, the set was completed by two names who have already made their mark in Bangkok, gold medallists the previous day in the respective junior girls’ team and cadet girls’ team events; no current global status, China’s Yuan Yuan and Qin Yuxuan duly ended the day at the head of the order.

First places contrary to status, it was the same for Thailand’s Chanita Panicharoen, listed at no.602 on the current under 18 girls’ world rankings and for Hong Kong’s Wong Hoi Tung, named at no.519.

Similarly, in the group phase of the cadet girls’ singles event, matches still to be played; no current world under 15 girls’ ranking, Korea Republic’s Lee Yeonhui beat Chinese Taipei’s Chen Tsai-Ni (8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5), listed at no.69. Meanwhile, just as in the junior girls’ singles event, Qin Yuxuan showed her quality. She accounted for Phantita Pinyopisan (11-7, 11-9, 11-7) on what was not a good day for the young lady from Thailand; listed at no.175 on the world order, she also experienced defeat at the hands of Chinese Taipei’s Wang Hsiao-Hsin, named at no.306. Wang Hsiao-Hsin and Qin Yuxuan now meet to decide first place.

Success contrary to expectations; it was the same for Angie Tan of the United States, ranked no.249, she caused the host nation more pain. She beat Monsawan Saritapirak, listed at no.235 (11-7, 11-6, 11-7).

Surprises but not where the top four names in the qualification stage of the cadet girls’ singles event were concerned; Chinese Taipei’s Liu Ru-Yun and Cheng Pu-Syuan alongside Singapore’s Ser Lin Qian and Hong Kong’s Yenn Ho Ching, all concluded their group stage itinerary without defeat and thus booked main draw places.

First place for Yenn Ho Ching, in the hopes girls’ singles event, it was the same for colleagues Sammi Law Sum, Wong Hui Lam and Chow Ka Ching. Similarly, Thailand’s Parnisara Podchong and Khemisarar Derujuaroen topped their groups, a situation that applied also to Egypt’s Hana Goda, India’s Sayani Panda and Ali Fathimath Dheema from the Maldives.

Play in Bangkok concludes on Sunday 19th May.

Japan’s Shodi Miyagawa, Hiroto Sato and Kazuya Sugimoto, all young men whose names do not appear on the current under 18 boys’ world rankings, secured first places in their respective groups.

Likewise, there were top spots for the Korea Republic’s Hwang Jinha and Jeong Chanhee, as there was for Chinese Taipei’s Huang Chang-Yu and for Malaysia’s Lee Yang Yi. It was the same for Xie Congfen but his top place was no great surprise; the previous day he had been a member of China’s gold medal winning junior boys’ team.

Also, for those with an under 18 boys’ world ranking but not one that meant they started the day as the highest rated in their respective groups, first places were secured contrary to status.

The Czech Republic’s Simon Belik, listed at no.365 gained top spot; a situation that applied also to Malaysia’s Wong Qi Shen, named at no.412, as well as to Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Chia-Hung and Thailand’s Wattanachai Samranvong. Presently, Kuo Chia-Hung stands at no.650, Wattanachai Samranvong at no.772.

Surprise outcomes; the initial phase of the cadet boys’ singles event was no different; seven players with no present day under 15 boys’ world ranking, secured first group places.

Again the Korea Republic was very much in evidence. Moon Seyeon and Oh Junsung topped their groups; likewise, contrary to predictions it was first place for Japan’s Yuki Ishii, Malaysia’s Caleb Hong Zi An, India’s Soumyadeep Sarkar and Hong’s Yan Masa Hiko. Not to be upstaged, Korea Republic’s Joo Hyeonseo, ranked no.428, defied the odds to secure first position in his group.

Meanwhile in the hopes boys’ singles event, India and Singapore were very much to the fore. Flying the flag for India, Oishik Ghosh and Ashish Jain gained first positions, for Singapore, Nicholas Tan and Ellsworth Le reserved top spots. Six groups in the initial phase, as in the cadet boys’ singles Yan Masa Hiko excelled to claim first place, a scenario that was also the lot of the host nation’s Woraset Bavornthammarat.

Play in Bangkok concludes on Sunday 19th May.

Success for Croatia and Sweden, as the men’s and women’s singles semi-finalists were decided alongside the men’s and women’s doubles finalists; however, if there was one country that enjoyed success more than any other, it was Japan.

Men’s Singles

…………Tomislav Pucar, the no.9 seed, was in no mood for charity; he beat Japanese qualifier Takuya Jin (11-7, 13-11, 7-11, 11-3, 13-11), before recording a quarter-final success against Russia’s Kirill Skachkov, the no.13 seed (11-5, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5).

…………Kristian Karlsson awaits Tomislav Pucar in the semi-finals; the no.2 seed, he booked his penultimate round place in an imposing fashion. He beat Germany’s Benedikt Duda, the no.6 seed, in straight games (11-7, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6.

…………Ten matches without defeat since he started his quest in Slovenia, the run of Croatia’s Wei Shihao was ended in the third round by Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan, the top seed (5-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-3, 6-11, 7-11, 11-8). Chuang Chih-Yuan duly booked his place in the semi-final round by ousting Japanese qualifier Shunsuke Togami (5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6).

………… Anton Källberg, the no.32 seed, faces Chuang Chih-Yuan in the semi-finals but he did things the hard way. He beat Kanak Jha of the United States, the no.3 seed, in seven games (11-13, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8), before in an even closer quarter-final contest overcoming Belgium’s Robin Devos, the no.22 seed (5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 7-11, 12-10).

Women’s Singles

…………Japan booked all four semi-final places, Miyu Nagasaki meets Miyuu Kihara; Satsuki Odo opposes Miyu Kato.

…………Satsuki Odo caused the biggest third round surprise, the no.14 seed, she beat Romania’s Elizabeta Samara, the no.4 seed (11-6, 14-12, 4-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8). One round later she ended the progress of Korea Republic qualifier Shin Yubin (10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5).

…………Miyu Nagasaki and Miyuu Kihara afforded impressive quarter-final performances; Miyu Nagasaki, the no.18 seed, beat colleague and qualifier, Haruna Ojio (11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4). Miyuu Kihara, the no.19 seed, caused a significant upset; she accounted for Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, the no.7 seed (13-11, 11-6, 12-10, 12-10).

…………Miyu Kato, the no.5 seed, excelled in the quarter-finals; she ended the hopes of colleague and defending champion, Saki Shibata, the no.2 seed (11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4).

Men’s Doubles

…………Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and Yukiya Uda, required to qualify, emerged surprise men’s doubles finalists. They beat Brazil’s Eric Jouti and Gustavo Tsuboi, the no.2 seeds (12-10, 11-8, 12-10), before recording a penultimate round success in opposition to Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Qiu Dang, the no.4 seeds (7-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7).

…………Belgium’s Martin Allegro and Florent Lambiet, the top seeds, reserved their place in the final but experienced exacting moments. At the semi-final stage, they needed the full five games to beat Sweden’s Anton Källberg and Truls Moregard, the no.7 seeds (11-7, 6-11, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5).

Women’s Doubles

…………Japan’s Honoka Hashimoto and Hitomi Sato booked their place in the women’s doubles final but only just. In the penultimate round, they beat Norway’s Ma Wenting and Romania’s Elizabeta Samara, the no.4 seeds, by the very narrowest of margins (4-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-3, 12-10).

…………A repeat of the Slovenia final five days earlier and the same outcome; Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki, the no.5 seeds, accounted for Japanese colleagues Satsuki Odo and Saki Shibata, the no.2 seeds (11-8, 14-12, 10-12, 17-15) to reserve their place in the final.