by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Furthermore, not only did she complete three in a row, additionally she underlined her liking for Slovenia.

One year ago when the tournament was also staged in the city of Otocec, she won the Under 21 Women’s Singles title beating compatriot Yui Hamamoto in the final.

Success in Under 21 Women’s Singles events is nothing new for Hitomi Sato, who if so minded could have played in the age group event in Slovenia, she is only 19 years old. On the ITTF World Tour she has eight such titles to her credit, notably winning seven of the number in 2015.

An array of Under 21 Women’s Singles titles and now she has a second prestigious Women’s Singles crown to her name; the first being last year on the ITTF World Tour in the Croatian capital city of Zagreb when she overcame a colleague who since that date has set the world alight. She beat a certain Miu Hirano.

Meanwhile, for Georgina Pota it was a different outcome when confronting a Japanese adversary in a prominent Women’s Singles final; twice she has won on the ITTF World Tour, both times in De Haan, Belgium and both times again an adversary from the Land of the Rising Sun.

In 2014 she beat Megumi Abe to secure the top prize; last year she accounted for Yui Hamamoto; alas in Otocec it was not to be three in a row for the Hungarian, it was for Hitomi Sato.