2/5/2010       

It was a long day for the members of the 2009 ITTF World Hopes Team on Friday 5th February 2010 at the International Tournament in memory of Janos Molnar in Budapest.

Play started at 10.00am and did not finish until 7.00pm.

Following the conclusion of a hectic day's play, a sight seeing tour of Hungary’s capital city was organised with a multilingual guide leading proceedings.

However, of course the main purpose of the day was the tournament with Christos Christonof of Cyprus plus the two girls, Tamolwan Khetkuen of Thailand and Salma Khaled of Egypt being in action.

Quarter-Finals
“Christos Christonof of Cyprus and Tamolwan Khetkuen both reached the quarter-finals in their age category”, explained Zita Pidl, the ITTF Hopes Team Manager in 2009 and a position she continues to hold in 2010. “Salma Khaled won her group beating the boys but lost in the first round of the main draw.”

Nevertheless, Zita Pidl was highly delighted with the trio’s efforts.

Champions
The winners of the Mini-Cadet age group categories were:
Born in 1999 or later: Medardas Stankevicius (Lithuania)
Born in 1998: Giovanni Bernardi (France)
Born in 1997 or later: Nicholas Revseau (France)

Italian Grandfather
Giovanni Bernardi is from France despite the Italian sounding name; his grandfather was born in Italy.

Medallists in Budapest at the International tournament in memory of Janos Molnar.