05/04/2012        2012 Thailand Junior & Cadet Open - ITTF Premium Junior Circuit

Silver medallist in the Boys’ Singles event at the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Hung Tzu-Hsiang is the most prominent name on duty at the Thailand Junior and Cadet Open, which begins in Pattaya on Saturday 5th May 2012.

Listed at no.7 on the recently published Under 15 Boys’ World Rankings for May, Hung Tzu-Hsiang leads the Chinese Taipei Team in the Junior Boys’ Team event in the five day tournament.

The team events start proceedings with Hung Tzu-Hsiang lining up alongside Lai Yi-Yao, Wen Weo-Chieh, Hsu Chia-Yen and Tu Chi-Hsiung.

Seeded no.1 and with Hung Tzu-Hsiang at the helm, Chinese Taipei ‘A’ start as clear favourites to secure the Junior Boys’ Team title.

ITTF Junior Circuit Success
Additional to his silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games, Hung Tzu-Hsiang has a total of six ITTF Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles titles to his credit.

In 2010 he won in Tunis, one year later he successfully defended the title, whilst adding both the Hungarian German titles to his credit. Meanwhile, earlier this year he made the best start possible.

He won the Boys’ Singles title at the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in Puerto Rico in January and then in March secured the Boys’ Singles title in Italy.

Victory in New Zealand for Singaporean
Hung Tzu-Hsiang is one of two boys in action at the Thailand Junior and Cadet Open who has won ITTF Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles titles this year, the other is Singapore’s Clarence Chew.

He won in New Zealand. In the Junior Boys’ Team event, he lines up alongside Poland’s Krzysztpf Bigus and Jakub Krawczyk.

Main Challenge
An impressive formation but the main challenge to Chinese Taipei, in their quest for honours in the Junior Boys’ Team event, may well come from their compatriots.

Chinese ‘B’ with Lia Chen-Ting, Lu Po-Hsien, Hsu Chia-Lung and Lin Hsuan-Ming on duty are the second seeds.

Strong Challenger
Similarly, in the Junior Girls’ Team event, Chinese Taipei presents a strong challenge for honours.

Huang Hsin, Tsui Pao-Wen and Huang Yu-Wen will be in action; they are the no.2 seeds with Hong Kong leading the way.

The top seeds are led by Ng Wing Nam, the runner up in the Junior Girls’ Singles event at last year’s Chinese Taipei Junior and Cadet Open, when quite sensationally beaten by Japan’s 11 year old Mimo Ito in the final.

Ng Wing Nam lines up alongside Lam Yee Lok ans Soo Wai Yam.

Swedish Challenge
However, both teams face strong challenges from outfits that include ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles winners.

Kristina Zetterström, the winner earlier this year in Iraq, is in the Swedish team alongside Maria Engelson and Linda Bergström; they are the third seeds.

Host Nation’s Hopes
A strong challenge from Sweden but arguably the strongest challenge of all comes from the host nation in the Junior Girls’ Team competition. The Thailand Team can boast five ITTF Junior Girls’ Singles titles.

Piyaporm Pannak and Suthasini Sawettabut are both in action alongside Rattan Rattanavongsa and Pisittha Makumporn; Piyaporm Pannak gained success on the ITTF Junior Circuit in 2010 in Chile and one year later in India, whilst Suthasini Sawettabut won in India in 2009 and in 2010 in both Hungary and France.

Seeking Honours
Equally, in the Cadet events both Thailand and Sweden are strong challengers for team honours.

Led by Tamolwan Khetkuen, a former member of the ITTF World Hopes Team, Thailand occupies the no.1 seed spot in the Cadet Girls’ Team event, whilst Sweden occupies the same berth in the counterpart Cadet Boys’ Team competition

Teams
Apichaya Sritavarit, Phaharaphon Manthiang and Janyaporn Vorapakdee join forces with Tamolwan Khetkuen; whilst Simon Berglund and Hannes Iwarsson represent Sweden.

Impressive Entry
Notable names on duty and an impressive entry has been received.

There are 12 outfits in the Junior Boys’ Team event, the same number in the Junior Girls’ Team competition; in addition there are ten Cadet Boys’ Team and eight Cadet Girls’ Team.

Enthralling Tournament
A total of no less than 42 teams: it is a very impressive entry, an enthralling tournament awaits.