1/29/2010 Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships

In relative terms the World Junior Championships as a product is still its infancy; it is an event that has slowly grown in importance on the ITTF Calendar and an event that over the years has helped to produce some of today's new stars.

The 2009 competition in the Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias was heralded as a huge success; the organizers in Colombia presented one of the best ever World Junior Championships.

Growing in importance, the tournament assumed a whole new face and in 2009 the commercial element really took off.

 12/24/2009 Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships

Was the Centro de Convenciones y Exposiciones in the Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias too small for a world title event?

Well that was my concern having visited the venue in 2006 for the table tennis events at the Central American and Caribbean Games? I had no doubts about the splendid location of the city but could the venue cope?

Now, having witnessed the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in December 2009 my question is answered.

 12/16/2009 Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships

Seventeen year old Fang Bo won the Boys’ Singles title at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in Cartagena de Indias on Wednesday 16th December 2009 and in so doing left the Colombian city with a full set of titles and the knowledge that he was the most successful player in the whole tournament.

Earlier in the proceedings he had been a member of the Chinese outfit who clinched the Boys’ Team crown whilst earlier in the day he had won the Mixed Doubles with Gu Yuting and the Boys’ Doubles in partnership with Song Hongyuan.

 12/16/2009 Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships

Seeded no.1, Wu Yang justified her exalted position at the top of the draw to win the Girls’ Singles title at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in Cartagena de Indias on Wednesday 16th December 2009.

In an all Chinese final, 17 year old Wu Yang overcame 14 year old Gu Yuting to clinch the top prize.

Wu Yang won 11-6, 12-14, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5.

It was victory for the noble art of backspin play in an age where the topspin play is the predominant norm.

 12/16/2009 Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships

Egypt’s Omar Assar and Korea’s Yang Ha Eun are the recipients of the Stag Most Improved Player of the Year award for 2009.

The presentation was made at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in Cartagena de Indias on the afternoon of Wednesday 16th December 2009 immediately after the Girls’ Doubles final had been concluded.

Vivek Kohli, Managing Director of Stag International presented the awards to the very worthy winners.

 12/16/2009 Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships

Fang Bo and Song Hongyuan were in total harmony to clinch the Boys’ Doubles title at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in Cartagena de Indias on the afternoon of Wednesday 16th December 2009.

In an all China final they recorded a six games win over their compatriots, Lin Gaoyuan and Yan An.

Topspin play the order of the day, Fang Bo and Song Hongyuan combining to unleash their powerful forehands succeeded 7-11, 11-2, 12-14, 12-10, 11-8, 11-4.

 12/16/2009 Volkswagen 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships

Chen Meng and Gu Yuting won the Girls’ Doubles title at the Volkswagen World Junior Championships in the Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias on Wednesday 16th December 2009 and thus assured China of a full house of gold medal in the northern Colombian city.

Earlier in the proceedings they had won both the Boys’and Girls’ Team crowns whilst earlier in the day they had secured top prize in the Mixed Doubles event.