by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Impressively she beat Chile’s 18 year old Daniela Ortega (11-7, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8), a player who has her own special place in the annals of her country’s sporting in history.

On Sunday 30th August 2015 she beat Brazil’s Leticia Nakada in the final of the Junior Girls’ Singles event at the Chile Junior and Cadet Open thus becoming the first player from the South American country to achieve such a feat.

Notably Hana Arapovic was listed at no.278 on the Under 21 World Rankings for April; the previous month Daniela Ortega had appeared at no.134.

Such titles may well lie in Hana Arapovic, who has already impressed on the international stage. She was a member of the Hopes Team at last year’s ITTF Cadet Challenge in Shanghai, whilst earlier this year she advanced to the quarter-final round of the Cadet Girls’ Singles event at the 2017 Italian Junior and Cadet Open in Lignano.

Success for Hana Arapovic and there were three further impressive performances to catch the eye; two at the expense of Croatia.

Slovenia’s Aleksandra Vovk accounted for Marta Vukelic (13-11, 11-9, 15-13), Hong Kong’s Lam Yee Lok overcame Klara Cakol (11-8, 14-12, 11-4); whilst Germany’s Vivien Scholz beat Hungary’s Leonie Hartbrich (11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-3).

On the April Under 21 Women’s World Rankings, Leonie Hartbrich stood at no.170 as opposed to Vivien Scholz at no.179.

Meanwhile, Marta Vukelic was listed at no.164, Aleksandra Vovk at no.188; whilst Klara Cakol was named at no.134. Lam Yee Lok was not listed.