by Ian Marshall (Quotes: Olalekan Okusan, Wade Townsend)

Success and success for two players who had enjoyed success earlier in the year in April at the ITTF Africa Junior and Cadet Championships; Kerem Ben Yahia had won the Under 21 Men’s Singles title, Fadwa Garci had crowned Cadet Girls’ Singles champion.

“This is indeed a good feeling for me playing in my first World Championships. My aim in this tournament is to learn techniques, tactics and strategies. I will make sure I watch all the matches of my role model, China’s Ning Ding. This is a new feeling and experience for my career playing in the colours of Tunisia at the biggest table tennis tournament in the world. I have not seen this kind of setting or atmosphere before and this is another motivation for me in my career.” Fadwa Garci

Similarly, for Ocean Belrose and Tearo Le Caill it was their first appearance in a World Championships and in like the Tunisian, it was a learning experience.

“This was our first time playing together, so it was a little difficult. Plus playing on centre court was both stressful and impressive.” Ocean Belrose

In the second preliminary round Kerem Ben Yahia and Fadwa Garci meet Cuba’s Yohan Mora and Lizdainet Rodriguez.