by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Organised in conjunction with an ITTF World Junior Circuit tournament, each continent hosts a two day Road to Buenos Aires tournament; the events are open to players from throughout the world providing their National Olympic Committee is not already represented in the respective discipline.

A National Olympic Committee may be represented by only one boy and one girl at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

All six tournaments follow the same formula; the simplest of all, straight knock-out. On the first day Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events are held, the winners qualify; on the second day, the same formula ensues.

Thus when the Road to Buenos Aires tournament in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, closes on Saturday 9th June, a further 12 boys and 12 girls will have qualified; an overall total of 26 boys and 26 girls when those who succeeded at the Continental Qualification events is included.

It means that a further 12 places remain, six places for boys, six for girls; the host, Argentina is eligible to field one boy and one girls. Places for two boys and two girls are available via the Tripartite Commission, the remaining three places boys and same for girls is based on the July 2018 Under 18 World Rankings.

Overall in Hodonin, a total of 32 boys and 29 girls are scheduled to compete in the Road to Buenos Aires tournament.