A proud past; now Hong Kong is planning for the future. It is a fact clearly reflected in the entry for the ITTF World Tour China Open which starts in the northern city of Changchun on Wednesday 12^th June 2013.

The squad consists of players who have recently departed the junior ranks; those who are seeking to move into the next stage of their careers.

Chiu Chung Hei and Mak King Ho form the men’s team for the women it is Li Ching Wan, Guan Mengyuan and Ng Wing Nam; with the exception of Mak King Ho, all are players who have both benefitted and excelled by competing on the ITTF Junior Circuit.

Impressed in Korea
Guan Mengyuan at 21 years of age is the senior member of the party and has already impressed on the ITTF World Tour in 2013.

Silver medallist in 2009 in the Junior Girls’ Singles event at the China Junior and Cadet Open in Chengdu, Guan Mengyuan excelled at the ITTF World Tour Korean Air Korean Open in April. In the group stage of proceedings upset the pecking order by beating Japan’s Mima Ito and duly finished in first place in the group by also accounting for the host nation’s Lee Zion.

A place in the main draw booked, she maintained her good form to overcome Japan’s Misako Wakamiya before the latter’s compatriot Ai Fukuhara ended progress.

In Form in Doha
Equally, Ng Wing Nam impressed in Doha at Super Series tournament, she kept mind body and soul together to overcome the defensive skills of Ayuka Tanioka, before China’s Ding Ning ended progress.

The results gained by Guan Mengyuan and Ng Wing Nam in 2013 are most certainly steps forward; the task for Li Ching Wan, Chiu Chung Hei and Mak King Ho is to make that step.

Notable ITTF Junior Circuit Performances
Li Ching Wan and Chiu Chung Hei have both impressed on the ITTF Junior Circuit.

Chiu Chung Hei won the Junior Boys’ Singles title at the Argentina Junior and Cadet Open in Buenos Aires in 2010; Li Ching Wan was the runner up in the Junior Girls’ Singles event at the Czech Junior and Cadet Open in Hodonin in 2012, whilst earlier this year she reached the semi-final stage at the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in Guatemala.

Next Generation
The players selected to travel to Changchun form the next generation.

They are the players preparing to step into the shoes of Tie Yana, Zhang Rui, Lin Ling, Lau Sui Fei, Ko Lai Chak, Li Ching, Cheung Yuk and Jiang Tianyi; although surely Jiang Tianyi has many years left.

Changing Times
All are celebrated names but of course all have one factor in common, all came from across the border from mainland China; now Hong Kong has changed.

The group that travels north to Changchun are all products of what is an increasingly successful coaching programme; one that is setting an example, a fine example.

Article by: Ian Marshall