Represented by Tonin Ryuzaki, Naoko Matsuda and Masahiro Otsuka; Japan occupies the top seeded position in the Junior Boys' Team event at the Nikon Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open which starts on Wednesday 7th August 2013.

A formidable trio, as is the next in the pecking order; the host association fields an impressive line-up.

Daryl Hung, Lam Sui Hang and Li Hon Ming comprise the second seeded Hong Kong unit but in their first stage group face redoubtable adversaries.

Tough Opposition
They are drawn in the same group as Chinese Taipei B, which includes Wang Tai-Wei in the line-up, the runner up in the Junior Boys' Singles event at the Bahrain Junior and Cadet Open, the first event on this year ITTF Junior Circuit. 

He is supported by Chang Chia-Chin and Shen Shun-Chang.

Possibly More Testing
Difficult opponents but the one remaining outfit in the group could well prove the most difficult of all; China with Yu Ziyang, Lu Xiang and Fang Yinchi in action are certainly in pundit parlance ark hourses. 

It is not unusual for relatively unknown Chinese players to secure title and Yu Ziyang, being listed at no.1 on the Under 15 Boys' World Rankings is a class act.

Four Groups
In the first stage of the Junior Boys' Team event, there are four groups, the teams finishing in first and second places in each group progressing to the quarter-finals.

Chinese Taipei A with Lin Hsueh-Yu, Wen Wei-Chieh and Yang Heng-Wei on duty form the third seeded outfit with Japan B, represented by Ryotaro Ogata, Masato Kakitsuka and Tomo Miyazaki being the fourth seeds.

Similar Scenario
Similarly, in the Junior Girls' Team event there are four outfits in the first stage of proceedings with Japan once again occupying the top seeded position but with eyes very focused on the second seeds.

Japan A selects from Miyu Maeda, Hitomi Sato, Mima Ito and Eka So; with the second seeded Chinese trio of Hu Limei, Jiang Xue and Chen Xingtong being the team very much to watch. 

Most certainly, Hu Limei a backspin player who competed in the LIEBHERR World Championships in Paris earlier this year will prove a most testing adversary.

Complete Top Four
Occupying the third seeded position is Japan B who select from Ayane Morita, Rira Ishikawa, Yuko Kato and Kana Takeuchi with the host nation trio of Doo Hoi Kem, Lam Yee Lok and Wong Chung Wan occupying the fourth seeded slot.

Top Two Places for Hosts
Fourth seeds in the Junior Girls' Team event, Hong Kong occupies the top two seeded places in the Cadet Girls' Team competition.

Vanness Leung Tsz Ching and Minnie Soo Wai Yam represent Hong Kong A and are the top seeds with the Hong Kong B duo of Liu Qi and Mak Rze Wing being the second seeds.

Four groups in the first stage as in the junior events, Brazil- Leticia Nakada and Bruna Takahashi occupy the third place in the draw with Chinese Taipei A who select from Liang Yu-Chieh, Tsai Yu-Chen and Wang Ruei-Lingk being the fourth seeds.

Three Teams in First Phase
Meanwhile, in the Cadet Boys' Team competition, three teams form the first stage of proceedings with, as always, teams finishing in first and second places in eachj group progressing to the main draw.

Chinese Taipei A with Huang Chien-Tu, Lin Jun-Yu and Yu Cheng-Feng in action reserve the top seeded berth being followed by Sweden Adam Blomqvist and Omid Khoshbakht. 

The Chinese Taipei trio of Chen Chun-Hsiang, Tang Cheng-Yen and Chi Huang-Yang are the third seeds.

Play Begins
Play starts at 10.00am local time on Wednesday 7th August with the Cadet Boys' and Cadet Girls' Team events.

Live on YouTube and Exciting on FlickR
The final session of play at the Nikon Hong Junior and Cadet Open will be streamed live on YouTube between 2.00pm and 5.30pm local time. Also visit the FlickR Gallery for photographs of the event. 

Nikon Hong Junior and Cadet Open: The Final Session of Play 
Nikon Hong Junior and Cadet Open: Photo Gallery on FlickR

Article by: ITTF - Ian Marshall

Photo by: Raymond Lam