Consolidation for Huang Chien-Tu, Progress for Gu Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang

October 1, 2012

Courtesy of ITTF

Chinese Taipei’s Huang Chien-Tu consolidates. China’s Gu Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang make the most telling progress; that is the situation on the ITTF Junior Circuit Standings, following the conclusion of the China Junior and Cadet Open in Taicang on Sunday September 30, 2012.

Huang Chien-Tu, who was beaten in the opening round of the Junior Boys’ Singles event by Zhu Cheng, remains in fourth spot on the Junior Boys’ Standings with 2,932 points.

Gu Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang climb the Junior Girls’ list.

Runner up in Taicang, Gu Ruochen moves from no.15 to no.6 (2,428 points); the winner, Liu Gaoyang climbs from no.22 to no.7 (2,392 points).

Korean Progress
Progress for Gu Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang on the ITTF Junior Girls’ Standings and there is also progress for Korea’s Kim Byeolnim; beaten by Liu Gaoyang at the quarterfinal stage of the Junior Girls’ Singles event in Taicang, the Korean teenager progresses from no.31 to no.23.

Previous Wins
All four are players who have ITTF Junior Circuit titles to their name.

Huang Chien-Tu won the Junior Boys’ Singles event on his Central American travels, he won in El Salvador and Guatemala.

Gu Ruochen clinched the Junior Girls’ Singles title in Hong Kong, whilst Kim Byeolnim won on home soil in Korea and, in addition to her success in Taicang, Liu Gaoyang won the previous week in Chengdu.

Only Huang Chien-Tu Met Criteria
However, of the quartet, only Huang Chien-Tu has met the criteria of competing in two continents in order to qualify for the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals, to be staged in Guatemala from Friday to Sunday January 25-27, 2013.

Following the conclusion of the Bahrain Junior and Cadet Open in Manama on Sunday November 18, 2012, the 16 boys and 16 girls who have qualified for the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals will be announced.

Qualification
In order to qualify players must have competed in a minimum of two continents, the maximum number of players from any one national association is limited to two boys and two girls, there must be one representative from each of the six ITTF continents and one place is reserved for the hosts.

Thus, in order to be assured of place, players must look towards a top ten finish.

Outside Leading Group
China’s Wei Shihao, who won the Junior Boys’ Singles title in Taicang enters the race at no.36 but like his colleague, Zhang Jiete whom he beat in the semi-finals, is outside the leading group and neither has played outside Asia.

Wei Shihao has 1,000 points; Zhang Jiete who was the Junior Boys’ Singles runner up on Hong Kong has 1,280 points and climbs from no.46 to no.24.

Continue to Lead
Brazilians Hugo Calderano (5,790 points) and Eric Jouti (5,010 points) continue to lead the Junior Boys’ Standings with Chinese Taipei’s Hung Tzu-Hisiang (4,082 points) remaining in third place, ahead of colleague Huang Chien-Tu (2,932 points), who was the only one of the leading names on the Junior Boys’ Standings to compete in Taicang.

Hong Kong’s Chiu Chung-Hei remains in fifth place (2,667 points), followed by a third Chinese Taipei player, Lai Yi-Yao (2,511 points), Singapore’s Xin Zhaoxu (2,316 points), Japan’s Masataka Morizono (2,250 points), Hungary Adam Szudi (2,236 points) and Yuko Higashi, also from Japan (2,100 points).

One Continent Only
Adam Szudi and Yuto Higashi have only played in one continent.

Places Retained
Meanwhile, on the Junior Girls’ Standings, none of the top five competed in Taicang; all retain their previous places.

Puerto Rico’s Carelyn Cordero continues in first place (4,570 points), followed by Zhou Yihan (4,336 points) and Lin Ye (2,802 points) both from Singapore, Japan’s Rika Suzuki (2,500 points) and Marina Berho of France (2,459 points).

All have met the two continent criteria.

Descending the List
However, following the elevation of Gu Ruochen and Liu Gaoyang, Croatia’s Lea Rakovac, Singapore’s Isabelle Li and Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem, each drop two places.

Lea Rakovac is now at no.8 (2,236 points), followed by Isabelle Li (2,110 points) and Doo Hoi Kem (2,032 points) to complete the top ten names.

Still to Achieve Target
Isabelle Li and Doo Hoi Kem have met the two continent criteria; Lea Rakovac has yet to achieve that goal.

Download Latest Standings
ITTF Junior Circuit – Monday October 1, 2012: Junior Boys’ Standings
ITTF Junior Circuit – Monday October 1, 2012: Junior Girls’ Standings