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Canadian Juniors Qualify For Important World Finals - a good year for Anqi Luo and Hongtao Chen.
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Last Update: December 9, 2013
In his last year as a junior Canada's Hongtao Chen (ON) once again qualified for the Global Junior Circuit Finals, a junior competition in which the top 16 point getters of the ITTF Global Junior Circuit tournaments compete for top honors.
Chen had qualified to the Finals in 2012 as a 17-year old and finished 3rd. "While it will be difficult to make the podium again, I will try my best," said Chen when asked about his expectations.
Canada's top junior girl Anqi Luo had set her goal to qualify for the World Youth Olympic Games qualifier. "If I succeed to qualify at the first chance, I have over a year to prepare," strategizes the 17-year old teenager from Mississauga. 16 players will compete in Villanova de Gaia, four will qualify. "A tough challenge, for sure, but I will give it all I have got. If I get a good draw, who knows," the young Canadian tries to stay positive.
Luo just finished her first Junior World Championships in Rabbat, Morocco. "First time at the World Championships and some good wins," analyzes Coach Junya Chen the performance of her team. "As expected, the Asian teams dominated, but Anqi Luo (with her Singapore partner Clarence Chew) defeated the top Korean team of JANG Woojin / JI Eunchae in a surprise upset. (JANG Woojin would go on to win the Junior Boys Singles title accounting for three of the Chinese favorites.) In the match for the quarter finals Clarence and Anqi still had a chance in the first game against the #1 seeds ZHOU Qihao / GU Yuting from China, but then the Chinese pair was too strong." Luo and Chew finished 9th.
But now, the attention will turn towards Portugal, both Canadian juniors have their goals set.