Golden Trip For Latin America At The 2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge

Latin America has made history in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, after claiming gold in girl’s teams, girl’s singles, and mixed doubles event at the 2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge that concluded today, 31 October 2015.

The World Cadet Challenge is the international tournament for world’s best under-15 players to fight for the honour of their continents, and has long been a budding ground for young talents around the world. Many World Champions, such as reigning Olympic Champion ZHANG Jike, and World number one MA Long and DING Ning, all started their debut on the international arena at the World Cadet Challenge.

The Latin American girl’s team, led by top-seeded Adriana DIAZ, claimed their first ever World Cadet Challenge medal after winning 3-1 against a spirited European girl’s team to give them a perfect start to their tournament here in Egypt.

In the Girl’s Singles gold medal match, Bruna TAKAHASHI avenged for her teammate DIAZ’s semifinals loss to Andreea DRAGOMAN, beating DRAGOMAN 4-3 (11-8, 3-11. 12-10, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9) in a full-distanced 7-game duel to take home the prestigious title for her and her team.

“I feel so happy with the victory and taking the first singles medal for Latin America. I fought so much for this and I’m glad it all paid off!” shared the Brazilian after her victory. “The match was so hard, and I was really nervous in the decider, but I had to take control, and my coach also told me to have faith, and that I could do well.”

“The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be happening next year in my country, and we are all very excited about it. Like for the other Brazilian players, I’m also going to practise more and of course fight for the chance to participate for the Olympic Games at home.”

Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi competes gold hunt for Latin America

The Boy’s Singles Final was an equally exciting matchup between Asia’s YANG Shuo and Europe’s Truls MOREGARD, with both players pushing each other to their limits in each game. YANG eventually prevailed 4-3 (12-14, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8, 9-11, 13-11, 11-6) to bring home his hard earned title.

Despite losing in the semifinals of the girl’s singles, DIAZ made up for her loss by winning the mixed doubles events with MOREGARD. For her outstanding performance throughout the entire tournament, she was also awarded the title of the “Most Valuable Girl”, a perfect gift for her birthday today.

ITTF World Cadet Challenge: Animasahun Listed In ITTF Hopes Team

Nigeria’s Abayomi Animasahun has been listed in the ITTF Hopes Team selected for this year’s World Cadet Challenge in Egypt.

The selection was based the performance at the just concluded ITTF Hopes Week and Challenge in China with the team made up of four boys and four girls that will be catered for by the world table tennis ruling body.

Nigeria’s Abayomi Animasahun (second left) during the medal presentation at the 2015 ITTF Hopes Challenge in Shanghai, China at the weekend.

To be included in the team, Animasahun played second fiddle to United States’ Nikhil Kumar to be among the four-man boys’ team.

The teenager will be joined in the team by American Kumar, Singapore’s Yan Kai Andy Wong and New Zealand’s Nathan Xu.

In the girls’ team, winner of the ITTF Hopes Challenge, Egypt’s Sara Elhakem, India’s Diya Parag Chitale, Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian and El Salvador’s Melissa Mendoza in the girls’ team.

The 2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge will be staged in the historic Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheik from Friday October 23 to 31.

The eight-man team will be supported by Butterfly with the selection meeting one of the main objectives of the ITTF Hopes Programme; that every member continent of ITTF is represented.

The winner of the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events at the Challenge Tournament, Nikhil Kumar and Sara Elhakem, gained automatic selection.

The remaining three places for boys and three places for girls were based on a combination of coaches’ assessment in Shanghai and results at the Challenge Tournament.

Evaluation by the coaches formed 65 per cent of the overall calculation. Items taken into consideration were speed and strength alongside a sense of feeling and ability to spin the ball.

In addition, the appraisal addressed attitude, mental strength, and adaptability in a match situation, training and potential.

Meanwhile, at the Challenge Tournament, the players were allocated points which were translated into a percentage, the winner of each of the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events receiving the maximum 35 per cent of the total mark.

Abayomi Animasahun, OF Nigeria, photo credit ITTFworld

Selection complete but most pertinently there are further names who will be in Sharm El-Sheik as part of the ITTF Hopes concept.

All the eight players must be accompanied by a coach recognised and approved by the relevant national association.

The players will attend a 14-day training camp at a venue yet to be determined prior to travelling to Egypt.

Now the next step is for national associations to endorse the relevant selections; the deadline date being Friday July 31.

Dejan Papic, the ITTF Education and Training Co-ordinator is the Mentor of the Hopes Team, Polona Cehovin Susin, the ITTF Education and Training Director, is the Team Manager.