(by A. Naranjo)

Editor’s Note: Last month, rising Puerto Rican junior star, Angel Luis Naranjo Lopez, visited Thailand for training and to compete in the ITTF Junior Circuit Golden SET Thailand Junior & Cadet Open which was held in Bangkok  from May 15-19. Below are his experiences in his own words:

I first participated in the 2019 ITTF U15 & U18 Second Training Camp in Bangkok Thailand from May 6-13, where I trained with the best junior and cadet players in the world. For me, it was a unique and unbelievable experience. I learned a lot of new things that helped me become a better player. Then I played the ITTF Junior Circuit Golden SET Thailand Junior & Cadet Open in Bangkok from May 15-19. I won a bronze medal in the Cadet Singles event. In the Cadet Teams event, I played with Carlos Fernández (PER), Finn Luu (AUS), and Nicholas Lum (AUS), and we lost 3-2 against Korea in the quarterfinals. 
I went to Thailand with low expectations and minimal pressure, and left with a bronze medal that I can hardly believe I achieved. I became the first male Puerto Rican player to ever win a medal in a Junior Circuit Golden event.