Strengthening Claims for Place in Finals, the Quest in Aguada
Courtesy of ITTF
A place in the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals to be staged next December is the ultimate target and that goal is very much within the remit of three young ladies whose names appear on the entry list at the forthcoming 2015 Puerto Rico Junior and Cadet Open; play commences in Aguada on Friday June 19th.
Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi and Leticia Nakada, alongside Angela Guan of the United States are the players in question.
Overall 16 players will be receive invitations to the Finals with one major requisite being that they have competed in at least two continents.
Met Criteria
The Brazilians have met the criteria being on duty in the European countries of the Czech Republic, Sweden, Spain and Poland as well as in the South American nation of Paraguay, the country in which they enjoyed the greatest level of success.
In early March in Paraguay, Bruna Takahashi won the Junior Girls’ Singles event beating Leticia Nakada in the semi-finals, having earlier in the proceedings, donned the Cadet Girls’ Singles crown.
Unique Feat
Success for Bruna Takahashi meant that she completed the feat of capturing both titles for the second time in her career; last June at the 2014 Colombia Junior and Cadet Open she emerged as the champion in the two disciplines.
Colombia was her first ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles title, Paraguay was her second; when Bruna Takahashi wins, she also wins the Cadet Girls’ Singles event!
It is unique; furthermore she is the highest World ranked player on duty in Puerto Rico in both the Junior Girls’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles event. Can she maintain the tradition?
Won in Canada
Much travelled, the situation for Angela Guan is somewhat different.
She has only competed on one occasion on this year’s ITTF Junior Circuit and with success; she emerged successful at the Butterfly 2015 Canadian Junior and Cadet Open, her defensive skills securing victory.
Now by competing in Puerto Rico, Angela Guan will complete the two continent criteria, she is the one female player from North America to venture to the Latin America for the three day event.
Rankings and Standings
Currently on the ITTF Junior Girls’ Standings, Angela Guan and Leticia Nakada share 18th place (1,000 points) with Bruna Takahashi being at no.5 (2,520 points); they are the third and fourth highest World ranked players on duty in the Junior Girls’ Singles event in Puerto Rico.
On the Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings, Leticia Nakada is named at no.47, Angela Guan at no.55; in Aguada they are next in line to the host nation’s Adriana Diaz.
She is the second highest World ranked player in both the Junior Girls’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ singles events behind Bruna Takahashi and is making a second ITTF Junior Circuit appearance of the year.
Meets Criteria
Furthermore, her appearance in familiar surroundings will mean she has met the two continent criteria. On her one previous excursion she reached the quarterfinal stage in Sweden losing to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chia-Hsuan.
Presently she appears at no.81 (350 points) on the ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Standings; while being named at no.23 on the Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings and at no.6 on the Under 15 global list.
Entry
A total of 60 girls will take part in Aguada with 55 players being on duty in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, 32 in the Cadet Girls’ Singles competition.
