Site Products
World Cadet Challenge: Asia doubles down on gold

World Cadet Challenge: Asia doubles down on gold

(by Wade Townsend )
World Cadet Challenge: Asia doubles down on gold
In a steamy Vodafone Arena, Team Asia showed for a second year running that they rule the cadets category.

In the Girls’ Team Event, Team Asia was able to see off a tenacious North America 3-0.

Despite not playing in the final, and instead cheering from the bench, it is worth seeing the gold medal win through the eyes of Diya Parag Chitale.

Chitale played two years ago in Team Hopes, and now in Fiji she is a gold medal winner. She’s graduated form the Hopes program with honours and is now top of her class in cadets.

The World Cadet Challenge prides itself on not just being about chasing titles and glory. Player education is also a top priority. On her way to the top of the podium Chitale has picked up some knowledge.

“I’ve learnt so much playing with the team. There are heaps of technical ideas I will be able to use.” Diya Parag Chitale, Team Asia
Chitale wasn’t only front and centre for the gold medal, she also had a VIP seat in seeing exactly how her Chinese team mate Huang Yingqi took care of business.

Sometimes the perception of table tennis in China is that there is some special formula they are hiding from the rest of the world. Well, Chitale got a close up encounter of just what goes on behind the scenes.

“Outside of the table tennis hall there isn’t anything special,” says Chitale, “she’s just hanging around the hotel with the rest of us.”

Turns out it really just is what you put in on the table.

Meanwhile in the Boy’s Team Event Asia was able to keep up appearances. They took down Team Europe 3-0 and will be standing on top of the podium for the second year in a row.

Europe had flashes of brilliance, but Asia literally were able to counter them, particularly Park Gyeongtae who was able to pull off some clutch counter topspins against the Martin Friis.

Expect Europe to come out with a vengeance in the singles, but for now, Asia is king and queen of the cadets.

For full article, please click here

Latest News

Geovanni Coello – Short Game to Open Play

September 2, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Geovanny Coello is working with his student on executing a… Read More

MLTT is back in less than a week!

September 2, 2025
(by: Major League Table Tennis) Opening Week Is Around the Corner — Sep 5–7 It’s been months in the… Read More

That One Good Block

September 2, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) The stronger the player, the more predictable their attacking shots tend to be. Why? Because… Read More

Contact the Ball Earlier

September 1, 2025
Robot plays short backspin to Backhand, Jhon Backhand push to long Backhand, robot plays very spinny topspin to… Read More

Jonathan Pino – Falkenburg

September 1, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Jonathan Pino is executing the Falkenburg Drill https://youtu.be/BRcvQsyegPo Stay “In The… Read More

US Open Teams Championships: Drama, Determination, and Destination

September 1, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins) Labor Day weekend in Myrtle Beach saw more than the typical sun, surf, and seafood —it… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: EC Sports Table Tennis

August 31, 2025
(By Steve Hopkins) EC Sports Table Tennis was founded by 1996 Olympian Amy Feng to spread the joy of… Read More

Pan American Youth Championships Recap

August 31, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) The ITTF Pan American Youth Championships 2025 finished on Sunday in Rosario, Argentina. … Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.