Brazilian Moves to Top of Standings

Lausanne-Switzerland, May 22, 2012: Victory in the Junior Boys’ Singles event at the Slovak Junior Open in Senec on Sunday 20th May 2012, sees Brazil’s 18 year old Eric JOUTI climb to the top of the ITTF Junior Circuit Boys’ Standings.

He progresses from tenth position and replaces Hong Kong’s CHIU Chung Hei, the man he beat in the semi-finals in Senec, in first place.

CHUI Chung Hei is one place ahead of a second Brazilian Hugo CALDERANO, beaten by Italy’s Leonardo MUTTI at the semi-final stage in Slovakia.

Nine places higher for Eric JOUTI, for Poland’s 16 year old Sandra WABIK, the winner of the Girls’ Singles title at the Slovak Junior Open, the climb is even greater; she moves from no.65 to no.15.// Singapore’s ZHOU Yihan leads the Girls’ list. She is followed by Marina BERHO of France and LIN Ye, also from Singapore. None of the trio competed in Slovakia.

The top 16 boys and top 16 girls following the conclusion of the Bahrain Junior and Cadet Open on Sunday 18th November 2012, the concluding tournament on the 2012 ITTF Junior Circuit, qualify for the Grand Finals planned for January 2013 at a venue to be announced.

A maximum of two boys and two girls from any one national association is eligible, players must have competed in a minimum of two continents plus there must be one representative from each continent and from the host association.

Leading Places:

Junior Boys: 1. JOUTI Eric (BRA) 2. CHIU Chung Hei (HKG) 3. CALDERANO Hugo (BRA) 4. HIGASHI Yuto (JPN) 5. HUNG Tzu-Hsiang (TPE) 6. XIN Zhaoxu (SIN) 7. SZUDI Adam (HUN) 8. CHEW Clarence (SIN) 9. MACHI Asuka (JPN) 10. BEDAIR Omar (EGY) 11. KULPA Konrad (POL) 12. MORIZONO Masataka (JPN) 13. FLORE Tristan (FRA) 14. ZATOWKA Patryk (POL) 15. PUCAR Tomislav (CRO) 16. OMRANI Seyed Pourya (IRI) & WEN Wei-Chieh (TPE)

Junior Girls: 1. ZHOU Yihan (SIN) 2. BERHO Marina (FRA) 3. LIN Ye (SIN) 4. LI Isabelle Siyun (SIN) 5. ZETTERSTROM Kristina (SWE) 6. LI Ching Wan (HKG) 7. RAKOVAC Lea (CRO) 8. IMAMURA Yuko (GER) 9. SUZUKI Rika (JPN) 10. DOO Hoi Kem (HKG) 11. CORDERO Carelyn (PUR) 12. KRAFT Theresa (GER) 13. GALIC Alex (SLO) 14. PFEFER Laura (FRA) 15. WABIK Sandra (POL) 16. MATSUDAIRA Shiho (JPN).

Photo: MAURICIO VAL