Reaching out for Olympic Honours
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JEAN-PHILIPPE GATIEN Master of his Domain Quantum leap for Racket Technology KOKI NIWA Reaching out for Olympic honours ITTF Cadet Challenge TOKYO 009 content Future Spin no 4 08 10 15 18 24 26 28 30 WELCOME TO TOKYO AND ITTF JUNIOR TIME SCHEDULE 04 CIRCUIT FINALS & CADET CHALLENGE 21 TONY YUE & PETRA SÖRLING PARTICIPANTS ITTF JUNIOR CIRCUIT 06 Welcome to the beautiful city of Tokyo 22 FINALS & CADET CHALLENGE KOKI NIWA MISAKI MORIZONO 08 Reaching out for Olympic honours 24 Small in stature, big in ambition JEAN-PHILIPPE GATIEN PAN AMERICAN CONTINENT 10 Master of his Domain 26 History in the making MIKAEL ANDERSSON LILY PHAN 15 The road to Singapore 28 Multi talented with great future ahead JENS FELLKE IAN MARSHALL 18 Quantum leap for Racket Technology 30 Out of Africa Future Spin special edition ITTF Junior Circuit Finals & Cadet Challenge ITTF Cadet Challenge Tokyo October 009 TEXT & PHOTO: © ITTF LAYOUT: Thomas Buza, Teknikförlaget AB, Halmstad, Sweden PRINT: Trydells Tryckeri, Laholm, Sweden ISSUE: 3.000 copies September 2009 • ITTF JUNIOR CIRCUIT FINALS/CADET CHALLENGE TOKYO JAPAN 2009 ITTF JUNIOR CIRCUIT FINALS/CADET CHALLENGE TOKYO JAPAN 2009 • TOKYO 009 Welcome to Tokyo and ITTF WJCC/CC t is my great pleasure to have this grand event, the 2009 ITTF the next generation. I look forward to Cadet Challenge & Junior Circuit Finals held in Tokyo. On seeing all the players put on their best Ibehalf of the citizens of Tokyo, I would like to extend a hearty performance through aggressive plays, welcome to all the players and executives who have gathered here using all of the skills they have acquired from around the world. through arduous practice. I understand that this competition, which aims to advance and increase the popularity of table tennis among young people from The program for the players has middle school to high school age worldwide, has been held every also scheduled time for sightseeing in year since the first event in Hungary in 2002. The Cadet Chal- Tokyo including the Tokyo Metropoli- lenge, in which selected athletes under 15-years-old from regions tan Government building. I hope that across the globe form teams for competition between continents, this will not only allow friendship that will provide a prime opportunity for international exchange knows no national borders to flourish, Mr. Shintaro Ishihara, among the young players. but will also cultivate fans of Tokyo by Governor of Tokyo. providing an opportunity to see and feel I AM ALSO EXTREMELY HAPPY to see that the Junior the diverse attractions Tokyo has to offer. Circuit Finals will also be held at the same time for competition In closing, may I express my most sincere appreciation to eve- among players ages 18 and under. I am sure that this will present ryone who has contributed their efforts to make this event possible a highly significant platform for mutual growth among middle and extend my very best wishes for the tournament’s success. and high school students who are striving to be the top players of n behalf of Japan Table Tennis Association, it is my international com- great pleasure to welcome all players and officials for petitions. Othe 2009 ITTF Cadet Challenge & Junior Circuit Taking this opp- Finals in Tokyo. ortunity, I would We are so proud of having cadet and junior players joining this like to express my final tournament by winning at high level continental qualifica- sincere thanks to tion tournaments and events on the ITTF Junior Circuit. I hope International Table every player can reach new heights and achieve distinguished Tennis Federation, Tokyo Metropolitan results with spectators in the venue of Tokyo. Sports & Culture Project, Tokyo Table Tennis Federation, The Tokyo Club, THIS EVENT IS A PLEASANT OCCASION for young Joola, Butterfly, Stag, various sponsors Mr. Takeo Obayashi, people to enjoy staying in Tokyo, make new overseas friends and and all staff for their support and as- President of Japan share a memorable experience. I wish everyone will gain valuable sistance with hoping fruitful success of Table Tennis Association. experience in this event, and become better prepared for future this event. would like to extend a hearty welome to all the top young capture the heart of players, coaches and officials who have come from all dif- many table tennis I ferent continents of the world to the capital city Tokyo. fans. It is important It is a great honour for us to host the prestigious events ”2009 that all involved ITTF Cadet Challenge & ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in Tokyo” such as competitors at Tokyo Gymnasium as Mecca of Table Tennis with many excel- and spectators unite lent young players who are promising and specially selected. during this intense moment to share equally in the excitement, emotion and WE HAVE HELD THE World Table Tennis Championships challenges of the games. twice in Tokyo, 1956 and 1983. By making use this experience, Finally, I would like to extend my we would like to make this tournament the big stage for young sincere gratitude for the guidance and players taking off for the brilliant future. support of the Japan Table Tennis Asso- Mr. Susumu Michi- I place all my expectations on players who I know will make ciation, Tokyo Metropolitan Sports & gami, President, Tokyo excellent trained ”power”, ”speed”, and ”technique” in order to Culture Project and the sponsors. Table Tennis Federation. • ITTF JUNIOR CIRCUIT FINALS/CADET CHALLENGE TOKYO JAPAN 2009 ITTF JUNIOR CIRCUIT FINALS/CADET CHALLENGE TOKYO JAPAN 2009 • TOKYO 009 Tony Yue, ITTF Junior Commission Chairman Welcome to the beautiful city of Tokyo he ITTF Cadet Challenge and Junior Circuit Finals are retur- T ning to Asia and this time, the beautiful city of Tokyo will play host to these two wonderful events. On this occasion, it is my honor as Chairman of the Junior Commission, to extend my warm and sincere welcome to all of you attending these events. 009 Cadet ChallengE will not only feature the best under-15 players from each Continent but it will also be the first qualifying event of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. This will guaran- tee top level of play and excitement. This year, our Junior Circuit has had the most events since its inception by holding more Tony Yue, Chairman of the ITTF Junior Commission, during the draw at this year’s Hong than 20 events around the world. The Kong Junior Open. Photo: Kevin Lee. future stars of table tennis are here to be international table tennis events. I would volunteers who have contributed to the discovered. like to take this opportunity to express successful holding of the event. Let the Japan Table Tennis Association has our gratitude and appreciation to the games begin! always been a good host organizing many Organizing Committee and the many ITTF’s free of charge Petra Sörling, ITTF Executive Vice-President So much more than an ordinary online Table Tennis channel with: Table Tennis tournament • the ITTF Pro Tour n 2007 I had the privilege, to go to Sweden. It is a big event, young people Cape Town, South Africa, for the and lots of volunteers make this special • the ITTF Junior Circuit IITTF Cadet Challenge and Junior atmosphere. The Cadet Challenge was in- Circuit Finals. From the first training troduced already in 2002 with this special • International events camp until the last final I followed the “continental” concept and this year in To- European team and together with the kyo will be the 8th edition. It is also the kids I really got the feeling that this was first qualification tournament for Youth much more than an ordinary table tennis Olympics 2010. In Tokyo Gymnasium …and the monthly magazine ITTF World of Table Tennis tournament. this year our youngsters might play in the The year after, 2008, I saw the compe- same venue as where they might dream of tition from the organizer´s point of view, playing during the Olympic Games 2016. hosting the tournament in Helsingborg, Petra Sörling, ITTF Ex. Vice-President. WWW.ITTF.COM • ITTF JUNIOR CIRCUIT FINALS/CADET CHALLENGE TOKYO JAPAN 2009 ITTF JUNIOR CIRCUIT FINALS/CADET CHALLENGE TOKYO JAPAN 2009 • ”I am very happy and satisfied with what I did TOKYO 009 in Yokohama; I did win some matches matches TOKYO 009 which gave me confidence.” rite. The difference of a champion and a talent is the way they play under pressure. Therefore table tennis experts will have a Reaching out for close eye on Koki Niwa to see how strong he mentally is. Seven years and seven hours Asked about his recent improvements, OLYMPIC honours Koki Niwa answers briefly: “Service and backhand”. The 14 year old, who enjoys games on his mobile phone occasionally, Koki Niwa won last year’s Junior Circuit Finals in out- started to play seven years ago. “My father was playing table tennis and took me to standing manner. At the age of 14, he was the young- the practice when I was seven years old.” Today he is almost a table tennis profes- est ever winner of this event for players under 18 by sional. On a normal day, there are practice sessions from 08:30 to 11:30 and from far. Although dominating the older opponents, the 14:30 to 18:30, seven hours thus. In promising left hander makes a step back for this year’s the evening Niwa can go practicing too, but this is voluntary. “I enjoy matches event in Tokyo. He will play in the Cadet events again, extremely, on the other hand I do not enjoy physical training such as running the age group where he still belongs to.