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178 youth players from 21 countries will embark on their table tennis journeys when they compete at the inaugural WTT Youth Series event to be held in Vila Real, Portugal this week. They will also have the opportunity to earn senior rankings points at WTT Youth Series events with points earned in the U19 competition to be included in their ITTF Table Tennis Ranking.
Divided into two tiers, WTT Star Youth Contender and WTT Youth Contender, the WTT Youth Series that debuts in Portugal will provide youth players with the opportunity to transition into professional careers.
Four of the top 20 boys in the U19 Boys’ singles ITTF Table Tennis Youth Ranking- Hungary’s Andras CSABA (12), Croatia’s Ivor BAN (13), Belgium’s Adrien RASSENFOSSE (15) and Germany’s Kay STUMPER (17) have confirmed their entries while Puerto Rico’s Angel NARANJO, who is ranked third in the U17 Boys’ singles has also committed to the event which will take place from May 11-17.
Romania’s Iulian CHIRITA and Wales’ Anna HURSEY who are ranked fourth in the U15 Boys and Girls’ singles respectively will feature in the U15 category. The local hopes will rest on the shoulders of Tiago ABIODUM who is seeded second in U13 boys’ category while Matilde PINTO and Ines MATOS are seeded seventh and eighth respectively in the U17 girls’ category.
Following the WTT Youth Contender Vila Real, the WTT Youth Series will head to Tunisia for the WTT Youth Star Contender Tunis where USD17,000 in prize money will be on offer. It is scheduled to be played at the Salle Omnisport de Radès from May 26-30.
