After the retirement of Olympic quarter-finalist Wang Chen, the U.S. women’s delegation will consist of young fresh faces at the forthcoming World Championships in Yokohama, Japan.
Ariel Hsing (13) and Lily Zhang (12) convinced selectors with their fine performances at the U.S. National Championships. Of the other nominated players, Gao Jun, Jasna Reed and Crystal Xi Huang, each one is older than the two youngsters together.
Ariel Hsing in the Women’s Final
Ariel Hsing was runner up in the Women’s Singles event at the “U.S. Nationals” beating Jackie Lee in the semi-final. Only Crystal Huang in the final was able to stop the super talent.
Both finalists automatically qualified for the World Championships and therefore Ariel Hsing will make her debut at the senior stage in Yokohama in April this year.
Lily Zhang Wins Cadet and Junior Events
One spot was reserved for a selection made by the National Coaches Committee and the Elite Athletes Committee. Lily Zhang was the lucky one and the justified her nomination by prevailing in the Cadet Girls’ and Junior Singles events. An anecdote: in the Junior final she overcame Ariel Hsing.
The coach of Lily and Ariel is Dennis Davis, organiser of the 2007 World Junior Table Tennis Championships. He will make sure that the youngsters do not presume a great deal. “We still have work to do”, the tireless coach knows well.
Source: www.ITTF.com
