



(Gu Yuting)


(Wu Yang)
(Photos by Rémy Gros)
As I watched the ITTF live stream of semis and finals of individual events at the 2009 World Junior Table Tennis Championships, Cartagena de Indias, COL throughout the day, I was quite impressed by the levels of play. The most exciting new player is the 14-year-old Gu Yuting from China, the winner of mixed doubles, girls' doubles, and the runner-up of girls' singles. It's hard to believe the davastating power of her forehand loop, even against the Great Wall of the world's top female defender, the 17-year-old Wu Yang of China, who defeat Gu in the final of girls' singles. With more international competition experience, improvement of backhand loop for Gu and forehand attack for Wu, I will not be surprised to see the two ladies in 2016 (if not 2012!) Olympics.