Tin-Tin Ho is relishing the chance to take on the best young players in the world as she prepares for the World Junior Championships.
The 16-year-old Londoner is flying to Shanghai on Monday, where she will play singles and mixed doubles – the latter alongside Russian Sadi Ismailov.
Ho earned her place at the event through her world ranking – she is 53rd on the under-18 list – and is seeded No 33 for the singles and No 38 in the doubles.
Her competition begins on Wednesday with the doubles. The singles starts with the group stages on Thursday.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s my first world juniors and I’m excited to go,” said the City of London School for Girls pupil.
“I’ll just be relaxed and go out there to get the best results I can.
“Everyone will be dangerous. There will be a lot of Chinese players and the top Europeans but I’m looking forward to playing them – I don’t play in many tournaments where the Chinese are playing.”
Table Tennis England Head Coach Nick Jarvis, who will accompany Ho to China, said: “She’s capable of beating anyone, but obviously it’s a tough competition.
“On paper, it’s a big step up, but in a one-off match anything can happen. To win the tournament you’ve probably got to beat six or seven of the best in the world, and that’s difficult. But if she plays her best game, she can beat people.”