With just a week to go until the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals begin in London, the World All Stars team to play against Great Britain has been named.
Already confirmed were the Egyptian pair of Omar Assar and Nadeen El-Dawlatly, who have both qualified for the Olympics next year, while the players joining them for the fixture against Team GB are all ITTF Pro Tour finalists in the Under-21s.
Tomas Tregler (CZE) qualified for the Under-21s competition next week by finishing in 14th place on the ITTF Pro Tour standings and benefitting from a few other players dropping out. NG Wing Nam (HKG), meanwhile, finished 10th in the standings and was originally a reserve until the top two Korean seeds (Yang Ha Eun and Kang Mi Soon) dropped out.
Lee Sang Su (KOR), ranked 31 in the world, qualified automatically in sixth place in the boys’ rankings while Saki Tashiro (JPN) finished 12th in the standings but was promoted from her reserve position.
The team match takes place halfway through the prestigious event at ExCeL with the competition being used as a test for the Olympic Games at the same venue next year.
Taking place at 7pm on Friday 25th November, the match will provide the English players with an ideal opportunity to practice their skills before they represent the nation on the same tables next summer.
Confirmed teams for Team GB v World All Stars:
Mens’ World All Star Team:
Lee Sang Su (Korea)
Tomas Tregler (Czech Rep.)
Omas Assar (Egypt)
Womens’ World All Star Team:
Saki Tashiro (Japan)
NG Wing Nam (Hong Kong)
Nadeeen El-Dawlatly (Egypt)
Mens’ Great Britain Team:
Paul Drinkhall
Andrew Baggaley
Liam Pitchford
Reserve: Gavin Rumgay
Womens’ Great Britain Team:
Joanna Parker
Kelly Sibley
Liu Na
Reserve: Naomi Owen