The ITTF Hopes program supported by the Foundation for Global Sports Development and powered by Butterfly, is coming to one of the most exciting moments in 2017 – selection of the Hopes Team.
While the Hopes Challenge has been one of the highlights of the World Hopes Week and Challenge, attracting a great attention, it only contributes 35 per cent to the overall evaluation. As the most important value for players aged 11/12 is to have a strong base for long term improvement, the final standing is formed by the results of the tournament (35% of overall points) and the arithmetic average of all evaluators (65%).
Head Coaches LI Xiaodong and ZHANG Yining with CTTC-E Coaches GU Nan and ZHENG Chaoying worked hard to prepare and evaluate the 2017 Hopes Players in Luxembourg. Photo by Claude Sibenaler
Attributes
The evaluation was based on attributes, that were divided into three sections: the core elements, composed by anticipation and kinesthetic sense, the current game composed by the technical level, the quality of service and speed ; thirdly the challenges, encompassing the response to special challenges both in training and competition.
After all aspects were evaluated, the top four respective places for the boys were occupied by Navid Shams (Iran), Tayler Fox (GER), Nicholas Lum (AUS) and Dragos BUJOR (Romania); the four best positioned girls were JINGYI Zhou (Singapore), Anna HURSEY (Wales), Swathi GIRI (USA) and Sophie Earley (Ireland).
2017 Hopes Team selection criteria
The winners of the tournament obtained automatic placement in the Hopes Team. The remaining six spots were selected having in mind the position of representatives of each continent based on the Final Standing List, whereby the player should have reached positions 1-10 at the World Hopes Challenge in order to be considered.
Continental representation
Continental representation was observed, while priority was given to players with higher rank at the Final Standing considering also the gender aspect.
No more than one player from the same National Association could be selected, except in the case the winners were from the same National Association, which was not the case in Luxembourg.
2017 Hopes Team announced
Following a profound evaluation the Hopes Teams were selected.
The girls team is composed by Jingyi ZHOU (Singapore – Asia), Anna HURSEY (Wales – Europe), Swathi GIRI (USA – North America) and Giulia TAKAHASHI (Brazil – Latin America). Photo by Claude Sibenaler
The boys team is composed by Navid SHAMS (Iran – Asia), Tayler FOX (Germany – Europe), Nicholas LUM (Australia – Oceania) and Omar EHAB (Egypt – Africa). Photo by Claude Sibenaler
ZHENG Chaoying was one of the coaches working on the 2017 Hopes Evaluation. Photo by Kenneth Lum
Successful Event
This was the final event before the all-important World Cadet Challenge, to be held in Fiji in October, and it saw athletes aim to establish their position on the Hopes Team. The initiative was led by the ITTF Education & Training Department, composed by Polona Cehovin (Director), Dejan Papic (Coordinator) and Daniela Gomes (Projects Officer) and it was possible thanks to the collaboration with the China Table Tennis College – Europe (CTTC-E) and important support of Butterfly and the Foundation for Global Sports Development.
Download Results and Evaluations
2017 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge: Results of Challenge Tournament (girls)
2017 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge: Results of Challenge Tournament (boys)
2017 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge: Final Ranking Standing Girls
2017 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge: Final Ranking Standing boys
2017 Hopes Team Selection announcement
2017 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge: 2017 Evaluation
Special note:
The implementation of the Hopes Program depends on the significant co-operation and efforts of the National Associations, Continental Federation, the Continental Development Officers and Hopes Coordinators. ITTF takes this opportunity to thank all those involved, in particular, the Continental Hopes Co-ordinators from: Africa: Mr. Mokhtar Toukabri (TUN), Asia: Mr. Afshin Badiee (IRI), Europe: Mr. Neven Cegnar (CRO), Latin America: Mr. Jhon Cruz (COL), North America: Ms. Mireille Tallon (CAN) and Oceania Ms. Christine Young (NZL).