Indore to host World Junior Circuit Finals TT

India will host the World Junior Circuit Finals at Indore between January 22 and 25, 2016, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) confirmed.

Incidentally, this will be the fifth international event that India will host this season as the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) has already completed hosting the Asian Cup at Jaipur (March), SAF Championships in New Delhi (May) and Indian Open at Indore (September). The Commonwealth Championships will be held at Surat in December followed by the World Junior Circuit Finals at Indore.

India had hosted the World Junior Finals in 2011 at Hyderabad, but then it was a combined event for the Cadet as well as Junior Boys and Girls. Ever since, the ITTF has separated the two events and conduct them on alternate years like they do in the World Championships -- team and individual events.

The Indore World event, which is worth $36,000 in prize money, will see the top-16 boys and girls competing. Selection is based on ranking points paddlers have accumulated throughout the season with entry limited to two boys and two girls per country.

As hosts, India will get one wild card entry each in the boys and girls sections, if none of the Indians fail to make the grade through rankings.

"Our aim is to build a team for the future and the World Junior Circuit Finals provide the best platform for Indian paddlers to get the right kind of exposure," TTFI secretary general Dhanraj Choudhary said.