AFTER a successful Fiji Open Championship, the Fiji Table Tennis Association has set its sights on more international competition for younger players.
Association president Anthony Ho said younger players, some playing for the first time, at the Kasabias-sponsored event last weekend, impressed national selectors in their respective grades. He also noted a vast improvement in the skills of the junior players who featured in the Oceania Championship in June last year.
"I was pleased with the performance of the players in the tournament, especially the junior players," Ho said.
"It seems like they learnt a lot from the Oceania event and displayed an improved game in the Fiji Open," he said.
"Now we will work on preparing these junior players for the Oceania Junior Championship, World Junior Championship and the Oceania Cadet U15 qualifiers that will be held in New Caledonia in June."
He said a squad would be named later this month.
"The tournaments will be held one after another so we are looking to send eight players — four males and four females.
"The earlier we start training the better it is and so we are targeting to start by the end of the month."
Ho said despite the low number of participants at the Fiji Open, the tournament was a success and it identified some players who could be national reps in the different age groups.