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By Patrick Lujan

Governor Eddie Calvo began the games with an array of smoke and lighting. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

VIEW LIVE COVERAGE HERE!

Guam takes center stage this week as it hosts the 2012 World Cadet Challenge, a table tennis tournament comprised of the world’s best junior table tennis players from 34 different countries.

Officials from the International Table Tennis Federation along with Governor of Guam, Hon.Eddie Calvo declared the games open this Tuesday morning at the University of Guam Field House with the opening ceremony.

The tournament has turned the Field House into a world-class looking facility with top-of-the-line table tennis equipment and a huge administrative stage that rivals any world tournament layout.

The participating world regions line up before the opening matches. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Team events take over the next two days with the medal rounds starting around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Athletes will take a competition day off on Thursday before the individual competition starts up Friday morning culminating in individual medal rounds slated for Sunday at 4 p.m.

Admission is free and live streaming of the medal rounds can be seen on www.guamsportsnetwork.com.

Regions Participating

Africa: Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Congo

Local artists Johnny Sablan gets the crowd into the ‘Hafa Adai’ song before the opening speeches. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Asia: China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand

Europe: Poland, Sweden, Russia, Hungary, England, Romania, Switzerland, Croatia

Latin America: Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Spain

North America: USA, Canada

Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Cook Islands

Guam

Mima Ito of Asia is one of the world’s top junior competitors competing in the event. She currently holds the world record for most table tennis counter hits in one minute at 180. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

The world’s number one ranked junior competitor, Kohei Sambe of Asia, hides the spin of his serve during his first match. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Roger Wang of Oceania keeps his eye on the ball to make his serve. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Youssef Abdelaziz of World Hopes reads the serve from his opponent Erwin Shan of Oceania. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Christina Pui of North America serves the ball just inches away from her eyes in her opening match. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Isaac Zauli of Latin America awaits the serve from Allen Wang of North America. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

Seungmin Cho of Asia tosses the ball in the air to begin his serve. (photo by Errol Alegre, Jr.)

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