COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 17, 2008) - USA Table Tennis was well represented at the 2008 International Table Tennis Federation Challenge Cup in Helsingborg, Sweden by six athletes and two coaches. The ITTF Cadet Challenge is an event for cadet age athletes (under-15 years old) where the continents are represented by teams. The 2008 North American Table Tennis Championships held in July 2008 in Las Vegas, Nev. served as the qualifier for the North American continent. In that event, the United States qualified for six athletes and two coaching positions. Canada qualified two athletes. Canada was also represented at the ITTF Cadet Challenge by the team leader.

Representing North America in the 2008 International Table Tennis Federation Cadet Challenge in Helsingborg, Sweden were:

Cadet Girl's Team
Ariel Hsing (USA)
Lily Zhang (USA)
Sylvan Guo (USA)
Anne Deng (USA)
Coach: Emilia Gheorghe (USA)

Cadet Boy's Team
Justen Yao (USA)
Peter Li (USA)
Pierre-Luc Theriault (CAN)
Tian-Terry Zhang (CAN)
Coach: Keith Evans (USA)

Team Leader: George Damianov (CAN)

The North American Cadet Team participated in a three day training camp in Helsingborg with the other participating teams prior to the start of the competition. The USA Table Tennis Cadet Girl's Team of Ariel Hsing, Lily Zhang, Sylvan Guo and Anne Deng finished fourth overall in the team competition. In the Cadet Girl's Doubles Hsing and Zhang placed ninth, while Guo and Deng finished 11th. In the Cadet Girl's Singles competition Hsing finished a U.S. best 10th place. Zhang was 13th, Deng 21st and Guo 22nd.

On the boy's side, the North American team finished the team event in sixth place overall. In the Cadet Boy's Doubles competition Peter Li of the USA teamed with Tian-Terry Zhang of Canada to place 12th, while Justen Yao (USA) and Pierre-Luc Theriault (CAN) placed 14th. In the Cadet Boy's Singles competition Li finished 19th and Yao placed 29th.

For complete and detailed results from the 2008 International Table Tennis Federation Cadet Challenge in Helsingborg, Sweden please visit http://www.ittf.com/juniors/2008/CC-JCF/2008cc_resultsbook.pdf.