Eyes on the prize for Aussie youngster
RISING Australian table tennis star Heming Hu has his sights set on making the main draw at the ITTF World Tour Australian Open when qualifying starts today at The Arena.
The final spots in the tournament are up for grabs over the next two days with 24year-old Hu one of Australia’s leading hopes to get through.
The Melburnian will play compatriot Shaoping Zhang and Indian and top 40 player Sathiyan Gnanasekaran over the next two days.
“The goal is to make the main draw. Anything else is a bonus,” Hu said.
“You have to win them all (the qualifying matches) to go through. We will see what I can do.
“My game is going well. Overall I have been playing very well, I am just looking forward to this next opportunity.”
The Australian Open then starts on Thursday with players competing for $400,000 in prize money.
About 100 million Chinese viewers are set to tune in to the tournament, while it’s expected more than 2400 spectators will visit Geelong to watch the action.
The competition will be broadcast to more than 80 countries.
Hu said his busy schedule leading into the Australian Open would help him play at his best.
“I’m looking forward to it. I've had a busy schedule of matches with nationals and a tournament at the weekend,” he said.
“It’s a very strong field and it’s a challenge for the Australian guys. We will see what happens.”
Hu will then head over to the men’s World Cup in Paris later this year. Hu qualified for the World Cup after winning the Oceania Cup.
“It’s a very specific qualification system,” he said.
“Oceania Cup has one spot. With my first time playing in the Oceania Cup, it was nice and special and a dream come true in itself.
“To win it was even more special, it was a fantastic feeling.
“I am looking for the World Cup. I will see what I can do.”
Hu said he first started playing table tennis as a sevenyear-old in his parents’ garage.
“I played with my family and with the Chinese background my brother played to give him something to do. They did the same for me and naturally I followed my brother,” he said.
“I enjoyed winning. But I never really loved the sport until I was about 10 or 11 when one coach got me into it.
“Since then it’s been a rollercoaster and I’ve enjoyed it and never really looked back since.”