August 2024

BTT member Emma Yang Stands out at 2024 ITTF Pan Am Championships with Three Golds and One Bronze 

by BTT

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The 2024 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Pan American U11 & U13 Championships, held from August 18 to August 25, showcased the remarkable talents of young players from across the continent. Among the standout performers was Emma Yang, a 6th grader from Mount Pleasant Middle School in Livingston, who brought home an impressive haul of three Gold medals and one Bronze for Team USA.


Emma Yang's dominant performance began with a Gold in the U11 Girls' Singles category. She triumphed in the Round of Sixteen with a decisive 3-0 victory over Guatemala's Roselin Vasquez. Continuing her strong showing, Emma defeated Pierina Carrasco of Peru 3-0 in the Quarter-finals. In the Semi-finals, she faced Mariana Sanchez from Colombia, who had caused an upset by defeating the top seed from Canada. Emma quickly adapted to Sanchez's style and secured a 3-1 win to advance to the Final. There, she clinched the Gold by narrowly edging out her teammate, Shreya Venkateraman, with a 3-2 victory.


Beyond her singles success, Emma played a key role in Team USA’s victories in the U11 Girls' Doubles and U11 Girls' Teams events, earning two additional Gold medals. She also secured a Bronze medal in the U11 Mixed Doubles. Her outstanding performance at the Pan Am Championships earned her a spot as one of only three American girls selected for the prestigious 2024 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge in Asuncion, Paraguay. This event will bring together 20 girls from around the world for elite training and competition.