The annual competition for table tennis players under the age of 18, which began in 2003, is being held this year in Bendigo.

Participants will compete in the girls' singles, boys' singles, girls' doubles, boys' doubles, mixed doubles, girls' team or boys' team event. 

China won all seven events at last year's tournament in Riva Del Garda in Italy and, with their players the top seeds for the girls' singles and boys' doubles events this year, there is a strong chance that they will be able to retain at least some of their titles.

Shi Xunyao is the number one seed for the girls' singles and has previous experience of victory after winning the competition in 2016. 

Her compatriot Qian Tianyi is second seed, while Sabina Surjan of Serbia is third.

In the boys' doubles event, Xiang Peng and Xu Haidong are favourites to win.

China also has a strong competitor in the boys' singles through Haidong, who is seeded at number three in that event. 

Huang Fanzhen and Xunyao are China's main contenders in the girls' doubles tournament, and although Xunyao was part of China's winning duo last year, her and her new partner are number three seeds.

The competition is due to start tomorrow at the Bendigo Stadium in Victoria with the girls and boys' team events and conclude on December 9.