With three teenagers in the squad, England women go into a home World Championships aiming for good results but knowing that, whatever happens, they will be stronger and better for the experience.

England will take on three of the best teams in the world – Japan, Germany and France – in the Stage 1a seeding matches at OVO Arena Wembley on 2 and 3 May.

They are then guaranteed at least one more match in the Round of 32, against a team qualifying from Stage 1b at the Copper Box Arena – and obviously more matches if they win that one.

Teenagers Tianer Yu (18), Ella Pashley (17) and 14-year-old Alyssa Nguyen are joined in the squad by the more experienced Jasmin Wong and, of course, Tin-Tin Ho.

It is easy to forget Tin-Tin is still only 27 herself, as she has represented England with distinction for so long, and she is the undoubted leader of the team.

It was her unbeaten tournament which saw England qualify for last year’s European Team Championships, where Yu stepped up with two impressive wins as England defeated higher-ranked Italy to reach the knockout stage.

Wong and Pashley were also in the squad for both those competitions, meaning the team spirit is already strong and making the integration of newcomer Nguyen a smooth process.

“It’s been nice to welcome everyone and try to bond a bit as well,” said Ho from the first of two training blocs in Sheffield prior to going into London.

“We already know each other quite well. I went to uni with Jasmin, so we’re quite close, and I know Ella and Tia as well, and we’ve hopefully welcomed Alyssa well in the team.

“Preparing for a team (event) compared to individuals, it’s actually quite similar, especially for the World Championships. So even if I was preparing for individuals, I also want to be preparing as a team like we’re doing now.

“But I think there’s a bit more emphasis on team spirit and being a team player and knowing you’re not the only one in the team. I’m trying my best as a leader to instil that attitude.

“We know each other well, and now I feel like it’s time that we can like get some good results as well. We have a great opportunity to play against really good teams but I hope we can maybe cause some upsets because if we all play at our top game, I think anything can happen.”

Wong, who is 22, is impressed with how Nguyen has stepped into the senior set-up.

“I think we’re working well as a team together,” she said. “We’re training well together on and off the table. We’ve been commuting into the hall and to the hotel together, having dinners and lunch together. We we’re all getting to know each other a lot better, especially with Alyssa coming in, she’s been really good and chiming in to our conversations and we’re getting to know her a little bit better as well.

“With a team leader like Tin-Tin it’s a lot easier to have a good team spirit, just because she’s such a good role model.”

Although she has played at a couple of European Championships, Wong admits the Worlds will be a bit nerve-wracking, but she said: “We’ve got nothing to lose, really. And with the home crowd backing us I think it’ll be a really good experience taking it forward to other tournaments as well.”

On her call-up at the age of just 14, Nguyen said: “It feels really amazing, I can’t believe it. But I’m really excited to go to the Worlds and learn from the other players, and it’ll be a really good experience for me.

“The senior camp is just a lot more high-intensity. The quality on balls is really, really good and it’s just amazing to see such really good players around me.

“I’m most excited at the World Championships, to see all the top players playing. That would be really, really cool and I can learn a lot from them, see how they play, and they’ll be just amazing.”

Two of the players – Ho and Yu – are from London and both excited to be playing on home territory.

Yu, who is from Shoreditch, said: “I’m just so excited to be able to be part of this event because it’s 100 years since the first World Team Championships and it’s in London. So that’s amazing. I think it’s just such an honour to represent England in this tournament.

“We’ll be playing against amazing players as well, so it’s an amazing chance to learn something from them and hopefully like make it difficult for them as well.

“My parents will come and watch and possibly my brother as well. So, my family will be there to support me and it’s really exciting to play like in front of them.”

Ho added: “I’m very excited to play in my home city. I have some school friends that already got tickets, and my family as well can watch. So, it’s exciting and it’ll be really cool that it’s in London.

“As a team, I hope we just grow stronger and more confident to compete against the best in the world. And I think personally I want to show my game and play my game and hopefully continue that journey of keep improving.”