World Championships | 29 Apr 2018

Egypt put Germany on test

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships

Top seeded team at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships, Germany was severely tested in the opening Round of the Men’s Event. To be true it was only one player who made all the pressure. Omar ASSAR beat Timo BOLL and Ruwen FILUS.

 

BOLL started well by beating Mohamed EL-BEIALI before FILUS suffered by the hands of ASSAR. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV beat Khalid ASSAR, but his older brother Omar was ready for another upset. He beat BOLL.

 

“We were thinking of ending our cooperation with him in Dusseldorf,” joked BOLL. ”But seriously, Omar played very good today. Now we have to analyze those defeats and to prevent it happen again. Although we lost two matches, we never were in true danger. We knew we will win this one.”

 

Portugal overcame DPR Korea in superb style in the opening round of the Men’s Event. In the same group, reigning champions, team of China prevailed against Russia, whilst Brazil beat Czech Republic.

 

“Marcos gave us good start with the victory over CHOE Il and Tiago APLONIA followed the path by beating PAK Sin Hyok. I overcame KANG Wi Hun in straight games to seal the match. It was good beginning of the tournament,” said Joao MONTEIRO who become very worried after he learned that Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN twisted her ankle in the match against Czech Republic.

 

In this Group it will be very hard to reach top.

 

“Tomorrow we play against Brazil. We have to win it. There is no space for mistake when you have China in the same Group. You have to win all other matches to stay in the game.”