World Championships | 30 Apr 2018

Sweden fired up Halmstad Arena

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships

 

Despite the fact that match of the second round of the Women’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships did not enter to agonizing fifth match, the duel between Sweden and Belarus meets the highest standards.

 

Sweden won and the back bone of this success was Matilda EKHOLM who overcame both Viktoria PAVLOVICH and Nadezhda BOGDANOVA

 

Speaking of her victory over PAVLOVICH, EKHOLM said: “Defensive players are all different, so you cannot adopt the same tactic against them all. It depends on the backhand’s rubber or their playing style. But I played so many times against Vika so I knew what I had to do and it worked. She’s a really good player; in that sense it wouldn’t have made sense if I won easily. I knew I had to fight on every point. “

 

In her second match of the day Matilda needed only three games to overcame BOGDANOVA: “I still feel a little bit tired. I struggled a lot with her serve today which made me nervous. But I finally managed to receive better and I could win. At the end of the set, when the game is very tight, I try to focus on my serve or my return. The first shot is the most important.”

 

 

Explaining her role as a leader of the team Matilda said: “As leader of my team, I don’t give lot of advices. I just think that my teammates follow and learn for me in some things. Nevertheless, I give sometimes some technical advices at the practice.”

 

Only point for Belarus has been won by Daria TRIGOLOS. She overcame Jennifer JONNSON

 

“I was just thinking about what I had to do and also enjoying the game. I feel very good here in Halmstad with this atmosphere. I am happy to participate to such a wonderful competition,” said Jennifer.

 

Viktoria suffered twice in the duel. Linda BERGSTROM prevailed in four games.

 

 “We started very good against Singapour yesterday; unfortunately, we lost at the end. It was important that we still keep going. Last time, I lost 0-3 against her at the Champions League in February but it was very close so I knew I would have a chance but I wasn’t expecting to win.”

 

Austria beat Ukraine in straight matches in their third match at the Championships after they already prevailed against US and Hungary. Sofia POLCANOVA, LIU Jia and Amelie SOLJA prevailed against Ganna GAPONOVA, Margaryta PESOTSKA and Tetyana BILENKO.

 

At age of 54, NI Xialian lead Luxembourg to the victory over Brazil. She secured two points, against Jessica YAMADA and Bruna TAKAHASHI. Sarah DE NUTTE beat TAKAHASHI to record third point.

 

After controversy that surrounded their match against Netherlands yesterday, Romania secured second win in their Group. They overcame Poland. Pivotal role in their success was played by Elizabeta SAMARA who overcame Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA-FRANC and Natalia PARTYKA. Bernadette SZOCS overcame PARTYKA, whilst LI Qian prevailed in five games match against Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN.