Europe Top-16 Cup | 30 Jan 2018

Defending champion LI Jie hopes for another medal

Photo: ITTF

China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup

 

The winner of the 2017 edition in Juan-Les-Pins, Antibes (FRA), Dutch player LI Jie is the leading name on the list of the seeded players at the China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. She will play at the most prestige European event for a seventh time.

 

European singles silver medal winner from 2015, LI had a good start of the year. At the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour, Hungarian Open, in the main draw, she beat two Hong Kong’s players to reach the quarterfinal. LI succeeded against NG Wing Nam and SOO Wai Yam Minnie before she lost against CHEN Szu-Yu of Taipei. In the Seamaster European Champions League Women Dr Casl beat CP Lyssois in the quarterfinal. In the Seamaster European Champions League Women DR Casl is unbeaten and they justified their supremacy last week in the first leg of the quarterfinal.

 

Looking back at the 2017, LI was satisfied with the results.

 

“I think my performance was good last year. Winning the title at Top 16 and bronze medal at the ITTF European Team Championships were great success. “

 

Are you still in good shape, like last year?

 

“It is early to tell. It is just the start of the season. In Montreaux I will give my best. I hope it will be enough to reach the fights for medal rostrum.”

 

The list of challengers at the Top 16 is impressive. Who will be the main threat?

 

“I think all the girls are very strong. They are top class players it is hard to predict what will be.”

 

What is your best memories from Top 16.

 

“My most unforgettable memory is the first year I played in top12 in Germany. I never thought that I can win the silver medal.”

 

What is your main goal for this season?

 

“I hope I can get a good result with my team in the world championship this year,” said LI Jie.

 

n Salle Omnisport du Pierrier will play Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany, Timo Boll of Germany, Simon GAUZY of France, Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus, Marcos FREITAS of Portugal, Ruwen FILUS of Germany, Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden, Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia, Bastian STEGER of Germany, Jonathan GROTH of Denmark, Emmanuel LEBESSON of France, Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal, Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden, Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece, Stefan FEGERL of Austria, Lionel WEBER of Switzerland.

 

In Women’s Top 16 will play: LI Jie of Netherlands, Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania, Georgina POTA of Hungary, Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria, Petrissa SOLJA of Germany, LI Qian of Poland, Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden, Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania, Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus, NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg, Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia, Sabine WINTER of Germany, Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine and Rachel MORET of Switzerland.

 

Event’s page here

Organisers web site here

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