European Olympic Singles Qualification | 23 Jan 2014

Four Europeans join Youth Olympic Games

Romania’s Adina DIACONU emerged successful in the vital determining Girls’ Singles contests at the ITTF 2014 Youth Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. In the quarterfinal of the main draw of the Junior Girls Singles Even

Romania’s Adina DIACONU emerged successful in the vital determining Girls’ Singles contests at the ITTF 2014 Youth Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. In the quarterfinal of the main draw of the Junior Girls Singles Event, Romania’s player beat Poland’s Natalia BAJOR to secure the place in China. Hungary’s Adam SZUDI and Germany’s Kilian ORT beat the odds and alongside David REITSPIES booked semi final place in Junior Boys Singles Event. Thus, subject to National Olympic Committee approval, the quartet has booked places in the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games.

In Girls Event DOO Hoi Kem, the no.1 seed, beat Thailand’s Tamolwan KHETKHUAN, the no.5 seed to become the first player to reserve her passage to Nanjing. She was followed by CHIU Ssu-Hua who accounted for Great Britain’s Charlotte CAREY, before Adina DIACONU performed the great escape to beat Poland’s Natalia BAJOR and Miyu KATO brought the morning to a conclusion by defeating Canada’s Anqi LUO.

Adam SZUDI, the no.7 seed, beat Brazil’s Hugo CALDERANO, the no.1 seed, before Kilian ORT, the no.6 seed, accounted for Hong Kong’s HUNG Ka Tak, the no.5 seed. The Czech Republic’s David REITSPIES, the no.4 seed, accounted for the host nation’s Diogo CHEN, the no.8 seed, before Chinese Taipei’s YANG Heng-Wei brought the afternoon session of play to a conclusion with a dramatic win over Korea’s KIM Minhyeok.

An afternoon of upsets had finished with yet another surprise and in the most dramatic fashion; a contest full a high class rallies and for all four successful players, as with the Girls’ Singles event, a very special guest was present to award the certificates.

Accompanied by Pedro MOURA, the President of the Portuguese Table Tennis Federation, Rosa MOTA, the gold medallist in the Women’s Marathon at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games was on duty to make the presentations; a special moment for all, one to be remembered.