2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open China’s XU Xin and CHEN Meng won the respective men’s singles and women’s singles titles at the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open in Magdeburg on Sunday 2nd February. Two of the outstanding performers during 2019 both players justified their top seeded positions in Germany continuing to set sky-high standards in the world of international table tennis. At the semi-final stage XU Xin made light work of victory against LIN Gaoyuan the no.4 seed (11-6 11-6 11-4 11-8) before overcoming no.3 seed MA Long in a similar manner (15-13 11-8 11-7 11-5) to arrest the title his first in singles competition on the World Tour since the Australian Open in July 2019 and 18th of his career. “MA Long is a legend and I am very glad that I can be his opponent. I am pretty happy with the result. I can say with pride that I have the best win-loss record against him among all currently active players.” – XU Xin Similarly CHEN Meng was in no mood for charity. In the penultimate round she ousted no.5 seed ZHU Yuling in straight games (12-10 11-2 11-8 15-13) before securing the title at the expense of DING Ning (3-11 11-1 11-7 11-3 11-1). This was CHEN’s 14th career success in the World Tour women’s singles competition. CHEN Meng thus extended her impeccable record in World Tour finals winning a remarkable 17 out of 21. Additionally 561 days have passed since she last lost a World Tour final the 2018 Korea Open. Since then she has lifted eight titles including two World Tour Grand Finals crowns. “I just treated this final like any other match that needs to be won. Regardless of whether I win or lose all events provide me with valuable experience for me to learn from. Of course winning gives me more confidence but losing allows me to see the flaws in my game.” – CHEN Meng. Imperious final performances in Magdeburg but both of the eventual champions had almost crashed out of the tournament three days earlier in the opening round against Korea Republic qualifiers. XU had needed the full seven games to beat AN Jaehyun (11-4 9-11 11-4 9-11 11-8 4-11 11-3); CHEN Meng had been on the brink of defeat in the sixth game in opposition to SUH Hyowon (12-14 11-5 10-12 7-11 11-7 15-13 11-4). Ovtcharov almost rekindles Magdeburg magic Defeated in the final to a supreme XU Xin in the penultimate round MA Long had put in an impressive display himself. “The Dragon” ended the hopes of the host nation by defeating Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the no.10 seed (11-3 11-9 11-13 13-15 11-3 11-6) a player full of confidence and backed by passionate supporters at the GETEC Arena in Magdeburg who had cheered him on to the 2017 German Open title in the same venue. At the quarter-final stage the 31 year old had stunned the table tennis world by completing an epic fightback against no.2 seed FAN Zhendong in which the German saved match point in the fourth game (9-11 11-4 8-11 10-12 12-10 11-5 12-10). The victory ended Fan’s 111-day reign as German Open champion having claimed the 2019 title on 13th October last year. An early exit for the no.2 seed in the men’s singles event it was the same in the women’s singles. At the same stage SUN Yingsha lost to Chinese national team colleague WANG Manyu the no.6 seed (11-6 8-11 9-11 11-8 12-10 3-11 11-8). Not included in Team China’s selection for the upcoming World Team Championships in March WANG looked motivated to make a statement in Magdeburg but she was unable to navigate her way past Ding Ning in the next round surrendering a 2-0 lead (2-11 9-11 11-8 11-8 11-1 11-9). Like MA Long DING demonstrated fine form in Germany. In her quarter-final the 29 year old had ended the hopes of Japan’s Mima ITO the no.4 seed (11-7 11-13 14-12 11-8 11-5) thus avenging her quarter-final defeat on home soil at the 2019 China Open. An eventual semi-final exit for DING after showing so much promise it was a similar story for ZHU Yuling. At the quarter-final stage she had ousted LIU Shiwen the no.3 seed and reigning World champion in a most devastating straight games showing (11-3 11-9 11-3 11-2). Double Delight Disappointment for LIU Shiwen in singles action but it was not all doom and gloom for the 28 year old. Partnering XU Xin and occupying the top seeded spot in the mixed doubles event the duo defeated Japan’s Jun MIZUTANI and Mima ITO the no.4 seeds (12-10 13-11 7-11 11-7) to take the top prize on Saturday 1st February. Two titles for XU Xin it was the same for CHEN Meng; partnering WANG Manyu as top seeds they secured the women’s doubles title with victory over Japan’s Miu HIRANO and Kasumi ISHIKAWA the no.6 seeds (11-7 8-11 11-7 11-8). Korean Kings Success upon success for China but it was not to be a full house. Korea Republic’s 17 year old CHO Daeseong and 24 year old JANG Woojin emerged from the qualification rounds to eventually clinch the men’s doubles crown. Having ousted top seeded colleagues JEOUNG Youngsik and LEE Sangu in the penultimate round (11-8 11-5 7-11 11-3) they secured the title at the final expense of LIN Gaoyuan and MA Long the no.2 seeds (10-12 15-13 12-14 14-12 11-6). That meant two runners up spots for MA Long the reigning Olympic and World champion not a usual occurrence; this time the honours very much belonged to XU Xin and CHEN Meng. Quick Links News & Articles Match Recaps Event Information Match Results Photos Flash Quotes Media Kit ITTF Social: Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube Weibo
German Open: MA defeats OVTCHAROV in the semis
2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg January 30-February 2. XU Xin beats MA Long in the Men’s Singles final Actual Olympic and World champion China’s MA Long beat host player Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in the semi-finals of the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open in Magdeburg but the ultimate winner is the top seed XU Xin who overcame MA in all-Chinese gold medal contest. OVTCHAROV was a bit tired after exhausting quarter-final clash against World no. 1 FAN Zhendong held yesterday which lasted 75 minutes (4:3 for German) but once again he showed his fighting spirit against most decorated player in the history of ITTF World Tour. Host levelled at 2:2 taking third and fourth game bay a narrow margin but Chinese found winning mode in next two to win 4:2 (11:3 11:9 11:13 13:15 11:3 11:6). “It was a close play. It was difficult to start with positive balls. During the sixth set with leading five to one point I could not use my chances to receive other points. Two edge balls were unlucky. Nevertheless I though every time to win the match. For the future time I am drawing conclusions. Ma Lon is world champion and winner of the Olympic Games every player in the world has difficulties to win against him” stated Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. MA Long mentioned great atmosphere in the gym during his clash with OVTCHAROV: “I was a little bit nervous. It hasn’t bother me at all since i tried to focus on my own game and it also did cheer me up a lot hearing public cheering around. It was a great atmosphere”. In the final match XU Xin justified his status at the seeding list and beet MA Long in straight games – 4:0 (15:13 11:8 11:7 11:5). He was fully delighted by this outcome: “MA Long is a legend and I am very glad that I can be his opponent. I am pretty happy with the result. I can say it proudly that I have the best win-loss-record against him among the active player”.
German Open: OVTCHAROV beats World no.1 in a superb style
2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg January 30-February 2 Actual CCB 2020 ITTF Europe Top-16 Cup winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV has recorded one of his biggest victories in ITTF World Tour prevailing against current World no.1 FAN Zhendong of China in a superb style – 4:3 (9;11 11:4 8:11 10:12 12:10 11:5 12:10) – in the quarter-finals at the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open in Magdeburg. Host player managed to save match points in the fifth game against the defending champion who faced three match points in the deciding game. It was the end of an impressive winning streak of FAN the champion of previous four ITTF World Tour events. “One years ago I played against him in the Chinese Table Tennis Super League it was a close game with a result of 2-3. In the international stage we met twice 2017 once I won and once I lost. I think the total record between us is 2 wins and 3 lost. The match I lost I lost very very close. I think if I can play kind of level I can beat anyone but it’s about really bringing it to the table and for this you need confidence. When I was down to 10-7 in the 5th game I felt his nervosity since he was so closed to win the match and that gave me some confidence. It’s nice to see even the best player like FAN Zhendong has this kind of emotion. I feel very supportive from audience I do think it’s the best thing that a player can wish for himself” stated Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. FAN Zhendong stressed that he “had a problem with receiving the ball”: “Today my situation was not so well. I didn’t seize the chance at the match point. Also OVTCHAROV Dimitrij played really well I prepare a lot before the game but it seems not enough.” The most decorated player in ITTF World Tour men’s singles history with 28 titles MA Long of China will be the next opponent of OVTCHAROV. They will meet this Sunday 12:30. Actual both Olympic and World champion who beat Korea’s qualifier CHO Seungmin won all previous 16 encounters with German star.
German Open: OVTCHAROV battles past CHUANG to face FAN in quarter-finals
2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg January 30-February 2 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV delighted host fans at the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open in Magdeburg as he beat Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan in an extraordinary Round of 16 clash. German overcame his club’s teammate from Fakel-Gazprom after full seven games winning ultimate chapter by a narrow margin – 4:3 (8:11 14:12 16:18 11:9 3:11 11:6 12:10). His next next opponent will be China’s FAN Zhendong who defeated OVTCHAROV’s compatriot Timo BOLL. BOLL second consecutive year at the German Open lost to FAN. Last year Chinese won in five games while this time he needed one game more. Qualifier Benedikt DUDA once again delivered excellent performance but this time it wasn’t enough for victory. The 25-year-old German led 3:2 against China’s ZHAO Zihao but lost after seven games. Frenchman Simon GAUZY was beaten by Korea’s qualifier CHO Seungmin (no. 113) in five games. Seven out eight Women’s Singles quarter-finalists are from China. Only one non-Chinese player is Japan’s Mima ITO who will face DING Ning. Germany’s Petrissa SOLJA was beaten by former World no.1 ZHU Yuling in straight games of the Round of 16. Poland’s Jakub DYJAS and Belgium’s Cedric NUYTINCK forced no.2 seeds LIN Gaoyuan/MA Long to show their best in the Men’s Doubles quarter-finals. DYJAS and NUYTINCK who eliminated Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA/Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in the previous round have extended China’s pair to full distance. Host pair Nina MITTELHAM/Petrissa SOLJA reached podium in Women’s Doubles event. They beat Korea’s CHO Hyojoo/SHIN Yubin in the quarter-finals but lost to China’s CHEN Meng/WANG Manyu. It was second podium for SOLJA who progressed to the semis playing alongside Patrick FRANZISKA in Mixed Doubles. They stretched to full distance China’s XU XIN/LIU Shiwen.
German Open: Petrissa SOLJA faces ZHU Yuling who survives Polina MIKHAILOVA
2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg January 30-February 2 Petrissa SOLJA have her hands full with games of different events in the opening day of the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open in Magdeburg and she reached next round each time. Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA was very close to create biggest upset of the day extending former world no.1 ZHU Yuling of China to full distance. Ultimate game was decided by a narrow margin. ZHU is going to play against host Petrissa SOLJA who defeated Singapore’s ZENG Jian. Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA and Germany’s SHAN Xiaon lost their encounters against China’s players ZHANG Rui and LIU Shiwen respectively. Germany’s HAN Ying suffered at the hands of Japan’s Saki SHIBATA. Three out of five German players were successful in the Men’s Singles opening round: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Timo BOLL and qualifier Benedikt DUDA. Actual world no.11 OVTCHAROV beat Korea’s LIM Jonghoon (world no.43) in straight games. In the next stage he will face his teammate from Fakel-Gazprom CHUANG Chiy-Yuan of Chinese Taipei who upset Japan’s Tomokazu HARIMOTO actual World no.5. Two more German players secured their places in the Round of 16: Benedikt DUDA upset Sweden’s Mattias FALCK while Timo BOLL prevailed against Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA to face no.2 seed FAN Zhendong. Actual Olympic and World champion MA Long of China was too strong for young host QIU Dang who was beaten in straight games. Patrick FRANZISKA lost to Japan’s Mizuki OIKAWA. LIANG Jingkun world no.9 has been shocked by Korea’s qualifier CHO Seungmin (no. 113) who faces Simon GAUZY in the Round of 16. Frenchman beat Korea’s LEE Sangsu. Croatia’s Andrej GACINA and Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC were eliminated by two strong Asian players LIN Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei and Jun MIZUTANI of Japan respectively. Top seed XU Xin of China was extended to full distance by Korea’s AN Jaehyun current world no.39. Host pair Timo BOLL and Ricardo WALTHER lost to Men’s Doubles top seeds Korea’s JEOUNG Youngsik and LEE Sangsu after four games. Two more domestic doubles played today but just one won. Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Patrick FRANZISKA overcame Romania ’s Ovidiu IONESCU and Spain’s Alvaro ROBLES to set up clash with Jakub DYJAS of Poland and Cedric NUYTINCK of Belgium who eliminated host Benedikt DUDA and QIU Dang of Germany. Belgium’s Martin ALEGRO and Florent LAMBIET prevailed against Chinese Taipei ’s CHEN Chien-An and CHUANG Chih-Yuan after full five games to secure Round 2 meeting with no.2 seeds MA Long and LIN Gaoyuan of China. Germany’s Nina MITTELHAM and Petrissa SOLJA will be the only European pair in the Women’s Doubles quarter-finals. They eliminated Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA and Yana NOSKOVA to set up clash with CHO Hyojoo and SHIN Yubin. Korea’s players beat Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) and Han MATELOVA (Czech Republic) in four games. One of the most exciting games in the Mixed Doubles Round 1 was seen between Spain’s Alvaro ROBLES/Maria XIAO and Austria’s Stefan FEGERL/Sofia POLCANOVA. Spanish pair won after full five games as Slovakia’s Lubomir PISTEJ/Barbora BALAZOVA did against Korea’s LEE Sangsu/CHOI Hyojoo. Unlike them host Patrick FRANZISKA and Petrissa SOLJA finished their job in straight games over Slovakia’s WANG Yang/Tatiana KUKULKOVA.
DUDA beats ZHAI to face FALCK in Main Draw
2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg January 28-February 2 Second and last day of the Preliminaries at the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg (January 28-February 2) was successful for young German QIU Dang. The 23-year old beat Robert GARDOS to set Round of 32 clash against Olympic and World champion MA Long. Hero of the opening day Denmark’s ZHAI Yujia overcame Jakub DYJAS of Poland in the Preliminary Round 3 but suffered at the hands of host Benedikt DUDA in the ultimate stage of qualifications. DUDA will play against Sweden’s Mattias FALCK in the opening round of the main draw. Two European rising stars and two Bundesliga’s players met in the Preliminary Round 4 as Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC defeated Sweden’s Anton KALLBERG. Slovenian reversed the score from 1:3 to 4:3. Croatia’s Andrej GACINA lost fifth and sixth game against Egypt’s Omar ASSAR but managed to win latest set by a narrow margin. Slovakia’s WANG Yang and France’s Simon GAUZY are among Europeans who reached Round of 32. Regarding ultimate stage of Women’s Singles qualifications Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA reached main draw after win over Ukraine’s Margaryta PESOTSKA. Host SHAN Xiaona overcame Hong Kong’s SOO Wai Yam Minnie in five games to set up Round of 32 clash with actual World champion LIU Shiwen of China. Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) Natalija BAJOR (Poland) and Sabine WINTER (Germany) are all beaten by Chinese players. Another strong Romanian player will not play in the main draw: France’s Stephanie LOEUILLETTE upset Bernadette SZOCS in full seven games but lost in the Preliminary Round 4 to Brazil’s Bruna TAKAHASHI.
Mark Bates Limited becomes title sponsor of the National Championships
Table Tennis England has agreed a five-year deal with Mark BATES Limited to become title sponsor of the National Championships. The partnership covers all three National Championships beginning with the Seniors in Nottingham at the end of February and including all Senior Cadet & Junior and U10-U13 tournaments until the end of the 2023-24 season. Mark Bates Ltd based in Lincolnshire are a long established family-run insurer specialising in niche and general insurance products. Managing Director Mark BATES will be well known to many Table Tennis England members as the father of two age group national champions – Emily and Michael. Emily won a raft of singles and doubles titles from Under-10s to Juniors including beating Tin-Tin Ho in the Under-12 Girls’ Singles final in 2007 while Michael was Cadet Boys’ Doubles champion alongside Gavin Evans – now England coach – in the same year. Mark BATES said: “Having been involved in table tennis for many years I have developed a strong love and passion for the sport and am very excited to be able to support the pinnacle event of the competition calendar. “The company have many ties with table tennis. I became heavily involved in the sport through my children who had great pleasure and success participating in the game. In fact my business now employs four ex-national champions! “I am very excited – sponsoring the National Championships is just the start of a long-term partnership with Table Tennis England.” Welcoming Mark BATES Ltd into partnership with Table Tennis England Chairman Sandra DEATON said: “We are delighted to welcome Mark Bates Limited as title sponsors for the National Championships. “This is a significant investment not only financially but also in terms of the five-year timescale. It will enable us to continue the recent evolution of the National Championships to ensure it lives up to billing as the pinnacle of our domestic sport for players and spectators. “Mark is a passionate supporter of table tennis and many of our members will remember his children Emily and Michael competing on the national circuit and indeed both becoming age-group national champions. “He has a real commitment to helping our sport to develop and grow and we look forward to a fulfilling partnership.” Table Tennis England Chief Executive Sara SUTCLIFFE added that the partnership goes beyond Mark BATES simply sponsoring the Nationals. She added: “We are all committed to ensuring there is a lasting legacy from this partnership. Whilst we are starting with the announcement that Mark BATES Limited becomes the title sponsor for the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships we are going to be spending the coming months exploring other exciting ideas that will reach out to the membership and our clubs as well.”
German Open: ZHAI Yujia upset Preliminaries no.1 seed
2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg January 28-February 2 The opening day of the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open Magdeburg (January 28-February 2) brought one big upset in the Men’s Singles event as Denmark’s ZHAI Yujia beat Preliminaries no.1 seed Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting (World no. 19) in six games of the Preliminary Round 2. Actual World no. 103 Italy’s Niagol STOYANOV beat former World Top 10 player FANG Bo of China (no. 229) in five games. BO was World no.8 four years ago. Poland’s Jakub DYJAS defeat Czech Tomas POLANSKY host QIU Dang overcame FENG Yi-Hsin (Chinese Thaipei) while Can AKKUZU defeated Andrea LANDRIEU in all-French clash. Germany’s Benedikt DUDA and Ukraine’s KOU Lei won their encounters after full seven games against Korea’s KIM Minhyeok and Uzbekistan’s Zokhid KENJAEV respectively. One of biggest European talents Greek Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS prevailed against Hong Kong’s HO Kwan Kit 4:2 Sweden’s Jon PERSSON was extended to full distance by Romania’s Rares SIPOS (Romania) while France’s Alexandre CASSIN beat CHEN Chien-An of Chinese Taipei. One of the most successful European players ever Belarus Vladimir SAMSONOV lost to China’s XU Chenhao 4:1. Men’s Singles Preliminary Round 2 was successful for following players: Panagiotis GIONIS (Greece) Bence MAJOROS (Hungary) Frane KOJIC (Croatia) Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal) Robin DEVOS (Belgium) Joao MONTEIRO (Portugal) WANG Yang (Slovakia) Mihai BOBOCICA (Italy) Cristian PLETEA (Romania) Simon GAUZY (France) Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) Lubomir PISTEJ (Slovakia) Anton KALLBERG (Sweden) Leonardo MUTTI (Italy) Kirill SKACHKOV (Russia) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Anders LIND (Denmark) Bastian STEGER (Germany) Kirill GERASSIMENKO (Kazakhstan) Ricardo WALTHER (Germany) Pevel SIRUCEK (Czech Republic) Jordy PICCOLIN (Italy) Benedek OLAH (Finland) Robert GARDOS (Austria) Samuel WALKER (England) Andrej GACINA (Croatia)… Women’s Singles Preliminary Round 1 saw several tense clashes like encounters between Portugal’s SHAO Jieni – Spain’s ZHANG Sofia Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) – Nanthana KOMWONG (Thailand). SHAO and MIKHAILOVA won after full seven games. Laura GASNIER (France) beat host Franziska SCHREINER in straight games Romania’s Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO prevailed against Chinese Taipei’s LIU Hsing-Yin Slovakia’s Barbora BALAZOVA defeated France’s Marie MIGOT… Women’s Singles Preliminary Round 1 was successful and for these players: Dora MADARASZ (Hungary) Sarah DE NUTTE (Luxembourg) Rachel MORET (Switzerland) Lisa LUNG (Belgium) Irina CIOBANU (Romania) Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic) Sabine WINTER (Germany) Mateja JEGER (Croatia) YUAN Jia Nan (France) Natalia BAJOR (Poland) HO Tin-Tin (England) Stephanie LOEUILLETTE (France) Amelie SOLJA (Austria) SHAN Xiaona (Germany) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) Nadezhda BOGDANOVA (Belarus) Daria TRIGOLOS (Belarus) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany)…
2020 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships entry list unveiled
The list of entries for the upcoming 2020 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships has been unveiled as the sport’s biggest teams prepare to face off in Busan Korea Republic from Sunday 22nd to Sunday 29th March for one of the sport’s most coveted titles. Boasting a miraculous record China is very much the team to beat at the upcoming World Team Championships in Busan and as anticipated the tournament favourites have announced mighty line-ups for both the men’s and women’s team events. World and Olympic champion MA Long is joined in a formidable men’s roster by Men’s World Cup and World Tour Grand Finals champion FAN Zhendong former World no.1 XU Xin LIANG Jingkun and WANG Chuqin as China searches for an impressive 22nd trophy in the category. The player list for the women’s team is also packed with accolades as World champion LIU Shiwen is accompanied by Olympic champion DING Ning three-time World Tour Grand Finals victor CHEN Meng former Women’s World Cup gold medallist ZHU Yuling and 19-year-old superstar SUN Yingsha. Just like their male counterparts the Chinese women’s team is going for a 22nd title. Possessing perhaps the biggest threat to pace-setters China is another Asian outfit in the form of Japan and with the 2020 Olympic Games being played out in Tokyo later in the year the world will be watching closely. Teenagers Tomokazu HARIMOTO and Mima ITO have proven to be a thorn in the side of Chinese efforts over the past couple of years while the likes of Jun MIZUTANI Koki NIWA Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Miu HIRANO all know their way around the table. However the fact of the matter remains that Japan hasn’t lifted a trophy at the World Team Championships since 1971 when the women’s contingent won in Nagoya – does Busan 2020 present the Land of the Rising Sun with a serious opportunity to shine? Korea Republic gains automatic entry as host nation and possesses plenty of quality amongst its ranks: JEOUNG Youngsik LEE Sangsu JANG Woojin SUH Hyowon SHIN Yubin; these are just some members of the country’s star cast. Not just looking to put on a good show Korea Republic mean business! Chinese Taipei is another key contender in the race for silverware looking to add to its collection of three World Team Championships medals. The emergence of LIN Yun-Ju over the last year has strengthened Chinese Taipei’s hand tremendously on the men’s side while CHENG I-Ching remains a constant threat to those at the very top of the women’s game. Shocking table tennis fans across the world with an unforgettable gold medal finish at the 2010 World Team Championships Singapore makes the women’s team qualification list as does DPR Korea. As ever Hong Kong China will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in both categories and can India continue to show signs of progress? Finalists in four out of the five previous men’s team finals Germany remains the European powerhouse with legendary icons in Timo BOLL and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV at its disposal while Patrick FRANZISKA has shown the extent of his capabilities with victories over some of the world’s finest. Aside from Germany only two European nations have landed a World Team Championships men’s team medal in the last decade: England in 2016 and Sweden in 2018. Both sides make the roster in Busan and with star names such as Mattias FALCK and Liam PITCHFORD in their respective ranks both teams will offer up a serious challenge to those standing in their way. Women’s team champions of Europe in 2017 and 2019 Romania is in search of its first medal at the Worlds since 2000. Bernadette SZOCS Elizabeta SAMARA and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN have been the driving force behind the country’s recent success while a flow of fresh new talent also continues to come through. Joining Romania in fifth position at the 2018 World Team Championships Austria and Ukraine will be hoping to replicate that performance in Busan. Elsewhere Germany will as always put up a brave fight while Portugal will be looking to build upon its impressive runner-up finish from the 2019 European Championships. Once again the African charge will be led by Egypt and Nigeria the continent’s most successful teams in the past decade. Locking out both team gold medal positions over the past six editions of the Latin American Championships Brazil is the nation to watch from South America especially on the men’s side. Puerto Rico will be looking to set the women’s stage alight with its exciting cast of young superstars. Continuing to make great strides on the international stage the United States of America will be keen to create more positive headlines in Busan especially with Houston playing host to the 2021 World Championships. Also present in both team categories are Canada Australia and New Zealand. Click here for the full list of qualified teams.
Tokyo places confirmed
2020 ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament 9 qualification places were up for grabs for Tokyo 2020 in both the men’s and women’s team events in Gondomar Portugal. Serbia and Slovenia emerged the surprise outfits to gain men’s team places in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when play concluded on Sunday 26th January at the ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament in Gondomar Portugal. In the women’s event the team to secure a precious place contrary to status was DPR Korea. Unquestionably Serbia was the biggest surprise. For Slovenia another impressive performance they were the no.11 seeds. Hong Kong China started as no.10 seeds as did DPR Korea. In the men’s event Korea Republic the top seeds fulfilled expectations as did the next in line Chinese Taipei Sweden and France. Likewise Portugal the no.8 seeds and Croatia the no.9 seeds emerged successful. The notable teams to miss out were India the no.5 seeds followed in the order of merit by Austria and Great Britain. Meanwhile in the women’s event the top eight teams all gained Tokyo 2020 places. It was a successful venture for Hong Kong China the top seeds as it was for those next on the list Chinese Taipei Singapore Korea Republic Romania and Austria all secured their tickets to Tokyo. Similarly Hungary and Poland the teams which concluded the top eight names progressed. The selection to fall short was Ukraine who started play the no.9 seeds. Success for Korea Republic in the women’s event but it was by the long route. In the round of the last 16 the round that determined eight places they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of DPR Korea and thus had to join the remaining seven teams who had experienced defeat in the contest for the one remaining position. They accounted for Ukraine in the second stage quarter-final before overcoming Spain the no.14 seeds and France the no.18 seeds to secure the precious ninth spot. Star of the show for Korea Republic was 15 year old Shin Yubin. She played in every fixture; consistently she partnered Choi Hyojoo in the doubles losing just one match when against DPR Korea being beaten by Kim Nam Hae and Cha Hyo Sim (7-11 11-7 11-9 12-10). Otherwise the record was unblemished; she remained unbeaten in singles matches. Also for Poland Natalia Partyka attracted the attention not necessarily because of her performance in Gondomar; for the fourth consecutive time starting in Beijing in 2008 she will compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a record unequalled by any athlete in any sport. Several names to note though in particular it was 18 year old Dimitrije Levajac; he was the hero of the hour as Serbia were the surprise package. Not a win to his name on the 2019 ITTF World Tour losing in the opening preliminary round on each of his three appearances listed at a lowly no.397 on the current world rankings he played on a completely different level here in Gondomar. Against Austria in the opening round in the vital decisive fifth match he kept his nerve to beat Stefan Fegerl in a nail-biting duel (12-10 1-11 10-12 11-8 11-9); then in the second round the decisive round he repeated the feat. Facing Hong Kong China after accounting for Ho Kwan Kit (11-6 9-11 11-1 8-11 11-6) the overall fixture score level in the crucial fifth match he recorded the biggest upset of the whole tournament. He beat Wong Chun Ting (11-9 8-11 10-12 11-3 11-6) presently listed at no.19 on the world rankings and as high is no.8 some nine months ago in April. Similarly Slovenia the no.11 seeds had a star name; 21 year old Darko Jorgic; in the crucial last 16 contest against India he overcame both Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (11-9 12-10 11-3) and Sharath Kamal Achanta (10-12 11-7 12-10 11-8) in a 3-1 team success. Meanwhile for Hong Kong China it was the long route to qualify. Required to compete in the second stage the no.10 seeds they recorded a 3-1 win against Poland before securing a 3-0 success against Hungary the no.17 seeds to book their place in the final. Opposing the Czech Republic the no.16 seeds a 3-0 success was the margin of victory; the last Tokyo reservation was confirmed. Action returns to the ITTF World Tour in Germany this week.
