Lin Yun-Ju just keeps getting better and better! The teenage talent from Chinese Taipei celebrated his debut gold medal at an ITTF World Tour men’s singles event on Sunday 25th August when he defeated former world no.1 Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the final (11-9 11-5 4-11 11-5 11-9) at the 2019 Czech Open in Olomouc.  Judging by how the 18-year-old star has played throughout 2019 this could well be his first of many singles successes on international table tennis’ premier event series. This year Lin already claimed consecutive mixed doubles titles at the China and Hong Kong Opens a triple crown (men’s singles men’s doubles and mixed doubles titles) at the Challenge Plus Oman Open as well as tasting individual glory at the T2 Diamond Malaysia event.   Runner-up to current world no.1 Xu Xin at the Japan Open in June it has not taken long for Lin to bounce back and take top honours in Czech Republic where he simply had too much quality confidence and a characteristically cool mind for his opponents to handle. His last two matches pitted him against two of the most experienced players on the international table tennis circuit Ovtcharov and Timo Boll whose combined age of 68 represents half a century more than Lin’s tender years while the German duo also boast a total of 28 ITTF World Tour men’s singles titles.  Unfazed by the pair’s undisputed pedigree Lin held his nerve firstly staving off what threatened to be another vintage Boll comeback to win in seven games (12-10 9-11 11-2 11-6 5-11 6-11 11-8) and then defeating Ovtcharov  who had been so impressive throughout the week in Olomouc  with a most professional performance worthy of winning the ultimate prize.  “I am very happy about winning my first men’s singles title on the ITTF World Tour. I had come up against Boll and Ovtcharov before so I was familiar with their playing style. My coach also helped me a lot today. He called the timeout at a key moment in the final match and he advised me to change up my tactics and service game a little bit. I don’t think that this title will change my career so much. The matches will still be just as hard from now on and possibly even harder than before.” – Lin Yun-Ju     It has been an unforgettable European summer for Chen Xingtong who followed up victory at last week’s Bulgaria Open with success in Czech Republic. The Chinese 11th seed defeated 19-year-old Miu Hirano in the most intense of finals with the Japanese 3rd seed staging an incredible comeback from 0-3 down to take the match to a seventh game only for Chen to complete the job and break Hirano’s heart in the process (11-5 11-8 11-7 8-11 12-14 8-11 11-8).  “I have now won two titles in a row but I haven’t set myself any specific goals for the future. I will just focus on the next match in the next tournament and I shall try to play my best again. The Czech Open was a very nice competition and I won it so everything here was perfect.” – Chen Xingtong   Both finalists had entered their showdown with all guns blazing after posting 4-1 scorelines in their respective semi-finals Hirano ousting Japanese top seed Kasumi Ishikawa before Chen accounted for compatriot Feng Yalan. Hirano had already completed a mesmerising comeback from 0-3 down to win 4-3 in her quarter-final against China’s Liu Weishan on Saturday.   At only 14 years of age Korea Republic’s Shin Yubin broke the record as the youngest ever mixed doubles winner at an ITTF World Tour event. The prodigious talent partnered compatriot and 16-year-old Cho Daeseong for their first international title as a pair after overcoming Japanese duo Mima Ito and Jun Mizutani in Saturday’s thrilling final (6-11 15-13 12-10 16-18 12-10). The victory was especially impressive as Ito and Mizutani had proven their credentials as a top pair themselves only one week prior when they won the Bulgaria Open.   Korea Republic had plenty to celebrate in the men’s doubles too as Cho Daeseong and Lee Sangsu registered their first ITTF World Tour victory as a pair (for Cho it was his first ever) by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting and Lin Yun-Ju (11-4 11-8 7-11 11-6). The women’s doubles title went the way of Chinese duo Gu Yuting and Mu Zi who entered the action in Olomouc from the qualification rounds. They defeated Japan’s Miu Hirano and Saki Shibata 3-1 in the final (9-11 11-7 11-6 11-6).   1 060 days had passed since the last time that four different countries were represented in the men’s and women’s singles finals of an ITTF World Tour event (the 2016 Belgium Open) – an eye-catching statistic but one which only scratches the surface about the range and diversity of nationalities to have excelled here in Olomouc.   Brazil’s Hugo Calderano was a key player this week the 2nd seed showing a typically inspirational fighting spirit when he overcame an ankle injury to defeat Russia’s Alexander Shibaev in the quarter-final before falling short against Dimitrij Ovtcharov in the final four (11-7 9-11 6-11 11-13 11-6 9-11).   All things considered this was a fine tournament for Germany’s star trio of Ovtcharov Boll and Patrick Franziska. Ovtcharov was imperious until the final hurdle and swept aside Franziska 4-0 in their quarter-final clash to claim the advantage in the race to join Boll in singles competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (click here to read more).   However Franziska had impressed in the previous round when he fought back from 3-1 down to eliminate Rio 2016 bronze medallist Jun Mizutani. Arguably the king of comebacks Boll too produced heart-stopping entertainment by clawing his way from 3-1 down against Lee Sangsu to reach the semi-final where he very nearly did the same against eventual winner Lin Yun-Ju.   The women’s singles also benefitted from a greater unpredictability than ever at the Czech Open. Hirano played

2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open Olomouc (August 20-25). Optimistic results of German players a week before the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF – European Table Tennis Championships   German player Dimitrij OVTCHAROV finished second at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open in Olomouc as he lost to Chinese Taipei’s LIN Yun-Ju who overcame OVTCHAROV‘s compatriot Timo BOLL in the semi-final clash. LIN has been extended to full distance by BOLL while the final encounter was concluded after five games.   OTCHAROV prevailed against Brazil’s Hugo CALDERANO in six games of the semi-finals. Three German players reached quarter-final stage (OVTCHAROV beat Patrick FRANZISKA) so it’s good news for the German National Team a week before the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF – European Table Tennis Championships in the French city of Nantes (September 3-8).   CHEN Xingtong of China is the Women’s Singles winner as she overcame Japan’s Miu HIRANO after full seven games. HIRANO who beat her compatriot Kasumi ISHIKAWA (no. 1 seed) in the semis was three games down against CHEN but managed to tie the score at 3:3.   More information: here

2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open Olomouc (August 20-25). Timo BOLL beat LEE Sangsu after full seven games   Two German stars Timo BOLL and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV have booked their places in the Men’s Singles semi-final at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open in Olomouc (August 20-25). Seven-time European champion BOLL beat Korean LEE Sangsu in the most exciting encounter today August 24th playing full seven games – 4:3 (6:11 9:11 15:13 12:14 11:9 12:10 11:8).   Two-time European champion OVTCHAROV prevailed against his compatriot Patrick FRANZISKA in straight games to set the clash with Brazilian Hugo CALDERANO who overcame Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV. BOLL faces LIN Yun-Ju of Chinese Taipei.   Women’s Singles event will see one all-Japans semi-finals Kasumi ISHIKAWA vs. Miu HIRANO and one all-Chinese: FENG Yalan vs. CHEN Xingtong. CHEN beat Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA in straight sets.   Korea’s CHO Daeseong and LEE Sangsu are the winners of the Men’s Doubles event as they beat Chinese Taipei’s LIAO Cheng-Ting and LIN Yun-Ju. CHO will leave Olomouc with two titles as he won Mixed Doubles final playing alongside SHIN Yubin.   GU Yuting and MU Zi of China took gold in the Women’s Doubles. They prevailed against Japan’s Miu HIRANO and Saki SHIBATA.   More information: here

2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open Olomouc (20-25th August)   All members of German National Team have reached Men’s Singles quarter-final at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open: Timo BOLL beat Japan’s Yukiya UDA in straight games Dimitrij OVTCHAROV overcame his club’s teammate Vladimir SAMSONOV in five sets while Patrick FRANZISKA prevailed against former Asian champion Jun MIZUTANI of Japan reversing score from 1:3 to 4:3. FRANZISKA and OVTCHAROV will face each other in the next round.   Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV also progressed among the best eight thanks to his convincing win against China ’s MA Te.   Actual world no. 115 Cristian PLETEA of Romania surprising winner against no. 1 seed Tomokazu HARIMOTO in the opening round lost his match to HARIMOTO’s compatriot Yuki HIRANO after full seven games. Romanian player was very close to the quarter-finals as he led 3:1.   Last year’s Czech Open runner-up Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS and France’s Simon GAUZY lost their matches in six games against LIN Yun-Ju (Chinese Taipei) and LEE Sangsu (Korea) respectively.   Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA will be unique European player in the Women’s Singles quarter-finals as she defeated Japan ’s Saki SHIBATA. Linz’s player was extended to full distance twice in first two rounds. She reached Mixed Doubles semis playing alongside Stefan FEGERL.   Host Hana MATELOVA lost to SHIBATA’s compatriot Miu HIRANO.   Robert GARDOS and Daniel HABESOHN of Austria upset no. 1 seed of the Men’s Doubles event Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting and HO Kwan Kit but lost in the semi-finals to Korea’s CHO Daeseong and LEE Sangsu. Hungary’s Nandor ECSEKI and Adam SZUDI also lost their semi-final clash.   More information: here

2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open Olomouc (20-25th August)   Romanian rising star Cristian PLETEA actual world no. 115 created huge upset in the Round of 32 at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open in Olomouc as he eliminated no. 1 seed and actual world no. 5 Tomokazu HARIMOTO. Former European cadet champion and runner-up in junior days the 19-year-old from the city of Constanta prevailed against Japanese after full seven games inspite of being two games behind – 4:3 (3:11 7:11 11:8 7:11 11:9 11:9 11:7).   “That is for sure the biggest win of my career. We have been playing against each other since we were juniors which helped me today. I know his style and I felt he was a little bit nervous today. Also I played really well today my tactics were perfect. I was down 0-2 and 3-6 but I managed to win the game. Then I was 1-3 down but I was still fighting. I knew that it was not over. I started well in the fifth game then I also won the sixth. And in the seventh game you never know what happens. I also felt big support from the spectators and I would like to thank them. I hope that tomorrow I will play well again ” stated Cristian PLETEA for ITTF website.   The opening round in Olomouc was successful for several other European players including last year’s runner-up Marcos FREITAS of Portugal who once again beat Japan’s player Koki NIWA (world no. 10) like he did recently at Bulgaria Open. France’s Simon GAUZY overcame Masataka MORIZONO after full seven games (last one 14:12) while German star Timo BOLL defeated China XIA Yizheng 4:2.   Thursday was a busy day for German players as Dimitrij OVTCHAROV beat XUE Fei 4:2 to set up the clash against his close friend and teammate from Fakel Gazprom Orenburg Vladimir SAMSONOV who prevailed against OVTCHAROV’s compatriot Ruwen FILUS in five sets. Patrick FRANZISKA needed to fight play full seven games to beat Sweden’s Anton KALLBERG whilst Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV prevailed against England’s Liam PITCHFORD.   Regarding Women’s Singles Round of 32 Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA overcame CHEN Szu-Yu of Chinese Taipei reversing score from 0:3 to 4:3 while Hana MATELOVA brought joy to home fans by winning against Korea’s player KIM Haeyong. No. 1 seed Kasumi ISHIKAWA was extended to full distance by CHENG Hsien-Tzu.   More information: here  

2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open   Three European players have reached the main draw in singles events after exciting clashes in seven games playing Preliminary Round 4 at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Czech Open in Olomouc. Netherland’s Britt ERRLAND beat China’s YANG Huijing in Women’s Singles Margaryta PESOTSKA overcame Japan’s Yurika TAIRA while Germany’s Bastian STEGER prevailed against his compatriot Steffen MENGEL. STEGER managed to reverse the score from 1:3 to 4:3. Former individual European champion LI Jie of Netherlands lost to China’s FENG Yalan.   Cristian PLETEA of Romania beat England’s Samuel WALKER in six games Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV was better than Austria’s Stefan FEGERL in straight games while the semi-finalist of recent Bulgaria Open Marcos FREITAS of Portugal has defeated Sweden’s rising star Truls MOREGARD. Other Sweden’s player Anton KALLBERG prevailed against China Xiang’s PENG.   Germany’s Ruwen FILUS overcame Russia’s Aleksandr TIUTRIMUMOV in five games.   More information: here

  More than 10 million people worldwide today are living with Parkinson’s Disease which is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement. Through the ITTF Foundation’s #TT4Health initiative the ITTF has launched the first ever ITTF Parksinson’s World Table Tennis Championships in collaboration with Ping Pong Parkinson to raise awareness of Parkinson’s Disease and to improve the lives of those diagnosed with it.   ITTF Parkinson’s World Table Tennis Championships11-13 October 2019 Westchester Table Tennis Centre New York (USA) Registration deadline: 10 September 2019 Register NOW