LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   China defended their title in Halmstad. In the final mighty team beat Germany. On their way to the throne at the Men’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis ChampionshipsChina won all five of their group stage encounters and the second seeds went on to achieve back-to-back successes against Austria and Sweden to progress to the gold medal contest for the 26th occasion.   They also preserved they unbeaten status in the singles matches. There were close encounters for FAN Zhendong and MA Long in their respective fixtures against João GERALDO and Robert GARDOS but not one side has managed to put a dent in China’s title assault.   It was difficult to believe it will have happened in the final especially when Timo BOLL is still fresh from the injury and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was not even in the line up.   Olympic and World champion MA Long beat Timo BOLL (11:4 11:8 11:3) FAN Zhendong overcame Ruwen FILUS (11:4 11:5 11:4) whilst XU Xin prevailed against Patrick FRANZISKA (9:11 12:10 11:7 11:5).   “I regard Timo as strong as I am. I put him in the very high level. I watched him play yesterday and he was in a good shape. I didn’t feel too much pressure today. I took initiatives and became more active. I’m glad that I won. I think it was both a mental and technically match but this not only one side. When I played against Timo I thought I was playing against myself. When I was 4-7 down in the second game I tried to take more initiatives and then I won ” said MA Long.   Timo BOLL reflected: “: if I had won it could give us a bust but MA played at the highest level. We could not do anything to stop them. There were lot obstacles FRANZISKA was not in the team in quarters I missed one because of my injury Dimitrij was not in final line up but after match like this China deserved this trophy.”  

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   Germany beat Republic of Korea in their way to the final of the Men’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad. In the final tomorrow they will China.   The beginning of the semi final matcher between Germany and Republic Korea went in favor of Asian team. Patrick FRANZISKA could not halt LEE Sangsue and he only took one game. Timo BOLL recovered enough to join the team on their quest for the final and with great effort beat JEOUNG Youngsik.   Dimitrij OVTCAHROV at the position no. 3 left the arena very quickly. JANG Woojin succeeded in straight games. On his second exit top the table Timo BOLL was two games to one down against LEE but he recovered to win the match and to push the match into the decisive duel.   “The decision that I could play came in such short notice. Even in the morning hours I felt bad but as day went by I felt better and better. In the practice hall we decided I should play ” explained BOLL.” I did not feel perfect; I did not have a feeling that I control the match completely. It was close until the last point.”   Speaking of their next adversaries he said: ”According to rankings I am a favorite but that is not the case. We all know how China is strong.”     Patricka FRANZISKA had a better start against JEOUNG Youngsik  and overcame Koren player in four games.

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships     In the semi-finals of the Men’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Sweden lost to the team they beat last to become World Champions in 2000 China. China showed no mercy on their way to the ultimate stage. Sweden was not exception. MA Long overcame Mattias KARLSSON in straight games FAN Zhendong needed four to beat Kristian KARLSSON whilst XU Xin sealed the victory for China after straight games victory over Jon PERSSON.   “On Monday I will be very happy thinking that we won the medal but right now I just need time to cope with the defeat. China proved too strong and I am unhappy that I missed few easy balls. We gave our best but eventually could not find the answer for our adversary’s game ” said Jon PERSSON.   Coach Ulf “Tickan” KARLSSON: “I can not complain about the attitude and fighting spirit of my team. We also created some chances but beside great quality China also showed great desire to win this. They played like they are on fire. Unlike some other matches they were very well focused. Obviously they respect our team and you can see that by the way they fought. Maybe it will be better for us if they were little bit sleepy or indifferent.”

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad Germany will play in the semi final of the Men’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad. Without Timo BOLL who suffered from the back injury and with Dimitrij OVTCAHROV playing the third match Germany faced Brazil with Bastian STEGER and Ruwen FILUS on two first positions.   “Timo suffered from the back injury. It worsened from yesterday until today and I have to see how it would look tomorrow. We can not say anything now. In addition OVTCHAROV is still in the process of recovery. Each time here he played at the position no. three. I was thinking of putting him on position no. two but it was not possible. The reality is that we have the old team and that we have to cope with that in best possible way ” said coach Jorg ROSSKOPF.   In the quarterfinal Hugo CALDERANO won the opening game against STEGER but soon Germany’s player was on the winning track. The good run did not last for long Hugo was once again in the lead after the third game and he close the match in four games (11:4 6:11 11:8 11:6).   Ruwen FILUS leveled the match by beating Eric JOUTI in straight games (11:6 11:8 8:11).  Dimitrij OVTCHAROV won the opening game against Gustavo TSUBOI 11:9. In the next he was in the difficult situation by being 4:9 in reverse but OVTCHAROV came close to 8:9 before he lost it. However he recovered and won next two games without major problems 11:7 and 11:3.   “When I heard that Timo could not play I was only thinking that we had to fight harder. I gave my best to prevent TSUBOI to put me behind. We are in difficult posiotion but good point is that our adversaries do not know how to prepare the tactics. No one knows with what team we will play ” said OVTCHAROV laughing.   In second return to the table Filus faced CALDERANO. Brazil’s player forced Ruwen to go full distance.   “CALDERANO is very dangerous player and we were ready for him. His style is familiar to us since he was playing in Bundesliga. For me it was important to attack and to play very fast game. Even when he was closing game on me I did not loosen the grip I played in full power. He is kind of player who already beat Timo BOLL so now i am very happy and tired ” said FILUS.  

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   In the semi final of the men’s event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships China will meet Sweden whilst Republic Korea will play against Germany. In the match for medal rostrum Sweden beat England in front of fully packed Halmstad Arena.   Kristian KARLSSON put a pressure on Paul DRINKHALL from the very beginning. He won the opening game by narrow margin 11:9 but Paul responded promptly. DRINKHAL made 7:2 before KARLSSON took the control once again to level at 8:8 and to make the lead by forcing Paul into the errors – 11:8. With the same power Swede continued to pressurize until the middle of the game. Paul recovered and from 5:5; they played point for point before Kristian proved too strong for DRINKHAL recording a straight games victory to the delight of the home supporters (11:9 11:8 11:8).   “I was aware of his powerful backhand and I tried not to play to the corners ” said Kristian. “It was good opening match for us and I am very happy that I managed to conclud it in such manner. We have similar style of play and it was all about who will play it more aggressive and who will attack more.”   In very close opening game of second encounter Liam PITCHFORD was first to reach the game-ball then Mattias KARLSSON missed one and it was the third that Liam PITCHFORD converted into the wining of the game – 14:12. The 7:2 lead in the second game for Mattias was too much. Paul recovered put some pressure on KARLSSON but only to narrow the margin – 11:6. The power once again changed the side when PITCHFORD took the third game after KARLSSON saved four gameballs. KARLSSON forced to the decisive game without losing his lead in the fourth game – 11:7.   In fifth game quick 3:0 was the reason for England’s bench to call for time-out but first point after that went on the account of the Swede. Liam recovered and levelled at 5 each. Followed by ear hurting noise in packed Halmstad Arena KARLSSON closed the match at 11:9.   “It was very important for England since they were one match down already. It was special match for me too not only because of the burden of medal in prosper but also because coach Marcos who leads England now was my couch in youth age. The game was very close and at 9:9 at the decisive game you can not speak a lot about the tactics. The most important thing was that I believed more in that moment ” said Mattias.   Jon PERSSON was 6:8 in behind against Samuel WALKER in the opening game but managed to halt Englishman to win any more points in that game 11:8. WALKER was struggling to find the game for Jon who left him with only three points in second game – 11:3. From 0:4 to 8:6 WALKER recovered but not for long. Three match points latter Jon closed the match.   “I was nervous thinking of what is on stake here. WALKER already had very good World Championships last time he loves those kind of matches they beat Japan…a lot of things went through my mind ” said PERSSON.

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Tomorrow at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Sweden will play for the medal in the Men’s Event. It is the outcome of the battle of the epic proportions between the host nation and the Chinese Taipei. In the semi final they will meet England.   Two opening matches Mattias KARLSSON and Kristian KARLSSON won in straight games but both matches against CHUANG Chih Yuan and CHEN Chien An were close. Jon PERSSON were on the same winning path and took opening game without great difficulties before LIN Yun Yu levelled. Although next game went on Swede’s account LIN took next two and sealed the match after five games.   On his second exit to the table Kristian lost in four games against CHUANG; all the pressure of decisive match was on Mattias. He needed four games to overcame CHEN. “Against Chen Chien-An I tried to stay focused throughout the whole match; play my game and follow the tactics I’ve employed against him in the past. We played many times against each other in the French League. He’s left handed like me and usually I feel confident against left handers; I felt today in backhand to backhand rallies I was stronger. Playing Chuang Chih-Yuan he raised his game he played very well; the second game I lost closely but I don’t think that had more effect on the outcome than any other game. He played well.”  Said Kristian KARLSSON.   Portugal was two matches in the lead before Austria recovered to level and to win their Round of 16 duel. Tiago APOLONIA beat Robert GARDOS and Marcos FREITAS overcame Stefan FEGERL before Daniel HABESOHN turned the course of the match. FEGERL overcame APOLONIA in straight games whilst GARDOS needed one more to beat FREITAS.   Austria will meet china in quarters whilst Germany will play against Brazil.  

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   The quarterfinal encounters left Europe short of representatives in the penultimate stage of the Women’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   China overcame another obstacle on their way to the throne. Austria failed to create any serious pressure on LIU Shiwen CHEN Meng and WANG Manyu. All three matches Sofia POLCANOVA Amelie SOLJA and Karoline MISCHEK lost in straight games.   CHEN Meng: “SOLJA plays a very unusual way of play. But I have seen this kind of play many years ago in China and I also played against her many years ago. I think she plays kind of traditional long rubber way. I was fully prepared for this match.”   Next in line to suffer against Asian representatives was Ukraine although this time their adversary faced very rocky opening. Margaryta PESOTSKA forced Mima ITO to go full distance. They concluded the match in five games with narrow margin. However when ITO emerged victoriously it become a one-way street for Japan. Kasumi ISHIKAWA prevailed against Tetyana BILENKO in straight matches leaving her with only 12 points. Miu HIRANO overcame Ganna GAPONOVA.   ITO Mima:“I didn’t really think about the match points I missed against PESOTSKA. I was just thinking point after point. We practiced well against defensive players so we are looking to play well.”   Japan will meet unified team of North and South Korea tomorrow in the semi final.   Romania was halted on the ultimate hurdle to the medal rostrum. Hong Kong emerged successfully in their quarterfinal encounter. Elizabeta SAMARA won only a game against LEE Ho Ching Bernadette SZOCS stretched DOO Hoi Kem to full five games but failed to secure the victory. Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN suffered by the hands of SOO Minnie.    

History has been made in Halmstad Sweden with North and South Korea announcing a Unified Korea team to continue competing at the Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships.   The decision for the unified team was a tripartite one between the leaders of the North and South Korean Table Tennis teams and the ITTF following the North and South Korean leaders’ pledge for “lasting peace” to the Korea peninsula just last week which portrays that table tennis is perfect medium to be promoting peace through sport.   Regarding tis issue the ITTF held a press conference with ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT ITTF CEO Steve DAINTON ITTF Executive Vice Presidents Petra Sörling as well as Korea Table Tennis Association Vice President and IOC member RYU Seungmin.   “The idea came yesterday during our ITTF Foundation event. We learned that South and North Korea will meet each other in the quarterfinal. The idea that they should play toghether emerged but we needed a lot of efforts and communications from all the parties in order to come closer to realization. There were no much of sleep tonight. We received approval from all sides and we also informed IOC about the decision. In addition all teams that could be involved in the matches were informed and they gave us their approval which is great gesture from them ” stated WEIKERT.   RYU Seungmin said at the press conference that the ide came only after the outcome of the knock out draw. “We did not planed this we discussed it just now. I still can not believe it is true.”   Following the unification the Unified Korea Team will be competing in the semi-finals against Japan as Korea (COR) and both teams will be seated at the bench during their match as a sign of unity between the teams.   “It’s really unbelievable but now we are a united team. Actually I don’t know what I’m feeling now because I heard about this news last night but at that time it was still unclear if it is going to happen. This morning I heard that this is going to be real so I’m really surprised ” stated world number 12 SUH Hyowon from South Korea.   She added “I saw a movie about the united team in 1991. I feel a little bit strange that I’m in the united team now and I hope we can make something like it was in the movie. I think this united team aimed to be like unbeatable. We can share our skills. From now on this team will be stronger than ever.”   North Korean KIM Song I who won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games shared “I also saw this video and I was surprised about the power of the united team. Who knew then that they could beat China at that time. So now we are together and I believe now that we can do anything.”   “It is an honor to be here. I’ve never thought about this situation before. Actually I imagined about it but I didn’t expect that I could be a member of the united team.”   By making the semi-finals all players and coaches from both North and South Korean teams will be guaranteed a podium finish and a medal at the award ceremony at the Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships.

North Korea and South Korea have told the umpires that they don’t want to compete on the table against each other here in Halmstad Sweden when they walked into the court for their Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships quarter-final match.   Instead both teams requested that they want to form a unified Korean Team to compete together in the semi-final which will be held 4th of May at 11:00am against either Japan or Ukraine.   The decision for the unified team was a tripartite one between the leaders of the North and South Korean Table Tennis teams and the ITTF.   ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT who was chairing the ITTF Board of Directors meeting at the time stated: “When I informed the Board of Directors about this development the unified team received a standing ovation from the delegates who showed their sign of support to this historic move.”   The move follows the North and South Korean leaders’ pledge for “lasting peace” to the Korea peninsula just last week which portrays that table tennis is perfect medium to be promoting peace through sport.   President of the Table Tennis Association of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea JU Jong Chol stated: “this is the result of the strong support provided by the ITTF and IOC. We will do our best to get more successful results internationally in a joint effort between North and South Korea.”   Korea Table Tennis Association Vice President and IOC member RYU Seungmin said “This is a big historical decision for both our countries. This is Table Tennis history so we are very happy. I would like to thank the ITTF for their strong support. This is an important statement to promote peace between our countries through Table Tennis.”   The last time that a Unified Korea team played the World Table Tennis Championships was 1991 in Chiba Japan where they shocked defending Champion China to be crowned World Champions.   It has been a big year for the two Korean countries joining forces after they made history by marching together in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games earlier in Pyongchang which was the most significant sign of unity in international sport since the 1991 World Table Tennis Championships. It is thanks to the IOC that North Korea is participating here in Halmstad due to their Olympic Solidarity support.

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Nerves wrecking Round of 16 in Women’s Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Austria vs. German y went in favor of Austria’s team. After five matches nop. Seven seeds progressed to the quarterfinal. They will play against China for tye medal.   Sofia POLCANOVA’s played pivot role in Austria’s success. She overcame Sabine WINTER in the opening match and Petrissa SOLJA on second exit to the table. In both occasions she was forced to go full distance.   “I started good and had 2 games to null lead but after that point Sabine started to play really well. She lift her game to the next level. WINTER leveled and I started to think that I have to win this one; it will be great to give my team advantage at the start to ease the pressure I thought ” said POLCANOVA.   Against SOLJA it was opposite situation. Sofia was two game in reverse and she was forced to change her tactics.   “Petty is very dangerous player. For me it is very difficult to play against her since she is lefthander. Not only that I was 0:2 down but it was 1:5 in the third game. Than I started toi play more aggressive on her forehand and to move better. It paid of. The win in third game gave me confidence ” said POLCANOVA.   LIU Jia played decisive match against Sabine WINTER.   “I was under pressure. I guess I though too much about the importance of this match. When I cleared my thoughts it was better ” said LIU.