LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   Teams of Sweden tasted mixed success in the opening day of the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships. Men’s team beat Romania whilst women’s team suffered by the hands of players from Singapore. In both matches both selections showed very good performance.   Kristian KARLSSON beat Ovidiu IONESCU to warm up enthusiastic crowd and to fired up already great atmosphere in Halmstad Arena.    “I feel incredible. This is the start we needed. I hope we can continue like this. The crowd helped me a lot I enjoyed it! We try to take advantage on it ” said KARLSSON.   Mattias KARLSSON also enjoyed the chance to play at home soil. He beat Hunor SZOCS in four games.   “I am really happy about this start and about my performance too. It is special to play at home and I will give my best.”   Adrian CRISAN stretched Jon PERSSON to full five games but Swede did not give chance to audience to enjoy one more match.    “There is always a little bit of pressure when you play at home but it is better to take advantage of it. Anyway it was a nice feeling to play here. We want to pass the group stage and then the goal will be to reach a medal ” said PERSSON.   On the other side their female compatriots managed to force Singapore to go full five matches but eventually suffered defeat. Driving force in Sweden’s team was Matilda EKHOLM. She beat both FENG Tianwei for 2:2 in five games and prevailed earlier against YU Mengyu for 1:1 in another five games thriller.   “I am not really sure how I made comeback against FENG Tianwei. I got a lot of help from the spectators. I started to find my way after the second set. I just played with inspiration. I didn’t want to lose 0-3 in front of this crowd ” said Matilda.  “It was first time that I play against Yu Mengyu opponent so I didn’t know what to expect. At the beginning I didn’t manage to play my tactic but hopefully I did it at the end. I am very pleased of my performance.”   Linda BERGSTROM and YU Mengyu both admitted they were nervous.   “Actually I was a bit nervous because it is the first time I play on this court and because I lost the first set ” said Linda.    

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Top seeded team at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Germany was severely tested in the opening Round of the Men’s Event. To be true it was only one player who made all the pressure. Omar ASSAR beat Timo BOLL and Ruwen FILUS.   BOLL started well by beating Mohamed EL-BEIALI before FILUS suffered by the hands of ASSAR. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV beat Khalid ASSAR but his older brother Omar was ready for another upset. He beat BOLL.   “We were thinking of ending our cooperation with him in Dusseldorf ” joked BOLL. ”But seriously Omar played very good today. Now we have to analyze those defeats and to prevent it happen again. Although we lost two matches we never were in true danger. We knew we will win this one.”   Portugal overcame DPR Korea in superb style in the opening round of the Men’s Event. In the same group reigning champions team of China prevailed against Russia whilst Brazil beat Czech Republic.   “Marcos gave us good start with the victory over CHOE Il and Tiago APLONIA followed the path by beating PAK Sin Hyok. I overcame KANG Wi Hun in straight games to seal the match. It was good beginning of the tournament ” said Joao MONTEIRO who become very worried after he learned that Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN twisted her ankle in the match against Czech Republic.   In this Group it will be very hard to reach top.   “Tomorrow we play against Brazil. We have to win it. There is no space for mistake when you have China in the same Group. You have to win all other matches to stay in the game.”  

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   In the Championships Division Group A at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Russia overcame Belarus in thrilling five matches duel. The back bone of the Russia’s success was Yana NOSKOVA who overcame experienced Viktoria PAVLOVICH and Aleksandra PRIVALOVA.   Viktoria PAVLOVICH gave Belarus a good start. She beat Russia’s no. one Polina MIKHAILOVA before NOSKOVA overcame Alexandra PRIVALOVA. However. Daria TRIGOLOS brought her team back in game with the victory over Mariia TAILAKOVA. Polina beat PRIVALOVA to secure the decisive match for Yana.   “We played so many matches against each other at the biggest tournaments and that is what makes over encounters so difficult. We know each other very well. Viktoria is especially hard to beat and Yana success is great” stated Polina.   NOSKOVA radiated with happiness after the match.   “I like to play against the players with the defensive style of play. I have a lot of opportunities to practice this kind of game. It was very close game but I knew I had to play until the last point. You must never give up. I stayed focused until the end.”   In past few years Russia was always close but failed to reach the crucial matches for the medals.   “In last two World Championships we were third in the Group. Always very close. We want to beat that tradition now and to enter the round of best 12 ” stated Polina MIKHAILOVA.      

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   The morning session at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships brought the duels in Women’s Team Event in Halmstad Arena. Opening round in elite category concluded without great upsets.   Reigning World & Olympic Champion DING Ning lead China in the victory over India. Reigning champions showed no mercy and all three players DING WANG Manyu and CHEN Meng concluded round one victoriously in straight games.   Romania overcame Czech Republic in four matches. Bernadette SZOCS opened the match with the victory over Hana MATELOVA and Elizabeta SAMARA followed her path with the victory over Katerina TOMANOVSKA. Karin ADAMKOVA was the only player to score for Czech Republic. She overcame Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN but on her second exit to the table SAMARA sealed the match with the victory over MATELOVA.   “We had a good start of the Championships and I am very happy to say that all the girls are in very good shape in Sweden. We never suffer from lack of motive to fight but this is special moment for us. We are here as a European champions and we have to live up the reputation ” stated Elizabeta SAMARA.   Czech Republic is very dangerous team.   “Their style is very similar to mine spin on spin aggressive and attacking game… so it makes them very dangerous and hard to beat. I am happy firstly because my victory over MATELOVA because last time we played against each other it was very close 3:1 victory. Czech players are always hard to beat. I still have nightmare from the defeat six years ago in the first round of the European Championship.”   Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN suffered from minor injury.   “Dana was so unlucky today. She lost by narrow margin and she twisted her ankle during the game. It is noting severe but it affected her game this morning ” stated SAMARA.   No. 10 seeds Hungary Overcame Egypt. Georgina POTA was the only player forced to go full distance against Farah ABDEL-AZIZ Dora MADARASZ needed one game less to beat leading Egypt’s player Dina MESHREF whilst Szandra PERGEL overcame Yousra HELMY in straight games.   No 11 seeds Germany showed no mercy against Brazil. Sabine WINTER gave her team dream start by beating Bruna TAKAHASHI. In close game she lost only one set before Petrissa SOLJA overcame GUI Lin in straight games. Nina MITTELHAM beat Jessica YAMADA in four games.

29 April – 6 May 2018 Halmstad Sweden   The battles for the planetary throne at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships started today. Halmstad the city of legendary player Jergen PERSSON welcomed 72 men’s & 72 women’s teams across three Divisions including the world top 24 teams in the Championship Division who will fight for Gold to be World Team Champions.   The 2018 World Table Tennis Championships is in its 54thedition in the teams event since it was held since 1926 and it’s the first time the prestigious event is back to Sweden since 1993 in Gothenburg.   Defending Champion China who will be the hot favorites for the event will be looking to claim a historic 21stGold in both the Men’s & Women’s event.   The 2018 World Championships will feature 8 days of live TV for the first time in table tennis history and 12 tables of live streaming in Halmstad all available on ITTF’s online streaming platform itTVand ITTF’s broadcast partners worldwide.   Germany leads the men’s team list with the duo that swapped the world number one positions earlier this year Timo BOLL and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. On Germany’s chances of becoming World Champions for the first time Timo BOLL stated:   “Last year we had a great year so I hope we will continue in this way. We are happy that OVTCHAROV is here and healthy. But China Japan and Korea will be hard to defeat. And obviously Sweden” Harimoto is already one of the best player in the world. He is really motivated which is a special thing for his age. I remember myself at this age and my coaches had to force me a little bit to practice hard. It is a good sign for him to maybe become one day the best player in the world.”   Reigning World & Olympic Champion DING Ning (CHN) whose world ranking had fell due to inactivity in 2017 stated “We will do our best to defend our glory and retain the titles. We are well prepared for the World Championships and we will be fighting our best against each opponent in this tournament.”   In his home city Jorgen PERSSO has many duties during the Championships. He is the ambassador for table tennis but he also spends a lot of time in TV box as commentator in Halmstad.   “I am happy I could help the Swedish team I practiced a little bit with them. Now my goal is to come in the VIP warm-up and play some balls there. Anyway I am happy to be here in my hometown. I hope looking for a fantastic World Team Championships.”   ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT praised the conditions in Halmstad.   “First we found here a very nice venue and very good conditions. Our goal is to make this event the best media presentation of our sport we ever done. Last year it was already a great event in Düsseldorf with very good media data but everything is in place to achieve our goal to do better this year.”  

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad (April 29-May 6)   Abdel-Kader SALIFOU 28 is delighted with his comeback to the French National Team no. 4 seed at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in the Swedish city of Halmstad. Speaking for FFTT website Rouen player (actual WR 106) has emphasized that he is very excited to stand alongside Can AKKUZU (WR 90 age 20 right-handed attacker) Simon GAUZY (WR 10 age 23 right-handed attacker) Emmanuel LEBESSON (WR 28 age 30 left-handed attacker) and Quentin ROBINOT (WR 99 age 25 right-handed attacker). They will play in Group D with Korea Republic (no. 5) Austria (no. 11) India (no. 13) Croatia (no. 20) Poland (no. 22).   “I’m obviously very happy with this return as any sportsman dreams of playing in French National Team. My story is a little different from the other players knowing that my first selection was ten years ago for the 2008 World Championships. A year and a half ago I decided to change my training center by going to Saarbrücken Germany with the aim to progress in Pro Tou events. I wasn’t focused on my return to French team but that happened thanks to my good performances at the Pro Tour tournaments. I am obviously very happy” stated Abdel-Kader SALIFOU about invitation of Coach Patrick CHILA.   SALIFOU spent fifteen years at INSEP famous institute of sport in France place where many world class players in all sports started their careers (for instance famous basketball stars Tony PARKER and Boris DIAW).   “I felt that I need to discover a different vision hence I went to Germany… Yes I am satisfied because I made several nice performances against players of the Top 100. I went back at World no. 83 at the beginning of the year my best ranking so far and I rejoin the team of France earlier than I assumed. I was surprised to reach French team so quickly knowing that my last selection happened at the 2015 European Championships in Lisbon”.   Speaking about his goals in Halmstad SALIFOU explained:   “I do not really have personal goals as we speak about World Team Championships. I will really try to help the team as much as I can. Of course Coach will decide what my role is. I think we have a chance to make a good result I hope quarter-finals at least. There are no weak teams in our group but we have a chance to be in the first three which would allow us to qualify for quarters or eighths depending on our place in the group”.

The Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships that will be held in Halmstad Sweden from 29 April to 6 May 2018 is set to be the most followed table tennis event in history with the ITTF producing more amount of content than ever for a World Championships.   The Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships will feature 8 days of live TV for the first time in World Championships history with 12 tables of live streaming including all matches in the Championship Division all available on ITTF’s online streaming platform itTV.   New innovations such as the aerial cam will also be brought into use at the world’s biggest table tennis event of the year to bring the sport closer to fans than ever. Fans are also in for a treat as they can also see more behind-the-scenes footage of their favourite teams getting ready to fight to be World Team Champions in Halmstad.   In addition following the success of the inaugural edition in 2017 the ITTF will be extending its partnership with 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Title Sponsor Liebherr to feature four days of a live show before and after matches the Liebherr Live Show each day from 3rd to 6th May in a custom-built studio. Fans around the world will be able to watch Liebherr Live on their TV as it will be offered as part of the World Feed as well on itTV Facebook Twitter and YouTube pages.   ITTF Head of Media Matt Pound stated “It has always been one of our top goals here at the ITTF to be pushing out more engaging content through our various channels to ensure that our sport reaches as many fans and audiences as possible. The Liebherr Live Show is one initiative that we started in 2017 that has been a huge success and we are glad that Liebherr is coming on board again this year to carry on the project with us to make it bigger and better for our fans!”   The enhanced Liebherr Live Show will feature star table tennis athletes coaches and officials to analyse and recap on results debate surprises and discuss key matches to look out for. Content will include behind-the-scenes footage exclusive interviews as well as “Earth-moving Moment of the Day” and “Ice Cold Moment of the Day” features to align with the Liebherr brand.    Bernhard KÖSLER responsible for the sponsoring activities at Liebherr shared “Liebherr is a long-term supporter of table tennis and we are delighted to once again be partnering with ITTF on the World Championships and also the ongoing development of Liebherr Live. It started last year in Düsseldorf and we were really pleased with the concept of the show the fan engagement through content going out on digital platforms and the creativeness of the ITTF team. We look forward to global table tennis fans tuning in this year.”    The Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships is expected to break new viewership and social media records set in Düsseldorf Germany in 2017 as fans can now follow more content from Halmstad as the world’s best teams fight their way to glory in Sweden.    

Table Tennis Association of Serbia President Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC speaks about LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships   Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC was born in 1975 when his father Milivoje became a World Team Championships runner-up representing strong Yugoslavian National Team. Aleksandar debuted at the world championships 23 years ago in Tianjin 1995 while now looks forward to the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad Sweden as a recently appointed President of Table Tennis Association of Serbia but still in good shape to lead his side as a player.   “Our Men`s Team faces huge task sharing Second Division group with strong teams of Greece Hungary and Italy. It`s hard to predict what we are capable for but for sure this Championships will provide an important experience for our very talented women`s team” stressed Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC who created the biggest upset at the 1997 World Championships by beating actual Olympic champion from Atlanta LIU Guoliang from China in the Singles Men`s Event.   Serbian Men`s Team will be represented by Bojan CREPULJA (27 year-old World no. 414) Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC (43 196) Marko PETKOV (26 934) and Zolt PETE (30 359) while Women`s Team are composed by two European rising stars Izabela LUPULESKU (18 226) and Sabina SURJAN (18 783) as well as Aneta MAKSUTI (22 729) and Andrea Todorović (25 124). Men`s team commences tournament against Hungary women`s one against Chile both on April 29th.   “We have long-term goals. Our priority for this year is to establish Table Tennis Center in the city of Novi Sad to provide best possible conditions for all our teams. One of my aims is to see at least two our women`s players at the 2024 Olympics. Regarding men`s team we need to start with new kids because we don’t have such big talents in the current squad”.