The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Antibes France Dimitrij OVTCHAROV has been crowned the Men’s Singles champion at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Antibes France following his 4-2 victory over Alexander SHIBAEV in the final on Sunday 5th February. Germany’s OVTCHAROV who has now won the trophy on four occasions (2012 2015 2016 2017) and for the third year in a row at the tournament had a strong level of support from the crowd. After six games against his Russian opponent SHIBAEV the top seed sealed his place on the top step of the podium. The opening of the match was hotly contested by both finalists and OVTCHAROV knew that he was in for a challenge as SHIBAEV had set a personal best record at the tournament by reaching the final in Antibes and improving on his third place finish achieved in Gondomar Portugal in 2016. Neither player could be separated after the opening four games but then OVTCHAROV began to find his rhythm and managed to claim the fifth game by a three point margin. Then it looked difficult for SHIBAEV to get himself back into the match after OVTCHAROV raced into a comfortable lead in game six. But then the Russian representative managed to claw his way back to a two point difference and suddenly it was OVTCHAROV who was the player under pressure. However OVTCHAROV survived and the title was in his hands once again (11-8 12-14 11-5 11-13 11-8 11-8). With OVTCHAROV and SHIBAEV finishing in the top two they will receive an invitation to the Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup set to be hosted in Liege Belgium in October. Another player set to gain an invitation is Frenchman Simon GAUZY who captured the hearts of the home fans in Antibes throughout the 2017 Europe Top 16. GAUZY’s victory over KOU Lei in the third place match saw him make the podium. “I am really happy to have performed quite well in Antibes and it means a lot to me to play in front of my family my friends and in front of this great crowd so I’m really happy that I could do this here” Simon GAUZY.
LI Jie crowned Women’s champion in Antibes
The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup LI Jie has won the Women’s Singles title at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup after the Dutch player overcame Germany’s Petrissa SOLJA in the final at the Azur Arena in Antibes. Heading into the event LI had never previously won the competition but in 2012 in Lyon/Villeurbanne also in France she did finish as the runner up. Now LI has added the 2017 Europe Top 16 Women’s Singles crown to her name after her triumph over SOLJA in the final. However the title was won in a rather disappointing manner as SOLJA was forced to withdraw from the tie early due to injury. With the scores level at one game apiece the final was anyone’s for the taking but then in the third end SOLJA left the court for an injury break. SOLJA returned to the table after a short amount of time had passed but unfortunately for the German player she was not to recover. Games three and four were played out but that was as far as the Women’s Singles final was to go. SOLJA spoke to the officials and shook hands with her opponent before conceding the rest of the match (7-11 11-7 3-11 6-11). While this was LI’s second appearance in the final of the tournament she also participated in the Women’s Singles final at the Liebherr 2015 European Championships in Ekaterinburg. The outcome in Antibes has now seen the player from the Netherlands appear in three European Women’s Singles finals on the international circuit. “I’m very happy but I’m also very sorry for SOLJA. This was my third time in the final and finally I’ve won so I’m very happy” LI Jie. Prior to the final Germany’s Sabine WINTER defeated Austria’s LIU Jia in the third place match. This result means the three players to book their invitations for the 2017 Women’s World Cup scheduled to take place in Markham Canada in October are LI Jie Petrissa SOLJA and Sabine WINTER.
Gold for Tomislav PUCAR in Sochi
2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia is the crowned champion of the Men’s Singles Event at the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships. In the final he beat Germany’s QIU Dang (6-11 2-11 11-9 12-14 9-11). After furious start PUCAR found himself in dangerous situation against QIU. “I had advantage with the 2:0 lead but when QIU won the third game it made me nervous. I tried to stay calm. I knew he love to play soft balls and his very strong on backhand. So I changed my tactics and I am very satisfied with my forehand which helped me a lot today” said PUCAR. ”For me semi final was the final before the final. Darko put me on severe test. That challenge was much harder then this.” The semi final duel between no. two and no. three seed ended according to rankings. Tomislav PUCAR beat Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC (11-9 8-11 13-11 11-13 12-14 3-11). “I am no. two seed here and everybody is motivated to play against me. I do not let the pressure affect my game. I do not care who is at the opposite side but for sure JORGIC was very dangerous adversary ” said PUCAR.” I won the opening game and in next Darko took his game to the next level. I had to stay calm and that is exactly what helped. I seized my opportunity when Darko become nervous; I saw that moment and took advantage. I do not like to play long rallies because I am tall I prefer to attack and that is what I did today. With good receives I played to the corners ” said PUCAR. After being 3 games to one in reverse QIU Dang made remarkable recovery to beat Deni KOZUL of Slovenia in other semi final (12-10 10-12 8-11 6-11 11-8 11-8 11-6). “After all it all comes to self confidence. I believed I could win this match. I was looking for a way all the time out when I was down ” explained QIU. “ I played against Deni three or four years before and he improved his game very much. It was very hard to find the game against him. I changed the tactics the speed the rhythm distance from the table…I tried everything and then my service game started to bring me advantage. I seized the opportunity and went for victory.”
Chantal MANTZ newly crowned champion in Sochi
2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships In all-German final Chantal MANTZ clinched the crown in Women’s Singles Event at the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships in Sochi. At the final hurdle she overcame team-mate and club-mate WAN Yuan (8-11 11-9 5-11 12-10 11-6 11-7). At the very start of the journey she beat the top seeded Adina DIACONU of Romania but she admitted the challenge to play against the adversary she knows so well was a tough challenge too. “It was very difficult. Her backhand is so strong. I had to found a way to stop her. I tried to play more on forehand side and to force her into mistakes ” explained MANZ. WAN Yuan halted progress of Lisa LUNG of Belgium in the penultimate stage after straight games match (11-4 11-7 11-8 11-8). “It was a straight games victory but it was not easy at all. I attacked with the good service and I tried to surprise LUNG with my returns. I never let her know where it is going to go. I did not play risky try to keep everything under control and to play safe. However I did not stop attacking and played into the corners to made her less dangerous ” said WAN. In the other semi final Chantal MANTZ beat Maria TAILAKOVA of Russia (14-12 11-9 11-6 11-8). “I felt much better then yesterday. My game was much better but still it was not as easy as the results predict ” stated MANTZ. ”In two opening games TAILAKOVA was in the lead. She had control and I had to catch up with her. Then I managed to adjust to her game I aimed to her body; she likes to stay close to the table and I forced her into the mistakes.”
Nerves of steel see Dimitrij OVTCHAROV over the line
2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup The two finalists for the Men’s Singles competition at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup were decided midway through the final day of action in Antibes on Sunday 5th February with Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Alexander SHIBAEV booking their spots in the final. Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV showed great character in the semi-finals of the Men’s Singles after he dispatched Ukraine’s KOU Lei in seven games. OVTCHAROV managed to establish a strong 3-0 lead in games but a remarkable turnaround saw KOU claim the next three games to pull the tie level at 3-3. The momentum was with the Ukrainian player KOU but OVTCHAROV held his nerve to move into the final (11-8 11-9 11-8 10-12 3-11 2-11 11-6). Eventual success for Dimitrij OVTCHAROV who in his excitement had perhaps forgotten his defeat of three years ago: “Of course I’m happy to be in the final. The opponents all 16 in Europe are extremely tough. It’s my fourth final in the past five years and I hope I can make it and win this final” Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. It was his fourth consecutive semi-final but not his fourth penultimate round win. In 2014 in Lausanne he was beaten by Denmark’s Michael MAZE in the penultimate round but in 2012 in Lyon 2015 in Baku and most recently last year in Gondomar he progressed to win the event. The last two Europe Top 16 titles have been won by OVTCHAROV. As top seed for the competition in Antibes OVTCHAROV will have an opportunity to make it three trophy wins in a row on Sunday 5th February after booking his place in the 2017 final in dramatic fashion. Alexander SHIBAEV is the other competitor in the final following the Russian’s defeat of Simon GAUZY. Arguably SHIBAEV has been one of the standout players at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup having claimed victories over the likes of the no.4 seed Marcos FREITAS and Tiago APOLONIA during the opening two days. Now SHIBAEV has added GAUZY to his list of wins in Antibes beating the Frenchman in six games (11-7 11-9 8-11 12-10 8-11 11-9). The result ultimately left the home fans disappointed but the chants of ‘Simon GAUZY’ continued to sound even following his defeat and the French player can feel happy about his overall showing at the competition.
Defensive masterclass results in victory for LI Jie
ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup LI Jie and Petrissa SOLJA will go head-to-head in a battle for the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup Women’s Singles title after both competitors came out on top in their respective semi-final matches on Sunday 5th February at the Azur Arena in Antibes. Demonstrating another defensive masterclass LI Jie found a high level of consistency in her game to come through her last four encounter with Germany’s Sabine WINTER. This is only the second appearance that WINTER has made at the Europe Top 16 having finished in sixth position at last year’s event and while she put up a brave performance against LI it was the player from the Netherlands who stole the show across six ends (5-11 11-7 15-13 9-11 11-7 11-6). After the match LI Jie’s coach LI Jiao said she was happy with how her player played in the semi-finals. “I’m very proud of LI Jie. I think her chances in the final against SOLJA will be 50-50. Every time LI and SOLJA play it is very close so we will see” LI Jiao. The other semi-final saw Petrissa SOLJA defeat the no.2 seed from Austria LIU Jia by a 4–1 scoreline (13-11 7-11 11-5 13-11 11-5). SOLJA was in commanding form throughout the last four tie and while the German competitor was pushed hard at times she calmly moved through into the final. The second step on the podium is the highest SOLJA has previously achieved at the tournament when she reached the final in Baku Azerbaijan in 2015. However the 22-year-old now has a chance to set a new personal best record at the event when she takes on LI Jie in the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup final.
LIND and VALUCH surprise winners in Sochi
2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships Anders LIND of Denmark and Alexander VALUCH of Slovakia are the surprise winners of the Men’s Doubles title at the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships. They beat no. two seeds Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia and Janos Bence MAJOROS of Hungary on their way to the highest step on the medal rostrum (11-8 11-5 11-6). They were in the fast lane from the very start of the match. “The final and semi final were comparatively easy. On our way to the last day we struggled a lot against POLANSKY and REITSPIES of Czech Republic ” said Alexander VALUCH. It is only the second time that this pair is playing together. “We had a really bad start at the Hungarian open. We concluded our journey there in the qualifications. That is why we did not have high expectations here ” said LIND. ”We controlled the game in the final with low shots try to keep them out guard with fast balls and back flips.” Both semi final matches concluded in straight games. Tomislav PUCAR and Janos Bence MAJOROS overcame Adam SZUDI and Nandor ECSEKI (8-11 9-11 8-11). “We started to attack them from the beginning. We took full control over the match and we kept the game at the same high level until the end. We were very calm quiet and focused ” explained MAJAROS. Tomislav PUCAR added that they did not have problem preparing the tactics. “I am playing with ECSEKI in the club and they are all team-mates so we knew what to expect. We were well prepared.” Anders LIND and Alexander VALUCH overcame Anton KALLBERG and Simon BERGLUND of Sweden (9-11 5-11 9-11). “I am very positive. I knew we would win this. We just went straight forward ” said Anders. VALUCH also underlined they felt no pressure at all. “We did not make any easy mistakes and we were focused. It is first time that we played against them in doubles but we knew their game from the singles.”
LUNG and LOYEN sealed the fantastic run with the gold
2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships Lisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN of Belgium will enter the history books as a first title winner of the 2017 STAG European Under 21 Championships. In the thrilling closure of the Women’s Doubles Event in Sochi they overcame Romania’s Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN (12-10 10-12 8-11 9-11). At the edge of the knife finishes LUNG and LOYEN showed their class. “It was not the tactics that prevailed here. More important was that we managed to overcome the pressure of the final. I was too nervous and made to many mistakes. Thankfully Lisa found the way to calm me down ” said LOYEN. LOYEN regained her confidence and found the answer against the pressure from the no. one seeds DIACONU and DRAGOMAN. “I just told Eline to stay calm and to put the ball on the table. I played a little bit risky. When we managed to focus on game we took full control ” said Lisa. Morning session did not start easy for Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN but after they warmed up a little the semi final match against Ekaterina GUSEVA of Russia and Zdena BLASKOVA of Czech Republic took only one course (11-9 11-5 11-3). “We had a little bit difficult start. It was not easy for us so the adversaries took a quick lead. However after 2:6 we started to play much aggressive and to attack more ” explained Adina DIACONU. Andreea DRAGOMAN added: “Ekaterina and Zdena responded but they could not keep with that pace for long. We kept on attacking and soon took over the control of the match.” Lisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN had to play four games against Alina NIKITCHANKA and Hanna PATSEYEVA of Belarus to reach the ultimate stage (6-11 11-5 12-10 11-9). The dangerous combination of attacker and player with the defensive style proved very strong. “I am so happy they have won it because they did not play well. When you play against defense and attack you have to be five steps ahead. Also the attitude was something that bothered me. I told the girls either you are going to win or lose- you are going to do that together. It proved crucial at the end. In the last game they were talking cheering each other and they won ” explained coach Marc CLOSSET. Lisa LUNG added: “We had to change the rhythm of the game constantly. It was very important that we managed to regain control in the second game.”
CP Lyssois Lille Metropole in the semis of the women’s ETTU Cup
After two victories in both legs of the Women’s ETTU Cup quarterfinal against SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin CP Lyssois Lille Metropole booked their semi final place. In the opening leg in France CP Lyssois Lille Metropole beat Slovakia’s representatives in straight games. SKST Stavoimpex Hodonin -CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 2:3 Natalia PARTYKA – Agnes LE LANNIC 3:1 (11:7 6:11 11:2 11:8) Lenka HARABASZOVA -Yue WU 1:3 (11:9 8:11 8:11 10:12) Renata STRBIKOVA – Xiaoxin YANG 3:0 (11:7 11:3 11:4) Natalia PARTYKA – Yue WU 0:3 (3:11 9:11 6:11) Lenka HARABASZOVA – Agnes LE LANNIC 0:3 (8:11 8:11 9:11)
Matilda EKHOLM ends Antibes campaign on a high note
The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup Antibes France With the semi-final positions already decided the evening session of play on Saturday 4th February focused on deciding the positions 5-8 for the competitors at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup. Unfortunately the play-off match to decide fifth and sixth places in the Women’s Singles event was cut short after Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS withdrew due to injury problems after the opening few points and as a result Georgina POTA of Hungary will finish in 5th position. Therefore the attention turned to the battle for seventh position as Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM went head-to-head with the other Romanian player in action Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN. EKHOLM made the slightly brighter start in the tie with her capture of games one and two but then a glimmer of hope appeared for MONTEIRO DODEAN when she took the third end to narrow the game scores. Both players continued to give it their all but three games later and the win was EKHOLM’s (11-8 11-9 8-11 12-10 7-11 11-6). The final order of the Men’s Singles competition will be confirmed tomorrow but there were two encounters in the evening session to decide which players would take part in which play-off ties. Earlier in the day Timo BOLL suffered a shock defeat to Frenchman Simon GAUZY in the quarter-finals. Germany’s BOLL will still have an opportunity to finish the tournament on a positive note though after his victory over Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA (11-9 8-11 11-9 11-4 15-13) put BOLL into the match for fifth place. BOLL will meet Andrej GACINA on the final day of the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup following the Croatian contestant’s 4-3 success over Austria’s Stefan FEGERL (11-9 6-11 11-6 11-8 6-11 8-11 11-7).
