Men’s and Women’s ETTU Cup knock out phase The knock out phase of the men’s and women’s ETTU Cup is scheduled for this weekend. After three stages of group matches the eight most successful clubs in preliminary stages joined the top eight seeds. French Stella Sport La Romagne top seeds and favorites for the title will host Spanish Cajasur Priego TM tomorrow. Also on Friday Sweden’s Halmstad BTK will play against SF SKK El Nino Praha whilst French Istres Tennis De Table will host STK Starr Varazdin. On Saturday Austria’s Stockerau awaits STK Libertas Marincolor Ukraine’s Fortune will meet Slovakia’s SK Vydrany TTC Kazan of Russia will travel to Spain to play against no. three and four seeds DKV Borges Vall. On Sunday Belgium’s Logis Auderghem TT will play against Romania’s CS Mioveni. Austria’s SPG Linz will meet Turkish Besiktas Jimnastik Kulübü. The top seeds in the Women’s ETTU Cup French CP Lyssois Lille Metropole will host Spanish Tecnigen Linares on Friday whilst no. two seeds Russia’s TTC Kazan will host Netherlands’ Dozy Den Helder/Noordkop day latter. Romania’s ACS Dumbravita and Sweden’s Sparvägen BTK will play tomorrow as well as Italy’s asv Eppan Tischtennis Raiffeisen vs. Portugal’s GDCS Juncal. On Saturday will meet Spanish CTT Balaguer Villart Logistic vs. Greece’s AO DAO Tavrou Serbia’s Novi Sad vs. A.C.D. Se Sao Joao and Czech’s TT Moravsky Krumlov vs. Turkey’s Tigem Sports Club. On Sunday Hungary’s Budaörsi 2i sc will meet Belgium’s TT Vedrinamur.
TTCLM Round 4: LEBESSON`s Angers hosts Orenburg`s stars
TTCLM Round 4 will be held this Thursday and Friday (November 24-25th) ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK61 will fight for its first victory in the Group A home game against TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN. German side won 3:2 their opening round clash when ZHAI Yuija secured both points for Danish side. After successful trip to Angers in the latest round the 2009 TTCLM runner-up now targets its third win. VAILLANTE SPORTS ANGERS TT and TTC FAKEL GAZPROM ORENBURG will meet in the other Group A clash. French side needs the victory to take back their chances for the quarter-finals after poor performance against Ochsenhausen in the Round 2 home game (0:3). One actual individual European champion Emmanuel LEBESSON and two former champions Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Vladimir SAMSONOV will be a part of this promising showdown. Russian giant No. 1 seed are determined to win its fourth consecutive game. The latest TTCLM finalists will have their fourth clash in the last six months: actual TTCLM runner-up ESLOVS AI BORDTENNIS hosts double TTCLM champion AS PONTOISE CERGY in the Group B game. Marcos FREITAS & Co. managed to recover after 1:2 in the opening round against Swedish side thanks to FREITAS ho beat XU Hui and victorious point of Tristan FLORE against Daniel KOSIBA. Eslovs now must win to keep their chances for the next stage while French champion plays for its fourth victory in a row. Polish club KS UNIA AZS AWFiS GDANSK welcomes the 2012 TTCLM runner-up UMMC playing for its very first victory in the Group C. Russian side has 2-1 score and now wants to improve its chances for the quarter-final. Their breathtaking meeting in Verhknaya Pyshma belonged to UMMC which players managed to reverse the 0:2 score. SHIBAEV defeated WANG 3:1 in the decisive encounter concluded by the longest set (16:14). TTC OSTRAVA 2016 targets its very first win in the Group C as they await BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (1-2 score). Polish side won their first meeting playing at home but now they need new win in order to preserve some chances for the quarter-final spot. Two teams which occupies two highest positions in that group G. V. HENNEBONT TT and FC SAARBRUCKEN TISCHTENNIS will fight for the top in France. French club did a great job by beating Bogoria in straight games while Germans are determined to defend their unbeaten status. Group D favorites BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF and CHARTRES ASTT will play away this round against SPG WALTER WELS and KST ENERGA-MANEKIN TORUN respectively. Ten times TTCLM champion from Germany won all their matches so far while the 2013 TTCLM runner-up Chartres suffered unique defeat in the duel with Timo BOLL & Co. Bearing in mind current positions SPG WALTER WELS (0-3 score) and KST ENERGA-MANEKIN TORUN (1-2) will fight for the third spot of Group D. The 2016/17 TTCLM Round 4 (November 24-25th) GROUP A ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK61 – TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN (Nov 25 17:00 CET) VAILLANTE SPORTS ANGERS TT – TTC FAKEL GAZPROM ORENBURG (Nov 25 19:30 CET) GROUP B ESLOVS AI BORDTENNIS – AS PONTOISE CERGY (Nov 24 19:30 CET) KS UNIA AZS AWFiS GDANSK – UMMC (Nov 25 18:30 CET) GROUP C TTC OSTRAVA 2016 – BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (Nov 24 17:00 CET) G.V. HENNEBONT TT – FC SAARBRUCKEN TISCHTENNIS (Nov 25 20:00 CET) GROUP D KST ENERGA-MANEKIN TORUN – CHARTRES ASTT (Nov 24 18:30 CET) SPG WALTER WELS – BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF (Nov 25 19:00 CET)
ITTF & TMS International End Their Exclusive Marketing Agreement
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and TMS International have announced that they are ending their fruitful exclusive commercial/marketing partnership on 1 January 2017. TMS International had been managing ITTF commercial rights since 2003 and managed to bring an unprecedented amount of marketing revenue to the International Federation. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “Firstly I would like to thank TMS on all their hard work over the years to assist the ITTF in commercialising our sport and bringing us a significant amount of marketing revenue. The time was right for a change and I welcome the new challenge of bringing all the commercial rights in house which will be managed by ITTF’s Marketing & Asia Pacific Headquarters under the guidance of ITTF’s Marketing Director Steve DAINTON.” All of TMS International’s deals brokered with marketing partners contractual partners sponsors TV networks will all be transferred back to the ITTF on 1 January 2017. TMS International’s Managing Director Anders THUNSTROM added: “After many years representing the ITTF with their commercial rights the timing was right for us to find this solution together with ITTF for the benefit of the sport. TMS had more or less reached our capacity of what we were able to generate for the ITTF so for us to jointly look into this with the ITTF was not so difficult. With ITTF now looking after their own rights it will give them some flexibility on how to handle their rights some rights could be kept in-house some other rights the ITTF can look elsewhere to get support which I hope will benefit table tennis in the long-run.” TMS International will continue to service the sport of table tennis and other sports through clubs regional and continental associations and federations with a special focus initially on North America.
New Round of Championships Division Clashes today
Round three of 2017 ITTF European Championships qualifications The Championships Division 2017 ITTF European Championships qualifications Round three is completed. All the favorites prevailed with the exception in Gillingham where England overcame Slovenia in full five matches duel. Men’s Championships Division Denmark – Hungary 2:3 (Odense) Jonathan GROTH – Bence MAJOROS 2:3 (11:6 11:5 6:11 7:11 7:11) Tobias RASMUSSEN – Adam SZUDI 2:3 (11:6 11:8 6:11 6:11 8:11) Anders LIND– Tamas LAKATOS 3:2 (11:4 11:7 9:11 7:11 11:7) Jonathan GROTH – Adam SZUDI 3:0 (11:8 12:10 11:8) Mikkel HINDERSSON – Bence MAJOROS 1:3 (11:6 9:11 8:11 4:11) Switzerland – Serbia 0:3 (Magglingen) Elia SCHMID – Valentin NADJNEMEDI 1:3 (8:11 11:8 8:11 8:11) Nicolas CHAMPUOD – Dragan SUBOTIC 1:3 (14:12 10:12 7:11 5:11) Lars POSCH – Lorencio LUPULESKU 1:3 (3:11 12:10 7:11 7:11) Finland – Italy 1:3 (Helsinki) Benedek OLAH – Jordy PICCOLin 3:2 (11:13 11:2 11:5 9:11 11:8) Alex NAUMI – Leonardo MUTTI 0:3 (7:11 8:11 13:15) Otto TENNILA – Daniele PINTO 1:3 (2:11 11:7 12:14 11:13) Benedek OLAH – leonardo MUTTI 1:3 (11:7 9:11 8:11 6:11) Israel – Croatia 0:3 (Lod) Omri BEN ARI – Andrej GACINA 1:3 (11:8 3:11 4:11 5:11) Mathan SIMON – Tomislav PUCAR 0:3 (9:11 6:11 9:11) Aviv BEN ARI – Frane KOJIC 0:3 (8:11 10:12 8:11) Estonia – Slovakia 0:3 (Tallinn) Tomas LIBENE – Peter SEREDA 1:3 (11:6 6:11 1:11 8:11) Aleksej NIKONOROV – Lubomir PISTEJ 0:3 (6:11 2:11 3:11) Aleksandr LUSHIN – HE Bai 0:3 (2:11 8:11 10:12) Lithuania – Ukraine 0:3 (Vilnius) Alfredas UDRA – Yevhen PRYSCHEPA 0:3 (1:11 8:11 4:11) Tomas MIKUTIS – Yarolsav ZHMUDENKO 0:3 (7:11 9:11 4:11) Arnoldas DOMEIKA – Viktor YEFIMOV 0:3 (5:11 3:11 7:11) Ukraine – Lithuania 3:0 (Vilnius) Viktor YEFIMOV – Medardas STANKEVICIUS 3:2 (10:12 11:3 8:11 11:9 11:3) Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO – Tomas MIKUTIS 3:1 (16:18 11:6 11:5 15:13) Ivan KATKOV – Alfredas UDRA 3:0 (11:6 11:5 11:9) Netherlands – England 0:3 (Zoetermer) Ewout OOSTWOUNDER – Sam WALKER 0:3 (9:11 7:11 10:12) Rajko GOMMERS – Liam PITCHFORD 1:3 (8:11 11:7 5:11 4:11) Laurens TROMER – Paul DRINKHALL 1:3 (3:11 10:12 11:8 5:11) Slovenia – Belgium 1:3 (Nova Gorica) Bojan TOKIC – Robin DEVOS 2:3 (10:12 11:2 11:9 5:11 7:11) Darko JORGIC – Cedric NUYTINK 3:1 (11:7 10:12 11:3 13:11) Deni KOZUL – Martin ALLEGRO 1:3 (6:11 16:14 5:11 6:11) Bojan TOKIC – Cedric NUYTINK 0:3 (8:11 7:11 5:11) Bulgaria – Spain 0:3 (Sofia) Kiril POPOV – Alvaro ROBLES 1:3 (12:10 9:11 10;12 8:11) Petyo KRASTEV – Carlos MACHADO 1:3 (4:11 12:10 2:11 2:11) Denislav KODSABASHEV – Jesus CANTERO 0:3 (9:11 9:11 9:11) Turkey – Romania 0:3 (Gungoren Istanbul) Ibrahim GUNDUZ – Ovidiu IONESCU 2:3 (9:11 11:4 11:8 2:11 7:11) Abdullah YIGENLER – Hunor SZOCS 0:3 (2:11 9:11 1:11) Batuhan ULUCAK – Adrian CRISAN 0:3 (5:11 5:11 5:11) Women’s Championships Division England – Slovenia 3:2 (Gillingham) Kelly SIBLEY – Tamara PAVCNIK 3:0 (11:4 11:3 11:3) Tin Tin HO – Alex GALIC 0:3 (10:12 7:11 7:11) Karina LE FEVRE – Manca FAJMUT 1:3 (7:11 12:10 11:13 6:11) Kelly SIBLEY – Alex GALIC 3:1 (9:11 12;10 11:7 11:8) Tin Tin HO – Tamara PAVCNIK 3:1 (6:11 11:2 11:5 12:10) Greece – Netherlands 1:3 (Piraeus) Aikaterini TOLIOU – Britt EERLAND 1:3 (6:11 7:11 13:11 5:11) Georgia ZAVITSANOU – LI Jie 0:3 (6:11 2:11 5:11) Maria CHRISTOFORAKI – Kim VERMAAS 3:2 (2:11 11:6 11:9 9:11 13:11) Aikaterini TOLIOU – LI Jie 0:3 (2:11 3:11 5:11) Bulgaria – Belarus 0:3 (Sofia) Maria YOVKOVA – Alina ARLOUSKAYA 0:3 (10:12 5;11 4:11) Mihaela DIMOVA – Dasha TRIGOLOS 1:3 (4:11 11:9 4:11 8:11) Krasimira YOVKOVA – Alina NIKITCHANKA 0:3 (6:11 3:11 2:11) Finland – Croatia 0:3 Helsinki Annika LUNDSTROM – TIAN Yuan 0:3 (6:11 5:11 4:11) Anna KIRICHENKO – Mateja JEGER 0:3 (4:11 10:12 6:11) Pihla ERIKSSON – Ivana MALOBABIC 0:3 (5:11 2:11 3:11) Switzerland – Spain 1:3 (Magglingen) Rachel MORETE – Maria XIAO 1:3 (11:7 8:11 6:11 8:11) Rahel ASCHWANDEN – Galia DVORAK wo 0:3 Celine REUST – Sara RAMIREZ 3:2 (9:11 11:8 11:8 7:11 11:6) Rachel MORETE – Galia DVORAK wo 0:3 Kosovo – Wales 0:3 (Prishtina) Nehare JANEVA – Anghard PHILLIPS 0:3 (10:12 7;11 10:12) Linda ZEGIRI – Charlotte CAREY 0:3 (4:11 4;11 4:11) Viona MALOKU – Chloe THOMAS 0:3 (3:11 7:11 7:11) Lithuania – Serbia 2:3 (Vilnius) Ruta PASKAUSKIENE – Anelia LUPULESKU 3:0 (11:6 11:6 11:2) Ugne BASKUTYTE – Andrea TODOROVIC 0:3 (7:11 7:11 7:11) Egle STUCKYTE – Aneta MAKSUTI 3:2 (11:7 9:11 14:12 4:11 11:7) Ruta PASKAUSKIENE – Andrea TODOROVIC 1:3 (11:7 6:11 8:11 6:11) Ugne BASKUTYTE – Izabela LUPULESKU 1:3 (12:10 7:11 12:14 6:11) Italy – Slovakia 1:3 (Terni) Loan LETIONG – Eva ODOROVA 0:3 (5:11 5:11 6:11) Veronica MOSCONI – Barbora BALAZOVA 1:3 (6:11 11:5 7:11 6:11) Jamila LEURENTI – Tatiana KUKULKOVA 3:2 (6:11 11:9 11:6 7:11 11:9) Loan LETIONG – Barbora BALAZOVA 0:3 (8:11 6:11 4:11) Belgium – Sweden 0:3 (Blegny) Eline LOYEN – FEN li 1:3 (10:12 11:7 11:13 11:13) Lisa LUNG – Matilda EKHOLM 0:3 (8:11 6:11 4:11) Nathalie MARCHETTI – Linda BERGSTROM 2:3 (12:10 8:11 12:10 8:11 3:11)
Bogoria seeks victory in Ostrava
Prior the TTCLM Round 4 coach of Polish side Tomasz REDZIMSKI states: „Advance to quarterfinals will be very difficult but if we win all games it is still possible” This Thursday November 24th BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI will play „do or die” match in Czech Republic in their attempt do keep chances to reach the 2016/17 Table Tennis Champions League Men quarter-finals. Polish side has 1-2 score in Group C so far hence coach Tomasz REDZIMSKI is aware of actual situation… “Advance to quarterfinals will be very difficult but if we win all games it is still possible” stated REDZIMSKI before the clash with TT Ostrava 2016 (Bogoria beat team 3:0 in the opening round) Polish club three times TTCLM quarter-finalist (2008/09 2011/12 and 2014/15) lost to GV HENNEBONT TT 3:0 in the Round 3 held in France. REDZIMSKI explained why Panagiotis GIONIS was absent: “Panagiotis couldn’t play because he had two-headed thigh injury which he contracted during the match against England in European Team Qualification”. Bogiria`s coach hoped that his side could win games from 2nd to 4th against Hennebont but when GAO Ning was beaten by CHEN Chien-An in the second encounter (2:0 for host team) it was clear that Bogoria is very far from that goal. Now they believe that the game in Ostrava can be a good chance for team’s recuperation.
Four Europeans at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals
Japan’s Yuya OSHIMA has snatched the 16th and final qualification position for the Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals after winning the 2016 Swedish Open over the weekend. OSHIMA defeated Mattias KARLSSON (SWE) in the final a direct shootout for the last & final Grand Finals position which will be held 8-11 December 2016 in Doha Qatar. After the defining match the 22-year-old stated: “This is my best performance ever. I’m very glad with this result. I can’t wait to compete at the World Tour Grand Finals in a few weeks’ time.” OSHIMA secured the last ticket to Doha but it was Olympic champion and world number one MA Long (CHN) who held the top place of the 2016 World Tour standings after the 20 ITTF World Tour events this year. MA secured two World Tour titles in Germany and Qatar this year and will be aiming to defend his World Tour Grand Finals title he won in Lisbon last year to cap off a dream year. MA will be joined by his team mates FAN Zhendong XU Xin and ZHANG Jike in Doha with China securing the top four places in the World Tour Standings. Next on the list is Rio 2016 Olympic Games bronze medalist Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) who has won the World Tour Grand Finals on two occasions and clinched three World Tour titles in 2016. Like fellow Olympic Champion MA Long DING Ning (CHN) also topped the World Tour Standing on the women’s singles side winning 2016 two World Tour events. The 2015 World Tour Grand Finals champion is followed on the list by world number two LIU Shiwen (CHN) and 2014 World Tour Finals Champion Japan’s Kasumi ISHIKAWA. Table tennis’s youngest ever Olympic medalist 16-year-old Mima ITO (JPN) secured her place on the back of winning the Austrian Open one week ago with the Japanese superstar being in danger of missing the $500 000 event prior to her victory. The Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals is the most lucrative table tennis event on the globe with only the top 16 men and women players from the 20 2016 ITTF World Tour events securing their place in Doha. In addition to the singles competition 8 men’s and women’s doubles pairs and 8 men’s and women’s under 21 players will also be making their way to Doha to compete in the event. The qulified players are: MA Long (CHN) FAN Zhendong (CHN) XU Xin (CHN) ZHANG Jike (CHN) Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) CHUANG Chih -Yuan (TPE) Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) WONG Chun Ting (HKG) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) Yuto MURAMATSU (JPN) Kenta MATSUDAIRA (JPN) CHEN Chien-An (TPE) JEOUNG Youngsik (KOR) TANG Peng (HKG) Yuya OSHIMA (JPN) LI Ping (QAT). DING Ning (CHN) LIU Shiwen (CHN) ZHU Yuling (CHN) Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) FENG Tianwei (SGP) TIE Yana (HKG) Mima ITO (JPN) CHENG I-Ching (TPE) YANG Haeun (KOR) Miu HIRANO (JPN) Yuka ISHIGAKI (JPN) HAN Ying (GER) LEE Ho Ching (HKG) YU Mengyu (SGP) SHAN Xiaona (GER) Hina HAYATA (JPN).
Mattias KARLSSON reached new hights in Stockholm
2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open Mattias KARLSSON’S victory over top seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (12-10 8-11 11-5 7-11 11-8 11-7) was top rated upset in the semi final of the 2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open but he failed to repeat the success in the final. Japan’s Yuya OSHIMA clinched the Men’s Singles title (8-11 11-7 8-11 11-7 8-11 11-13). However Swede set new standards in his career by reaching first ever final. Prior to the 2016 Swedish Open Dimitrij OVTCHAROV had been involved in 19 ITTF World Tour semi-finals encounters with 11 of those matches resulting in success for the German player. This was the first time that Dimitrij OVTCHAROV had met Mattias KARLSSON on the World Tour stage. Seeded 15 places above his opponent Dimitrij OVTCHAROV went into the tie as the favourite to progress from the last four but it was Sweden’s KARLSSON who emerged victoriously. European champion HU Melek of Turkey succeded against no. two seed HAN Ying of Germany in the penultimate stage (11-8 14-16 11-9 8-11 7-11 11-9 11-9) but it was no. one seed Kasumi ISHIKAWA of Japan who secured the title in Stochlom (12-10 11-4 11-6 11-13 11-5). In the final of the Men’s Doubles Event Hugo CALDERANO and Gustavo TSUBOI of Japan beat Antoine HACHARD and Stephane OUAICHE of France (12-10 12-10 11-7) whilst in Women’s Doubles Taipei’s CHENG I-Ching and LEE I-Chen overcame JEON Jihee and YANG Haeun of Korea.
Mattias KARLSSON reached penultimate stage at Swedish Open
2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open in Stockholm After success against the third seed Koki NIWA of Japan in the Third round of the Men’s Singles Event at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open in Stockholm the number 16 seed Mattias KARLSSON added another victory to his account to book the place in the penultimate stage. In quarterfinal Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden withstood the spirited comeback of Dane Jonathan GROTH to progress to the final day of the tournament (2-11 6-11 5-11 11-9 11-5 11-7 9-11). Top seeded Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany needed five games to beat Lim PITCHFORD of England on his way to semis (14-12 11-6 7-11 11-3 16-14). For the place in the final of the Women’s Singles Event HAN Ying of Germany seeded no. two will play against European champion HU Melek of Turkey. In the quarter final duels HAN prevailed against Miyu KATO of Japan in straight games (9-11 2-11 9-11 6-11) whilst HU Melk needed full seven to beat Korea’s JEON Jihee (11-5 11-6 7-11 7-11 11-8 9-11 11-6). In other semi final duel CHENG I-Ching of Taipei will meet Kasumi IHIKAWA of Japan. Japan’ s player beat LI Qian today in full distance thriller (11-4 7-11 11-5 4-11 6-11 11-9 11-1).
ALAMIYAN put OVTCHAROV on test
2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open Top seed player in the Men’s Singles Event at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany was stretched to full distance in the second Round of the Event before he emerged successfully to the round of 16. The player who required qualifications to get to the main draw seeded only at the position no. 43 Noshad ALAMIYAN of Iran already eliminated Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA but failed to create top rated upset in the duel against World’s no. 6 (8-11 11-5 11-1 8-11 11-6 8-11 11-7). Portugal’s Joao MONTEIRO beat Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden in straight games (11-9 12-10 11-8 13-110 whilst Liam PITCHFORD of England needed two more against Hugo CALDERANO of Brazil (2-11 8-11 11-4 11-7 6-11 7-11). In straight games Dane Jonathan GROTH beat Elias RANEFUR of Sweden (5-11 8-11 7-11 6-11) but Mattias KARLSSON overcame Florent LAMBIET of Belgium (11-7 11-7 11-5 11-5) to give joy to home supporters. No. two seed Marcos FREITAS of Portugal also safely moved to the next stage after encounter against Martin ALLEGRO of Belgium (6-11 8-11 11-9 11-13 8-11) but his compatriot no 5 seed Tiago APOLONIA is out. Stephane OUAICHE of France prevailed in their second round duel (11-5 9-11 11-5 15-13 11-8). The top seeds in the Women’s Single Event successfully emerged to the third round of of the competition. Japan’s Kasumi ISHIKAWA faced tough challenge against compatriot Honoka HASHIMOTO and needed full seven games to won second round duel (9-11 7-11 11-7 11-13 11-7 11-9 11-7) but at the lower half of the draw Germany’s HAN Ying left the arena after just four games against Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden (6-11 2-11 5-11 6-11). Poland’s LI Qian succeded against Japan’s Hitomi SATO (11-4 9-11 10-12 6-11 5-11) Germany’s SHAN Xiaona went full distance against Thailand’s Suthasini SAWETTABUT (11-7 5-11 5-11 11-7 12-10 5-11 9-11) Bernadette SZOCS of Romania beat Britt EERLAND of Netherlands (11-6 11-7 13-11 11-9) whilst European Champion HU Melek of Turkey overcame YANG Xiaoxin of Monaco (6-11 11-4 9-11 8-11 11-4 8-11).
Good run for Viktor BRODD
2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open The preliminary stage at the Men’s and Women’s Singles Event at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open is over. After two days of firece battles 32 qualifiers booked their places in the main draw. Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV seeded no. 1 in Stockholm will meet Viktor BRODD of Sweden. BRODD beat the odds and secured the top position in his Group after victory over Padasak TANVIRIYAVECHAKUL of Thailand. He also succeeded against Sultan ALKHAMIS of Saudi Arabia. It was reverse scenario for other host nation representative. Anton KALLBERG placed at the top of his qulification gropu failed to justify his position. Marek BADOWSKI of Poland beat Anton and progeressed futher to meet Yuya OSHIMA of Japan tomorrow. Samuel NOVOTA of Slovakia David MCBEATH of England Martin ALLEGRO of Belgium Elias RANEFUR of Sweden also secured their positions in the main draw despite the lower seeding positions. In Women’s Singles Event top seeded Kasumi ISHIKAVA of Japan will play against Serbia’s Andrea TODOROVIC. One of the suprises in the qualification stage was caused by Daria TRIGOLOS of Belarus who overcame XIAO Maria of Spain to book her place in the main draw.
