2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   In Men’s Doubles Event last year’s champions and top seeds Stefan FEGERL of Austria and Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal departed the competition already in the Round of 16 of the Event at the 2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. They suffered by the hands of Patrick FRANZISKA of Germany and Jonathan GROTH of Denmark (6-11 10-12 11-9 3-11 16-14 11-8 3-11).   FRANZISKA and GROTH playing together for a while but it is the first time they are together at the European Championships.   In the semi final they fill meet runners up from Herning 2012 Kristian KARLSSON and Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden. They beat Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece and WANG Yang of Slovakia (11-4 6-11 14-12 4-11 4-11 2-11).   On the lower half of the draw Tiago APOLONIA and Joao GERALDO of Portugal will play against Jakub DYJAS and Daniel GORAK of Poland. Poland’s pairings beat Russia’s Alexey LIVENTSOV and Mikhail PAIKOV in straight games (9-11 9-11 7-11 9-11) whilst Portugal’s players succeeded against Anton KALLBERG and Par GERELL (12-10 11-5 11-3 11-8).     Women’s Doubles     At the penultimate day of the play at the LIEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships Dora MARADARASZ and Szandra PERGEL secured the first medal for host nation in Budapest. In the Women’s Doubles Event they prevailed against Luxembourg’s combination of experienced NI Xia Lian and young Sarah DE NUTTE in seven games which kept the spectators at the very edges of their seats (13-11 11-13 8-11 10-12 11-9 11-4 9-11).   In the semi final they will meet Kristin SILBEREISEN and Sabine WINTER of Germany. Germany’s pairings beat Alex GALIC of Slovenia and Rachel MORET of Switzerland (11-1 11-9 11-9 9-11 11-3).   European champions from 2012 in Herning and 2009 in Stuttgart as well as silver medal winners in Gdansk/Sopot Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania are into the semi final once again. On their way to the penultimate stage they overcame Russia’s Yana NOSKOVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA in very effective way (11-5 5-11 11-4 12-10 11-8).   Second contenders to the throne from Germany are SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA. They beat Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia and Han MATELOVA od Czech Republic (11-4 6-11 11-9 11-9 7-11 8-11 8-11). SOLJA clinched gold in Schwechat in 2013 partnering Sabine WINTER.   Last year in Russia HU Melek and SHEN Yanfei won the title but Spanish player will say Goodbye later this month and she is not on duty in Budapest. Silver medalists were Georgina POTA and Elizabeta SAMARA. In Budapest POTA with Matilda EKHOLM suffered defeat in previous round in the duel against BALAZOVA and MATELOVA.      

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN of Romania become the first ever married couple to clinch the gold medal at the 2016 LIEBHERR European Championships. In the final they overcame Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden (11-5 12-10 5-11 6-11 12-14).   In thrilling contest both sides fought hard but in close finished “family” prevailed.   “I started this journey as Joao as my colleague in a meanwhile when we faced great pressure he acted like my husband. The support helped ” said Daniela.   Two opening games went on Sweden’s account but in third the pendulum swung.   “It was important to we kept on fighting because we wer5er better today. We deserved to win ” said Joao.   In the semi final Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM beat top seeded pairings Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC of Serbia and Ruta PASKAUSKIENE of Lithuania 1:3 (9-11 11-8 12-14 9-11).   “It is was important to keep KARAKASEVIC away from the table; to prevent him of playing his game. We succeeded and we won ” explained KARLSSON.   Mattias and Matilda playing together for couple years; his partnership started in 2011 in Rotterdam at the World Championships. “We are very good double but we always struggled with the draw. We were unlucky to have Japan’s and Korean’s players against us in early stages at the Championships ” said EKHOLM.   Joao MONTEIRO and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN needed three games to beat Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania (9-11 6-11 8-11) .   “It was not as easy as the result predicts. Both are very dangerous players. Tactically we nullify aggressive approach he could not move the way he wanted. Also we did not allowed SZOCS to settle in her rhythm with short balls ” said Joao Monteiro.   It seams that players are enjoying the return of the Event at the big Championships.   “This way we have much stronger competition the players are interested in playing it.’        

2016 LIEBHERR European Championships   Unlike the Women’s Singles the Men’s Event at the 2016 LIEBHERR European Championships was shattered with surprises. Most notable name that left the field earlier then his rankings predicted was the no. one seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany. The last year’s champion will left Budapest after only two games in singles. The man who was in charge for the biggest upset was Jakub DYJAS of Poland (13-11 9-11 11-4 5-11 8-11 9-11).   Those two players meet twice before.   “Only in unofficial match at Donic tournament I was able to come close and lost by narrow margin 2:3; on official matches I did not have a chance ever. I lost against Dimitrij at the European Championships twice 0:4 and 0:3 in teams event.”   In addition Jakub never managed to reach the second round of the European Championships before.   “Last year I did not passed the group stage and in Gdansk I lost in the first round against Robert GARDOS ” said Jakub currently ranked at the position no. 20 at the European rankings.   To beat OVTCHAROV DYJAS realized he had to avoid being caught in adversaries’ web.   “I had to play my game. I did not think how he would play. I just tried to stay on my course. I could not afford easy mistakes and I had to be focused. At some point I lost the confidence to my service but I did not panic ” said Jakub.   OVTCHAROV was calm.   “I have to accept that I will not be always the best player in the hall. At some point my dominance will stop. I am not in best of shape. It was not enough time to recover after Olympic Games. On top of all DYJAS was a better player today. Maybe we could have different scenario if I had won the second game. I had good opportunity there I missed it and the match went on different direction ” said Dimitrij OVTCHAROV.   The long line of upsets started with the departure of the player ranked at the position no. 9 at the European rankings Andrej GACINA of Croatia. Currently placed at the position no. 49 Anton KALBERG of Sweden beat the odds and succeeded to the third round. It was nerves wracking seven games duel (5-11 12-10 4-11 11-7 11-4 8-11 11-9).   “In crucial moments my service game prevailed ” explained KALBERG.   Europe’s no. 11 Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece also suffered by the hands of lower ranked player. Joao MONTEIRO no. 21 (11-7 11-8 12-10 11-9) is safely through to the Round of 16.   He will join his compatriot Marcos FREITAS who beat another player from Germany Benedikt DUDA (11-6 5-11 9-11 12-10 10-12 11-9 6-11).   “DUDA improved his game in past few months. He is very good player so I expected hard duel. Tomorrow will not be any easier. I have to meet the player who I know very well. I will play against Kristian KARLSSON my teammate. We know each other very well ” explained FREITAS.   Another full seven games duel kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. Stefan FEGERL of Austria prevailed against Liam PITCHFORD of England (11-9 12-10 11-9 9-11 4-11 10-12 11-4). PITCHFORD recovered from the 3:0 in reverse but FEGERL withstood his spirited comeback to seal the match in the decisive game.   “After third game Liam’s service game became more aggressive so I had to change my plan and it did not work well. I tried to make the rallies longer and failed to succeed and then when I finally pushed him far from table the tactics started to work ” said FEGERL.

2016 LIEBEHERR European Championships   The European champion from 2005 silver medalists from 2008 and 2010 and bronze medalists from 2012 LIU Jia of Austria are out of the competition in Women’s Singles Event at the 2016 LIEBEHERR European Championships in Budapest. In the second round she suffered by the hands of Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany 1:4 (5-11 9-11 8-11 11-9 7-11).   “I had beat LIU few times when I was much younger seven – eight years ago but after that seven times in the row she beat me. Last year in Top 16 she gave me no chance. I suffered in straight games and year before that in the quarterfinal I had 3:1 advantage with 8:3 in the fifth game and I lose. For sure I knew this is going to be a tough encounter ” said SILEBEREISEN.   After bad experience Germany’s player came well prepared.   “I was practicing to win short rallies. I know she would not let me play long points. “   In the next round she will meet experienced NI Xialian of Luxembourg. NI overcame Klaudia KUSINSKA of Poland in seven games thriller (9-11 9-11 11-4 11-9 11-5 7-11 11-7).   “KUSINSKA improved her game. She is so powerful player now “ said NI.   However NI admitted something else is bother her more then the powerful strokes of her adversaries.   “At my age it is hard to stay focused all the time. I made few silly mistakes. I gave easy points. However I am still winning and I am enjoying the game ” stated NI.   Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia beat Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria in six games (13-11 11-7 9-11 11-7 9-11 11-5). POLCANOVA made Polina’s life difficult with her service game but Russia’s player regains her control in the closing stages of the match.   “I started to receive better and I put more power in my service game in order to stay in the match ” explained MIKHAILOVA.   To seed HAN Ying of Germany overcame SHAO Jieni of Portugal (11-3 11-5 5-11 11-2 11-4) before no. two seed Petrissa SOLJA joined her with express straight games win over Barbora BALAZOVA (5-11 5-11 7-11 1-11).   YU Fu of Portugal was stretched to full distance in the match against Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic (11-9 10-12 11-4 11-7 4-11 5-11 11:13).   “I was not very confident. I had an injury recently ” said YU.   Maria DOLGIKH of Russia maintained the patience and beat LI Fen of Sweden.   “Swede wanted to finish the game quickly. I was not rushing ” added Maria.    

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   Top seeds in the Women’s Doubles Event at the 2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships Maria DOLGIKH and Polina MIKHAILOVA are out from the competition. They suffered by the hands of Sarah DE NUTTE and NI Xialian of Luxembourg (12-10 6-11 8-11 8-11 3-11). In Men’s Doubles Pavel PLATONOV and Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus also faced the defeat. Patrick FRANZISKA and Jonathan GROTH (Germany Denmark) progressed to the quarterfinal (9:11 12:14 6:11 4:11).   Host nation aces Dora MADARASZ and Szandra PERGEL overcame Romania’s partnership of Camelia IACOB and Bernadette SZOCS (4-11 4-11 13-11 9-11 12-10 1-11).   “In the second game my thoughts drifted away a bit but luckily Dora was very focused. Only what my coach could advise me at that point was to follow the tactics. That is exactly what I did and we won 11:1 in the last game ” said PERGEL.   No. two seeds SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA are safely through after five games duel against Oceane GUISNEL and Stephanie LOEUILLETTE of France (5-11 4-11 12-10 6-11 13-15).   “We were to much confident after easily won opening games so we lost our focus in the third. However we did not change the tactics and we had control in the fourth game. In the last French pairings played better on service and return and that caused a little problem for us ” said SOLJA.   Yana NOSKOVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA prevailed against Sara RAMIREZ and ZHANG Xuan of Spain (13-11 11-13 8-11 7-11 7-11).   “We struggled with the new balls. We are not adjust to them yet ” admitted NOSKOVA.   Top Seeds in Men’s Doubles Event Stefan FEGERL and Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal booked their quarterfinal place after the victory over Tamas LAKATOS and Adam SZUDi of Hungary (12-10 12-14 11-7 11-8 9-11 12-10) Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece and WANG Yang of Slovakia joined them. They beat Tristan FLORE FRA and Emmanuel LEBESSON of France (10-12 11-9 9-11 13-11 11-7 12-10).   “French boys are playing together very well; it was hard match but we succeeded. We managed to control them ” said GIONIS.   Jakub DYJAS and Daniel GORAK of Poland beat Paul DRINKHALL and Liam PITCHFORD of England (11-9 3-11 11-6 5-11 5-11 3-11).   “In three opening games it was like a roller-coaster. It was very tough. They forced us to change the tactics because we were getting nowhere ” said DYJAS.  

LEBEHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships   After Olympic Games in Rio Dimitrij OVTCHAROV took some time to rest. In the first game at the 2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships he looked fresh and ready for the action. In the Round of 64 the top seed beat Marc DURAN of Spain in straight games.   “I enjoyed my game here in Budapest. I had a hard period before and during the Olympic Games so I needed a little break. Now I am back and I am highly motivated and ready for the challenge ” said Dimitrij.   His next adversary will be Jakub DYJAS of Poland who beat Mikhail PAYKOV of Russia.   Unexpectedly Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece needed full seven games to overcame inspired Darko JORGIC of Slovenia. KOU Lei of Ukraine succeeded in straight games against Samuel WALKER of England whilst Swede Anton KALLBERG needed two more against Adrian CRISAN of Romania. Andrej GACINA of Croatia beat Mihai BOBOCICA of Italy in five games. Hunor SZOCS created un upset by beating Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal.   Timo BOLL of Germany overcame Daniel HABESOHN of Austria in straight games.   ‘It was good for me to have match like that at the very beginning of the Championships. Short matches are something I need to get back into the game. I know the level of matches will improve and I know I can expect much harder challenges in next few days but for a start this was good. I made a break I did not practice to much; there is still big uncertainty about the level of my fitness. I do not know how far I can get. For sure I am motivated but we are still to see how my body will react. I look at this stage like one step in my come back ” said BOLL. Marcos FREITAS of Portugal beat Adam SZUDI of Portugal to join Timo BOLL in second round. Tomorrow he will meet Benedikt DUDA of Germany.   “I am not afraid of that match. FREITAS is a favorite but I will not make his life any easier tomorrow “ promised Benedikt.   Benedek OLAH of Finland also succeeded to the next round.   “I beat David SERDAROGLU of Austria but I am still very disappointment with my performance in the Mixed Doubles Event. I played with Georgina POTA for medal today. It is always when you are so close and you lose ” said OLAH and added.” However now when I reach the second round my goal is fulfilled. I did not want to lose against weaker player and now I am safe.”  

LEBEHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships   The opening day of the play in the Main Draw of the Women’s Singles Event at the LEBEHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships was successful for the no. one seed HAN Ying of Germany. She needed only four games to overcame ZHANG Xuan of Spain.   “This was my first match after the Olympic Games and it was much harder than I expected ” said HAN.”I am here for gold as many players but to have any medal in the treasury by the end of the week it would be nice.”   Georgina POTA went through agonizing seven games duel against Tin Tin HO of England.   “I always have difficulties in the opening matches. I could have been finish earlier but in the third game I lost the set after I had 10:8. It would be completely different game. Thanks to spectators they gave me extra strength to return into the match ” said POTA.   LI Jie of Netherlands overcame Manca FAJMUT of Slovenia in another straight games duel.   “Slovenian girl played very well but she kept struggling with changing the pace of the my game. It is good I had easier match at the start of the competition. I needed it because I had only one month to rest after the Olympics and my legs are still very heavy. I need few matches to get into the game ” said LI.   She will meet Szandra PERGEL of Hungary in the next round. PERGEL beat Natalia PARTYKA in five games today.   “It was not that easy as the result predicts. We know each other very well and it is very hard to play against her ” said Szandra.”Now I do not feel the pressure since I recorded the win in the main draw. I will give my best against LI.”   Daria TRIGOLOS of Belarus managed to take only one game from experienced LIU Jia of Austria. “She is still very young but already has a good feeling for the game. I am sure she will improve her rankings very soon ” said LIU Jia.   Galia DVORAK of Spain beat Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA-FRANC of Poland.   “Last time I suffered defeat by her hands three years ago in the very close match. Now it was straight games victory for me. I am sure she was not on the top of her game today.”   Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania had a rough time in the match against Aneta MAKSUTI of Serbia. She was 3:1 down before she recovered to win.  

LIBEHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships   Top seeds in the Women’s Doubles Event Maria DOLGIKH and Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia successfully emerged to the Round of 16 at the LIBEHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships. In the first round of the Event they overcame Ipek KARAHAN and Kubra TAN of Turkey.   It was easy ride for Sarah DE NUTTE and experienced NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg as well as for host nation representatives Dora MADARASZ and Szandra PERGEL. Hungary will have another player in the game tomorrow; Georgina POTA and Matilda EKHOLM beat Nicole TROSMAN of Izrael and Charlotte CAREY of Wales.   “Our goal here is top win the Championships but already in the next round we have very dangerous adversaries. We will meet Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic and Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia. We can not promise gold just very good game ” said POTA.   Not everything went smooth for favorites Sofia POLCANOVA and LI Qiangbing of Austria suffered by the hands of Oceane GUISNEL and Stephanie LOEUILLETTE.   No. two seeds SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA of Germany lost only one game against Aneta MAKSUTI and Andrea TODOROVIC of Serbia.

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   Par GERELL and Anton KALLBERG of Sweden were in in charge for the top rated upset in the Men’s Doubles Event at the 2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. Gold medal winners in 2012 and silver medalists from 2013 and 2015 Robert GARDOS and Daniel HABESOHN of Austria suffered by the hands of Swedish pairings in the first round of the event.   GERELL and KALLBERG succeded in six games 8-11 9-11 11-7 11-8 11-8 11-7.   “When we saw the draw we were not afraid. We thought ‘That is it’ and we prepared for the challenge. We have not set the goals yet. It is important to go step by step ” said GERELL.   Tiago APOLONIA and Joao GERALDO had proved as a dangerous pairings at the European Games in Baku. In Budapest they withstood the pressure from Yevhen PRYSHCHEPA and Viktor YEFIMOV of Ukraine to record the opening game victory in seven games.   “There are no easy games here. You have to respect each adversary. We needed time to settle into the rhythm ” explained APOLONIA.   Vladimir SAMSONOV and Pavel PLATONOV were stretched to full distance in the opening round of the Men’s Doubles. Alexander SHIBAEV and Kirill SKACHKOV of Russia had 3:2 advantage before Belarus pairings recovered.   “We found our game but in seventh game it was very close too. We had 4:1 and then Russia’s players leveled. We won it with a little bit of luck by narrow margin 11:9 ” said PLATONOV. ”We were prepared for this. There are no easy balls or quick points when you play against SHIBAEV and SKACHKOV. You have to be ready for long rallies. They put everything on table. “   Zolt PETE and Marko JEVTOVIC prevailed against Frane KOJIC of Croatia and Alvaro ROBLES of Spain.   “We moved to the big hall and it was little bit difficult or us. We needed time before we “connected” with the ball and the table. Our adversaries played one pre round so they were more adjust to the conditions. However it is good we are through ” said JEVTOVIC.   Tristan FLORE and Emmanuel LEBESSON of France beat Polish pairings Tomasz LEWANDOWSKI and Patryk ZATOWKA.   “We won easily three opening games before Polish pairings recovered and settled into the rhythm. We struggled in next two games but with great attitude and in very close game we won. I am not in game in singles any more so I will give my best to get as far as we can in doubles ” said Tristan FLORE.      

2016 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   On the third day of the play at the LEBHERR 2016 ITTF European Championships in Budapest medal winners in Mixed Doubles Event are already known. Tomorrow after the semis and final the order at the medal rostrum will be determined.   In the semi final top seeds Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC of Serbia and Ruta PASKAUSKIENE of Lithuania will meet Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden whilst Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania will play against Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN of Romania.   For the pairings who already has three titles in their record morning was surprisingly challenging. They Adam SZUDI and Sandra PERGEL stretched them to full distance.   “I was under pressure; it was my fault. KARAKASEVIC nor me are the morning persons. To be honest the first match at the tournament that I played without stress was the quarterfinal; and it was the most important ” said PASKAUSKIENE.   KARAKASEVIC promised he would retire after the medal now he slightly modified the statement.   “If we win gold we will give ourselves another chance. We will say Goodbye at he World Championships in Germany. German fans always respected me and it will be nice to try to win a medal. It will be our only chance since 15 years it was not allowed to have pairings from different countries.”   In the quarter they beat Benedek OLAH of Finland and Georgina POTA of Hungary.   Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania recorded very big win over pairings with defending style Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece and Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine. It is the second time that they reached the medal rostrum. In 2012 they clinched bronze in front of home crowd in Buzau.   “For me this is a great relief for singles as well. I had never managed to beat GIONIS before. It will help me in the future. Bernadette was great today to. She is always so dangerous for top spin players and she proved it once again ” said IONESCU.   Against Romanian parings tomorrow in semis will be Mr and Mrs MONTEIRO or “family” as they called them. Joao MONTEIRO and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN beat Jesus CANTERO and Maria XIAO in quarters after they overcame Dutch pairings TROMER and EERLAND in the second round of the Event.   “We do not have time to practice together and we only had played once at the tournament. It was five years ago in Austria. In the playing field we are more colleagues then anything else. We both had professional attitude ” said Daniela DODEAN.   Mattias KARLSSON and Matilda EKHOLM overcame Liam PITCHFORD and Tin-Tin HO of England.   “We kept a high level of play during the match we did not let it down. PITCHFORD and Tin Tin had few bad moments and we seized the opportunity ” said EKHOLM.