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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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.”
