Viktoria PAVLOVICH reached semis after exciting quarter-final clash against Maki SHIOMI from Japan – 4:3 (8:11 10:12 11:7 7:11 11:9 11:5 12:10) Second seeded Russian Grigory VLASOV and World no. 117 from Romania Hunor SZOCS reached the semi-final of the Men`s Singles Event at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) in Minsk. Regarding Women`s Singles Event host player Viktoria PAVLOVICH is unique European player among the best four competitors. Both VLASOV and SZOCS were confident in the quarter-finals. Russian World no. 72 beat LIM Jonghoon from Korea 4:1 (11:9 5:11 11:5 11:8 12:10) while Romanian overcame Russian Kirill SKACHKOV in straight games – 4:0 (11:4 15;13 11:8 11:9). They will play against CHO Eonrae (Korea World no. 112) and top seeded JANG Woojin (World no. 48) respectively. Viktoria PAVLOVICH defeated Maki SHIOMI (Japan) after full seven games of the quarter-final 4:3 (8:11 10:12 11:7 7:11 11:9 11:5 12:10). Two times individual champion of Europe will play against one more Japanese in the semi-final Yuka ISHIGAKI. The winner of that clash is going to play for the title against the better player from the duel between top seeded Hitomi SATO and Saki SHIBATA adversaries it the all-Japanese semis. Konstantin CHERNOV and Sadi ISMAILOV will play in the Men`s Doubles Event final as they beat compatriots from Russia Kirill SKACHKOV and Grigory VLASOV in four games. Other finalists are Korean pair JANG Woojin/LIM Jonghoon. Yana NOSKOVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA from Russia lost to JUNG Yumi and PARK Seri from Korea in the Women`s Doubles semi-final. They won first two sets but Korean pair took control of the game in the latest moments of the exciting third set.
The My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016
The My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016 ETTU President Ronald KRAMER and Deputy Major of Dongguang YU Lijun The first leg of the My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016 was played today in the Chinese city of Dongguan. After five matches Asia is in the lead 4:1. The second leg is on the program tomorow. Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting faced Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV in the opening match. The Europe’s representative no. 21 at the World rankings had a better start against World’s no 8 . He took a early led in the opening game – 6:4 moved to 9:7 and eventually sealed the game at 11:9. WONG Chun Ting responded promptly – 4:3 in the opening moments of the second game and he kept the safe difference until the end of the game 11:8. WONG continued in the same pace in the third game but after 5:4 SHIBAEV leveled at 6:6 and both failed to make a breakthrough – 7:7 9:9 12:12…WONG had net-edge ball but SHIBAEV eventually broke the tie to win by 14:12. SHIBAEV moved to another gear in the fourth game. He reached the match point at 10:4 but with four points in the row WONG recovered. Once again the game was to be decided by the narrowest of margins. It was 11:11 12:12 and at 13:12 WONG made his first advantage in the game. They kept the spectators at the edge of their seats until SHIBAEV finally sealed the match at 21:19. In the second match of the proceedings Korea’s JOO Saehyuk currently ranked at the position no. 13 in the World rankings played against Croatia’s Andrej GACINA placed seven positions below. GACINA lost the first game 11:4 in express way but after opening game the pace have been become slower; 6:6 7:7 before JOO made a narrow gap at 7:9. GACINA improved his game and he showed more patience against the defensive skills of his adversary. However JOO showed no mercy – 11:9 11:4. World’s no. two the best ranked players in Asia’s team China’s FAN Zhendong and World’s no 17 Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA met at the half point of the match. The match went as the rankings predicted. FAN won the opening game 11:7 and moved forward in driving seat to seal the second game. The players exchanged good rallies spectators enjoyed thrilling exchanges but APOLONIA failed to put FAN under severe pressure. FAN played table tennis from another World to win the next two games 11:4 11:6. The best ranked player in the Europe’s team World’s no 9 Belarus Vladimir SAMSONOV faced Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan ranked at the position no. 7 in the World in the fourth match of the contest. Vladi had a better start and after 5:1 sealed the opening game at 11:7. The pendulum swung and in the next game CHUANG Chih-Yuan regain the control – 6:4 11:5. SAMSONOV got back on track with 5:0 in third game. Soon it was 7:2 and after 9:4 former European champion withstood CHUANG’s come back at 9:6 to win 11:7 in style. SAMSONOV faced 3:8 against him before managed to narrow the gap at 8:5 but CHUANG was back in match to force the decisive game. Taipei’s player made an early lead and in fantastic style won the fifth game 11:5. Austria’s CHEN Weixing no. 49 had a good start against Singapore’s GAO Ning World’s no. 31 in the opening game of the final contest of the opening leg – 11:9. Both players failed to make wider gap in the second game they played point for point until the closing stages when CHEN took off from 9:7 to win the set 11:8. In the same style the match progressed in the third game. It was 2:2 3:3 but after that GAO made a little break at 6:4 to 5:7 and turned the course of the duel. After 5:10 CHEN saved four game points GAO called for time out and it was well spent break. He won 11:9. CHEN had 9:7 at 9:8 he called for time out but GAO leveled and won a set point. CHEN saved two set points but GAO pushed to the decider 12:10. In the fifth game both players failed to secure safe gap the advantage moved from one side to another. One edge ball and another net ball gave GAO a little slight push forward and he won eventually 11:7. Asia – Europe4:1 WONG Chun Ting (HKG) – Alexander SHIBAEV (RUS) 1:3 (9:11 11:8 12:14 19:21) JOO Saehyuk (KOR) – Andrej GACINA (CRO) 3:0 (11:4 11:9 11:4) FAN Zhendong (CHN) – Tiago APOLONIA (POR) 3:0 (11:7 11:4 11:6) CHUANG Chih-Yuan – (TPE) – Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) 3:2 (7:11 11:5 7:11 11:7 11:5) GAO Ning (SIN) – CHEN Weixing (AUT) 3:2 (9:11 8:11 11:9 12:10 11:7) Sep 11 start 1400 WONG Chun Ting (HKG) v CHEN Weixing (AUT) Gao Ning (SIN) v GACINA Andrej (CRO) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) v APOLONIA Tiago (POR) FAN zhendong (CHN) v SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) JOO Saehyuk (KOR) v SHIBAEV Alexander (RUS)
Easy job for Viktoria PAVLOVICH
Eight European representatives reached Women`s Singles Event Round of 16 at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) in Minsk. All-Russian semi-final in the Men`s Doubles Event Favorite player of host fans at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) in Minsk had an easy job in the Women`s Singles Event Round of 32 as Viktoria PAVLOVICH beat Elizaveta KHLYZOVA from Russia in straight games. Two times individual European champion who plays in her birthplace is one of eight representatives of Old Continent among the best 16. Solomiya BRATEYKO from Ukraine also was successful in the Round of 32 as well as six Russian players: Svetlana MOKHNACHEVA (Russia) Valentina SABITOVA (Russia) Anna TIKHOMIROVA (Russia) Yulia PROKHOROVA (Russia) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) Anna BLAZHKO (Russia). Two top seeds in the Men`s Singles Event emerged successful in the Round of 32: JANG Woojin (Korea no. 1 seed) beat YANG Tzu-Yi (Taipei) in straight games while Grigory VLASOV (Russia no.2 seed) defeated Ukrainian Viktor YEFIMOV in five sets. Sadi ISMAILOV (Russia) beat Korean PARK Chan-Hyeok in seven games as four sets finished 12:10 (three in ISMAILOV`s favor). In all-Russian clash Pavel PLATONOV eliminated Andrei BAIBULDIN (4:2). Romanian Hunor SZOCS defeated Russian Maixm SHMYREV whilst Russian Kirill SKACHKOV progressed over Korean Kim MINHO. Russian Ramil MUTYGULLIN beat Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO in most exciting clash of the day recovering from 0:3 to 4:3. Ukrainian Denis KALACHEVSKYI and Russian Konstantin CHERNOV are two more European representatives who will continue in the Round of 16. Two Russian Men`s Doubles will fight one against another in the semi-final: Konstantin CHERNOV/Sadi ISMAILOV against Kirill SKACHKOV/Grigory VLASOV. Yana NOSKOVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA will play in the semi-final of Women`s Doubles Event and their opponent are JUNG Yumi and PARK Seri from Korea.
TIBHAR CUP International Tabletennis Veteran Competition
The XII TIBHAR CUP International Tabletennis Veteran Competition was played in Balatonfured in Hungary. 129 players from 7 countries participated in 19 events. The TIBHAR CUP winner in 2016 (based on the results of the former 11 competitions) is Katalin BELAFINE Dr. BAKO (HUN) „We have organised the Tibhar Cup international veteran table tennis competition in Hungary with 129 players from 7 countries. The competition was opened by the major of the city Dr Istvan BOKA. We hope those who were here have got home successfully and enjoyed the competition and the circumstances at the Lake Balaton and next year will come back again! Of course we wait and invite those too who couldn’t come this year said Istvan BAJDIK. Results: Women’s Singles 40-49: 1.TOTH Andrea (HUN) 2.BAKSA Ivett (HUN) 3.SPENGLER Krisztina (HUN) SZABO Csilla (HUN) Women’s Singles 50-59: 1.BEKE Erika (HUN) 2.SCHNEIDERNE MAHLI Ibolya (HUN) 3.MIZSEINE MESZAROS Judit (HUN) VIKTORNE VIRAG Agnes (HUN) Women’s Singles 60+: 1.ZACHER Gizella (HUN) 2.VIKOR Bea (HUN) 3.ZIMONYI Katalin (HUN) KUN Tiborne (HUN) Women’s Singles Consolation: 1.HORVATH Eszter (HUN) 2.BORDA Ilona (HUN) 3.FARKAS Laszlone (HUN) BAKOSNE SARI Adrienn (HUN) Women’s Doubles 40+: 1.SCHNEIDERNE MIZSEINE (HUN) 2.NEMETH Marta BEKE Erika (HUN) 3.SZABO Csilla LAJOS Tiborne (HUN) TOTH Andrea HORVATH Eszter (HUN) Men’s Singles 40-49: 1.IVAN Csaba (HUN) 2.SZABO Krisztian (HUN) 3.SZABO Attila (HUN) SCHMEIDL Peter (HUN) Men’s Singles 50-59: 1.NAGY Miklos (HUN) 2.ZOLTAI Zoltan (HUN) 3.ADORJAN Jozsef (HUN) MARFOLDI Istvan (HUN) Men’s Singles 40-59 Consolation: 1.KUDLIK Gabor (HUN) 2.RATFAI Attila (HUN) 3.TOROK Istvan (HUN) KAVASSY Lorand (HUN) Men’s Singles 60-64: 1.FRANK Bela (HUN) 2.BENAK Andras (HUN) 3.PITKANEN Risto (FIN) KOPASZ Tibor (HUN) Men’s Singles 65-69: 1.PETER Aladar (HUN) 2.ANTAL Zoltan (HUN) 3.Dr HEGEDUS Laszlo (HUN) JUHASZ Laszlo (HUN) Men’s Singles 70+: 1.VOLK Zlatko (GER) 2.KEPES Laszlo (HUN) 3.SZALAI Istvan (HUN) BATORFI Istvan (HUN) Men’s Singles 60+ Consolation: 1.FEKECS Laszlo (HUN) 2.GALAMBOS Pal (HUN) 3.HORVATH Imre (HUN) FARKAS Laszlo (HUN) Men’s Doubles 40-49: 1.DARU Zsolt Nyiro Jozsef (HUN) 2.POLOVICS Robert NAGY Miklos (HUN) 3.SZABO Attila KUDLIK Gabor (HUN) RATFAI Attila IVAN Csaba (HUN) Men’s Doubles 50-59: ZOLTAI Zoltan ADORJAN Jozsef (HUN) KOLAR Miroslav Dr FEHER Akos (SVK HUN) TOTH Jozsef ILLES Mihaly (HUN) FUKO Zoltan FEKETE Jozsef (HUN) Men’s Doubles 60-69: 1.FRANK Bela Dr HEGEDUS Laszlo (HUN) 2.PITKANEN Risto AUTIO Martii (FIN) 3.PALATIN Jozsef KOPASZ Tibor (HUN) SEBESTYEN Robert BENAK Andras (HUN) Men’s Doubles 70+: SZALAI Istvan BATORFI Istvan (HUN) NYOGERI Istvan Dr HORVATH Akos (HUN) HUVOSVOLGYI Peter VOLK Zlatko (HUN GER) TOLDI Janos REISZ Gyorgy (HUN) Men’s Doubles 40+ Consolation: 1.BRAUN Reinhold MOLNAR Laszlo (GER HUN) 2.HORVATH Laszlo SINKA Zsolt (HUN) 3.TARR Csaba HITTMANN Laszlo (HUN) DOSAY Tamas TOTH Laszlo (HUN) Mixed Doubles: 1.SPENGLER Krisztina Spengler Gyorgy (HUN) 2.BELAFINE BAKO Katalin BENAK Andras (HUN) 3.BAKSA Ivett BRAUN Reinhold (HUN GER) MIZSEINE TOTH Jozsef (HUN) Mixed Doubles Consolation: 1.BAKOSNE ILLES Mihaly (HUN) 2.BORDA Ilona PITKANEN Risto (HUN FIN) 3.VIKTORNE VIKTOR Gyula (HUN) SZABO Csilla SZABO Laszlo (HUN)
SAMSONOV “leads”10:8 against CHUANG
Byelorussian participates 11th time on the My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016 (September 10-11th) Vladimir SAMSONOV`s book of records must change one of its chapters this weekend when the My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016 (September 10-11th) starts. Byelorussian participates 11th time on that prestigious event more than any other player from both sides. Taipei`s CHUANG Chih-Yuan is the record holder in Asian team approaching to his 9th battle of two strongest table tennis continents. World no. 21 and European no. 7 Alexander SHIBAEV from Russia and Hong Kong`s WONG Chun Ting (World no. 8) will open the clash in Dongguan as game starts at 14:00 in local time (08:00 CET). Four more matches will be held on September 10th: JOO Saehyuk (Korea World no. 13) – Andrej GACINA (Croatia World no. 20 European no. 6) FAN Zhendong (China World no. 2) – Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal World no. 17 European no. 5) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (Taipei World no. 7) – Vladimir SAMSONOV (Byelorussia World no. 9 European no. 2) and GAO Ning (Singapore World no. 31) – CHEN Weixing (Austria World no. 49 European no. 20). Asia leads 8:3 in total score but European won in the latest clash 6:4 last summer in the city of Zhangjiagang. It was the very first victory of Old Continent on Asian soil. European stars also won in 2009 Istanbul (6:5) and 2012 Vendée (6:4). Upcoming event comes just three weeks after 2016 Rio Olympics where SAMSONOV was the best European participant reaching semi-final. SHIBAEV APOLONIA and GACINA lost their matches in the 3rd round but Russian must be satisfied how he played against six times individual European champion Timo BOLL playing full seven games. From the current Asian squad WONG had the best individual performances in Rio playing in the fourth round (lost to Japanese NIWA).
European stars aim new success in 2016 Asia – Euro All Stars Challenge
The My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge 2016 will be held on September 10-11th in Chinese city of Dongguan The European stars will do their best in the upcoming weekend in the annual Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge to repeat last year’s historical success in Zhangjiagang when Europe beat Asia 6:4. Three times individual European champion Vladimir SAMSONOV (World no. 9 European no. 2) of Belarus actual 2016 Rio Olympics semi-finalist leads European side composed also by Tiago APOLONIA (World no. 17 European no. 5) of Portugal Andrej GACINA (World no. 20 European no. 6) of Croatia Alexander SHIBAEV (World no. 21 European no. 7) of Russia and CHEN Weixing (World no. 49 European no. 20) of Austria. Former World Champion Ulf “Tickan” CARLSSON from Sweden will be Europe’s coach. Asia will emerge with three world’s Top 10 players FAN Zhendong (World no. 2) of China CHUANG Chih-Yuan (World no. 7) of Taipei WONG Chun Ting (World no. 8) of Hong Kong as well as JOO Saehyuk (World no. 13) of Korea and GAO Ning (World no. 31) of Singapore. Last year when Old Continent upset Asia led by the World Champion China’s MA Long four players in total from current lists participated in Zhangjiagang: Vladimir SAMSONOV Andrej GACINA CHUANG Chih-Yuan and GAO Ning. GACINA and GARDOS contributed with two wins each last summer. The sensational victory in Zhangjiagang was the first ever for European side on Asian soil. Regarding matches in Asia they met three times in Beijing (2009 – 6:4 2010 – 6:5 2011 – 6:4) once in Tianjin (2012 – 7:3) Qingdao (2013 – 7:3) and twice in Zhangjiagang (2014 – 6:4 2015 – 4:6). Since inaugural meeting 2009 in Beijing Europe won twice on its soil: in 2009 Istanbul (6:5) and 2012 Vendée (6:4). For more detailed results of the previous editions please click here… ASIA EUROPE 1 FAN zhendong (CHN) 1 SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) 2 CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) 2 APOLONIA Tiago (POR) 3 WONG Chun Ting (HKG) 3 GACINA Andrej (CRO) 4 JOO Saehyuk (KOR) 4 SHIBAEV Alexander (RUS) 5 Gao Ning (SIN) 5 CHEN Weixing (AUT) Sep 10 start 1400 WONG Chun Ting (HKG) v SHIBAEV Alexander (RUS) JOO Saehyuk (KOR) v GACINA Andrej (CRO) FAN zhendong (CHN) v APOLONIA Tiago (POR) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) v SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) Gao Ning (SIN) v CHEN Weixing (AUT) Sep 11 start 1400 WONG Chun Ting (HKG) v CHEN Weixing (AUT) Gao Ning (SIN) v GACINA Andrej (CRO) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) v APOLONIA Tiago (POR) FAN zhendong (CHN) v SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) JOO Saehyuk (KOR) v SHIBAEV Alexander (RUS)
TAPPER and PARTYKA Sets Off for Early Clash in Rio
Poland’s Natalia PARTYKA looks to take home fourth Class 10 Women’s Singles Paralympic Gold in Rio! The draw of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Table Tennis Singles event has concluded today with Rio 2016 Olympian and Paralympians Melissa TAPPER (AUS) and Natalia PARTYKA (POL) heading off for an early clash in the group stage of the Class 10 Women’s Singles event. The Men’s and Women’s Singles events will follow a round robin format in the preliminary rounds with the winner and the runner up of each group progressing to the next phase which will be a knock out format. TAPPER has made history in Rio as Australia’s first ever athlete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games and is only the second athlete to do so after PARTYKA who is the hot favorite for the title in Rio. Rio will be PARTYKA’s fifth Paralympic appearance the legendary Paralympian competed in her first Paralympic Games when she was only 11 years old in Sydney 2000 and had dominated Women’s Class 10 in the past three Paralympic Games taking home Gold in Athens Beijing and London. Drawn into the same group with the 3-time Paralympic Champion world number four TAPPER will be looking at ending PARTYKA’s dominance in Class 10 para table tennis to advance to the semifinals stage to edge closer to her first Paralympic title. Ibrahim HAMADTOU the armless Egyptian player who became an internet sensation after making his guest appearance and playing with the world’s top able-bodied players at the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships will face off world number four David WETHERILL (GBR) and 2011 European Team Champion Thomas RAU (GER) in the group stage for his chance for Paralympic glory in the Men’s Class 6 event in Rio. Men’s Class 11 will see a clash of the titans with current World Champion Pascal PEREIRA-LEAL (FRA) and the reigning Olympic Champion Peter PALOS (HUN) facing off each other early in the group stage. The current world number five PEREIRA-LEAL has lost both his previous two encounters against the two-time Paralympic Champion and will be determined to avenge his London 2012 semifinals loss to PALOS. The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Table Tennis action will begin from 8th September till 17th with 29 medal matches from both Singles and Team events. Full draw for the Singles event can be found on http://bit.ly/Rio2016PTTResults The action can be followed live on the website of the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) and on the TV stations and Radio channels of the Paralympic rights holder in respective country. All the rights holders of the Paralympic Games can be found on this link: www.paralympic.org/watch-rio-2016.
Titles for DURAN and ZHIPE in Vic
31th International Open VIC – 12th Adapted Marc Duran and Wang ZHIPEI clinched the titles in their respective Men’s and Women’s Singles Event at the 31th Internacional Open VIC tournament. In Sports Hall VIC in Barcelona Joaquín AZCON triumph in the test adapted category. In the final of the 31 th International Open Marc DURAN beat Diogo Dos Santos PINHO in straight games whilst at the ultimate stage of the Women’s Singles Event Wang ZHIPEI was stretched to full distance in the match against Lea RAKOVAC. At the 11th Adapted tournament Joaquín AZCON succeeded against Ricard PALAU. Absolute Men Marc DURAN (DKV Borges Vall) Spain Diogo Dos SANTOS PINHO (Colina Clinic Burgos) Portugal Alejandro CALVO (Cajasur Priego Córdoba) Spain Carlos VEDRIEL (Colina Clinic Burgos) Spain Absolute Women Wang ZHIPEI (UCAM Cartagena) China Lea RAKOVAC (Girbau Vic TT) Croatia Ana GARCIA (Girbau Vic TT) Spain Yolanda Enríquez (Cajasur Priego Córdoba) Spain
Title for Matilda EKHOLM and Georgina POTA
ITTF World Tour 2016 Czech open Japan’s Yuto MURAMATSU clinched two titles at the ITTF World Tour 2016 Czech open. Yuto MURAMATSU went into the final day’s action already with a trophy to his name following his Under 21 success but he wasn’t ready to stop there; he has won his first Men’s Singles title on the World Tour. In the final MURAMATCU succeeded against Stephane OUAICHE (11-9 11-5 11-7 11-4). In the previous round MURAMATSU beat Korea Republic’s Cho Seungmin while MURAMATSU’S opponent in the final Stephane OUAICHE of France recovered from 2-3 down to defeat Serbia’s Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC 4-3. “It is absolutely great that I was able to win the Under 21 and also men’s tournament. For me it is the biggest victory in my life. I feel very tired because it was a very hard and good tournament ” said Muramatsu. YANG Xiaoxin has won Monaco’s second ever ITTF World Tour trophy subsequently adding another title to her name being the microstate’s only previous winner on the tour. Her opponent in the final was Maki SHIOMI as Japan was represented in a Women’s Singles final for the 56th time since the World Tour began back in 1996 (11-9 11-5 12-10 11-6). “I feel very happy because on Monday I came back from China where I was on holiday with my family and I still feel tired. I don’t believe that I will be able to win this tournament. Of course it was very hard (playing three Japanese competitors in the draw) and the matches were the most difficult in whole tournament. Especially the matches against Morizono (last 16) and Mori (quarter-finals)” said YANG Xiaoxin. CHO Eonrae (30) and PARK Jeongwoo (19) faced KIM Minhyeok and PARK Ganghyeon (both 20) in an all-Korean final guaranteeing title number 32 for their country in the Men’s Doubles category. Cho and Park Jeongwoo finished off the match (11-8 11-6 14-12) to win their maiden World Tour Men’s Doubles crown as a partnership. Matilda EKHOLM (Sweden) and Georgina POTA (Hungary) beat the Russian duo of Maria DOLGIKH and Polina MIKHAILOVA in a thrilling final (9-11 3-11 11-9 11-9 11-7). DOLGIKH and MIKHAILOVA of Russia were understandably considered favourites heading into the match having picked up the Women’s Doubles title at the 2016 Slovenia Open (June) and the runners-up award at last week’s World Tour event in Bulgaria. EKHOLM and POTA were no strangers to doubles finals themselves with both players having featured in previous finals with other players. However the 2016 Czech Open was the first occasion that the partnership EKHOLM and POTA had reached a final and they looked in imperious form registering 3-0 victories across all three of the previous round matches.
Big events boost SHIBAEV`s self-confidence
After 2016 Olympics the best ranked Russian player approaches to the 2016 LIEBHERR Men`s World Cup in Saabrucken and 2016 Asia – Euro All Stars Challenge The best ranked Russian player on the ITTF World Ranking list Alexander SHIBAEV has a lot to prove after 2016 Rio Olympics where he lost in the Round 3 to Timo BOLL. World`s no. 24 is now approaching to the 2016 Asia – Euro All Stars Challenge which will be held on September 10-11th in Chinese city of Dongguan. But this is the just one chapter in his tight scheduled September and October. “SHIBAEV had a great period of preparation for the Olympic Games and played good there. Unfortunately he met one of the strongest players of modern table tennis Tim BOLL but however he confidently played except in the end when he I could say had was a little bit afraid that he might win” stated UMMC coach Tatiana KUTERGINA. After the 2016 Asia – Euro All Stars Challenge tall Russian will participate on 2016 LIEBHERR Men`s World Cup in Saabrucken (October 1-3rd). Shortly afterwards he is coming back to Verkhnaya Pyshma to play in the opening round of 2016 TTCLM against KS UNIA AZS AWFiS Gdansk. “This is an honor for Alexander SHIBAEV as well as for any other athlete to play in such prestigious events. It will be for him and invaluable experience. Participations in the World Cup and “Euro-Asia” clash will help him to improve his self confidence to become aware that it`s possible and necessary to beat the best ranked table tennis players on the ITTF World Ranking list.
