Reigning World Champion Ma Long meets defending Champion Zhang Jike tonight for Olympic Gold   The Chinese pair of world champion Ma Long and the defending Olympic champion Zhang Jike will do battle tonight to be crowned the Rio 2016 Men’s Singles Champion in a battle of the titans in Riocentro 3.     Semifinals match between ZHANG Jike (CHN) and former world number one Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) endfed in favour of ZHANG. Suffering a rib injury from his quarterfinals match against current European Champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) the 40-year-old legend was sent to the hospital for treatment and evaluation of his injuries after the epic match with the third seed on 9 August.   After a day of rest and a dose of painkillers before the match against the two-time World Champion today the Belarussian put up a good fight against the defending Champion missing the first 3 games by a minimal two-point margin and taking the fourth game 11-6. ZHANG however proved too strong for the six time Olympian prevailing 4-1 (11-9 13-11 12-10 6-11 11-9).   “I think I played pretty well in the semifinals. It was a close match but I think I’m faster and had an advantage. Tonight I hope that I can play better and win. One more match!” shared the defending Olympic Champion.   SAMSONOV shared after his defeat “Of course I am disappointed it was very close in the second and third game. I had my chances. In the last game I was waiting for Zhang to make a mistake but he did not. I’m going to relax now and prepare for the bronze medal match. I hope to win tonight.”   SAMSONOV will now face MIZUTANI to fight for their first Olympic table tennis medal for their respective countries at the Bronze medal match tonight at 20:30pm local time.   World number one MA Long (CHN) booked first golden ticket to an Olympic Men’s Singles Final with a 4-2 victory over 8-time Japanese National Champion Jun MIZUTANI (JPN).   After winning the first 3 games comfortably 11-5 each the top seeded Chinese lost the next two to MIZUTANI 7-11 10-12 respectively before he could seal the sixth game 11-5 for a 4-2 victory over the world number six.   Looking to earn the Olympic Singles Gold in Rio to achieve a table tennis Golden Grand Slam MA said “I am very happy as this is my first Olympic finals. It was a difficult match particularly in the last 3 games.”   “Making the finals is extremely meaningful to me as this is the dream for all athletes. I’m looking forward to it. My opponent will be the strongest in the world and I don’t want go into the match with any pressure.”   The Gold medal match tonight between ZHANG and MA is expected to be one of the most spectacular of all time with 2015 World Champion and 2015 Men’s World Cup Champion MA aiming for his first Golden Grand Slam title and ZHANG fighting to achieve his second Table Tennis Grand Slam.   MA may have a better head to head record of 11-6 over the reigning World Champion but it was ZHANG whom Chinese netizens call as “born for the big stage” who generally does better in major tournaments like the Olympic Games.   ZHANG also expressed that “The previous matches are fought for my country; the Final is for myself.”   Tonight in Rio the world will find out who will emerge as the Rio 2016 Olympic Men’s Singles Champion.

In a rematch of the London 2012 Olympic Games Women’s Singles Final reigning World Champion DING Ning avenged her London 2012 loss to take the Gold medal from the defending Champion LI Xiaoxia (CHN) to become the Olympic Champion. The duo met four years ago at the London 2012 Olympic Games Women’s Singles Final with LI taking down DING 4-1 to win the Olympic Gold. Today at Riocentro Pavilion 3 where all the Olympic table tennis actions went on both players pushed each other to the full limit in the final showdown but this time the result was reversed. With the support of her fans who flew all the way from China DING was not going to let history repeat itself fighting back from two to three games down to take her revenge 4-3 (11-9 5-11 14-12 9-11 8-11 11-7 11-7) against LI. “This is unbelievable! I can’t believe that I am Olympic champion. I have waited so long for this it is a dream come true!” shared the top seed who broke down into tears after her victory and ran to hug her coach seated in the spectator zone. DING added “I think it was difficult for both my Coach CHEN Bin. I have so many titles but I have never hugged him after my victories. Tonight it’s all beyond words. At that last moment it was a contest of determination.” “London made me more experienced. I was able to forget the sad memory of the defeat and focus on the match. Going into the Final I told myself just to fight for my dream.” With the Olympic Singles Gold in bag the world number two is only the fifth female athlete to achieve the table tennis Grand Slam. Already crowned the Grand Slam Champion in 2013 when she won the World Table Tennis Championships LI remained calm and shared that Rio will be her last Olympic Games: “I can’t keep up this high level training. My body is not getting any younger. I tried to retire at the start of the year but they asked me back because they needed me. I will come back again if they need me but the current team is very strong so I think they will be ok.” “This was a great opportunity for me to return to the Olympic Games. I had a lot of injuries at the start of the year physically and internally. In 2015 I was hospitalized for ammonia. I had a lot of thigh troubles. For me right now the training is too much to handle. I did fulfill my task and defended against the international player and made the final.” LI also commented on their rematch “Four years ago I had no burden and no expectations going into the Games. Now I have more burden as there are more requirements of me from the leader. I regret that I didn’t have more time to practice as the result might have been different. I did not have enough practice so I could not control the pace of the game. Congratulations to Ding Ning.” Determined not to go home empty handed on her birthday KIM was all pumped against Ai FUKUHARA in the Bronze medal match to take home DPR Korea’s first ever Olympic table tennis medal. The Olympic debutant raced to a 3-0 lead in just 23 minutes into the match. Despite FUKUHARA’s efforts to turn the tides in her favor by taking the fourth game 14-12 the four time Olympian failed to break past the defensive blocks of KIM. KIM eventually prevailed 4-1 (11-7 11-7 11-5 12-14 11-5). “Although I only got the Bronze medal I am still very happy” stated the 21-year-old. “I want to present this medal to our great supreme leader.” More table tennis action continues today at Riocentro Pavilion 3 with the Men’s Singles Semifinals.

Reigning World Champion DING Ning has conquered all the major Women’s Singles titles in table tennis and is just short of an Olympic title to complete her table tennis Grand Slam. Determined to make her way through to the Final for her chance at the Olympic Gold the top seed ended DPR Korea’s KIM Song I’s Olympic singles run beating the birthday girl 4-1 (11-5 9-11 11-6 11-3 11-9). DING stated “She was really hard to play with getting all the balls back on the table. During the timeout coach Kong told me to stay calm and not panic to be clear of the situation before making any attacks.” The world number two added “For me my task to defend my half of the draw is completed now. I hope to make my trip to Rio worthwhile and look forward to playing my game tonight.” In her top form on her fourth Olympic quest Ai FUKUHARA has not dropped a single game on her road to the semifinals. Her winning streak was broken today when she met with defending champion LI Xiaoxia in a one-sided semifinals encounter at Riocentro Pavilion 3. The Grand Slam Champion was in invincible form crushing FUKUHARA 11-4 11-3 11-1 11-1 to make her way through to the Final giving the Japanese star no chance to recover in the match. “I didn’t expect to finish the match so easily. FUKUHARA has swept her previous matches 4-0 so I was prepared to play 7 games or that I could even lose.” said LI in an CCTV interview after her match. “I was mentally strong in the match.” Li added that “When we were training we made a lot of strategies to (counter) her we focused on her strategies so we knew how to compete with her.” Already playing her best Olympic Games tournament in Rio FUKUHARA shared “She was so strong. I couldn’t get anything past her. There will be a bronze medal competition later this evening so I want to switch my mind towards that.” “It’s basically the difference in level. She was better than me. I have to accept this and look forward to the next match.” FUKUHARA and KIM will now meet at later tonight at 20:30 local time to fight for a historic first Olympic bronze medal for respective countries. With their victories DING and LI will face off each other in the Gold medal match 21:30 local time tonight for the final showdown for Olympic glory. The Chinese duo competed against each other four years ago at the London 2012 Olympic Games women’s singles Final. Back then DING who was the favorite for Gold in London received yellow and red cards for her serves. Mentally stressed by the penalties DING couldn’t hold her pressure and lost 1-4 to the eventual Champion. She shared after her defeat in London “I was affected by the judge. After the first one (point penalty) I tried to keep cool but could not hold it after the second.” Now four years later they are set to go at it again with an exciting tie on the cards. Tonight in Rio will we see DING taking revenge for her London 2012 loss or a repeat of history with LI defending her title?

Pre-Selection Camp II in Hungary     The city of Kiskunfelegyhaza situated about 110 km south east of Budapest hosts second Pre-Selection Camp. Hungarian camp is in the ETTU / ITTF – Europe Eurotalents Project Talent Identification & Selection program. With record breaking number of 47 players from 16 countries the Camp set a new milestone in the already very succesful project.   “We have excelent conditions for individual work with eight trainers and 15 sparing partners coming from Hungary” said ETTU Development Manager Eurotalents TI&S prof. Neven CEGNAR.   The Head Coach (Organizer) is Ferenc KARSAI of Hungary whilst assistant coaches are Attila HALMAI and Levente ARANYOSI.

2016 Rio Olympic Games   Vladimir SAMSONOV will feel the heat of the battle for medal at the Olympic Games. Quarterfinalist in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney four years later this time went one step further. In the quarterfinal of the Men’s Singles Event at the 2016 Olympic Games Belarus star beat Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 4:2 (8-11 11-7 19-17 4-11 11-2 14-12).   “It was a really strange match after my injury” said SAMSONOV. “I couldn’t play hard forehand topspin so I had to change something tactically I had to play a bit slower and more passively. We have known each other for so long we are in the same club we are friends and it’s not easy playing injured friend he struggled.”   In the semi final he will meet China’s ZHANG Jike.   “I’m getting closer to a medal but the players I’m going to face are very strong and I will have to see how badly injured I really am. I need to go to the hospital. I have problems with my ribs several times for the past six years. I really hope it’s not bad.” In the second game he lost his footing when trying to execute a forehand top spin with the score at 7-4 in his favour. He finished sitting on the floor; he lost the next point and asked for a break owing to pain in his right side.   Bronze medalist from London 2012 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV said:   “SAMSONOV and I play for the same club we know each other very well. and of course we know the skills and weaknesses of each other very well. It was a tough match from the beginning.”   Gold medalist in London China’s ZHANG Jike booked his place in the semi-finals; the no.3 seed he accounted for Japan’s Koki NIWA the no.17 seed in five games (5-11 11-4 11-7 11-7 11-4). Jun MIZUTANI of Japan beat Marcos FREITAS of Portugal (4-11k 11-9 3-11 8-11 12-10).

2016 Rio Olympic Games   On her Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro HAN Ying was halted in the quarterfinals. World champion China’s DING Ning the Women’s Singles Event top seed ended the aspirations of Germany’s HAN Ying the no.5 seed (11-8 11-5 11-3 11-7).   The 33-year-old HAN had no chance. DING Ning justified her reputation as a true defense killer. Forehand top spin strokes with relentless efficiency directed to the body of her adversary took its toll as the contest progressed and Ding Ning became more relaxed the tirade gained in speed.   “She played even harder than usual I did not expect it. On the other side DING “read” my game very well. I’ve also heard that the Chinese women have increasingly trained to defense because I have won twice against CHEN Meng” said HAN Ying. “I had planned to attack more but during the game I realized that this is even more of a disadvantage. Then I played again passive. I tried everything but she was everywhere.”   Appearing in her fourth Olympic Games in Rio Ai FUKUHARA (JPN) was in top form against London 2012 Bronze medalist second seeded FENG Tianwei (SIN) to claim another 4-0 victory.   The Japanese sensation who has not dropped a single game throughout her run in Rio gave no chance to the 2010 World Team Champion to fight back prevailing 14-12 11-8 11-7 11-5 to reach the women’s singles semifinals.   This victory was a major breakthrough for FUKUHARA as her previous best Olympic Singles results was the quarterfinals in London where she lost to top seeded DING Ning.   “I still feel like I’m in a dream” shared FUKUAHRA after her epic victory. “It’s the Olympic Games upsets are normal. FENG is much stronger than me in terms of skills I would be happy to win half of our encounters. But Olympics is such a big match for me I have to go all out to play her. And that is the only thought I had in the match.”   Surprise defeat to FUKUHARA FENG’s colleague YU Mengyu of Singapore suffered the same fate under DPR Korea’s defender KIM Song I.   Ranked 50th in the world the fearless KIM has been unstoppable on her Olympic debut in Rio knocking out higher ranked players including world number six Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN).   In the semifinals face-off against YU KIM continued her winning streak for a 4-2 (11-8 6-11 11-5 11-6 9-11 11-6) victory over the Singaporean.   Kim was pleased with her performance over YU sharing “I am very happy. I am so proud that I could make such a good performance on the biggest stage. I was very in control more so than my opponent which was key for me today. I will do my best in the next round to do a good Performance in the next round.”   “It is a great honor to play here and with the world’s best players” added the 21-year-old.   The remaining two semifinals places went to China with Defending Champion LI Xiaoxia and reigning World Champion cruising past their opponents to reach top 4 of the Women’s Singles event.   Grand Slam Champion LI swept Chinese Taipei’s CHENG I-Ching 4-0 (11-5 11-5 11-6 11-6).   “I didn’t expect to win so easily against her. In her match yesterday she was leading 3-0 and won 4-3 so I think she’s in good form in Rio and I was ready to play full 7 games with her” said LI after the match. “It may seem easy that I won all my three matches 4-0 but I was in fact nervous during my preparations and trainings for my all my matches. It could be because of the tense atmosphere so I can’t let my guards down in my preparations.”  

Records smashed on Day 3 at Rio 2016   Third day of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games table tennis event concluded with several record breaking matches that rocked the arena in Riocentro Pavilion 3.   2014 ITTF Male Table Tennis Star Quadri ARUNA was in unbeatable form against former world number one and six-times European Champion Timo BOLL (GER) in the battle for a quarterfinal spot prevailing 12-10 12-10 11-5 3-11 5-11 11-9 to become the first African table tennis player to make it through to the quarterfinals where he will play World Champion MA Long (CHN) for a place in the semifinals.   After a tough 4-3 opening match against LI Ping (QAT) earlier today third seeded Dimitrij OTCHAROV was put through another challenge in the Round of 16 against Slovenia’s Bojan TOKIC especially in the first game! The first game finished 33-31 to TOKIC which is a world record score. This insane game went for a whopping 26 minutes which is longer than a lot of the full matches here at Rio 2016.   On the game that will go down in table tennis folk law OVTCHAROV stated: “It was very cool to be a part of this world record game but it is a shame that I didn’t get to win it.”   The European champion may not have won the world record game but he was able to win the next four to clinch the match 4-1 (31-33 12-10 11-5 11-4 11-7) to progress to the quarterfinals where he will meet his club team mate Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR).   The capacity Brazilian crowd went home disappointed after a spirited Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) who played the tournament of his life lost against the number four seeded Jun MIZUTANI (JPN). MIZUTANI’s win sets up an intriguing clash with Marcos FREITAS (POR).   2010 Youth Olympic Games champion Koki NIWA recovered from 1-3 down to upset against world number eight WONG Chun Ting (HKG) 4-3 (6-11 11-6 8-11 5-11 12-10 11-4 11-8). NIWA whom some people questioned about his selection in the Japanese team now plays defending champion ZHANG Jike (CHN) in the quarterfinals.   Similarly for NIWA’s teammate Ai FUKUHARA who have lost several high profile matches in the last year the table tennis community have raised much doubt with her being selected for the Women’s Singles over 15-year-old Mima ITO.   Competing in her fourth Olympic Games FUKUHARA was set on proving her critics wrong the sixth seed was on fire to defeat DPR Korea’s top defender RI Myong Sun with a convincing 4-0 (11-5 12-10 11-1 11-7) victory.   “Olympic is very special not same as other international events. It’s really not easy. I trained very hard in these months just for the Olympic game here in Rio. I’m now sure my practicing is paying off” shared the Japanese star. “It was a big turning point when I was 10-10 score in the 2nd game. It was a big advantage for me when I got 12-10 score at that game finally.”   FUKUHARA will continue her quest for an Olympic medal against the London 2012 bronze medalist FENG Tianwei (SIN) tomorrow.   KIM Song I (PRK) continued shocking her opponents with her defensive style defeatingCHEN Szu-Yu (TPE) 4-2 and will now play YU Mengyu (SIN).   The final two women’s quarterfinal matches will be contested between the number one seed DING Ning (CHN) and HAN Ying (GER) and between the reigning Olympic champion LI Xiaoxia (CHN) and CHENG I-Ching (TPE).

2016 Rio Olympic Games   Quadri ARUNA of Nigeria created a top rated upset by reaching the quarterfinal of the Men’s Singles Event at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. World’s no. 40 on his way to top 8 he beat the World’s no. 14 and no. 10 seed Timo BOLL of Germany (12-10 12-10 11-5 3-11 5-11 11-9).   “This is amazing; I don’t know what to say. My fans made me do this. Thank you for all the Brazilian spectators for their support. They gave me so much energy. This feels so good; it is a dream come true that i am in the quarterfinal.”   Timo BOLL once again failed to reach the only “big” medal that is missing in his tresuary.   “ARUNA has surprised a lot of people. I knew he was good coming into the match. I just have to say well played! His whole game is different so it took me awhile to work it out. Once I was 0-3 down I started to get more into the match but it was already too late.”   Korea’s JUNG Youngsik the no.9 seed won the first two games before MA Long recovered (6-11 10-12 11-5 11-1 13-11 13-11). Jun MIZUTANI ended the hopes of the host nation’s Hugo CALDERANO in six games (11-5 11-6 11-13 8-11 11-8 12-10).Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS the no.8 seed accounted for Ukraine’s KOU Lei in four straight games (11-8 11-7 11-5 11-7).    Geramny’s HAN Ying reached the quarterfinal of the Women’s Singles Event at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. In the Round of 16 she overcame LI Xue of France. It was a contest that required the Expedite Rule to be introduced. Eventually HAN Ying emerged successful in five games (11-4 11-4 8-11 11-13 13-11).    “It was so difficult playing against Li Xue the match was much harder than the result might suggest” said Han Ying. “Long points it is mentally very tiring most importantly you have to believe in yourself. Tactically when you are playing under the Expedite Rule you must be prepared to make changes. When you are serving and you need to attack sometimes you must be patient and wait; on other occasions you need to attack earlier in the rally; today when receiving service I kept telling myself that I must not lose!”   In the quarterfinal she will meet DING Ning of China. DING overcame DOO Hoi Kem of Hong Kong.

2016 Rio Olympic Games   Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV concluded the first match in the Men’s Singles Event at the 2016 Rio Olympics Games victoriously. He overcame LI Ping of Qatar 4-3 to advance to Men’s Singles Round of 16 (8-11 11-4 11-9 7-11 11-5 9-11 11-9).    “The first match is always difficult and even more difficult when against a player who has already played a match. I have practised and prepared but coming into the hall with all the noise and the atmosphere created it takes time to adjust” said OVTCHAROV.   “Tactically and technically LI Ping was very good he returned service well and we know each other well before we came here we practised together in Germany. In the sixth game I led 7-3 and lost; that made it extra hard for the seventh.”   No. two seed ZHANG Jike of China succeeded against CHEN Chien-An (11-5 13-11 12-10 11-7).   “We have competed against thrice just this year alone and we both had wins and losses so we are familiar about each other’s playing style. Playing at the Olympic Games is still different as compared to other events. I think I played my usual form today. The desire for victory at the Olympic Games is definitely higher as compared to World Tour events. It’s the same case for CHEN. We are both playing on the Olympic stage giving our full focus for every point it really depends on how you keep yourself on top of your game. Coming into the match today I would say I’m in better form than before. Single events will probably be better for me given that it’s best of 7 games it’s faster to concentrate into the match as compared to best of 5 games in the team event” stated ZHANG.   The Round of 32 concluded with great upsets. Adrian CRISAN of Romania who beat Timo BOLL last time in London was in charge for the biggest upset in this Round in Rio. Seeded at position no. 50 Crisan overcame no. 12 seed LEE Sangsu of Korea in seven games (11-9 11-13 11-5 12-10 10-12 6-11 11-13). Paul DRINKHALL of England joined him by beating Andrej GACINA of Croatia. No. 38 seed beat no. 15 in six games (11-8 10-12 9-11 8-11 11-5 8-11). Seeded no. 14 is also out. Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal suffered by the hands of Bojan TOKIC of Slovenia.  

2016 Rio Olympic Games   Reigning Olympic Champion LI Xiaoxia of China emerged victoriously to reach the top 16 of the Women’s Singles event at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. LI Xiaoxia overcame Sweden’s LI Fen (11-7 11-7 11-8 11-7).   “Coach Kong Linghui has given me clear tactics on how to play this match against LI Fen to slow my pace down play longer strokes and not give her the chance to play her strengths “ said LI.” I’m still very nervous coming into my first match at Rio 2016 furthermore it’s against LI Fen she was a member of Chinese National Team so she’s still very strong. I’m nervous but it’s much better compared to London 2012 I have played at the Olympics before I have experienced this that helps.”   About LI’s preparations for Rio:   “I have 2 matches today and I have to prepare them match by match. To put down everything and put myself all out to fight my every match regardless of who my opponent is. I think that is the most important part of the competition for me.”   Flag bearer for Austria LIU Jia was the only European player to book her place in the Round of 16 in the morning session of the tournament at the third day of the play. No. 16 seed beat European Games champion LI Jiao of Netherlands (7-11 11-8 15-13 11-9 11-5).   LEE Ho Ching Hong Kong destroyed Ukraine’s Tetyana BILENKO’s hopes 4-1 (11-8 12-10 9-11 13-11 11-6).   “I have practised a great deal in Hong Kong against defensive players and I think now my forehand is much better much stronger against backspin play. Now I’m making less mistakes than in the past I think I’m more patient than before and today I felt confident before the match started. For sure the fact that Doo Hoi Ken won yesterday helped a great deal today that really motivated me.”   Experience count… RI Myong Sun (PRK) no. 21 seed on her second apearence at the Olympic Games beat no. 10 seed Petrissa SOLJA of Germany on her debut to make it to Women’s Singles Round of 16 (11-5 11-7 11-6 11-6).   FENG Tianwei of Singapore overcame NI Xia Lian of Singapore (8-11 5-11 11-8 11-5 11-4 11-5).   “It’s my first match so my body still feels a little tense. NI’s playing style is very unique I think she’s probably the only one in the world playing that style so I’m not used to that. I found it hard to find my rhythm in the first 2 games and that she was playing very well so it was really tough for me. She’s a great player and I have much to learn from her.”   Japan’s Ai Fukuhara the no.6 seed accounted for Romania’s Daniela Monteiro Dodean (11-5 11-6 11-4 11-1).