Germany’s women booked their place in the semifinals of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals after overcoming Hong Kong 3-1 in a tense and emotional quarterfinal clash in London. Sabine WINTER, Ying HAN and Annett KAUFMANN secured Germany’s 57th medal in the history of the World Championships and guaranteed a place on the podium once again. The German team will now face either Japan or Ukraine in Saturday’s semifinal. Japan, seeded second in the tournament, handed Germany their only defeat during the group stage. Sabine WINTER played a decisive role in the victory by collecting two crucial points. She produced a remarkable comeback in the opening match against Doo Hoi Kem after trailing by two games and facing a difficult situation midway through the third game. WINTER gradually turned the momentum around with clever variation and strong forehand play before sealing the match in five games. Ying HAN then delivered one of the most dramatic encounters of the tournament against NG Wing Lam. The experienced defender survived a marathon battle filled with spectacular rallies and momentum swings. In the deciding game, HAN also showed great sportsmanship by correcting a point in favour of her adversary after the umpire missed an edge ball. Despite missing several match points herself, she eventually closed out the contest 15-13 to double Germany’s lead. “It was a crazy match. I kept believing in myself until the very last point,” said Ying HAN afterwards. Hong Kong responded through SU Tsz Tung, who defeated Annett KAUFMANN in four games to reduce the gap to 2-1. However, WINTER stepped up once more in the fourth match, producing a dominant straight-games win over Ng Wing Lam to secure Germany’s place in the semifinals. “It’s something huge to be in the semifinal,” said Sabine WINTER. “The score may say 3-1, but every match was extremely close. We fought for every single ball and stayed mentally strong in the key moments.” Germany – Hong Kong 3-1

Sweden experienced mixed emotions on Wednesday at the ITTF World Team Championships Finals in London, as the men’s team advanced confidently to the quarterfinals while the women’s campaign came to an end against defending champions China. The Swedish women faced a daunting challenge in the Round of 16 against the six-time consecutive world champions, and China once again demonstrated why they remain the dominant force in women’s table tennis. Despite the straight-games defeat, Sweden showed determination throughout the tie. Linda BERGSTRÖM, Stina KÄLLBERG and Filippa BERGAND all battled hard, but the class and consistency of China’s stars proved overwhelming. Whether it was SUN Yingsha, WANG Manyu or WANG Yidi, the pattern remained the same. Sweden created opportunities in rallies, but the Chinese players repeatedly found solutions and maintained extraordinary control under pressure. Later in the day, Sweden’s men produced a much more comfortable evening, defeating Croatia 3-0 to secure a quarterfinal place against Chinese Taipei. Team captain Marcus SJÖBERG selected Anton KÄLLBERG, Truls MÖREGÅRDH and Elias RANEFUR for the knockout clash, and all three delivered strong performances. KÄLLBERG opened the tie against Tomislav PUCAR, an opponent who had previously caused him plenty of problems internationally. This time, however, the Swede played with great confidence and attacking intent, overcoming the Croatian in four games to give Sweden the lead. MÖREGÅRDH then faced experienced veteran Andrej GACINA in a dramatic five-game battle. The Swedish star twice moved ahead before eventually dominating the deciding game to double Sweden’s advantage. “It feels really good. I had never beaten GACINA before because his spin variation usually causes me a lot of trouble. It was difficult again today, but I managed to find solutions at the most important moments and I’m especially happy with the way I played the final game. The whole team showed great confidence today,” said MÖREGÅRDH. The tie was closed out in convincing style by RANEFUR, who completely controlled his match against Filip ZELJKO. The young Swede maintained relentless pressure from start to finish and secured victory in straight games. “I gain confidence from all the hard work I’ve put in over many years. Even though this is my first World Championships, I feel calm because I trust my ability to find solutions during matches. Today I moved very well and found good quality both in my serve and attacking shots, which made things very difficult for him,” explained RANEFUR. Sweden will now face Chinese Taipei in Thursday’s quarterfinal. Sweden – China 0-3 Sweden – Croatia 3-0

Romania secured their place in the quarterfinals of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London after overcoming Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic and closely contested Round of 16 encounter. The European side appeared in control after strong performances from Bernadette SZOCS and Elizabeta SAMARA, but Egypt fought back through an inspired display by Hana GODA to push the tie to a deciding fifth match. SZOCS gave Romania the perfect start with a straight-games victory over Dina MESHREF. The Romanian controlled the rallies from the beginning and handled the pressure well in the key moments to put her team ahead. Egypt responded in spectacular fashion through teenage star GODA. Facing Andreea DRAGOMAN, she recovered after losing the opening game to claim an impressive 3-2 victory and level the tie. Romania regained the advantage thanks to the experience of Samara, who produced a composed performance against Farida BADAWY. Samara edged a tense opening game before taking full control to move Romania within one point of victory. However, GODA once again kept Egypt alive. The young Egyptian delivered another excellent performance, this time defeating SZOCS in four games to force the tie into a deciding match. Everything came down to DRAGOMAN against MESHREF, and the Romanian held her nerve in a tense five-game battle. After losing a dramatic opening game 17-19, Dragoman fought back twice from behind before sealing victory in the deciding game to send Romania into the last eight. “We knew from the beginning that it would be a tough match and we were ready for it. I am happy I managed the match very well at 2-2 and that I helped my team secure the victory,” said DRAGOMAN after the win.“It feels amazing. I tried to stay focused and think about what I needed to do during the match. I can say I am very proud,” Romania – Egypt 3-2

Germany’s men booked their place in the quarterfinals of the ITTF World Championships Finals in London after a convincing 3-0 victory over Hong Kong, setting up another showdown with Japan in the battle for a medal. The two sides already met in the opening stage of the tournament last Saturday, and they will now face each other again on Thursday at 13:30 in a decisive knockout clash. Earlier in the day, Japan secured their quarterfinal spot with a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan. Germany followed later in the evening, as Benedikt DUDA, Dang QIU and Patrick FRANZISKA delivered a composed performance, supported loudly from the bench by Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Andre BERTELSMEIER. Germany’s head coach Jörg ROSSKOPF praised his team after the win, highlighting both the preparation and the difficulty of the encounter despite the clear scoreline. “I’m very proud of the team. Hong Kong came with a very good plan. It was a difficult opening match for Benne, and beating the opponent’s number one always gives the team extra confidence. In the end it looks like a clear 3-0 victory, but the matches were much closer than the score suggests. At this stage every match is tough because only the best teams are left in the tournament. We were very well prepared again today and fully deserved our place in the quarterfinals.” Benedikt DUDA once again led from the front in the opening match. Facing experienced Hong Kong star Wong Chun Ting, the European Championships finalist controlled the match with clever placement and varied serves to give Germany an important early advantage with a four-game victory. “I’m used to these number-one clashes from the Bundesliga. I was prepared for both possible opponents and entered the match with confidence. I had to fight hard at times because he had a strong tactical plan, but overall I’m satisfied with my performance,” said DUDA. Dang Qiu then extended Germany’s lead with a straight-games win over Hong Kong’s young prospect Chan Baldwin. The European champion showed his composure particularly in the second game, recovering from deficits of 2-7 and 7-10 to turn the set around. Patrick FRANZISKA sealed the victory with a 3-1 success against Lam Siu Hang. Although the German had to work hard against the world No. 95, he stayed patient during the longer rallies and managed to close out the tie. “It wasn’t an easy match. His balls come a little slower compared to most opponents and that disturbed my rhythm at times. I missed several backhand openings that I would normally make. Still, I stayed focused and handled the long rallies well. Winning these uncomfortable matches also gives me confidence,” FRANZISKA explained. Germany’s focus now shifts fully to Thursday’s quarterfinal against Japan, with a place on the podium at stake. “Against Japan we will give absolutely everything. This is no longer the group stage – it’s a completely new match and now it’s about fighting for a medal,” said DUDA. QIU also expects another intense battle. “We will need the same fighting spirit as in the first match against them. Japan are one of the top teams in the world and the level is extremely high. The form of the day will decide it. I hope I can reproduce the performance I had in our first meeting because it will definitely be another hot match.” Germany – Hong Kong 3-0

France booked their place in the quarterfinals of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London after a 3-0 victory over Portugal in the Round of 16. Despite the final scoreline, the tie opened with a fierce battle between Alexis LEBRUN and Tiago APOLONIA. APOLONIA edged the opening game 16-14, but Alexis quickly raised his level and completely turned the momentum around, storming through the next three games to give France the lead. Felix LEBRUN then doubled the advantage with an impressive straight-games victory over Marcos FREITAS. The French star controlled the encounter from the beginning and never allowed Freitas to settle into rhythm. “ We played a really great match. It’s a team that has been playing together for a long time. Individually, I think we are stronger than them, but it’s never easy to beat them. So we are very happy that we managed to make this kind of match look easy,” said Felix LEBRUN. Felix also praised the way France reacted after the difficult opening stages of the tie. “APOLONIA made an incredible start against Alexis, but Alexis managed to raise his level and eventually dominate Tiago. After that, whether it was me or Flavien, we just continued building on what Alexis had started.” In the third match, Flavien COTON sealed the victory with a confident 3-1 win over Joao GERALDO, sending France safely into the last eight. France now continue their impressive run in London with growing confidence as they move one step closer to the medals. France- Portugal 3-0 Alexis LEBRUN – Tiago APOLONIA 3-1 (14-16, 11-7, 11-1, 11-5) Felix LEBRUN – Marcos FREITAS 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-6) Flavien COTON – Joao GERALDO 3-1 (11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9)

Austria produced one of the biggest surprises of the Men’s Team Round of 32, defeating India 3-0 in a tie that turned out far more one-sided than many expected. It all started with a real battle. Robert GARDOS had to dig deep against Manush SHAH in a match full of momentum swings. After losing the opening game, GARDOS settled in, using his experience and clever serve variation to take control of the rallies. The drama peaked in the deciding game. SHAH looked in command at 7-2, but couldn’t close it out. A few mistakes opened the door, and GARDOS stepped right through it, staying calm under pressure to snatch the game 13-11 and put Austria ahead. That moment seemed to shift the whole tie. Daniel HABESOHN came in with confidence and never really let Manav THAKKAR settle. The Austrian controlled the pace from the start, taking initiative in the rallies and cruising to a straight-games win that put Austria within touching distance of victory. With the momentum fully on their side, Andreas LEVENKO made sure there would be no comeback. Facing Sathiyan GNANASEKARAN, he stayed aggressive and composed, taking charge early in each game and closing out the match in straight sets to complete the sweep. Robert GARDOS reflected on Austria’s strong team performance and the importance of the opening win: “I think all three of us are in very good shape at the moment. As a team, we are quite balanced, we are all playing at a similar level, and when everyone performs well it gives us a lot of confidence. In many of our matches there has always been a bit of pressure in the opening match, and today was the same. Winning that first point gave us extra energy and belief for the rest of the tie. I had some difficulties at the beginning. My timing was not perfect in the first game because this was already the fifth hall we have trained and played in during the week, so we had to adjust again. Also, the new balls felt uncomfortable early in the match. But after that I found a really good rhythm and feeling. SHAH is a very good player and he managed to come back into the match, but in the fifth set I found my concentration again, I found my focus, and in the end I think I played very well. After that, Daniel and Andreas played great matches. They prepared very well tactically and technically, and together we achieved an important win.” Austria now move on to the Round of 16, where an even bigger challenge awaits against Korea Republic. Austria – India 3-0

Sweden moved into the Round of 16 at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London with a 3-0 win over Hungary, but the result came with a worrying setback after Kristian KARLSSON picked up an injury late in the match. The scoreline suggests a smooth evening for Sweden, and in many ways it was. Still, there was enough quality on the Hungarian side to demand full focus from start to finish. Truls MÖREGÅRDH got Sweden off to a winning start. After a slightly shaky opening against Ádám SZUDI, he quickly settled into his rhythm and took control, closing out the match in straight games. Next up, Anton KÄLLBERG faced András CSABA in a more physical contest. The opening exchanges were evenly balanced, but Källberg gradually imposed himself, especially on serve and receive, to take the match 3-1 and put Sweden firmly in command. All eyes then turned to KARLSSON, who was making his first appearance of the tournament. The Swede looked sharp from the start against Dávid SZÁNTOSI and built a 2-0 lead, appearing in full control. But midway through the third game, the tone of the match changed. KARLSSON called for a medical timeout, clearly struggling with a groin issue. Despite the discomfort, he chose to continue and managed to close out the match 13-11, sealing the victory for Sweden. The moment, however, took the edge off what would otherwise have been a routine progression. Instead of celebration, there was immediate concern within the Swedish camp. According to team staff, KARLSSON had been dealing with muscle issues in recent weeks, making the situation particularly frustrating given his otherwise solid performance. Still, the main question now surrounds KARLSSON’S condition, with tougher challenges ahead. Sweden will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for the Round of 16, where the level only rises and there is little margin for error. Sweden – Hungary 3-0

Germany booked their place in the Round of 16 at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in London with a 3-0 victory over Slovenia. While the scoreline looks convincing, the tie itself was far more closely contested. “On paper it’s a clear 3-0, but every match was really hard fought,” said Germany head coach Jörg ROSSKOPF. Germany were tested from the very start. Benedikt DUDA had to come through several difficult moments against Deni KOŽUL. The European Championships finalist found himself trailing early in key stages of the match, but still managed to keep control and close it out in straight games. “I was down 2-7 in the first set and 5-7 in the third, it was really back and forth,” Duda explained. “I’m happy with how I handled those situations.” The turning point of the tie came in the second match, where Patrick FRANZISKA faced his club teammate Darko JORGIĆ. Despite a heavy loss in the second game, FRANZISKA stayed composed and edged the key encounter in four games. “In matches like this, the small details make the difference,” said FRANZISKA. “I tried to stay calm, especially in the important moments, and in the end I was fully focused.” With Germany 2-0 ahead, Dang QIU sealed the win, defeating experienced Bojan TOKIČ in straight games to complete the sweep. The result sends Germany into the knockout phase, but the team remains cautious. “Slovenia are a very strong team. Jorgić can win two points and Kožul is always dangerous,” ROSSKOPF added. Germany now turn their attention to the Round of 16, where they will face Hong Kong. The Asian side has shown strong balance and consistency throughout the competition, presenting another serious challenge. “The matches are only getting tougher. This is where it really begins for us,” said DUDA. QIU also highlighted the physical and mental demands ahead: “In every knockout match, everyone gives everything. It’s physically demanding and mentally even more so. If you want to fight for a medal, staying fresh throughout a long tournament is crucial.” Germany – Slovenia 3-0