Rio 2016 Olympic Games
In the first round of the Men’s Singles Event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Finland’s Benedek OLAH beat Singapore’s CHEN Feng (11-411-87-1111-911-6).
The player who was born in Finland but whose parents are from Hungary was delighted after the victory.
“This is my Olympics next time I might not qualify. I think CHEN Feng was really very nervous today; he let me play. That gave me confidence. I was surprised by his tactics he played very slowly I was not able to play hard against him. CHEN is smart his serves are difficult to read; more than once I gained a lead and then he came back. However I was able to finish the match” stated OLAH.
Adam PATTANTYUS of Hungary needed five games to beat Russia’s Kirill GERASSIMENKO (11-9 11-9 7-11 11-7 11-9). The oldest player in the field Spain’s HE Zhiwen overcame FENG Yijun of USA by the same margin (11-6 7-11 11-7 8-11 11-9 11-4).
Jakub DYJAS of Poland accounted for Paraguay’s Marcelo AGUIRRE in straight games (11-5 11-9 11-9 11-7) whilst Slovenia’s Bojan TOKIC needed one more to overcame Iran’s Noshad ALAMIYAN (11-8 7-11 11-4 11-5 11-9). Kamal ACHANTA SHARATH of India failed to halt the progress of Adrian CRISAN of Romania (8-11 12-14 11-9 6-11 8-11). Another Romania’s player Ovidiu IONESCU also progressed to the next stage. He beat Nima ALAMIAN of Iran.
In all-European duel the member of the bronze winning team at the World Championships Paul DRINKHALL of England beat Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC of Serbia (10-12 12-10 11-8 11-8 11-5).
KARAKASEVIC has been the only European player required to play in the preliminary stage of the Men’s Singles Event. He reached the Round of 128 after victory over Australia’s YAN Xin 4:2 (11-8 10-12 11-8 11-9 10:12 11-3).
“I have never played against YAN and that is a rare situation. I know almost all players on the circuit. It was not easy having player born in China in the opening round of the tournament” said KARAKASEVIC.
