Saki SHIBATA and JANG Woojin newly crowned champions of the 2016 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) in Minsk. Konstantin CHERNOV and Sadi ISMAILOV from Russia runners-up of Men`s Doubles Event
Favorite player of host audience Viktoria PAVLOVICH from Belarus and Russian Grigory VLASOV are the runners-up of the singles events at the 2016 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) concluded today in Minsk. Two times individual women`s champion of Europe lost to 19-year old Saki SHIBATA from Japan 4:2 although she had advantage after first three sets while VLASOV was defeated by top seeded Korean JANG Woojin who managed to recover from 0:3 to 4:3.
Actual World no. 55 PAVLOVICH played 13 games in total in just few hours bearing in mind her semi-final victory against Yuka ISHIGAKI from Japan in seven sets. SHIBATA who recently jumped 57 places on the ITTF World ranking list (from 132 to 75) upset her compatriot top seeded Hitomi SATO (World no. 23).
“I’m glad to have won my 1st adult title. The match was lengthy with the last set being especially tough” stated Saki SHIBATA.
World no. 72 VLASOV played one of his best tournaments so far showing his strength in the semi-final clash against Japanese CHO Eonrae – 4:0 (11:8 11:9 11:7 11:5). He easily won first three games in final match but JANG responded sharply winning four sets in a row.
“This is my first world tournament title and I’m very happy. The final match turned out to be difficult since I was getting used to the opponent for at least 3 sets but then was able to choose the right tactics and win the match. I really enjoyed the tournament – it was very well organized – and next year I plan to come back to Belarus” emphasized JANG Woojin.
European representatives reached one more final as Russians Konstantin CHERNOV and Sadi ISMAILOV finished second at the Men`s Doubles Event.
Men`s Singles semi-finals: JANG Woojin (Korea) – Hunor SZOCS (Romania) 4:1 (7:11 11:5 11:6 14:12 11:4) Grigory VLASOV (Russia) – CHO Eonrae (Korea) 4:0 (11:8 11:9 11:7 11:5). Final: JANG Woojin – Grigory VLASOV 4:3 (8:11 7:11 5:11 11:7 11:5 11:3 11:5).
Women`s Singles semi-finals: Saki SHIBATA (Japan) – Hitomi SATO (Japan) 4:1 (8:11 11:7 11:9 11:5 11:9) Viktoria PAVLOVICH (Byelorussia) – Yuka ISHIGAKI (Japan) 4:3 (11:8 10:12 11:9 3:11 11:7 12:14 11:7). Final: Saki SHIBATA –Viktoria PAVLOVICH 4:2 (11:8 7:11 5:11 11:8 14:12 11:9).
Men`s Doubles final: JANG Woojin/LIM Jonghoon (Korea) – Konstantin CHERNOV/Sadi ISMAILOV (Russia) 3:1 (8:11 11:7 11:2 11:6).
Women`s Doubles final: Honoka HASHIMOTO/Hitomi SATO (Japan) – JUNG Yumi/PARK Seri (Korea) 3:1 (9:11 11:8 11:7 11:9).
