Dimitrij OVTCHAROV becomes world no. 1 for the first time

“This is the best year of my career” stressed OVTCHAROV after his historic win against Japan`s Koki NIWA at the opening round of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER congratulated to the newly crowned World no. 1

 

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV has achieved one of his biggest successes by reaching the world number one ranking on the ITTF World Ranking list. The 29-year-old German managed it by beating Japanese Koki NIWA after full seven games of the opening round match at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan on Friday 15th December.

 

“This is the best year of my career! I am immensely proud to be no. 1 in January. It feels like a world title to me and I’ve worked for 20 years to achieve it” stressed actual no. 3 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV after breathtaking win against current no. 8 Koki NIWA 4:3 (10:12 11:6 12:14 11:6 9:11 11:9 11:5).

 

ETTU President Ronald KRAMER congratulated to the newly crowned World no. 1:

“A superb achievement following a year of great success! He is being rewarded for his constant hard work and dedication. ETTU is thrilled to have a European heading the World ranking in 2018 to follow his compatriot Timo BOLL as World number one in 2011!”

 

World Cup winner will replace both World and Olympic champion MA Long after 34 months at the top. More than six and a half years (exactly 81 month) Chinese players have hold the top position. Last non-Chinese world no. 1 was another German legend Timo BOLL who climbed on the peak twice. First six times European champion occupied highest possible spot from January to May 2003 then from January to March 2011. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist OVTCHAROV is only second German player to be world no. 1

 

Like many experts emphasized congratulating to the newlyappointed ITTF Men`s World Cup Champion the 29-year-old German fully deserved this status. This is for sure his most successful year winning everything that could be won except LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships held in Dusseldorf where he was beaten by his today`s opponent Koki NIWA in the Round of 16.

 

Men`s national coach of Germany Jorg ROSSKOPF was overwhelmed with emotion after OVTCHAROV`s close win against NIWA:

 

“It was a tough match and Dima deserves to become the world’s number one in January which is a great confirmation of his achievements. But here at the Grand Finals I would like see him to collect some more wins not just this one against Koki NIWA”.

 

NIWA was one who held the lead but OVTCHAROV managed to send the match into a deciding seventh game. With the scores tied up at three points apiece German secured comfortable 10:4 lead to establish himself as a new World no. 1.

 

There was another seven game encounter as Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting prevailed against Belarus Vladimir SAMSONOV. The ultimate set was decided by a narrow margin – 4:3 (11:3 12:10 9:11 13:11 4:11 8:11 11:9). WONG meets Timo BOLL in the quarter-final stage while Dimitrij OVTCHAROV opposes Japan`s Tomoka HARIMOTO.

Related News

Germany Ends Czechia’s Reign, Sets Up Under 15 Girls Final Against France

Top seeds in the Under 15 Girls Event at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava, Germany will face France in tomorrow’s final. Czechia and Italy were eliminated in the penultimate...

Read more

Portugal and Romania to Battle for Under 19 Boys Crown in Ostrava Final

The final of the Under 19 Boys Event at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava will feature a clash between Portugal and Romania tomorrow. Bronze medals go to Hungary and...

Read more

Italy and Türkiye to Clash for Under 15 Boys Title in Ostrava Final

In the match for the title in the Under 15 Boys Event at the European Youth Championships in Ostrava tomorrow, Italy will face Türkiye. In the semifinals, Germany and Poland...

Read more

France to Face Ukraine in Under 19 Girls Final

In the final of the Under 19 Girls Team Event tomorrow at the European Youth Championships, France will meet Ukraine. After today’s semifinal clashes, Portugal and Spain clinched bronze medals....

Read more

Contact

About Us

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.

Powered By

All Competitions

Senior Competitions

Club Competitions

Youth Competitions

More Competitions