Champions at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Bulgaria Open Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV & Japan’s Kasumi IShIKAWA look at defending their prestigious titles at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open that begins action in Panagyurishte Bulgaria today 16 August till 19 August 2018.
Having suffered early exits in the previous two World Tour events since his return from an injury break OVTCHAROV will be hoping to regain his previous form that saw him become world number 1 at the start of the year. The top seed will face Paul DRINKHALL (ENG) in his opening round the Englishman himself looking to improve on his 2017 performance in Bulgaria where he made a round of 32 exit.
Joining OVTCHAROV are China’s XU Xin and MA Long as the 2nd and 3rd seeds respectively. Fresh from his victory in Australia XU faces Slovakia’s defender WANG Yang in his first match while MA will battle against Liam PITCHFORD (ENG).
Currently on 26 World Tour titles success in Bulgaria will see the MA the reigning World & Olympic Champion match Belarussian legend Vladimir SAMSONOV’s record of 27.
Another player looking to add to his title haul is Tomokazu HARIMOTO (JPN). The youngest ever World Tour Champion already has two titles to his name at just 15 years old and will be aiming to cause more upsets to make it three. With Koki NIWA (JPN) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) Kenta MATSUDAIRA (JPN) and Jonathan GROTH (DEN) all joining the fight for the crown it is set to be a tough competition.
In the Women’s Singles event top seed ISHIKAWA aims to recapture the title once again. Having won the competition twice during the last three years the current world number 4 is hoping to leave the country with yet another Gold. She faces Britt EERLAND (NED) in her opening match.
Always a strong hunting ground for the Japanese women players with 7 out of the top 8 players coming from the land of the rising sun. Mima ITO Miu HIRANO Hitomi SATO Hina HAYATA Miyu KATO and Saki SHIBATA form a strong Japanese contingent along with the top seed with 6th seed DING Ning (CHN) the only name breaking the flow.
The Asarel Bulgaria Open is the ninth stop on the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour and the fourth of six Regular events on the ITTF World Tour. Together with the six Platinum ITTF World Tour events players compete to earn World Tour Standings points to be one of top 16 to qualify for the one-million-dollar World Tour Grand Finals in December.
Main draw action for the Asarel Bulgaria Open will begin today 16 August 2018 at 11 am (GMT +3) with the world’s top stars competing in four medal events – Women’s Doubles Men’s Doubles Women’s Singles & Men’s Singles. The Champions will be crowned on Sunday 19 August 2018.
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