Coach Vladimir ENDOLOV explains that Dimitrij OVTCHAROV could not play at full strength due to his health problem
Four-time TTCLM winner Fakel Gazprom Orenburg lost its crown two weeks ago but the season is not over yet. From June 15th to 17th they will host the concluding fourth tournament of Russian Premier League composed by 12 teams.
Orenburg lost both TTCLM final games from Borussia Dusseldorf (3:2 3:1). Coach Vladimir ENDOLOV explains:
“During this season our team gave our fans a series of remarkable victories over the best clubs in Europe. In the first final our team lost with a minimum lag 2:3. We perfectly understood that the second final in Orenburg would be far from easy for both teams. So in front of a thousand audience the most intense drama of the outgoing season of the European Champions League was played out. Orenburg people and the whole world saw table tennis of the highest level”.
ENDOLOV emphasized that his side faced injuries in the most important moment of the season:
“Unfortunately Dimitrij OVTCHAROV the leader of our team could not play at full strength due to his health problem that forced him to miss several prestigious tournaments of the Pro-Tour series. In addition Alexey LIVENTSOV got sick on the eve of the match. Only Vladimir SAMSONOV – our experienced player gave chance to our team to continue fight. His match with Kristian KARLSSON was the highlight of the final. SAMSONOV did not give any set to the young Swede. However the following game between Jun MIZUTANI and Timo BOLL was decisive in this match. Obviously Jun could not handle the excessive excitement that prevented him from demonstrating his best table tennis this time. Moreover Timo who is now at the peak of his form perfectly coped with his task and brought a winning point to the German team”.
Fakel Gazprom a seven-time Russian champion will fight for its 8th title in two weeks. After first three tournaments of national Premier League they top the standings followed by their fierce rival UMMC.
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