LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF European Championships
For a first time after 10 years Daniela Monteiro DODEAN has been required to compete in a preliminary round of the Women’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF European Championships in Spanish Alicante. However difficult she adjusted to new situation and concluded the opening day in qualifications unbeaten. Same difficult path Sara RAMIREZ had to go as well. Host nation’s representative had to start from the bottom of the group.
“It has been a decade since I played in the qualification and I guess I have to use to that now. My level of play is very high I am motivated but due the new system my rankings are below my performances ” said Daniela.
She elaborates: “This system does not work in favor of players like me women with kids. Now the challenge is even greater. I can not travel that much like before and it takes its toll on my rankings.”
Daniela overcame Celia SILVA of Portugal in the opening round (11:7 11:5 11:5 11:4) and Eva ODOROVA of Slovakia on second exit to the table (11:5 11:8 11:9 9:11 11:9).
For Sara RAMIREZ it was very long day in which she was forced to go through agonizing suspense of playing seven games in both her group matches. She overcame Lisa LUNG of Belgium (2:11 11:6 9:11 11:7 11:7 4:11 7:11) and Charlotte CAREY of Wales (11:13 12:10 7;11 11:13 11:8 11:8 8:11).
“I gave everything to win this. I had to do it in front of my people and family. It is not easy nowadays I had to go from the bottom from third or fourth place in the group because I am so low on rankings. I can not go frequently on tournaments like before since I have a daughter. Playing only on Worlds and Europeans is not enough. I am playing in clubs have a Master and I am a teacher luckily at the Academy which gave me less working hours but still…I am in the phase where I have to make a decision sport or “regular” job ” said RAMIREZ.
Photos:
Live Streaming:
The event will be streamed on ettu.tv
Live Scoring:
Live scoring can be followed here
Tickets for the European Championships ticketmaster
The links to the live tables for each day:
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day1_Table1
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day1_Table2
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day1_Table3
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day1_Table4
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day2_Table1
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day2_Table2
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day2_Table3
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day2_Table4
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day3_Table1
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day3_Table2
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day3_Table3
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day3_Table4
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day4_Table1
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day4_Table2
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day4_Table3
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day4_Table4
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day5_Table1
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day5_Table2
o http://bit.ly/ETTC2018_Day5_Table3
