LIEBHERR ITTF World Championships
The top seeded player in the Group phase of the Men’s Singles Event at the LIEBHERR ITTF World Championships Poland’s Jakub DYJAS easily prevailed in his opening match in Budapest. He overcame Emiliano RIOFRIO of Ecuador in straight games (11-9 11-4 11-4 11-4).
Seeded at the position no. 3 in Group 18 Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of Greece overcame top seeded NG Pak Nam of Hong Kong in seven games (11-8 11-7 4-11 9-11 4-11 11-7 8-11). Also in Group 37 another player from Mediterranean country Cyprus’ Marios YIANGOU overcame Olajide OMOTAYO of Nigeria 3:4 (11-7 7-11 11-7 12-10 5-11 9-11 1-11).
“Konstantinos did not start well but after the second game we saw where is the key for Nigeria’s player. The good footwork and change of the rhythm of the game proved as a right tactic ” said Greek national coach Konstantinos VATSAKLIS.
Marios YIANGOU said he decided to come to Budapest in last minute due some hard moments at home.
“I had very good season this year with my club but for the last three weeks I am not practiced well due to some personal difficulties. I had the worst days of my life. I came here only with hope “said YIANGOU.
What was the key to success then?
“In the beginning of the match I was not comfortable I was not self confident with my strokes. But my coach made me believe that I can turn the course of the match; he gave me the confidence and I didn’t give up. I believed that in one moment I can play my game and I could feel my strokes and eventually I believed that I can win the match. I feel good now getting more used game by game ” said Marios.
Romania’s Hunor SZOCS beat Owen CATHCART of Ireland by same margin but in much closer encounter (12-10 11-5 12-10 11-7). Bastian STEGER of Germany overcame Andrei PUTUNTICA of Moldova (11-6 11-4 11-9 11-4) whilst Andrej GACINA showed no mercy against Viktor YEFIMOV of Ukraine (11-2 11-7 11-8 11-6). Samuel WALKER of England warmed up against Artus REINHOLDS of Latvia (11-6 11-3 11-5 11-6). Andres LIND needed five games to overcame Zeyad ALDMAISY of Jordan (11-3 10-12 11-6 11-9 11-2).
In Group 13 Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary overcame Zaid Abo YAMAN of Jordan (13-11 11-6 8-11 11-8 3-11 11-6) in the opening game.
“He played some quite unbelievable points in the fifth game; I felt I could win points playing wide to his forehand. Throughout the match I tried to stay calm and of course the support of the crowd helped ” said ANDRAS.
However he failed to repeat the success against top seed in his group Robin DEVOS of Belgium 4-2 (9-11 6-11 11-8 4-11 12-10 11-8). DEVOS was one of very few Group leaders who needed to play more than five games.
