2020 ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament
In the semifinal of the second stage of the Men’s Event at the 2020 ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament Hungary will meet Czech Republic whilst Slovakia will play against Hong Kong China. One place remains to be decided in each of the men’s and women’s events. In Women’s final Republic of Korea will meet France .
In the semi Korea overcame Spain in straight matches. SHIN Yubin CHOI Hyojoo and SUH Hyowon showed no mercy against Ana GARCIA Galia DVORAK and Maria XIAO. Previously Spain overcame Belarus 3:2 and Korea beat Ukraine 3:1.
France accounted for India in five matches before they moved to the penultimate stage. Portugal also needed five matches to beat Netherlands in quarters. In semis France halted hosts dreams for Olympics. They prevailed in four matches.
In Men’s Event the success of the European teams continued with the victory of the Czech team seeded at the position no. 16 against no. 5 seeds India. Tomas POLANSKY and Lubomir JANCARIK gave their team valuable lead in the doubles. Harmeet DESAI and Kamal Sharath ACHANTA lost in four games. Pavel SIRUCEK kept the winning pace with the victory over Sathiyan GNANASEKARAN whilst ACHANTA managed to justify his status with the point against Pavel SIRUCEK. That was the only victory India posted in five games POLANSKY beat GNANASEKARAN to finish the match.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult match. India was 5th seeded I think. They are for sure better but we just said we will give our best. We also have a strong team. We just believe in ourselves and it worked ” said Tomas POLANSKY.
Slovakia overcame Belgium in straight matches. Lubomir PISTEJ beat Robin DEVOS in a stunning 3-2 (12-10 11-3 9-11 10-12 11-3) in the last duel. Previously WANG Yang overcame Cedric NUYTINK in straight games.
In the duel between Great Britain against Hungary we saw once again higher ranked team departure in defeat. Seeded at the position no. 17 Hungary prevailed in four matches against team ranked at the position no. 7. Liam PITCHFORD beat Bence MAJAROS to gibe British team only point. Adam SZUDI beat Paul DRINKHALL and Nandor ECSEKI beat PITCHFORD in other singles match. Sam WALKER and DRINKHALL lost to ECSEKI and SZUDI in doubles.
“I’m very happy I think I played one of the best matches in my life. The score was 1-1 so I knew this game would be very important. If I could win this game then it would be a big step to winning the team game. So I just gave everything and really I’m happy ” said Adam SZUDI.
Hong Kong China beat Poland 3:1 and Jakub DYJAS posted only win. He beat LAM Siu Hang.
