Alex Naumi and Marina Donner cleared the prize table at the Finnish Table Tennis Championships in Helsinki. NAUMI grabbed gold in the men’s singles and as well in the doubles with Sam KHOSRAVI. Donner took the title in the singles doubles with Anna KIRICHENKO and mixed doubles with Johan PETTERSSON.
In the men’s singles final NAUMI beat Samuli SOINE 4-2 (8-12 12-14 11-7 16-14 11-8 11-5).
“The final was awkward because I wanted to start playing my best game. It did not go through at first and was a bit unlucky. All credit also to Samuli who made the final game a real game. Of course I am happy; this was my first singles championship gold ” NAUMI said.
In doubles NAUMI and KHOSRAVI were slightly 3-2 (11-6 11-4 11-13 10-12 11-9) better against master’s class duo Pasi VALASTI and Aki KONTALA.
“Doubles title with Sam was a nice bonus. It went a little unnecessarily tight but victory is always victory and as well Sam’s first gold medal ” NAUMI summed up the weekend.
Marina DONNER renewed last year’s women’s singles championship gold completing her own weekend with a triple championship. In the singles final she knocked out her own double’s teammate 4-2 (9-11 11-4 15-13 7-11 11-3 11-4).
In the doubles gold medal match Donner and KIRICHENKO got a strong vibe against Anni HELJALA and Aleksandra TITIEVSKAJA beating them 3-0 (11-8 11-6 11-8). In the final match of the mixed doubles Donner / PETTERSSON defeated TITIEVSKAJA and Lauri LAANE 3-0 (11-9 11-7 14-12).
“Great! Three events and three Finnish Championship gold medals. This time everything worked – the head and the body. As an athlete I can only say that winning is nice ” Donner rejoiced.
A total of 75 players took part in the Finnish Championships organized by MBF.
Benedek OLÁH missed this year’s championships. Finnish number one player travelled to Singapore to take part in the WTT Smash competition starting on the Monday.
