On June 18 2023 the “Prishtina Open 2023” tournament was held at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina. This senior tournament attracted a significant number of participants including athletes from Kosovo as well as international representatives from prominent countries such as England Bulgaria Egypt France Germany Iran North Macedonia Poland Romania Albania Montenegro and Türkiye .
President of Priping Table Tennis Club and the organizer of the tournament Kastriot ORANA expressed his satisfaction with the first edition of Prishtina Open 2023:
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming success of the tournament which surpassed our expectations. The level of participation sportsmanship and the quality of matches were exceptional. We extend our gratitude to everyone involved in making this event a resounding success. The positive feedback from participants reaffirms Prishtina’s standing as a premier table tennis destination. We look forward to welcoming more players and visitors in the future.”
In the women’s division the first semifinal witnessed a rematch between Lene OSMANI from Kosovo and Samanda AGOLLI from Albania replicating the previous day’s final (U19). Once again Lene OSMANI emerged triumphant with a flawless 3-0 victory. In the other semifinal Shega HASHANI who had defeated Liridona REXHA of Albania in the round of 16 secured a convincing 3-0 win against Alma MEHMET.
The final showcased a captivating showdown between two exceptional players. Shega initially claimed the first set but Lena demonstrated her exceptional form once again securing a 3-1 victory and capturing her second championship title in this prestigious international tournament. In the battle for third place Alma MEHMETI defeated Samanta AGOLLI with a commanding 3-0 scoreline.
The men’s division witnessed a series of fiercely contested matches starting from the group stage all the way to the grand final where the eventual winner remained uncertain until the very end.
In the first semifinal Christopher DORAN from England and Zihni BATUHAN Sahin from Türkiye clashed in what could be deemed a virtual final before the actual final. Doran initially gained a two-set advantage and consistently held the lead in the subsequent three sets. However under the guidance of coach Besart DOMANIKU Sahin managed to mount a comeback and secured a narrow 3-2 victory.
The second semifinal featured Fatih KARABAKHAKU who had previously defeated Nahom ASGEDOM from England in the round of 16 facing off against Romanian player Bogdan POSTUDOR. The Romanian exhibited experience and composure ultimately prevailing against the resilient KARABAKHAKU. Despite displaying skill and maturity Fatih’s efforts were overshadowed by POSTUDOR’S expertise.
The highly anticipated final attended by numerous spectators including Prishtina’s mayor Përparim RAMA pitted Türkiye’s player Zihni BATUHAN Sahin against Romanian competitor Bogdan POSTUDOR. The match showcased a display of powerful and rapid shots from both players. Sahin a left-handed player from Türkiye secured the first two sets while Postudor claimed the third set. The fourth set marked the deciding factor culminating in Sahin’s victory and earning him the title of champion.
The tournament’s organization reached exceptional standards leaving a lasting impression on the majority of participants who will undoubtedly consider visiting Kosovo in the forthcoming years.
