2016 LIEBEHERR European Championships
The European champion from 2005 silver medalists from 2008 and 2010 and bronze medalists from 2012 LIU Jia of Austria are out of the competition in Women’s Singles Event at the 2016 LIEBEHERR European Championships in Budapest. In the second round she suffered by the hands of Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany 1:4 (5-11 9-11 8-11 11-9 7-11).
“I had beat LIU few times when I was much younger seven – eight years ago but after that seven times in the row she beat me. Last year in Top 16 she gave me no chance. I suffered in straight games and year before that in the quarterfinal I had 3:1 advantage with 8:3 in the fifth game and I lose. For sure I knew this is going to be a tough encounter ” said SILEBEREISEN.
After bad experience Germany’s player came well prepared.
“I was practicing to win short rallies. I know she would not let me play long points. “
In the next round she will meet experienced NI Xialian of Luxembourg. NI overcame Klaudia KUSINSKA of Poland in seven games thriller (9-11 9-11 11-4 11-9 11-5 7-11 11-7).
“KUSINSKA improved her game. She is so powerful player now “ said NI.
However NI admitted something else is bother her more then the powerful strokes of her adversaries.
“At my age it is hard to stay focused all the time. I made few silly mistakes. I gave easy points. However I am still winning and I am enjoying the game ” stated NI.
Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia beat Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria in six games (13-11 11-7 9-11 11-7 9-11 11-5). POLCANOVA made Polina’s life difficult with her service game but Russia’s player regains her control in the closing stages of the match.
“I started to receive better and I put more power in my service game in order to stay in the match ” explained MIKHAILOVA.
To seed HAN Ying of Germany overcame SHAO Jieni of Portugal (11-3 11-5 5-11 11-2 11-4) before no. two seed Petrissa SOLJA joined her with express straight games win over Barbora BALAZOVA (5-11 5-11 7-11 1-11).
YU Fu of Portugal was stretched to full distance in the match against Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic (11-9 10-12 11-4 11-7 4-11 5-11 11:13).
“I was not very confident. I had an injury recently ” said YU.
Maria DOLGIKH of Russia maintained the patience and beat LI Fen of Sweden.
“Swede wanted to finish the game quickly. I was not rushing ” added Maria.
