Europe Top-16 Cup | 20 Jan 2018
Highest possible target for Matilda EKHOLM
Photo: Courtesy ITTF
China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup
Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM had fantastic beginning of 2017, winning Singles gold at DHS Lausanne Open in Switzerland and two more medals at Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour India Open – Singles silver and Doubles (with Georgina POTA) gold. Yesterday, January 19th, successful duo lost their semi-final clash (last year they were runner-ups) at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open, Budapest, playing against China`s CHEN Ke and WANG Manyu in straight games, but both looking forward to China Construction Bank 2018 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreaux.
“My goal is to win! There are always chances. The question is how good I will play and how good my opponents will play. Everyone at this level can beat each other”, stated current World no. 25 about her goal at the upcoming event in Swiss city of Montreaux.
The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16, held in Antibes, France, was her best one so far, as she finished on the seventh place. Now, speaking about favorites, UCAM Cartagena player stressed:
“Favorite from ranking I guess is LI Jie! It will be interesting to see how good SOLJA is after half a year absence”.
She had many nice moments in the last year and her aim is to stay on that course…
“There were many unforgettable moments in 2017. All the podiums in the doubles tournaments, winner of Swizz Open and my Singles runner-up in India... Plans and goals for 2018 is to be better than 2017 and that me and Gina (POTA) continue our success in doubles".
On question who was World's best athlete of the 2017, Matilda EKHOLM replied:
“Anyone who goes to practice and enjoy the game!”
In Salle Omnisport du Pierrier will play Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany, Timo Boll of Germany, Simon GAUZY of France, Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus, Marcos FREITAS of Portugal, Ruwen FILUS of Germany, Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden, Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia, Bastian STEGER of Germany, Jonathan GROTH of Denmark, Emmanuel LEBESSON of France, Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal, Mattias KARLSSON of Sweden, Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece, Stefan FEGERL of Austria, Lionel WEBER of Switzerland.
In Women’s Top 16 will play: LI Jie of Netherlands, Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania, Georgina POTA of Hungary, Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria, Petrissa SOLJA of Germany, LI Qian of Poland, Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden, Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN and Bernadette SZOCS of Romania, Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus, NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg, Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia, Sabine WINTER of Germany, Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine and Rachel MORET of Switzerland.
Event’s page here
Organisers web site here
Tickets are available here
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