Other Events | 25 Jun 2018

Pia TOELHOJ and Petra SÖRLING win “Over 45”gold

2018 World Veteran Championships, Las Vegas, USA – Women`s Doubles event

 

Gold medal taken in the Women`s Doubles event at the 2018 World Veteran Championships in Las Vegas, USA, was more than a medal for Denmark`s Pia TOELHOJ and Sweden`s Petra GUMMESSON SORLING, according to the story they shared at the ITTF website. They were extended by Peru`s Milagritos GORRITI and Magali MONTES in the “Over 45” finals.

 

“For me it is very special to win and share this title together with Pia as we have been very good friends from childhood. The preparation for me was worse than with injuries, no USA visa; I got the visa with big support from USA Table Tennis only three hours before departure to Beijing. It was because of my North Korea trip just before. However with 24 hours travel and a 16 hour time difference the event started in Vegas with a flexible mindset, the best doubles partner in Pia and best coach Iulia (NECULA). Really enjoyable to play this veteran championship; it is a true example of our vision Table Tennis For All For Life,” stated Petra SÖRLING for the ITTF website.

 

Pia TOELHOJ explained how long their friendship last:

“We have been friends since Petra was 10 years old and I was 14; we met at a training camp in Sweden. Since then we have been parts of each other’s live; so to win the doubles and share the magic with your best friend that must be the best. We played as you know with a high level of focus and only lost only four games. We played our best and managed to keep a high tactical level. It feels unreal but we prepared and we got the medals. I am very proud of this performance and so thankful for having Petra and my new coach, Iulia, s a part of the life.”

 

Women`s Doubles medalists

 

Over 40

Rita KERTAI (HUN) and Libuse HORAKOVA (CZE) won gold, as they beat Merje ASS (EST) and Ursula LUH-FLEISCHER (GER) in straight games 3:0 (11:8, 11:3, 11:4). Bronze medalists are two German pairs: Kristin HERLEMANN/Katrin HONOLD and Sylvia MESSER/Sabine NELDNER.

 

Over 45

Pia TOELHOJ (DEN) and Petra GUMMESSON SORLING (SWE) took the gold after full five games of the finals against Peru`s Milagritos GORRITI and Magali MONTES. Germany`s Petra JENISCH and Tatjana MICHAJLOVA finished third, as well as USA`s Joanna KUBLER-KIELB and Poland`s Dorota BORKOWSKA.

 

Over 50

This age`s final was one out of four without European representatives in the gold medal contest, as Chinese Taipei`s LIN Li-Ju and TONG Fei-Ming overcame Japan`s Akemi KOIE and Riko SUZUKI in four games. Bronze medals went to Turkey and Canada, thanks to Isik ERTUFAN/ Hatice GUNER and CHIU Barbara Xiao/HUANG May Hui respectively.

 

Over 55

Over 55 class has been concluded by all-Chinese finals: HU Fenglan/QIN Jianhong vs. ZHAO Xia/ZHOU Huizhen 3:1 (9:11, 11:7, 11:6, 11:6). Sweden`s Eva LINDH and WANG-FRIDÉN Yue Xia have shared third place with China`s KANG Su and LIN Liya.

 

Over 60

Evi ILVES-SCHALK and Angela WALTER from Germany secured gold medal in the clash with India`s Rita JAIN and Mangal SARAF – 3:1 (11:7, 9:11, 11:0, 11:8). Estonia`s pair Elle OUN/Kai THORNBECH and England`s Shirley GELDER/Sandra RIDER finished by winning bronze medals each.

 

Over 65

Ireland`s Teresa DEVANEY and Russia`s Larisa ILINSKAIA lost to China`s GUO Xiaohua and LUO Shenru in the finals, in spite of winning opening set (8:11, 11:3, 11:3, 11:5). Bronze medalists are following: Germany`s Irma BARILLON/Hildegard GEORGI and Denmark-Russia`s pair Susanne PEDERSEN/Larisa ANDREEVA.

 

Over 70

Japan`s Tomoko EGAMI and Michie YOSHIMURA won the top prize in the finals against USA`s Donna SAKAI and Connie SWEERIS. Bronze medalists are following: Renata BURG and Waltraud WEISS from Austria and Parello SMITH and Wilhelmina WOO from Canada.

 

Over 75

Two Asia`s pairs met in the finals, as China`s TAN Xuerong and XU Yali defeated Japan`s Yoko ARAI and Akiko AKEDA in four sets (8:11, 11:9, 12:10, 12:10). Bronze medalists are following: Austria`s Helene SCHWARZ/Germany`s Brunhilde TILKOWSKI and Japan`s Terumi KAMATA and Akiyo WARATA.

 

Over 80

The oldest class finals belonged to Japan`s Tetsuko HARADA and Chizuko NAGASE over England`s Jean WHITE and Australia`s Betty BIRD, after straight games. Bronze medalists are two Japan`s pairs: Miyuko FUKUHARA/Masako OTSUKA and Waka MASUDA and Reiko MIURA.

 

More information: here