World Championships | 4 May 2018

Sweden vs. England for the medal

LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships

Tomorrow at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships, Sweden will play for the medal in the Men’s Event. It is the outcome of the battle of the epic proportions between the host nation and the Chinese Taipei. In the semi final they will meet England.

 

Two opening matches Mattias KARLSSON and Kristian KARLSSON won in straight games, but both matches against CHUANG Chih Yuan and CHEN Chien An were close. Jon PERSSON were on the same winning path and took opening game without great difficulties, before LIN Yun Yu levelled. Although next game went on Swede’s account, LIN took next two and sealed the match after five games.

 

On his second exit to the table Kristian lost in four games against CHUANG; all the pressure of decisive match was on Mattias. He needed four games to overcame CHEN.

“Against Chen Chien-An I tried to stay focused throughout the whole match; play my game and follow the tactics I’ve employed against him in the past. We played many times against each other in the French League. He’s left handed like me and usually I feel confident against left handers; I felt today in backhand to backhand rallies I was stronger. Playing Chuang Chih-Yuan he raised his game, he played very well; the second game I lost closely but I don’t think that had more effect on the outcome than any other game. He played well.”  Said Kristian KARLSSON.

 

Portugal was two matches in the lead before Austria recovered to level and to win their Round of 16 duel. Tiago APOLONIA beat Robert GARDOS and Marcos FREITAS overcame Stefan FEGERL, before Daniel HABESOHN turned the course of the match. FEGERL overcame APOLONIA in straight games, whilst GARDOS needed one more to beat FREITAS.

 

Austria will meet china in quarters, whilst Germany will play against Brazil.