European Championships | 23 Sep 2018

LI Qian brings gold to Poland

LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF European Championships

 

Qian of Poland clinched the gold medal in Women’s Singles Event at the 2018 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. In the final she overcame Margaryta PESOTSKA of Ukraine (11:8, 12:10, 6:11, 6:11, 2:11, 2:11). Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA-FRANC of Poland and Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria won bronze medals.

 

LI Qian who won bronze medal in Singles in 2011 showed no mercy in the ultimate stage. Silver and bronze medals winner in Singles at the European Championships in 2009 Stuttgart and 2011 Gdańsk–Sopot and bronze medal winner in team’s event in Ekaterinburg 2015, PESOTSKA could not find the game for her adversary.

 

“It was difficult because no one plays like PESOTSKA. I beat her already at the Olympic Qualifications in Sweden and it was the close match as well. I was under pressure because we had to play under expedite rule, but now I am so happy,’ sad LI.

 

LI admitted she needed a long time to recover her game after she gave birth four and a half years ago.

 

“I made a two years break and could not find my game. Finally, everything comes together,” said LI.

 

Margaryta PESOTSKA overcame Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria in the semi final (11:7, 14:16, 10:12, 13:11, 4:11, 5:11). After the rough start she managed to finish the match in superb style.

 

“I have played against Sofia long time ago and I did not know which tactics to use. It was very difficult; whatever I tried – it failed. She is so fast and she puts all the ball on the table. After first game, when I started to understand what is going on there, I stopped playing on her backhand. Not that her forehand was much weaker, but her backhand was astonishing. Sofia is so quick; you do not have time to think,” said Margaryta PESOTSKA.

 

LI Qian overcame Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA-FRANC of Poland (13:11, 11:6, 11;6, 10:12, 12:10).

 

“I had very tough matches yesterday against Bernadette SZOCS and Polina MIKHAILOVA so I was very tired and nervous. It is never easy to play against teammates. We know each other so well. There is noting new you can do to help yourself,” said LI who had won bronze medal at the world Championships in Suzhou 2015.