European Games | 18 Jun 2019

„Germany and Sweden are favourites in Minsk”

Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) speaks about upcoming 2019 European Games to be held in the Belarus city of Minsk from 21st to 30th June

 

Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden, no. 7 Men’s Singles seed at the 2019 European Games to be held in Minsk, Belarus, from 21st to 30th June, believes that his national team is capable to win gold medal in the Men’s Team event and secure its place for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Borussia Dusseldorf’s player is looking forward competing with all best European players and teams in Minsk.

 

Four years ago, at the first ever European Games in Baku, KARLSSON lost to Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA in the Round 3, while Sweden was beaten by Germany 3:2 in the quarter-final stage. This time, he is confident that his side, current no. 2 seed behind Germany, can beat any European national team in Minsk…

 

Your opinion about quality of 2019 European Games?

“I Think that the quality of the European Games is very high and it´s very important due to the quota places for the Olympic Games. Also, a chance for the nations to prove themselves amongst the best in Europe."

 

Personal goal in Minsk?

“My goal is to win a gold medal in the Team Event at the European Games!”

 

Who are favorites and why?

“I Think Germany and Sweden holds the favorite places in team event. In singles, its always very close in Europe and I can think of 10 players who could actually win.”

 

Possible upsets?

“Stefan FEGERL in singles!”

 

Personal aim for 2019/20 season?

“To qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games and win titles with my club Borussia Dusseldorf!”

 

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Tennis Olympic Center, with a capacity of 1,000 seats, will host five table tennis events in Minsk, from 22nd to 29th June. A total 122 players will compete for the spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: three medallists in the men's and women's singles events will secure their places, while the gold medallists in the men's and women's team events and mixed doubles event will get an Olympic quota. That’s why all best European players will travel to Minsk.

 

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Top seeding list (best 16), Men Singles:

 

1 Timo BOLL (Germany), 2 Matias FALCK (Sweden), 3 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany), 4 Liam PITCHFORD (England), 5 Vladimir SAMSONOV (Belarus), 6 Simon GAUZY (France), 7 Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden), 8 Daniel HABESOHN (Austria), 9 Emmanuel LEBESSON (France), 10 Jonathan GROTH (Denmark), 11 Marcos FREITAS (Portugal), 12 Tomislav PUCAR (Croatia), 13 Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal), 14 Cedric NUYTINCK (Belgium), 15 Darko JORGIC (Slovenia), 16 Alvaro ROBLES MARTINEZ (Spain).

 

Top seeding list (best 16), Women Singles:

 

1 Bernadette SZOCS (Romania), 2 Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria), 3 Matilda EKHOLM (Sweden), 4 Petrissa SOLJA (Germany), 5 Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania), 6 Georgina POTA (Hungary), 7 LI Jie (Netherlands), 8 FU Yu (Portugal), 9 Britt EERLAND (Netherlands), 10 Margaryta PESOTSKA (Ukraine), 11 Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia), 12 Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia), 13 HAN Ying (Germany), 14 LI Qian (Poland), 15 NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg), 16 Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic).

 

Top seeding list (best 12), Men Team:

 

1 Germany, 2 Sweden, 3 Austria, 4 Great Britain, 5 France, 6 Slovenia, 7 Croatia, 8 Belarus, 9 Portugal, 10 Belgium, 11 Romania, 12 Denmark.

 

Top seeding list (best 12), Women Team:

 

1 Germany, 2 Romania, 3 Hungary, 4 Austria, 5 Netherlands, 6 Ukraine, 7 Poland, 8 Spain, 8 Luxembourg, 8 Russia, 11 Sweden, 12 Belarus.

 

 More information: here