World Championships | 23 May 2023

Mihai BOBOCICA Claims Victory at ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals

Mihai BOBOCICA of Italy, currently ranked No. 174 in the world, achieved a remarkable win in the Round of 64 at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Durban. He faced off against France's Simon GAUZY, ranked at No. 36, and emerged victorious with a score of 4-3 (9-11, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-9).

Prior to this encounter, BOBOCICA and GAUZY had a head-to-head record of one win each. However, GAUZY had previously defeated BOBOCICA in straight games at the WTT Feeder Fort Lauderdale in December. The match in Durban seemed to be following a similar trajectory as Gauzy took a commanding 3-1 lead. Undeterred, BOBOCICA displayed unwavering resolve and chose to adopt an aggressive approach to turn the tide in his favor.

BOBOCICA spoke about his mindset during the match, saying, "It was 3-1 to him but I felt I was in the game. I kept playing point by point and I had a little luck. In the fifth set, I had match point against me, but I managed to win it by serving long and fast. At 3-3, everything is possible, so I kept being aggressive and I did it!"

His hyper-aggressive strategy paid off, enabling him to secure a remarkable comeback victory. This win holds great significance for BOBOCICA as he aims to qualify for the Olympic Games. Although he represented Italy in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics, he narrowly missed out on qualifying for the previous two Games. With his hunger to step back into the Olympic arena, Bobocica sees this victory as a crucial starting point for his Olympic campaign in Paris 2024.

In another notable match, Dane Andreas LIND, ranked at No. 180 in the World, exceeded expectations by defeating Brian Afanador of Puerto Rico, who holds a world ranking of No. 71. LIND emerged victorious with a score of 4-1 (11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5, 11-6), showcasing his skills and resilience on the table.