Champions League Men | 27 May 2013

MIZUTANI and MONTEIRO join UMMC

Russian vice-champion UMMC signed contracts with Japanese Jun MIZUTANI (world`s no. 11) and Portuguese Joao MONTEIRO (no. 64) who will join TAN Ruiwu (41), Alexander SHIBAEV (47) and Grigory VLASOV (109) in next season. Twenty four-year old, last year`s w

Twenty four-year old, last year`s world no. 5 MIZUTANI, who broke many national records since he became the youngest Japanese champion in his 17, will take the leading role that belonged to Chinese defender HOU Yingchao in last seasons. MONTEIRO has a lot experience from European Champions League reaching semifinal with Saarbrucken last year.

Verkhnaya Pyshma`s side already played national championships with 2008 Olympic champion from Beijing MA Lin, actual no. 8 on ITTF World ranking list. He is just taken in attempt to reach national title which means after all, to beat Russian and ECL champion Fakel Gazproma Orenburg. The 2012/13 Russian League (named Super Final) will be concluded this Tuesday or Wednesday (the champion needs two victories in the final) at Moscow.

Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT