Other Events | 1 Feb 2014

Special day for Austria LIU JIa and HABESOHN

Crowned European champion in Aarhus in 2005, Austria’s LIU Jia won the Women’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open in the city of Szombathely. LIU Jia secured her fourth career ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles title in what w

Crowned European champion in Aarhus in 2005, Austria’s LIU Jia won the Women’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open in the city of Szombathely. LIU Jia secured her fourth career ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles title in what was her ninth appearance in a final. Daniel HABESOHN joined her at the top place at the medal rostrum. Austria’s player overcame Steffen MENGEL in the final of the Men’s Singles Event .Never previously beyond the third round HABESOHN lost the first two games against MENGEL before winning the next four to secure a six games success.

The win in Szombathely means that Daniel HABESOHN becomes the second ever Austrian to win an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles event. The other is Werner SCHLAGER, the 2003 World Champion.
In a dramatic final, occupying the no.3 seeded position in the draw, LIU Jia beat the host nation’s Georgina POTA, the no.4 seed, to clinch the top prize. Liu Jia recovered from a three games to one deficit to post a full distance seven games victory. LIU Jia remains the only Austrian ever to win a Women’s Singles title on the ITTF World Tour.

The Austrian success in Hungary was almost complete. Sofia POLCANOVA beat Japan’s Shiho MATSUDAIRA, the top seed in the final in a close seven games duel to arrest the title, having at the semi-final stage ousted Russia’s Anna BLAZHKO, the no.9 seed.

In all French duel in the final of the Under 21 men’s Event Romain LORENTZ overcame Enzo ANGLES. One round earlier it was also French affair; LORENTZ succeeded against Tristan FLORE, whilst ANGLES beat Stephane OUAICHE.