With only one day to go before the ITTF Cadet Challenge starts in Sweden, Helsingborg’s mayor Carin Wredström welcomed the U15 table tennis players from all continents to the southern Swedish town. The dinner in the impressive Town Hall, one Helsingborg’s landmark, was the official opening of the seven days competition.
Sweden’s Best Town – at Least for One Week
The mayor did not let any doubt about the event being staged at the right place. “Helsingborg is the best town in Sweden”, she said before cutting the cord symbolically to declare the Cadet Challenge as opened.
ITTF Global Junior Programme Manager Mikael Andersson, a Swede himself but from another city, confirmed that statement. “Helsingborg is the best town in Sweden – this week!”
Draw for the World Cadet Challenge Team Events
The draw for the Team event for the players born in 1993 or later was conducted at the Comfort Hotel Nouveau. The Swedish table tennis Cadets will face Asia, Africa and North America in their respective groups in the Idrottens Hus in Helsingborg.
Boys Group 1: Europe, Latin America, Oceania, Japan
Boys Group 2: Asia, Africa, North America, Sweden
Girls Group 1: Asia, Africa, North Amercia, Sweden
Girls Group 2: Europe, Latin America, Oceania, Japan
Playing System for the Cadets
The team events will be played in two stages. The cadets will first play in two groups with four teams whilst the two best teams qualify for the semi-finals. Each team fixture consists of five singles matches and each team consists of three players. Within the group, all teams play each other once.
Please visit the ITTF website to find all players of the 2008 ITTF Cadet Challenge: http://www.ittf.com/juniors/2008/CC-JCF/2008_Cadet_Challenge_Entries.pdf
Tomorrow’s Playing Schedule and the Upcoming Draws
Day One, Tuesday 28th October:
09:30: First Session – Boys’ and Girls’ Team (Round One)
14:30: Second Session – Boys’ and Girls’ Team (Round Two)
17:00: Second Session – Boys’ and Girls’ Team (Round Three)
The following draws:
30th October, 18:00: Draw for the first stage of the Singles events in the Meeting Room of the Comfort Hotel Nouveau.
30th October, 18:30: Draw for the Doubles' events in the Meeting Room of the Comfort Hotel Nouveau.
31st October, 19:00: Draw for the second stage of both the Boys’ and Girls’ Singles in the Meeting Room of the Idrottens Hus.
tisdag 28 oktober 2008
The Next Table Tennis Generation Meets in Sweden
From 28th October to 2nd November the Swedish town of Helsingborg will hosts the world’s best Cadet (U15) and Junior (U18) players. The event in Scandinavia starts with the training camp for the Cadets being held from 24th to 27th October. The competitions in the Cadet series will start on 28th October and last to 2nd November. The Juniors play from 31st October to 2nd November.
Please find more information in the attached press kit about the event, the players and table tennis in general as well as in the section of the event on the ITTF website:
www.ittf.com/competitions/competitions2.asp?Competition_ID=1767&category=WJCF
Swedish Olympic Hero and ITTF President in Helsingborg
On Wednesday 29th October, Sweden’s Olympic hero Jörgen Persson, who finished fourth in the Men’s Singles at the Games in Beijing, will attend the Cadet Challenge. Furthermore the president of the International Table Tennis Federation, Adham Sharara from Canada, will visit the tournament too.
Sharara and Persson will be at the players’ disposal for an “Open Clinic” as well as later for journalists at a press meeting. They will hand over the awards at the prize ceremony for the winners of the Cadet Team event.
Please find more information in the attached press kit about the event, the players and table tennis in general as well as in the section of the event on the ITTF website:
www.ittf.com/competitions/competitions2.asp?Competition_ID=1767&category=WJCF
Swedish Olympic Hero and ITTF President in Helsingborg
On Wednesday 29th October, Sweden’s Olympic hero Jörgen Persson, who finished fourth in the Men’s Singles at the Games in Beijing, will attend the Cadet Challenge. Furthermore the president of the International Table Tennis Federation, Adham Sharara from Canada, will visit the tournament too.
Sharara and Persson will be at the players’ disposal for an “Open Clinic” as well as later for journalists at a press meeting. They will hand over the awards at the prize ceremony for the winners of the Cadet Team event.
The Next Table Tennis Generation Meets in Sweden
From 28th October to 2nd November the Swedish town of Helsingborg will hosts the world’s best Cadet (U15) and Junior (U18) players. The event in Scandinavia starts with the training camp for the Cadets being held from 24th to 27th October. The competitions in the Cadet series will start on 28th October and last to 2nd November. The Juniors play from 31st October to 2nd November.
Please find more information in the attached press kit about the event, the players and table tennis in general as well as in the section of the event on the ITTF website:
www.ittf.com/competitions/competitions2.asp?Competition_ID=1767&category=WJCF
Swedish Olympic Hero and ITTF President in Helsingborg
On Wednesday 29th October, Sweden’s Olympic hero Jörgen Persson, who finished fourth in the Men’s Singles at the Games in Beijing, will attend the Cadet Challenge. Furthermore the president of the International Table Tennis Federation, Adham Sharara from Canada, will visit the tournament too.
Sharara and Persson will be at the players’ disposal for an “Open Clinic” as well as later for journalists at a press meeting. They will hand over the awards at the prize ceremony for the winners of the Cadet Team event.
Please find more information in the attached press kit about the event, the players and table tennis in general as well as in the section of the event on the ITTF website:
www.ittf.com/competitions/competitions2.asp?Competition_ID=1767&category=WJCF
Swedish Olympic Hero and ITTF President in Helsingborg
On Wednesday 29th October, Sweden’s Olympic hero Jörgen Persson, who finished fourth in the Men’s Singles at the Games in Beijing, will attend the Cadet Challenge. Furthermore the president of the International Table Tennis Federation, Adham Sharara from Canada, will visit the tournament too.
Sharara and Persson will be at the players’ disposal for an “Open Clinic” as well as later for journalists at a press meeting. They will hand over the awards at the prize ceremony for the winners of the Cadet Team event.
torsdag 9 oktober 2008
I've been told
From a couple of players in the EC that they are using boosters and that up til 90% uses this even though it's forbidden.
I think ITTF have to make this go away or to let the boosters run free until they have a method for messuring if someone is using them.
I think ITTF have to make this go away or to let the boosters run free until they have a method for messuring if someone is using them.
måndag 29 september 2008
Correct or not?
3-1 to Samsonov and a good dueel between him and Persson at 9-8.
The ball hits the edhe or the side of the table.
Is this point corrrect or incorrect?
The ball hits the edhe or the side of the table.
Is this point corrrect or incorrect?
torsdag 4 september 2008
Boris Johnson and the Whiff-Waff Gaffe
The Facts as revealed by the Curator of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Museum in Switzerland
Much has been written of London Mayor Boris Johnson's claims about Whiff-Waff, but all of these comments, including the inevitable rebuttals and follow-up debate, have one thing in common: they forgot to check the FACTS!
The ITTF Museum in Lausanne has not only all the facts, but also originals of the games. The extensive museum web-site: www.ittf.com/museum has over 2000 photos covering all aspects of Table Tennis history, especially strong in the earliest years of the game, its birth and evolution.
Curator Chuck Hoey, world renowned authority on Table Tennis history, summarizes the facts, along with illustrations of the actual evidence:
Whiff-Waff, made by Slazenger & Sons, was registered as “a new game” on 31 December 1900, Trademark number 235,131, as shown above. While it is an English game, it can easily be shown that it is clearly not the first. Hopefully this evidence will at last put an end to the Whiff-Waff gaffe!
Gossima, made by John Jaques & Son, was registered on 16 July 1891, Number 157,615:
Ping-Pong was trademarked on 20 Sept. 1900 by Hamley Brothers, who became “jointly concerned” with Jaques, as the game was renamed first to „Gossima or Ping-Pong‟, then „Ping-Pong or Gossima‟, and finally just „Ping-Pong‟.
On 21 January 1891, 7 months before Gossima, Emma Barker (London) filed for an American patent, No. 454,700. Actually for a net fixture, the patent has a sketch of a table laid out like a lawn tennis court, describing the game as played much like lawn tennis, using rackets with straps for the hands. An 1891 advertisement in the USA by Spalding proves the game was made, under the name Indoor Tennis.
But the crown jewel of Table Tennis history is the very first game, made by David Foster of England in 1890. Only one example is known to have survived, now featured in the ITTF Museum. Strung rackets were used, with side nets designed to catch the cloth-covered rubber balls. Following is an abstract for English Patent No.11,037, filed 15 July 1890, a full year before Jaques‟ Gossima.
The ITTF Museum would be pleased to exhibit this evidence at the Olympic Games in London 2012.
Much has been written of London Mayor Boris Johnson's claims about Whiff-Waff, but all of these comments, including the inevitable rebuttals and follow-up debate, have one thing in common: they forgot to check the FACTS!
The ITTF Museum in Lausanne has not only all the facts, but also originals of the games. The extensive museum web-site: www.ittf.com/museum has over 2000 photos covering all aspects of Table Tennis history, especially strong in the earliest years of the game, its birth and evolution.
Curator Chuck Hoey, world renowned authority on Table Tennis history, summarizes the facts, along with illustrations of the actual evidence:
Whiff-Waff, made by Slazenger & Sons, was registered as “a new game” on 31 December 1900, Trademark number 235,131, as shown above. While it is an English game, it can easily be shown that it is clearly not the first. Hopefully this evidence will at last put an end to the Whiff-Waff gaffe!
Gossima, made by John Jaques & Son, was registered on 16 July 1891, Number 157,615:
Ping-Pong was trademarked on 20 Sept. 1900 by Hamley Brothers, who became “jointly concerned” with Jaques, as the game was renamed first to „Gossima or Ping-Pong‟, then „Ping-Pong or Gossima‟, and finally just „Ping-Pong‟.
On 21 January 1891, 7 months before Gossima, Emma Barker (London) filed for an American patent, No. 454,700. Actually for a net fixture, the patent has a sketch of a table laid out like a lawn tennis court, describing the game as played much like lawn tennis, using rackets with straps for the hands. An 1891 advertisement in the USA by Spalding proves the game was made, under the name Indoor Tennis.
But the crown jewel of Table Tennis history is the very first game, made by David Foster of England in 1890. Only one example is known to have survived, now featured in the ITTF Museum. Strung rackets were used, with side nets designed to catch the cloth-covered rubber balls. Following is an abstract for English Patent No.11,037, filed 15 July 1890, a full year before Jaques‟ Gossima.
The ITTF Museum would be pleased to exhibit this evidence at the Olympic Games in London 2012.
onsdag 20 augusti 2008
African Sensation is Saive’s Nightmare
Segun TORIOLA, Nigeria against Jean-Michel SAIVE, Belgium; it was the match of the eighth day in the Peking University venue. The probable best African player is only number 115 in the world ranking, but never in his match against SAIVE (no. 26) there was a visible difference. The match in the night session (starting time 22:00) was the most attractive so far at the Olympic Games and the patient spectators did not regret their stay. “I never played so well, my forehand was very good”, Segun TORIOLA said after the match. “I’m the first one in Africa to have stepped into the top 32.”
Saive’s Last Olympics?
Jean-Michel SAIVE was in a different mood after the match. “I’m very disappointed about the results today. I knew it could be a tough match. When I led 7-1 in the last game, I thought I could win.” Of course the six times Olympian was also asked on whether this was his last Olympics. “I don’t know. I’m 39 in November, and it’s probably my last Olympics. But I’ll continue to play. If I’m still able to play in two years’ time, I will try to get into the next Olympics. It’s much too early to say today, isn’t it?”
Aussie Player Close to Sensation
Australia’s William HENZELL was close to creating the biggest sensation of the day. The 26 year old was leading 3-1 in games against YOON Jae Young (KOR), bronze medallist in the Men’s team event. HENZELL did not show any respect and bothered YOON with his unorthodox services.
”I’m pretty disappointed, but I played two of my best matches (against Jens LUNDQVIST, Sweden and YOON Jae Young, Korea). I felt as though the fourth game was really important to win. But after that YOON fought back hard and played much better than he did in the first half. He has a very good serve and an excellent topspin on his first ball, he made it very hard.”
Two North Korean Men still in the Draw
The players from Korea DPR are mostly unknown and not that high ranked in the ITTF World Ranking. Today they proved that they are absolutely competitive, even on the world stage. KIM Hyok Bong (no. 101) overcame CHIANG Peng-Lung (Chinese Taipei, no. 23) and defensive player JANG Song Man (103) eliminated Spain’s HE Zhi Wen (no. 37). KIM will face Germany’s Timo BOLL in the round of the last 32; JANG will challenge Hong Kong’s LI Ching.
Asian Women Dominating
The women’s draw is in Asian hands. The second round was the final destination for all European players. The only European exceptions were LI Jie and LI Jiao from the Netherlands as well as LI Qiangbing (AUT). However, all of the three ladies were born in China. GAO Jun, WANG Chen (both USA) and WU Xue (DOM) also represent a country outside of Asia. Yet they all have an Asian background too.
The Chinese top players made a short shrift of their opponents. ZHANG Yining, WANG Nan as well as GUO Yue conceded no single game. “The atmosphere at the Singles event is very different”, GUO Yue, world singles champion 2007, said after the match. “I feel that I performed pretty well today. I demonstrated my skills from training.”
Saive’s Last Olympics?
Jean-Michel SAIVE was in a different mood after the match. “I’m very disappointed about the results today. I knew it could be a tough match. When I led 7-1 in the last game, I thought I could win.” Of course the six times Olympian was also asked on whether this was his last Olympics. “I don’t know. I’m 39 in November, and it’s probably my last Olympics. But I’ll continue to play. If I’m still able to play in two years’ time, I will try to get into the next Olympics. It’s much too early to say today, isn’t it?”
Aussie Player Close to Sensation
Australia’s William HENZELL was close to creating the biggest sensation of the day. The 26 year old was leading 3-1 in games against YOON Jae Young (KOR), bronze medallist in the Men’s team event. HENZELL did not show any respect and bothered YOON with his unorthodox services.
”I’m pretty disappointed, but I played two of my best matches (against Jens LUNDQVIST, Sweden and YOON Jae Young, Korea). I felt as though the fourth game was really important to win. But after that YOON fought back hard and played much better than he did in the first half. He has a very good serve and an excellent topspin on his first ball, he made it very hard.”
Two North Korean Men still in the Draw
The players from Korea DPR are mostly unknown and not that high ranked in the ITTF World Ranking. Today they proved that they are absolutely competitive, even on the world stage. KIM Hyok Bong (no. 101) overcame CHIANG Peng-Lung (Chinese Taipei, no. 23) and defensive player JANG Song Man (103) eliminated Spain’s HE Zhi Wen (no. 37). KIM will face Germany’s Timo BOLL in the round of the last 32; JANG will challenge Hong Kong’s LI Ching.
Asian Women Dominating
The women’s draw is in Asian hands. The second round was the final destination for all European players. The only European exceptions were LI Jie and LI Jiao from the Netherlands as well as LI Qiangbing (AUT). However, all of the three ladies were born in China. GAO Jun, WANG Chen (both USA) and WU Xue (DOM) also represent a country outside of Asia. Yet they all have an Asian background too.
The Chinese top players made a short shrift of their opponents. ZHANG Yining, WANG Nan as well as GUO Yue conceded no single game. “The atmosphere at the Singles event is very different”, GUO Yue, world singles champion 2007, said after the match. “I feel that I performed pretty well today. I demonstrated my skills from training.”
tisdag 19 augusti 2008
Tops and Flops of the First Singles Round
After the Olympic Team events, the men and women played on four tables match after match today. The sophisticated system in the Singles event best female players will only have to compete from tomorrow and the top seeded men from the day after tomorrow.
The matches today were already contested and brought several surprises:
Tops:
First Portuguese Victory in the Olympic Table Tennis History
Portugal is not known to be a table tennis superpower. However, there are three players competing in Beijing. It is the first time that the Iberians have players in an Olympic draw. While Thiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO lost their matches, Marcos FREITAS wrote Portuguese table tennis history. The youngest of the trio (20 years old) overcame Egypt’s El-Sayed LASHIN 4-1 and is the first Portuguese to win a table tennis match at Olympic Games.
African Hard Worker Recompensed for Extra Hours
Nigeria’s Segun TORIOLA is probably the best African player at the present time. Only ranked 115th in the ITTF World Ranking, the 33 year right-hander had to play the preliminary round. TORIOLA overcame the only US player David ZHUANG in the men’s draw with four games to three in the afternoon and later Portugal’s Joao MONTEIRO (no. 60) again with 4-3. ”I didn’t play so well this morning. I don’t know why. It’s the Olympics. The Olympics is different from another event in Table Tennis”, Segun TORIOLA said after the match. His opponent in the second round will be Jean-Michel SAIVE, Belgium.
Late Bloomer from the Czech Republic
Dana HADACOVA is nearly 25 years old, number 215 in the world and number three in her country. That is no reason for her to give up. After her unexpected last minute qualification for the Olympic Games, she is still able to surprise. Today HADACOVA beat Veronika PAVLOVICH (no. 83) from Belarus. “It’s just unbelievable. I’m so happy. Today I couldn’t do short service, but I kept playing and when I won the fourth game, I believed I could win.”
Flops:
Swedish Deception
Jens LUNDQVIST may not be as talented as his compatriots Jan-Ove WALDNER or Jörgen PERSSON, but for sure he is a player meant to survive the first round of an Olympic tournament. Today LUNDQVIST lost to Australia’s William HENZELL. The irony of the story is that HENZELL has been living and practicing for many years in… Sweden.
Black Day for French Men – Chila Retires
The afternoon session was pure sadness for the French players. Christophe LEGOUT lost 4-2 against Vietnam’s DOAN Kien Quoc, who is 171 ranks behind the Frenchman in the ITTF World Ranking.
The second French player, Patrick CHILA, was on the way to the second round of the Men’s Singles event. However, CHILA’s opponent Janos JAKAB proved a good spirit at his first Olympic Games. The 22 year old Hungarian won 11-9 in the seventh game. CHILA said after the match: “It is the first time in my career that I have lost from 3-0 lead. He played some really crazy points and it was all up in the air at 3-3 and he just came trough. I’m really disappointed; I’m 39 years now and it was my last international game, so it wasn’t the best way to finish.”
Russian Women Eliminated
None of Svetlana GANINA, Irina KOTIKHINA and Oksana FADEEVA will play the second round of the Women’s Singles event. KOTIKHINA lost 3-4 to Australia’s MIAO Miao, FADEEVA 0-4 against Italy’s STEFANOVA Nikoleta and GANINA could not even play due to an injury. What a deception for the host of the 2010 World Table Tennis Championships!
The matches today were already contested and brought several surprises:
Tops:
First Portuguese Victory in the Olympic Table Tennis History
Portugal is not known to be a table tennis superpower. However, there are three players competing in Beijing. It is the first time that the Iberians have players in an Olympic draw. While Thiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO lost their matches, Marcos FREITAS wrote Portuguese table tennis history. The youngest of the trio (20 years old) overcame Egypt’s El-Sayed LASHIN 4-1 and is the first Portuguese to win a table tennis match at Olympic Games.
African Hard Worker Recompensed for Extra Hours
Nigeria’s Segun TORIOLA is probably the best African player at the present time. Only ranked 115th in the ITTF World Ranking, the 33 year right-hander had to play the preliminary round. TORIOLA overcame the only US player David ZHUANG in the men’s draw with four games to three in the afternoon and later Portugal’s Joao MONTEIRO (no. 60) again with 4-3. ”I didn’t play so well this morning. I don’t know why. It’s the Olympics. The Olympics is different from another event in Table Tennis”, Segun TORIOLA said after the match. His opponent in the second round will be Jean-Michel SAIVE, Belgium.
Late Bloomer from the Czech Republic
Dana HADACOVA is nearly 25 years old, number 215 in the world and number three in her country. That is no reason for her to give up. After her unexpected last minute qualification for the Olympic Games, she is still able to surprise. Today HADACOVA beat Veronika PAVLOVICH (no. 83) from Belarus. “It’s just unbelievable. I’m so happy. Today I couldn’t do short service, but I kept playing and when I won the fourth game, I believed I could win.”
Flops:
Swedish Deception
Jens LUNDQVIST may not be as talented as his compatriots Jan-Ove WALDNER or Jörgen PERSSON, but for sure he is a player meant to survive the first round of an Olympic tournament. Today LUNDQVIST lost to Australia’s William HENZELL. The irony of the story is that HENZELL has been living and practicing for many years in… Sweden.
Black Day for French Men – Chila Retires
The afternoon session was pure sadness for the French players. Christophe LEGOUT lost 4-2 against Vietnam’s DOAN Kien Quoc, who is 171 ranks behind the Frenchman in the ITTF World Ranking.
The second French player, Patrick CHILA, was on the way to the second round of the Men’s Singles event. However, CHILA’s opponent Janos JAKAB proved a good spirit at his first Olympic Games. The 22 year old Hungarian won 11-9 in the seventh game. CHILA said after the match: “It is the first time in my career that I have lost from 3-0 lead. He played some really crazy points and it was all up in the air at 3-3 and he just came trough. I’m really disappointed; I’m 39 years now and it was my last international game, so it wasn’t the best way to finish.”
Russian Women Eliminated
None of Svetlana GANINA, Irina KOTIKHINA and Oksana FADEEVA will play the second round of the Women’s Singles event. KOTIKHINA lost 3-4 to Australia’s MIAO Miao, FADEEVA 0-4 against Italy’s STEFANOVA Nikoleta and GANINA could not even play due to an injury. What a deception for the host of the 2010 World Table Tennis Championships!
söndag 17 augusti 2008
China’s Women Resist the Pressure and Win Gold
Under the eyes of China’s President HU Jintao and IOC President Jacques ROGGE, the Chinese women’s team overcame Singapore in the final of the Women’s Team event. It was the first table tennis team event at Olympic Games. The Chinese serial winner took another gold medal but the incredible frame in the venue at Peking University Gymnasium made this title something special.
Rematch from Guangzhou Underlines China’s Dominance
The squad from coach SHI Zhihao played in the final against Singapore. It was the rematch of the final at the Evergrande World Table Tennis Championships staged in Guangzhou, China on 1st March 2008.
The Chinese team consisting of ZHANG Yining, world number one, GUO Yue (no. 2) and WANG Nan (no. 5) prevailed sovereign against LI Jia Wei (no. 6), WANG Yue Gu (no. 7), FENG Tianwei (no. 9).
WANG Nan as well as ZHANG Yining started nervously and lost the first games of their matches against FENG Tianwei and LI Jia Wei respectively. Both, WANG and ZHANG were able to change the gear and FENG’s as well as LI’s resistance was then useless.
An Impressive Chinese Generation
The third point for China and the final decision in favour of the hosts made ZHANG Yining and GUO Yue in the doubles. For the 26 year old ZHANG Yining it is already the third gold medal at her second Olympic participation. Never in her life so far has she contested an Olympic event without winning gold.
WANG Nan’s Olympic collection newly consists of four gold medals; therewith she equalises China’s legend DENG Yaping. GUO Yue is only twenty years of age. However, her record is impressive. She is reigning world singles and world team champion and now also Olympic team champion.
Statements about the Final
LIU Guodong, Coach Singapore:
On winning the silver medal:“Both China and Singapore are winners. For us to win silver is as difficult as it is for China to win gold. It’s impossible to beat China. We prepared for the other teams. We met many opponents that we did not want to meet, but we managed to win against them all.”
LI Jia Wei, Singapore:“I am very excited to win the silver medal as it is my way of repaying Singapore for having confidence in me and grooming me all these years. I’m really happy and feel like crying, but I just could not get any tears to roll.”
On the match results:“I am very satisfied. After all, China is the strongest team. We have defeated the other teams, and have completed our mission here.”
SHI Zhihao, Coach China:
On the team’s performance:
“I am very excited for my team’s win today. This is the first time for China to win the Olympic Women’s table tennis team gold medal. This is a very significant day for China. Today, my players performed excellently.”
WANG Nan, China:
On the Chinese Women’s team’s win:
“As table tennis is China’s national sport, everyone expects China to win gold. I was very nervous but as soon as I got involved in the match, I lost all my nervousness.”
Rematch from Guangzhou Underlines China’s Dominance
The squad from coach SHI Zhihao played in the final against Singapore. It was the rematch of the final at the Evergrande World Table Tennis Championships staged in Guangzhou, China on 1st March 2008.
The Chinese team consisting of ZHANG Yining, world number one, GUO Yue (no. 2) and WANG Nan (no. 5) prevailed sovereign against LI Jia Wei (no. 6), WANG Yue Gu (no. 7), FENG Tianwei (no. 9).
WANG Nan as well as ZHANG Yining started nervously and lost the first games of their matches against FENG Tianwei and LI Jia Wei respectively. Both, WANG and ZHANG were able to change the gear and FENG’s as well as LI’s resistance was then useless.
An Impressive Chinese Generation
The third point for China and the final decision in favour of the hosts made ZHANG Yining and GUO Yue in the doubles. For the 26 year old ZHANG Yining it is already the third gold medal at her second Olympic participation. Never in her life so far has she contested an Olympic event without winning gold.
WANG Nan’s Olympic collection newly consists of four gold medals; therewith she equalises China’s legend DENG Yaping. GUO Yue is only twenty years of age. However, her record is impressive. She is reigning world singles and world team champion and now also Olympic team champion.
Statements about the Final
LIU Guodong, Coach Singapore:
On winning the silver medal:“Both China and Singapore are winners. For us to win silver is as difficult as it is for China to win gold. It’s impossible to beat China. We prepared for the other teams. We met many opponents that we did not want to meet, but we managed to win against them all.”
LI Jia Wei, Singapore:“I am very excited to win the silver medal as it is my way of repaying Singapore for having confidence in me and grooming me all these years. I’m really happy and feel like crying, but I just could not get any tears to roll.”
On the match results:“I am very satisfied. After all, China is the strongest team. We have defeated the other teams, and have completed our mission here.”
SHI Zhihao, Coach China:
On the team’s performance:
“I am very excited for my team’s win today. This is the first time for China to win the Olympic Women’s table tennis team gold medal. This is a very significant day for China. Today, my players performed excellently.”
WANG Nan, China:
On the Chinese Women’s team’s win:
“As table tennis is China’s national sport, everyone expects China to win gold. I was very nervous but as soon as I got involved in the match, I lost all my nervousness.”
Austria Plays the Korean Republic for Bronze
The two contests in the Men’s Team event bronze medal playoff today at Peking University Gymnasium had a very high playing level. Austria beat Japan 3-1, in spite of KAN Yo’s 3-0 win in the opening match against 2003 world singles champion Werner SCHLAGER. In the second match, 19 year old MIZUTANI Jun was not able to break the defensive wall CHEN Weixing. The Chinese-born Austrian won 3-0. “I lost, because, I was so tired of last night’s match”, said MIZUTANI.
Victory with 147 to 141 Points for Lucky Austrians
The decisive match was the doubles. The Robert GARDOS and CHEN Weixing beat 2004 world junior champions in doubles MIZUTANI Jun and KISHIKAWA Seiya. The fifth game ended 14-12 with two points on a net roller, which just fell down on the other side of the net with no chance to return for the Japanese pair.
World number 47 Robert GARDOS finalised the Austrian triumph by beating world number 19 KAN Yo with 3-1. After one hour and 48 minutes, Austria won 3-1 scoring 147 against 141 points for the Japanese. Match winner Robert GARDOS said about his win against KAN Yo. ”Since I was very happy about our result of the doubles, I felt that I could potentially play well in my singles match. Even though I had great confidence after my performance in the doubles, it was hard to calm down because the doubles was such a big match.”
Bronze Medal Favourite Prevails
Korea Republic is only one step away from an Olympic medal. The team from coach YOO Nam Kyu beat Hong Kong China in the other bronze medal playoff contest 3-1. OH San Eun won 3-1 against CHEUNG Yuk proving his excellent shape once again. LI Ching (no. 11) equalised winning against the reigning Olympic champion RYU Seung Min (no. 8) in a match with lots of magnificent rallies. A full Peking Gymnasium applauded enthusiastically.
Korean Comebacks
The doubles match was crucial with the Korean pair YOON Jae Young/RYU Seung Min being down 0-2 turning the match against 2004 vice Olympic champions LI Ching / KO Lai Chak. In the fourth match OH Sang Eun lost the first two games, but again it turned in favour of Korea. Hong Kong’s KO Lai Chak felt accordingly. “I am very disappointed” said the 32 year old afterwards. “In the doubles and in my single I lead 2-0 and lost.”
OH won in the fifth game 11-3 to secure the 3-1 victory for his team after two hours and 24 minutes. The bronze medal contest between Austria and Korea will be played on Monday 18th August at 14:30.
Victory with 147 to 141 Points for Lucky Austrians
The decisive match was the doubles. The Robert GARDOS and CHEN Weixing beat 2004 world junior champions in doubles MIZUTANI Jun and KISHIKAWA Seiya. The fifth game ended 14-12 with two points on a net roller, which just fell down on the other side of the net with no chance to return for the Japanese pair.
World number 47 Robert GARDOS finalised the Austrian triumph by beating world number 19 KAN Yo with 3-1. After one hour and 48 minutes, Austria won 3-1 scoring 147 against 141 points for the Japanese. Match winner Robert GARDOS said about his win against KAN Yo. ”Since I was very happy about our result of the doubles, I felt that I could potentially play well in my singles match. Even though I had great confidence after my performance in the doubles, it was hard to calm down because the doubles was such a big match.”
Bronze Medal Favourite Prevails
Korea Republic is only one step away from an Olympic medal. The team from coach YOO Nam Kyu beat Hong Kong China in the other bronze medal playoff contest 3-1. OH San Eun won 3-1 against CHEUNG Yuk proving his excellent shape once again. LI Ching (no. 11) equalised winning against the reigning Olympic champion RYU Seung Min (no. 8) in a match with lots of magnificent rallies. A full Peking Gymnasium applauded enthusiastically.
Korean Comebacks
The doubles match was crucial with the Korean pair YOON Jae Young/RYU Seung Min being down 0-2 turning the match against 2004 vice Olympic champions LI Ching / KO Lai Chak. In the fourth match OH Sang Eun lost the first two games, but again it turned in favour of Korea. Hong Kong’s KO Lai Chak felt accordingly. “I am very disappointed” said the 32 year old afterwards. “In the doubles and in my single I lead 2-0 and lost.”
OH won in the fifth game 11-3 to secure the 3-1 victory for his team after two hours and 24 minutes. The bronze medal contest between Austria and Korea will be played on Monday 18th August at 14:30.
lördag 16 augusti 2008
Korea Republic and Japan will Play for the Bronze Medal
The 2nd playoff round, which leads the teams towards the bronze medal, took place this morning. There were the teams of Japan and Korea Republic that went out victorious of their duels with Hong Kong China and the USA respectively.
Japanese Emotions
They cried a lot – tears of joy. The Japanese women couldn’t hide their emotions. They realised an exploit by beating Hong Kong China.
“We were extremely emotional, because we have never expected that we could beat Hong Kong China”, explained FUKUHARA Ai, the Japanese flag bearer last week. “I felt that my team-mates were free of stress and burden, and their performances were excellent. We are exhilarated that we beat Hong Kong China, a strong opponent.”
The Japanese coach, KONDO Kinji considered that the double had been decisive to overcome Hong Kong China. ”I put FUKUHARA and HIRANO in the doubles because I knew that it would be the critical match. It proved to be the right decision. As a doubles pair, FUKUHARA and HIRANO beat ZHANG Yining and WANG Nan (CHN) in the Austrian open last year.”
The final victory of 3-2 offers to the Japanese now the possibility to compete for the bronze medal against Korea Republic. After the defeat 3-0 against the Koreans during the first round, KONDO Kinji (JPN) has now to find the keys for revenge.
”I will have to go back to the Athletes’ Village and think long and hard over our strategy. I actually think it will be an easy match for us because our players are in very good spirits.”
Korea Republic without Trembling
Beaten yesterday evening by Singapore after an intense fight (4 hours and 20 minutes), the Koreans kept up the possibility to play for the bronze medal.
”We played for such a long time yesterday and I didn’t predict that to happen, so today against the USA we made sure we were well prepared”, said KIM Kyung Ah, the Korean chopper. “We focused very hard on our doubles match because it is the most important but when we were down 2-1 we felt a lot of pressure. I was in a good state during my singles match and I played strongly in the doubles, but I was also a little lucky.”
The players of coach HYUN Jung Hwa (KOR) perfectly well negotiated their contest against the Americans. On what they focused on leading up to the match, HYUN said: “They have very strong players so we prepared a lot, especially in the doubles.” A doubles match that allowed the Koreans to overcome the US team 3-0. The Americans, however, can be satisfied with their overall performance in Beijing.
Japanese Emotions
They cried a lot – tears of joy. The Japanese women couldn’t hide their emotions. They realised an exploit by beating Hong Kong China.
“We were extremely emotional, because we have never expected that we could beat Hong Kong China”, explained FUKUHARA Ai, the Japanese flag bearer last week. “I felt that my team-mates were free of stress and burden, and their performances were excellent. We are exhilarated that we beat Hong Kong China, a strong opponent.”
The Japanese coach, KONDO Kinji considered that the double had been decisive to overcome Hong Kong China. ”I put FUKUHARA and HIRANO in the doubles because I knew that it would be the critical match. It proved to be the right decision. As a doubles pair, FUKUHARA and HIRANO beat ZHANG Yining and WANG Nan (CHN) in the Austrian open last year.”
The final victory of 3-2 offers to the Japanese now the possibility to compete for the bronze medal against Korea Republic. After the defeat 3-0 against the Koreans during the first round, KONDO Kinji (JPN) has now to find the keys for revenge.
”I will have to go back to the Athletes’ Village and think long and hard over our strategy. I actually think it will be an easy match for us because our players are in very good spirits.”
Korea Republic without Trembling
Beaten yesterday evening by Singapore after an intense fight (4 hours and 20 minutes), the Koreans kept up the possibility to play for the bronze medal.
”We played for such a long time yesterday and I didn’t predict that to happen, so today against the USA we made sure we were well prepared”, said KIM Kyung Ah, the Korean chopper. “We focused very hard on our doubles match because it is the most important but when we were down 2-1 we felt a lot of pressure. I was in a good state during my singles match and I played strongly in the doubles, but I was also a little lucky.”
The players of coach HYUN Jung Hwa (KOR) perfectly well negotiated their contest against the Americans. On what they focused on leading up to the match, HYUN said: “They have very strong players so we prepared a lot, especially in the doubles.” A doubles match that allowed the Koreans to overcome the US team 3-0. The Americans, however, can be satisfied with their overall performance in Beijing.
Singapore Fighting Hard – Chinese Express Unstoppable
The women’s team from Singapore is in the Olympic final of the Women’s Team event. The team from coach LIU Guodong beat Korea Republic 3-2 after 3 hours and 13 minutes. The Koreans have never been ahead during the final but proved a good fighting spirit.
Match-winner Feng Tianwei
In the opening match, Singapore’s FENG Tianwei smashed DANG Ye Seo. Defensive player KIM Kung Ah brought Korea back on track winning 11-9 in the fifth game against LI Jia Wei. "I am sorry I lost the first match, but I played well in the double”, LI Jia Wei said apologising. The double went 3-0 to Singapore. “Their style in double is very awkward. We lost to them last time we played I am really happy we won this time. We fought to today’s contest as it was the final”, LI was quotes after the match.
DANG Ye Seo, world ranked no. 26 beat WANG Yue Gu (no. 7) in the forth match in three close games. The last match between Korea’s second defensive player PARK Mi Young and FENG Tianwei therefore had to decide about who will play the final on Sunday.
“I am excited now”, a happy FENG Tianwei told journalists after she had beaten PARK 3-1. “It is our team efforts that have won the contest. Everybody has to put in its best. After I lost the third set, I had to be patient and wait for an opportunity to attack. Everyone was nervous and remaining calm during the battle proved an advantage to me."
China in 52 Minutes
The second semi-final in the evening session was precisely the opposite of the first one. China’s women proved once again their superiority. World number one ZHANG Yining started irresistibly conceding her adversary TIE Yana (no. 10) only 14 points in three games.
China’s express rolled on with world number two and reigning world singles champion GUO Yue. The twenty year old never let a doubt against LIN Ling that she would win the mach.
Chapter three in a one-sided semi-final wrote again ZHANG Yining with her partner WANG Nan (no. 5 in the world). LAU Sui Fei and LIN Ling only had a small chance in the second game when it was 9-9. If China plays the same way on Sunday, the chances that the gold medal goes to Singapore will only be minimal.
Voices after the Match China vs. Hong Kong China
Singapore’s LIN Ling was very honest after the defeat against China. “After today’s contest, it is obvious that there is still a significant gap between their skills and ours.”
Coach LI Huifen also had to admit: “We have evolved and improved, but China has improved greatly too. We have changed our battle tactics but they (China) seem to be always one step ahead of us.”
China’s coach SHI Zhihao said: “We are familiar with the Hong Kong China team. I guess you can say that they did not play to their full capability today. Both technically and mentally, our team members prepared well.” The coach further took pressure from the shoulders of his protégées for the final. “We are not playing to ‘protect’ Gold. It is the first time there has been a Team Gold in (Olympic) table tennis. So we are playing to ‘gain’ Gold.”
World number one ZHANG Yining was quoted: “I don’t think we played perfectly. I just played according to my style. I thought about every ball and my technique rather than about the opponent.” GUO Yue however confessed: “It was easier than I expected.”
Match-winner Feng Tianwei
In the opening match, Singapore’s FENG Tianwei smashed DANG Ye Seo. Defensive player KIM Kung Ah brought Korea back on track winning 11-9 in the fifth game against LI Jia Wei. "I am sorry I lost the first match, but I played well in the double”, LI Jia Wei said apologising. The double went 3-0 to Singapore. “Their style in double is very awkward. We lost to them last time we played I am really happy we won this time. We fought to today’s contest as it was the final”, LI was quotes after the match.
DANG Ye Seo, world ranked no. 26 beat WANG Yue Gu (no. 7) in the forth match in three close games. The last match between Korea’s second defensive player PARK Mi Young and FENG Tianwei therefore had to decide about who will play the final on Sunday.
“I am excited now”, a happy FENG Tianwei told journalists after she had beaten PARK 3-1. “It is our team efforts that have won the contest. Everybody has to put in its best. After I lost the third set, I had to be patient and wait for an opportunity to attack. Everyone was nervous and remaining calm during the battle proved an advantage to me."
China in 52 Minutes
The second semi-final in the evening session was precisely the opposite of the first one. China’s women proved once again their superiority. World number one ZHANG Yining started irresistibly conceding her adversary TIE Yana (no. 10) only 14 points in three games.
China’s express rolled on with world number two and reigning world singles champion GUO Yue. The twenty year old never let a doubt against LIN Ling that she would win the mach.
Chapter three in a one-sided semi-final wrote again ZHANG Yining with her partner WANG Nan (no. 5 in the world). LAU Sui Fei and LIN Ling only had a small chance in the second game when it was 9-9. If China plays the same way on Sunday, the chances that the gold medal goes to Singapore will only be minimal.
Voices after the Match China vs. Hong Kong China
Singapore’s LIN Ling was very honest after the defeat against China. “After today’s contest, it is obvious that there is still a significant gap between their skills and ours.”
Coach LI Huifen also had to admit: “We have evolved and improved, but China has improved greatly too. We have changed our battle tactics but they (China) seem to be always one step ahead of us.”
China’s coach SHI Zhihao said: “We are familiar with the Hong Kong China team. I guess you can say that they did not play to their full capability today. Both technically and mentally, our team members prepared well.” The coach further took pressure from the shoulders of his protégées for the final. “We are not playing to ‘protect’ Gold. It is the first time there has been a Team Gold in (Olympic) table tennis. So we are playing to ‘gain’ Gold.”
World number one ZHANG Yining was quoted: “I don’t think we played perfectly. I just played according to my style. I thought about every ball and my technique rather than about the opponent.” GUO Yue however confessed: “It was easier than I expected.”
Hong Kong and Austria Can Still Win the Bronze Medal
Austria’s and Hong Kong China’s male players will have to wait until tomorrow evening to know their opponents. Both teams passed their first hurdle on the way to the bronze medal. Austria will face on Sunday the loser of the contest between Germany and Japan while Hong Kong China will play against either China or Korea Republic.
One Asian Duel…
At 09:00 a.m. this morning the second round started to with four teams focused on the bronze medal. These four teams that finished second in their respective groups have to win twice to play the bronze medal contest.
Hong Kong China against Chinese Taipei was the Asian duel that Hong Kong China won relatively easy in spite of the good resistance of de CHIANG Peng-Lung against LI Ching (13-11 in the fifth game).
“I started a little bit slow and my opponent was very strong, so I tried to take the initiative”, said LI Ching (HKG) after the contest. “I focused on how to win the point and how to figure out the direction of the balls, and attacked hard to win points. It was a match between penholders. Both of us wanted to take the initiative and win points by attacking. So the mental state was more important. When I was up 10-8 in the third game, I was a little careless, so I lost that one. Luckily, I kept my mind on the ball and calmed down.”
For the trainer CHAN Kong Wah (HKG), it was the tactic choice that allowed to take the victory. ”CHUAN Chih-Yuan (TPE) beat RYU Seung Min (KOR) yesterday, so we made special arrangements so that LI Ching (HKG) avoided CHUAN Chi-Yuan. It proved successful.”
…and One European Duel
The other contest was more indecisive between the Croats and the Austrians but only from the 3rd match. After the fast victories of Werner SCHLAGER (AUT) over TAN Ruiwu (CRO) and CHEN Weixing (AUT) over Zoran PRIMORAC (CRO), Croatia managed to win the doubles and to boost the contest.
The Austrian pair consisted of CHEN and Robert GARDOS (AUT) lost in the decisive fifth game 10-12 against GACINA and TAN (CRO). SCHLAGER had to come back to the table to compete against Andrej GACINA (CRO), who contested his first singles match in Beijing. ”It was a very close contest. They were fighting with good skills. Andrej GACINA (CRO) is a good fighter and has a bright future,” said Ferenc KARSAI, the coach from Austria very satisfied with SCHLAGER’s (3-1) success synonym of the qualification for the following tour.
One Asian Duel…
At 09:00 a.m. this morning the second round started to with four teams focused on the bronze medal. These four teams that finished second in their respective groups have to win twice to play the bronze medal contest.
Hong Kong China against Chinese Taipei was the Asian duel that Hong Kong China won relatively easy in spite of the good resistance of de CHIANG Peng-Lung against LI Ching (13-11 in the fifth game).
“I started a little bit slow and my opponent was very strong, so I tried to take the initiative”, said LI Ching (HKG) after the contest. “I focused on how to win the point and how to figure out the direction of the balls, and attacked hard to win points. It was a match between penholders. Both of us wanted to take the initiative and win points by attacking. So the mental state was more important. When I was up 10-8 in the third game, I was a little careless, so I lost that one. Luckily, I kept my mind on the ball and calmed down.”
For the trainer CHAN Kong Wah (HKG), it was the tactic choice that allowed to take the victory. ”CHUAN Chih-Yuan (TPE) beat RYU Seung Min (KOR) yesterday, so we made special arrangements so that LI Ching (HKG) avoided CHUAN Chi-Yuan. It proved successful.”
…and One European Duel
The other contest was more indecisive between the Croats and the Austrians but only from the 3rd match. After the fast victories of Werner SCHLAGER (AUT) over TAN Ruiwu (CRO) and CHEN Weixing (AUT) over Zoran PRIMORAC (CRO), Croatia managed to win the doubles and to boost the contest.
The Austrian pair consisted of CHEN and Robert GARDOS (AUT) lost in the decisive fifth game 10-12 against GACINA and TAN (CRO). SCHLAGER had to come back to the table to compete against Andrej GACINA (CRO), who contested his first singles match in Beijing. ”It was a very close contest. They were fighting with good skills. Andrej GACINA (CRO) is a good fighter and has a bright future,” said Ferenc KARSAI, the coach from Austria very satisfied with SCHLAGER’s (3-1) success synonym of the qualification for the following tour.
torsdag 14 augusti 2008
Korea and China Represented with Two Teams in the Semis
At the conclusion of the preliminary stage which gathered sixteen teams, the qualification of the Chinese teams for the semi-finals was awaited. Both teams are reigning world champions (winning the title in Guangzhou, China earlier this year) and the question was to know which teams would also be in race for medals.
China’s Men Smash Austria
In the Group A, the male Chinese team secured its first place beating Austria 3-0. The Chinese won all three matches without granting their opponents any chance. Austria, which ends second, is henceforth in the run for the bronze medal. Greece takes the third place and Australia ends fourth.
Croatia Second behind Impeccable Germans
The final rankings of the Group B are also without surprise. Team Germany, head of the group and nr. 2 of the tournament, overcame Singapore 3-1 to secure the first spot, whilst Singapore only ended third. The Croatian Men’s team prevailed in the morning session against Singapore finished on second place. For the latter as well as for Canada the team event is over after the Round Robin.
Ryu’s Performances like a Rollercoaster
Often struggling, the Koreans won through. In spite of a new defeat of RYU Seung Min today against CHUAN Chi-Yuan, Korea also reached the semi-finals.
”The first match I didn’t play well, but we played the second match better. In the doubles match, we played better, said RYU Seung Min, the reigning Olympic champion. “We were nervous, many people were supporting Chinese Taipei and it was difficult to play in front of a home crowd.” Chinese Taipei ends logically second having beaten yesterday brave Swedish 3-2. Brazil ends fourth and is also eliminated from the race for medals.
Japan’s Youth Impressed Bill Gates and Nigeria Historic
It is in the Group D where the only top seeded team did not prevail. The young Japanese team with KAN Yo, MIZUTANI Jun and KISHIKAWA Seiya brought down the experienced team from Hong Kong followed by Microsoft founder Bill GATES, a table tennis fan. The Japanese have henceforth two chances of medal.
”In the past we have never defeated Hong Kong China”, explained MIYASAKI Yoshihito, the Japanese coach. “Before the match today, I told my players that we would have to prove who is stronger through the competition. In terms of world rankings, Hong Kong China is ranked higher than us, but today we were luckier, especially with that last ball.” Hong Kong will try to get a Bronze Medal from tomorrow morning. Russia finally ends fourth after its surprising defeat against Nigeria which took down a historic victory.
Women’s Team Event
Chinese Dominance
In the women’s tournament, the competition is also exciting. The Chinese qualified themselves for the semi-finals ending as the first in Group A. They did not lose a single match and their route is in accordance with their male counterparts. Austria can also aspire a medal, the bronze one, after finishing second in group. Croatia and the Dominican Republic ended 3rd and 4th respectively.
Singapore dominated the Group B with three victories of 3-0. The team from the Netherlands was expected to catch the second place but it was eventually the US team thanks to their 3-1 success against the Europeans. Nigeria, representative of the African continent, ended fourth.
Hong Kong Superior – Romanian Late Night Win
Hong Kong China realised a perfect performance and can hope to pick up a medal in this team tournament. The victory obtained this evening on Germany demonstrated the superiority of the Hong Kong players.
The Germans ended on the fourth place after their defeat against Rumania yesterday in the opening session (3-0). After this exploit, the Rumanians had to wait for the decisive competition tonight against Poland to pursue the adventure and dream of a bronze medal. "It is really the friendship and the solidarity in the team that allowed us to win this evening”, explained a smiling Daniela Dodean after Romania had overcome Poland. “To compete at our first Olympic Games and to realise this course, it is unexpected for young players."
Korea with a Clean Record
The duel between Korea and Japan was promising. However, Korea imposed with the score of 3-0 against all its opponents, notably to the Japanese who will compete for the bronze medal. Spain and Australia complete the classification of the last group.
The Draw for Friday, 15th August
The final stage of the team events will bring matches between the four group winners. The losers of these matches will play against the winners of the bronze medal play-off.
Men’s Team Event Semi-Finals
China – Korea
Japan – Germany
Bronze Medal Play-Off
Hong Kong – Chinese Taipei
Austria – Croatia
Women’s Team Event Semi-Finals
China – Hong Kong
Korea – Singapore
Bronze Medal Play-Off
Japan – Austria
Romania – USA
China’s Men Smash Austria
In the Group A, the male Chinese team secured its first place beating Austria 3-0. The Chinese won all three matches without granting their opponents any chance. Austria, which ends second, is henceforth in the run for the bronze medal. Greece takes the third place and Australia ends fourth.
Croatia Second behind Impeccable Germans
The final rankings of the Group B are also without surprise. Team Germany, head of the group and nr. 2 of the tournament, overcame Singapore 3-1 to secure the first spot, whilst Singapore only ended third. The Croatian Men’s team prevailed in the morning session against Singapore finished on second place. For the latter as well as for Canada the team event is over after the Round Robin.
Ryu’s Performances like a Rollercoaster
Often struggling, the Koreans won through. In spite of a new defeat of RYU Seung Min today against CHUAN Chi-Yuan, Korea also reached the semi-finals.
”The first match I didn’t play well, but we played the second match better. In the doubles match, we played better, said RYU Seung Min, the reigning Olympic champion. “We were nervous, many people were supporting Chinese Taipei and it was difficult to play in front of a home crowd.” Chinese Taipei ends logically second having beaten yesterday brave Swedish 3-2. Brazil ends fourth and is also eliminated from the race for medals.
Japan’s Youth Impressed Bill Gates and Nigeria Historic
It is in the Group D where the only top seeded team did not prevail. The young Japanese team with KAN Yo, MIZUTANI Jun and KISHIKAWA Seiya brought down the experienced team from Hong Kong followed by Microsoft founder Bill GATES, a table tennis fan. The Japanese have henceforth two chances of medal.
”In the past we have never defeated Hong Kong China”, explained MIYASAKI Yoshihito, the Japanese coach. “Before the match today, I told my players that we would have to prove who is stronger through the competition. In terms of world rankings, Hong Kong China is ranked higher than us, but today we were luckier, especially with that last ball.” Hong Kong will try to get a Bronze Medal from tomorrow morning. Russia finally ends fourth after its surprising defeat against Nigeria which took down a historic victory.
Women’s Team Event
Chinese Dominance
In the women’s tournament, the competition is also exciting. The Chinese qualified themselves for the semi-finals ending as the first in Group A. They did not lose a single match and their route is in accordance with their male counterparts. Austria can also aspire a medal, the bronze one, after finishing second in group. Croatia and the Dominican Republic ended 3rd and 4th respectively.
Singapore dominated the Group B with three victories of 3-0. The team from the Netherlands was expected to catch the second place but it was eventually the US team thanks to their 3-1 success against the Europeans. Nigeria, representative of the African continent, ended fourth.
Hong Kong Superior – Romanian Late Night Win
Hong Kong China realised a perfect performance and can hope to pick up a medal in this team tournament. The victory obtained this evening on Germany demonstrated the superiority of the Hong Kong players.
The Germans ended on the fourth place after their defeat against Rumania yesterday in the opening session (3-0). After this exploit, the Rumanians had to wait for the decisive competition tonight against Poland to pursue the adventure and dream of a bronze medal. "It is really the friendship and the solidarity in the team that allowed us to win this evening”, explained a smiling Daniela Dodean after Romania had overcome Poland. “To compete at our first Olympic Games and to realise this course, it is unexpected for young players."
Korea with a Clean Record
The duel between Korea and Japan was promising. However, Korea imposed with the score of 3-0 against all its opponents, notably to the Japanese who will compete for the bronze medal. Spain and Australia complete the classification of the last group.
The Draw for Friday, 15th August
The final stage of the team events will bring matches between the four group winners. The losers of these matches will play against the winners of the bronze medal play-off.
Men’s Team Event Semi-Finals
China – Korea
Japan – Germany
Bronze Medal Play-Off
Hong Kong – Chinese Taipei
Austria – Croatia
Women’s Team Event Semi-Finals
China – Hong Kong
Korea – Singapore
Bronze Medal Play-Off
Japan – Austria
Romania – USA
onsdag 13 augusti 2008
Top Seeds Make Big Steps to Reach the Semis
With more than 6,000 spectators, it has become very hot in the competition hall at the first day of the table tennis events. The Peking University Gymnasium was full with a lot of media coming to cover one of the most popular sports in China.
China’s Teams Outstanding
Both Chinese teams are on the way to reach the last four of the first table tennis team event at Olympics. The women won their two competitions with 3-0 against Croatia in the opening match and versus the Dominican Republic in the evening session. They will face Austria tomorrow.
After facing Australia in the morning session, the Chinese men’s team will play tomorrow against Austria too. Werner SCHLAGER and his colleagues will try to contest the Chinese ascendancy. Against WANG Hao, MA Lin and WANG Liqin, Greece couldn’t avoid the defeat today (3-0). The match between China and Greece was very spectacular with the two Greek choppers namely Ntaniel TSIOKAS and Panagiotis GIONIS.
“MA Lin’s (CHN) opponent (GIONIS) has a very strange style but MA Lin didn’t give him any chance”, said LIU Guoliang, the Chinese coach. “WANG Hao did it better at crucial balls than KREANGA. WANG Liqin made more mistakes at the beginning because the three players’ styles are different from one another; this has caused us a headache, but we can see that we are quick to adapt.”
Poland’s Partyka Well Desired in Beijing
Germany’s women’s dream of a medal has receded into the distance. In the Group C, they lost 3-0 against the young Romanian team. The Germans now have to beat Hong Kong China and Poland tomorrow to keep up the chance to proceed.
In the Group D, there are also two teams competing for the first place that is necessary to compete for gold and silver. Korea and Japan won 3-0 respectively against Spain and Poland. Afterwards Natalia PARTYKA from Poland stood more than 30 minutes in the mixed zone, giving interviews. She is the only table tennis player qualified for the Olympics and Paralympics. She only lost in the fifth game against TIE Yana.
”We have played PARTYKA before and she did not play so well. Her attacks today were excellent. Even though she has an amputated right arm, she was playing better than an average player”, said TIE about her opponent. Singapore is leading the Women’s Group B with two victories against USA and Nigeria. Losing against the United States, the Dutch women’s team has the possibility to reach the first place with an exploit against Singapore.
Korea Wins in Spite of Ryu’s Hiccup
In the Men’s Group B, there was a close competition between Croatia and Germany but finally Germany won 3-0. Timo BOLL and friends, seeded number 2 overall, are on the right way to reach the last four teams. After playing Canada in the morning, the squad of German coach Richard PRAUSE will have to ensure its good position against Singapore at 14:30 tomorrow.
In the Group C, Korea has two victories after beating Sweden and Brazil 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. Korea’s reigning Olympic champion RYU Seung Min: "I think every match is always very hard, particularly the first round but today we had lots of confidence against the Swedish team so we played quite well. I think we can do this again in our next game." But in the second competition against Brazil, it was RYU, who lost a match. It was a 0-3 against Thiago MONTEIRO.
In the Group D, Russia and Nigeria now have no more chance to reach the first or second place and to aim for a medal. These final positions will be decided tomorrow in the match between Japan and Hong Kong China
China’s Teams Outstanding
Both Chinese teams are on the way to reach the last four of the first table tennis team event at Olympics. The women won their two competitions with 3-0 against Croatia in the opening match and versus the Dominican Republic in the evening session. They will face Austria tomorrow.
After facing Australia in the morning session, the Chinese men’s team will play tomorrow against Austria too. Werner SCHLAGER and his colleagues will try to contest the Chinese ascendancy. Against WANG Hao, MA Lin and WANG Liqin, Greece couldn’t avoid the defeat today (3-0). The match between China and Greece was very spectacular with the two Greek choppers namely Ntaniel TSIOKAS and Panagiotis GIONIS.
“MA Lin’s (CHN) opponent (GIONIS) has a very strange style but MA Lin didn’t give him any chance”, said LIU Guoliang, the Chinese coach. “WANG Hao did it better at crucial balls than KREANGA. WANG Liqin made more mistakes at the beginning because the three players’ styles are different from one another; this has caused us a headache, but we can see that we are quick to adapt.”
Poland’s Partyka Well Desired in Beijing
Germany’s women’s dream of a medal has receded into the distance. In the Group C, they lost 3-0 against the young Romanian team. The Germans now have to beat Hong Kong China and Poland tomorrow to keep up the chance to proceed.
In the Group D, there are also two teams competing for the first place that is necessary to compete for gold and silver. Korea and Japan won 3-0 respectively against Spain and Poland. Afterwards Natalia PARTYKA from Poland stood more than 30 minutes in the mixed zone, giving interviews. She is the only table tennis player qualified for the Olympics and Paralympics. She only lost in the fifth game against TIE Yana.
”We have played PARTYKA before and she did not play so well. Her attacks today were excellent. Even though she has an amputated right arm, she was playing better than an average player”, said TIE about her opponent. Singapore is leading the Women’s Group B with two victories against USA and Nigeria. Losing against the United States, the Dutch women’s team has the possibility to reach the first place with an exploit against Singapore.
Korea Wins in Spite of Ryu’s Hiccup
In the Men’s Group B, there was a close competition between Croatia and Germany but finally Germany won 3-0. Timo BOLL and friends, seeded number 2 overall, are on the right way to reach the last four teams. After playing Canada in the morning, the squad of German coach Richard PRAUSE will have to ensure its good position against Singapore at 14:30 tomorrow.
In the Group C, Korea has two victories after beating Sweden and Brazil 3-0 and 3-1 respectively. Korea’s reigning Olympic champion RYU Seung Min: "I think every match is always very hard, particularly the first round but today we had lots of confidence against the Swedish team so we played quite well. I think we can do this again in our next game." But in the second competition against Brazil, it was RYU, who lost a match. It was a 0-3 against Thiago MONTEIRO.
In the Group D, Russia and Nigeria now have no more chance to reach the first or second place and to aim for a medal. These final positions will be decided tomorrow in the match between Japan and Hong Kong China
torsdag 7 augusti 2008
The draw
The draw for the first team event in the Olympic history was held today at 3 p.m. local time.
The Competition Manager of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Mr. Yao Zhenxu welcomed representatives of the countries, media and spectators at the Park Plaza Beijing Science Park in the Chinese capital Beijing.
The Groups
Women’s Team event:
Group A: China, Austria, Croatia, Dominican Republic
Group B: Singapore, Netherlands, USA, Nigeria
Group C: Hong Kong China, Germany, Poland, Romania
Group D: Korea Republic, Japan, Spain, Australia
Men’s Team event:
Group A: China, Austria, Greece, Australia
Group B: Germany, Singapore, Croatia, Canada
Group C: Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Sweden, Brazil
Group D: Hong Kong China, Japan, Russia, Nigeria
Schedule
The Men’s as well as the Women’s Team events will start on Wednesday, 13th August, 10:00 a.m. 2008 at Peking University Gymnasium in Beijing.
On 14th August, the team draw for the final rounds will be staged at the venue after the last matches have finished.
Only the winners of each group will contest for the gold medal. The second placed teams will compete for the bronze medal with the losers of the semi-final contests.
The Women’s Team final will be held at 19:30 p.m. on Sunday 17th August; the Men’s Team final is scheduled at the same time on Monday 18th August.
The Competition Manager of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), Mr. Yao Zhenxu welcomed representatives of the countries, media and spectators at the Park Plaza Beijing Science Park in the Chinese capital Beijing.
The Groups
Women’s Team event:
Group A: China, Austria, Croatia, Dominican Republic
Group B: Singapore, Netherlands, USA, Nigeria
Group C: Hong Kong China, Germany, Poland, Romania
Group D: Korea Republic, Japan, Spain, Australia
Men’s Team event:
Group A: China, Austria, Greece, Australia
Group B: Germany, Singapore, Croatia, Canada
Group C: Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Sweden, Brazil
Group D: Hong Kong China, Japan, Russia, Nigeria
Schedule
The Men’s as well as the Women’s Team events will start on Wednesday, 13th August, 10:00 a.m. 2008 at Peking University Gymnasium in Beijing.
On 14th August, the team draw for the final rounds will be staged at the venue after the last matches have finished.
Only the winners of each group will contest for the gold medal. The second placed teams will compete for the bronze medal with the losers of the semi-final contests.
The Women’s Team final will be held at 19:30 p.m. on Sunday 17th August; the Men’s Team final is scheduled at the same time on Monday 18th August.
torsdag 31 juli 2008
Olympic Team Events – Seeding, Draw and Alternate Players
For the first time in the Olympic history, table tennis will be played in a team event format. A team consists of three players. Each team can nominate one alternate player that can replace another one in case of injury or sickness.
Seeding List for the Team Competition
Following the specific rules for the Olympics, a special team ranking list taking into consideration only the players qualified from each team was produced on the basis of the ITTF July 2008 World Ranking to establish the seeds for the round robin stage.
Men:
1 China
2 Germany
3 Korea Republic
4 Hong Kong China
5 Japan
6 Chinese Taipei
7 Singapore
8 Austria
9 Croatia
10 Greece
11 Sweden
12 Russia
13 Brazil
14 Nigeria
15 Canada
16 Australia
Women:
1 China
2 Singapore
3 Hong Kong China
4 Korea Republic
5 Japan
6 Germany
7 Netherlands
8 Austria
9 USA
10 Croatia
11 Spain
12 Poland
13 Romania
14 Australia
15 Dominican Republic
16 Nigeria
Possible Groups
Men’s Team event:
Group A: China, Singapore/Austria, Croatia/Greece, Canada/Australia
Group B: Germany, Singapore/Austria, Croatia/Greece, Canada/Australia
Group C: Korea Republic, Japan/Chinese Taipei, Sweden/Russia, Brazil/Nigeria
Group D: Hong Kong China, Japan/Chinese Taipei, Sweden/Russia, Brazil/Nigeria
Women’s Team event:
Group A: China, Netherlands/Austria, USA/Croatia, Dominican Republic/Nigeria
Group B: Singapore, Netherlands/Austria, USA/Croatia, Dominican Republic/Nigeria
Group C: Hong Kong China, Japan/Germany, Spain/Poland, Romania/Australia
Group D: Korea Republic, Japan/Germany, Spain/Poland, Romania/Australia
Example: The Austrian women will either be drawn into Group A with China or into Group B with Singapore. If Austria is in Group A, the Netherlands will be in Group B.
The winning teams of each group shall play-off, in a knockout semi-final format for the gold and silver medals. The second placed teams of each group and the semi-final contest losers shall play-off for the bronze medal.
Date and Place of the Team Draw
The team draw will be held on 7th August 2008 at 15:00 (3:00pm) on the 3rd floor of the hotel Park Plaza Beijing Science Park (25 Zhi Chun Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 China, www.parkplaza.com/beijingcn_sciencepark).
Complete Team List with Alternate PlayersOn the ITTF website you will find the complete team list including the alternate players. Your direct link is here.
Seeding List for the Team Competition
Following the specific rules for the Olympics, a special team ranking list taking into consideration only the players qualified from each team was produced on the basis of the ITTF July 2008 World Ranking to establish the seeds for the round robin stage.
Men:
1 China
2 Germany
3 Korea Republic
4 Hong Kong China
5 Japan
6 Chinese Taipei
7 Singapore
8 Austria
9 Croatia
10 Greece
11 Sweden
12 Russia
13 Brazil
14 Nigeria
15 Canada
16 Australia
Women:
1 China
2 Singapore
3 Hong Kong China
4 Korea Republic
5 Japan
6 Germany
7 Netherlands
8 Austria
9 USA
10 Croatia
11 Spain
12 Poland
13 Romania
14 Australia
15 Dominican Republic
16 Nigeria
Possible Groups
Men’s Team event:
Group A: China, Singapore/Austria, Croatia/Greece, Canada/Australia
Group B: Germany, Singapore/Austria, Croatia/Greece, Canada/Australia
Group C: Korea Republic, Japan/Chinese Taipei, Sweden/Russia, Brazil/Nigeria
Group D: Hong Kong China, Japan/Chinese Taipei, Sweden/Russia, Brazil/Nigeria
Women’s Team event:
Group A: China, Netherlands/Austria, USA/Croatia, Dominican Republic/Nigeria
Group B: Singapore, Netherlands/Austria, USA/Croatia, Dominican Republic/Nigeria
Group C: Hong Kong China, Japan/Germany, Spain/Poland, Romania/Australia
Group D: Korea Republic, Japan/Germany, Spain/Poland, Romania/Australia
Example: The Austrian women will either be drawn into Group A with China or into Group B with Singapore. If Austria is in Group A, the Netherlands will be in Group B.
The winning teams of each group shall play-off, in a knockout semi-final format for the gold and silver medals. The second placed teams of each group and the semi-final contest losers shall play-off for the bronze medal.
Date and Place of the Team Draw
The team draw will be held on 7th August 2008 at 15:00 (3:00pm) on the 3rd floor of the hotel Park Plaza Beijing Science Park (25 Zhi Chun Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 China, www.parkplaza.com/beijingcn_sciencepark).
Complete Team List with Alternate PlayersOn the ITTF website you will find the complete team list including the alternate players. Your direct link is here.
tisdag 29 juli 2008
Players’ Biographies on the ITTF Website
How old is MA Lin, where was Ai FUKUHARA born and which strange habit makes Dimitrij OVTCHAROV so strong? What is Australia’s Kyle DAVIS’ particular view of the world and how do I find Austria’s LIU Jia’s personal website? On the ITTF website you will now get an answer to all these questions.
Olympians and more
All 172 players who will be on duty in Beijing were asked several questions about their lives, hobbies and about table tennis. Furthermore each biography is linked with all articles ever written on the ITTF website about the respective player as well as linked with his or her career results (Stats Record) and ranking history since January 2001.
The collection of the biographies will be maintained after the Olympic Games in Beijing and also contains other table tennis top stars that missed the Olympic Games 2008.
Direct link.
Olympians and more
All 172 players who will be on duty in Beijing were asked several questions about their lives, hobbies and about table tennis. Furthermore each biography is linked with all articles ever written on the ITTF website about the respective player as well as linked with his or her career results (Stats Record) and ranking history since January 2001.
The collection of the biographies will be maintained after the Olympic Games in Beijing and also contains other table tennis top stars that missed the Olympic Games 2008.
Direct link.
Pictures of the Day, Quotes and Results on ITTF.com
During the Olympic Games’ table tennis competitions a daily picture gallery will be provided on the ITTF website (www.ittf.com).
The pictures are free of charge and can be used with the condition that you state the source (by courtesy of ITTF).
We will also deliver you on our website with regular flash quotes of players and coaches after their matches as well as with results and live scoring.
The pictures are free of charge and can be used with the condition that you state the source (by courtesy of ITTF).
We will also deliver you on our website with regular flash quotes of players and coaches after their matches as well as with results and live scoring.
måndag 7 juli 2008
torsdag 3 juli 2008
Dutch Decision against Keen is Blaszczyk’s Luck
The 15th June 2008 was the deadline for all National Olympic Committees to confirm the entries of their participating players and teams for the Olympic table tennis events from 13th to 23rd August 2008 in Beijing, China. Now all the players are definitely known.
Trinko Keen Replaced by Lucjan Blaszczyk
The Dutch National Olympic Committee rejected the recommendation of the Dutch Table Tennis Association (NTTB) to nominate Mr. Trinko KEEN for the Olympic Men’s Singles event. KEEN’s results on the ITTF Pro Tour did not fulfil the national qualifying rules. Therefore the thirty-six year old will not be Olympian in 2008. The Games in Beijing would have been his fourth Olympic Games in a row.
“It would have been fantastic to compete in the Olympic tournament, especially in the home country of our sport. The national federation put in a maximum of effort to let me play. Unfortunately there’s nothing more I can do”, a disappointed KEEN said in the NTTB press release.
This decision is in favour of another European “oldie”, Poland’s Lucjan BLASZCZYK. The thirty-three year old was the best non-qualified player on the occasion of the Final World Olympic Qualification Tournament being held in Budapest, Hungary from 8th to 11th May 2008. The Polish Olympic Committee as well as the Polish Table Tennis Association confirmed BLASZCZYK for the Men’s Singles event in Beijing.
Trinko Keen Replaced by Lucjan Blaszczyk
The Dutch National Olympic Committee rejected the recommendation of the Dutch Table Tennis Association (NTTB) to nominate Mr. Trinko KEEN for the Olympic Men’s Singles event. KEEN’s results on the ITTF Pro Tour did not fulfil the national qualifying rules. Therefore the thirty-six year old will not be Olympian in 2008. The Games in Beijing would have been his fourth Olympic Games in a row.
“It would have been fantastic to compete in the Olympic tournament, especially in the home country of our sport. The national federation put in a maximum of effort to let me play. Unfortunately there’s nothing more I can do”, a disappointed KEEN said in the NTTB press release.
This decision is in favour of another European “oldie”, Poland’s Lucjan BLASZCZYK. The thirty-three year old was the best non-qualified player on the occasion of the Final World Olympic Qualification Tournament being held in Budapest, Hungary from 8th to 11th May 2008. The Polish Olympic Committee as well as the Polish Table Tennis Association confirmed BLASZCZYK for the Men’s Singles event in Beijing.
måndag 30 juni 2008
onsdag 25 juni 2008
Pär Gerell beats Daniel Zwickl
Some points from the match betwen PG and Zwickl in budapest during the qualifications for the olympics.
måndag 16 juni 2008
Champions league 2008/2009
These are the teams for the next season in CL. I presented the teams in order of seeding.
I have a few comments about the teams. I think Düsseldorf will be very hard to beat; they have three really good players and one of the absolutely best in Timo Boll.
A team to look out for is the french team Hennebont with two world class players in their team.
I'm looking forward to the next season and to get to know whos best in Europe, one tning is for sure, Niederösterreich will not have a easy repeat to their victory this year.
Borussia Düsseldorf (Germany)
Boll, Ovtcharov, Süss
CTM Cajagranada (Spain)
Samsonov, Juanito, GardosSVS
Niederösterreich (Austria)
Schlager, Yoo Jae Young, Chen Weixing
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (Germany)
Chuan Chih Yuan, Crisan, Per Gerell
Levallois Sporting Club TT (France)
Joo See Hyuk, Eloi, Chila
Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 (Denmark)
Maze, Bentsen, Tugwell
Royal Villette Charleroi (Belgium)
Saive, Korbel, Gacina
TTC Müller Frickenhausen-Würzburg (Germany)
Steger, Tan, Matsudaira
Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (Poland)
Cheung Yuk, Wang Yen Zhi, Olejnik
Angers Vaillante TT (France)
Jens Lundqvist, Wosik, Keinath
Lombard BVSC Budapest (Hungary)
Jörgen Persson, Wang Jianfeng, Zwickl
Sterilgarda TT (Italy)
Monteiro, Yang Min, Bobocica
San Sebastian de los Reyes TTC (Spain)
Achanta Sharath Ramal, Sereda, Carneros
GV Hennebont TT (France)
Ryu Seung Min, Kreanga, Quentel
MKS TS Trasko Ostrzeszow (Poland)
Gorak, Kusinski, Such
SAG Cestas (France)
Lin Ju, Pistej, Vostes
I have a few comments about the teams. I think Düsseldorf will be very hard to beat; they have three really good players and one of the absolutely best in Timo Boll.
A team to look out for is the french team Hennebont with two world class players in their team.
I'm looking forward to the next season and to get to know whos best in Europe, one tning is for sure, Niederösterreich will not have a easy repeat to their victory this year.
Borussia Düsseldorf (Germany)
Boll, Ovtcharov, Süss
CTM Cajagranada (Spain)
Samsonov, Juanito, GardosSVS
Niederösterreich (Austria)
Schlager, Yoo Jae Young, Chen Weixing
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (Germany)
Chuan Chih Yuan, Crisan, Per Gerell
Levallois Sporting Club TT (France)
Joo See Hyuk, Eloi, Chila
Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 (Denmark)
Maze, Bentsen, Tugwell
Royal Villette Charleroi (Belgium)
Saive, Korbel, Gacina
TTC Müller Frickenhausen-Würzburg (Germany)
Steger, Tan, Matsudaira
Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (Poland)
Cheung Yuk, Wang Yen Zhi, Olejnik
Angers Vaillante TT (France)
Jens Lundqvist, Wosik, Keinath
Lombard BVSC Budapest (Hungary)
Jörgen Persson, Wang Jianfeng, Zwickl
Sterilgarda TT (Italy)
Monteiro, Yang Min, Bobocica
San Sebastian de los Reyes TTC (Spain)
Achanta Sharath Ramal, Sereda, Carneros
GV Hennebont TT (France)
Ryu Seung Min, Kreanga, Quentel
MKS TS Trasko Ostrzeszow (Poland)
Gorak, Kusinski, Such
SAG Cestas (France)
Lin Ju, Pistej, Vostes
torsdag 12 juni 2008
News feed from ITTF
Pro Tour Event Moves from France to Austria
The 2008 Erke French Open will be replaced by the 2008 Erke Austrian Open. The thirteenth Pro Tour event of the season 2008 will be staged in Salzburg from 29th October to 2nd November 2008.
FFTT Unable this Year
The French Table Tennis Federation (FFTT) informed the ITTF marketing division TMS International that they were unable to stage the 2008 Erke French Open.
In joint efforts from TMS and the ITTF President Mr. Adham Sharara, it was found the possibility to replace the event with the 2008 Erke Austrian Open.
From Slovenia to Macau
In the Olympic season, the 2008 ITTF Pro Tour consists of seventeen tournaments. The Tour started in Velenje, Slovenia and ends with the Pro Tour Grand Finals being held in Macau from 11th to 14th December. The overall prize money of the 2008 ITTF Pro Tour is approximately two million US dollars.
The 2008 Erke French Open will be replaced by the 2008 Erke Austrian Open. The thirteenth Pro Tour event of the season 2008 will be staged in Salzburg from 29th October to 2nd November 2008.
FFTT Unable this Year
The French Table Tennis Federation (FFTT) informed the ITTF marketing division TMS International that they were unable to stage the 2008 Erke French Open.
In joint efforts from TMS and the ITTF President Mr. Adham Sharara, it was found the possibility to replace the event with the 2008 Erke Austrian Open.
From Slovenia to Macau
In the Olympic season, the 2008 ITTF Pro Tour consists of seventeen tournaments. The Tour started in Velenje, Slovenia and ends with the Pro Tour Grand Finals being held in Macau from 11th to 14th December. The overall prize money of the 2008 ITTF Pro Tour is approximately two million US dollars.
MIA Jan-Ove Waldner
From ITTF.com
The name is that of Jan-Ove Waldner, in many people’s eyes the greatest table tennis player of all time and of course Plato is correct, the famous name does not appear on the ITTF Men’s Ranking list for June 2008.
Born on 3rd October 1965, the legendary Swede first entered the ITTF Men’s World Ranking list in August 1982 in an era before technology was producing wonderous computerised list that have turned coaches and players into mathematical wizards.
One year later in March 1983 when the next World Ranking were issued, Jan-Ove Waldner had secured a top ten place, he was ranked ninth.
Now let us put that into current prospective; a new player comes on the scene, on the second ranking, within five months, they occupy a top ten place. It is a virtual impossibility, the nearest in the current era to achieve such a feat is the remarkable Feng Tianwei of Singapore.
She entered the ITTF Women’s World Rankings in July 2007 at no. 73 and now eleven months later is at number nine; however, she had a head start on Jan-Ove Waldner.
She played in China reached international level but of course gaining in a place in the Chinese women’s team is no easy task, she moved to Singapore and then meteoric progress. The progress of Feng Tianwei cannot be compared with that of Jan-Ove Waldner.
He occupied at top ten spot at the age of seventeen.
In April 1984 he progressed to number four, in June 1987 he was at number two and then in June 1989 at number one; a position he maintained until April 1991.
He returned to the top spot in August 1992 and stayed in that position until February 1994, in June 1995 he regain the exalted spot and was also at number one from May to October 1997.
Following the Liebherr World Team Championships in Bremen in 2006, appearances which counted for world ranking points became an increasing rarity and his last appearance on the global list was in May 2008, listed at forty-three.
Will he return one day?
I don’t know but if there is one phrase to describe Jan-Ove Waldner, it is “Expect the Unexpected!”
The name is that of Jan-Ove Waldner, in many people’s eyes the greatest table tennis player of all time and of course Plato is correct, the famous name does not appear on the ITTF Men’s Ranking list for June 2008.
Born on 3rd October 1965, the legendary Swede first entered the ITTF Men’s World Ranking list in August 1982 in an era before technology was producing wonderous computerised list that have turned coaches and players into mathematical wizards.
One year later in March 1983 when the next World Ranking were issued, Jan-Ove Waldner had secured a top ten place, he was ranked ninth.
Now let us put that into current prospective; a new player comes on the scene, on the second ranking, within five months, they occupy a top ten place. It is a virtual impossibility, the nearest in the current era to achieve such a feat is the remarkable Feng Tianwei of Singapore.
She entered the ITTF Women’s World Rankings in July 2007 at no. 73 and now eleven months later is at number nine; however, she had a head start on Jan-Ove Waldner.
She played in China reached international level but of course gaining in a place in the Chinese women’s team is no easy task, she moved to Singapore and then meteoric progress. The progress of Feng Tianwei cannot be compared with that of Jan-Ove Waldner.
He occupied at top ten spot at the age of seventeen.
In April 1984 he progressed to number four, in June 1987 he was at number two and then in June 1989 at number one; a position he maintained until April 1991.
He returned to the top spot in August 1992 and stayed in that position until February 1994, in June 1995 he regain the exalted spot and was also at number one from May to October 1997.
Following the Liebherr World Team Championships in Bremen in 2006, appearances which counted for world ranking points became an increasing rarity and his last appearance on the global list was in May 2008, listed at forty-three.
Will he return one day?
I don’t know but if there is one phrase to describe Jan-Ove Waldner, it is “Expect the Unexpected!”
söndag 8 juni 2008
News feed from ITTF
Germany’s Timo Boll and Christian Süss suffered a shock defeat in the preliminary stages of the Men’s Doubles event at the TMS Singapore Open on Thursday 5th June 2008.
The reigning European champions and silver medallists in 2005 at the Volkswagen 48th World Championships, they were beaten in five games by the Korean duo of Choi Hyun Jin and Lee Sang Su in their opening encounter.
Choi Hyun Jin and Lee Sang Su won 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9.
The victory was the shock of the day and most certainly a major confidence boost for the Koreans, in their next duel they beat Sweden’s Jon Persson and Turkey’s Zeng Cem to book their place in the main draw.
Defeat for the highest rated pair but not for the next in line; however, it was close. Russia’s Fedor Kuzmin secured their place in the main draw but they had a struggle. In the vital qualification duel they beat Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Peng-Lung and Huang Sheng-Sheng by the very narrowest of five game margins.
Similarly in the preliminary stages of the Women’s Doubles event there was one result to cause a stir.
Germany’s Tanja Hain-Hofmann partnering Austria’s Liu Jia beat the powerful Chinese pairing of Guo Yan and Liu Shiwen, both players currently in the top twenty of the ITTF Women’s World Rankings.
Otherwise, the second day of play saw matters go very much according to plan.
Top seeds in the preliminary stage of the Women’s Doubles event, China’s Chang Chenchen and Li Xiaoxia came through successfully as did the second seeds Japan’s Haruna Fukuoka and Sayaka Hirano.
Meanwhile, in the singles events; Korea’s Kang Dong Hoon saved the day for Germany’s Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth. On the opening day the German had lost to Austria’s rising star, Stefen Fegerl, the Korean then beat Fegerl in the final group match. The end result was that on games ratio saw Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth finish in top spot with Stefen Fegerl in second place.
The top two players in each group in both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events progressed to the main draw, for Kang Dong Hoon it was agonising elimination.
Eventual success for Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth and also places in the main draw for the highest world ranked players on duty in the qualification stage; Russia’s Igor Rubtsov, Germany’s Lars Hielscher and Korea’s Choi Hyun Jun duly booked their places in the next stage.
The top four ranked men all finished as group winners but for the ladies it was slightly different; Croatia’s Sandra Paovic, the second highest world ranked player on duty had to settle for second place with top spot going to Chinese Taiei’s Lim Chia-Hui who overcame Russia’s Anastasia Voronova to secure first place.
Problems for Sandra Paovic but not for Japan’s Reiko Hiura, the highest world ranked player in action. She finished her group in first place as did the third and fourth rated ladies; first place was the order of the day for Xian Yi Fang of France and Korea’s Moon Hyn Jung.
The reigning European champions and silver medallists in 2005 at the Volkswagen 48th World Championships, they were beaten in five games by the Korean duo of Choi Hyun Jin and Lee Sang Su in their opening encounter.
Choi Hyun Jin and Lee Sang Su won 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9.
The victory was the shock of the day and most certainly a major confidence boost for the Koreans, in their next duel they beat Sweden’s Jon Persson and Turkey’s Zeng Cem to book their place in the main draw.
Defeat for the highest rated pair but not for the next in line; however, it was close. Russia’s Fedor Kuzmin secured their place in the main draw but they had a struggle. In the vital qualification duel they beat Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Peng-Lung and Huang Sheng-Sheng by the very narrowest of five game margins.
Similarly in the preliminary stages of the Women’s Doubles event there was one result to cause a stir.
Germany’s Tanja Hain-Hofmann partnering Austria’s Liu Jia beat the powerful Chinese pairing of Guo Yan and Liu Shiwen, both players currently in the top twenty of the ITTF Women’s World Rankings.
Otherwise, the second day of play saw matters go very much according to plan.
Top seeds in the preliminary stage of the Women’s Doubles event, China’s Chang Chenchen and Li Xiaoxia came through successfully as did the second seeds Japan’s Haruna Fukuoka and Sayaka Hirano.
Meanwhile, in the singles events; Korea’s Kang Dong Hoon saved the day for Germany’s Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth. On the opening day the German had lost to Austria’s rising star, Stefen Fegerl, the Korean then beat Fegerl in the final group match. The end result was that on games ratio saw Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth finish in top spot with Stefen Fegerl in second place.
The top two players in each group in both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events progressed to the main draw, for Kang Dong Hoon it was agonising elimination.
Eventual success for Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth and also places in the main draw for the highest world ranked players on duty in the qualification stage; Russia’s Igor Rubtsov, Germany’s Lars Hielscher and Korea’s Choi Hyun Jun duly booked their places in the next stage.
The top four ranked men all finished as group winners but for the ladies it was slightly different; Croatia’s Sandra Paovic, the second highest world ranked player on duty had to settle for second place with top spot going to Chinese Taiei’s Lim Chia-Hui who overcame Russia’s Anastasia Voronova to secure first place.
Problems for Sandra Paovic but not for Japan’s Reiko Hiura, the highest world ranked player in action. She finished her group in first place as did the third and fourth rated ladies; first place was the order of the day for Xian Yi Fang of France and Korea’s Moon Hyn Jung.
fredag 6 juni 2008
How Swede it is!
What a great success for Sweden in France.
Mattias "Mandel" Karlsson won his third title this year after winning in the finals against his compatriot Viktor Brodd.
Sweden had 3 out of four players in the semi finals and that without their highest ranked player Kristian Karlsson in the line up.
Mattias made it to semi finals without any greater problems but in the semi he met Chiu from Hong Kong and there was problem for the sweet Swede. After having the lead by 3-0 he let Chui make it back in three hard games taking the match to a deciding game. Karlsson have made it to finals earlier this year and his experience from this probably helped him winning this deciding game so comfortably as he did with 11-6.
In the final he faced his compatriot Viktor Brodd and this was a big surprise because Brodd was only seeded to proceed to the quarterfinals but he beat first Danish player Hindersson by 4-3 and by the smallest of margins in the deciding game.
Then he faced yet another Swede and also top seeded player, Simon Arvidsson. Once again it was a very tight and hard game. Arvidsson took the lead by 3-1 but Brodd never gave up and after seven games he was the winner.
In the finals Mattias Karlsson was the better player and won by 4-2.
What a day for the young Swedes!!!
But they weren’t satisfied with this. And especially not Mattias Karlsson.
Karlsson and Arvidsson played together as always and they didn’t have any problem making it to the finals where they faced a French team consisting of Lorentz and Gauzy. The Swedes where behind by 2-1 before making a comeback of great play and winning easily the last remaining games and by that securing the title.
What a day for Mattias Karlsson, probably something he will remember for all his life.
Mattias "Mandel" Karlsson won his third title this year after winning in the finals against his compatriot Viktor Brodd.
Sweden had 3 out of four players in the semi finals and that without their highest ranked player Kristian Karlsson in the line up.
Mattias made it to semi finals without any greater problems but in the semi he met Chiu from Hong Kong and there was problem for the sweet Swede. After having the lead by 3-0 he let Chui make it back in three hard games taking the match to a deciding game. Karlsson have made it to finals earlier this year and his experience from this probably helped him winning this deciding game so comfortably as he did with 11-6.
In the final he faced his compatriot Viktor Brodd and this was a big surprise because Brodd was only seeded to proceed to the quarterfinals but he beat first Danish player Hindersson by 4-3 and by the smallest of margins in the deciding game.
Then he faced yet another Swede and also top seeded player, Simon Arvidsson. Once again it was a very tight and hard game. Arvidsson took the lead by 3-1 but Brodd never gave up and after seven games he was the winner.
In the finals Mattias Karlsson was the better player and won by 4-2.
What a day for the young Swedes!!!
But they weren’t satisfied with this. And especially not Mattias Karlsson.
Karlsson and Arvidsson played together as always and they didn’t have any problem making it to the finals where they faced a French team consisting of Lorentz and Gauzy. The Swedes where behind by 2-1 before making a comeback of great play and winning easily the last remaining games and by that securing the title.
What a day for Mattias Karlsson, probably something he will remember for all his life.
torsdag 5 juni 2008
Viva le blue
Halvard Fjell lost his last match at the group stage and it cost him the first place in the group to Hunor Szocs.
In three straight games Harald Andersson dismissed Najwer from Poland and took the second place in the group.
Both Översjö and Brodd won their last game and were both undefeated as was Karlsson and Arvidsson.
Malin Pettersson won the last game by 3-0 comfortably.
All this at the group stage, now to the main event!
Malin Pettersson whom is in the top four seeding didn’t have any problem making it to the quarterfinals were she will meet Szocs from Romania (sister to Hunor?).
Mattias Karlsson top seeded in the boys competition started off quite badly but pulled through after be behind by both 2-1 and 3-2. He won in the first round over Brossier from France with 4-3. In the next round he faced Efimov from Russia and no small problem sending the Russian out of the competition in straight games.
Översjö won very easy over the Spaniard Brugada and will be facing Diaw from France in the next round.
Harald Andersson didn’t stand a chance against French player Gauzy and lost 4-0.
4-3 after be behind by 1-3 was the score for Viktor Brodd playing yet another French player, Samouillan. Next he will be playing, yes, another French player this time Le Guen.
Arvidsson being top seeded won his first game but has a tough opponent in the next round. Robinot from , surprise, France, the home player has shown good form but will he be able to beat Arvidsson?
In three straight games Harald Andersson dismissed Najwer from Poland and took the second place in the group.
Both Översjö and Brodd won their last game and were both undefeated as was Karlsson and Arvidsson.
Malin Pettersson won the last game by 3-0 comfortably.
All this at the group stage, now to the main event!
Malin Pettersson whom is in the top four seeding didn’t have any problem making it to the quarterfinals were she will meet Szocs from Romania (sister to Hunor?).
Mattias Karlsson top seeded in the boys competition started off quite badly but pulled through after be behind by both 2-1 and 3-2. He won in the first round over Brossier from France with 4-3. In the next round he faced Efimov from Russia and no small problem sending the Russian out of the competition in straight games.
Översjö won very easy over the Spaniard Brugada and will be facing Diaw from France in the next round.
Harald Andersson didn’t stand a chance against French player Gauzy and lost 4-0.
4-3 after be behind by 1-3 was the score for Viktor Brodd playing yet another French player, Samouillan. Next he will be playing, yes, another French player this time Le Guen.
Arvidsson being top seeded won his first game but has a tough opponent in the next round. Robinot from , surprise, France, the home player has shown good form but will he be able to beat Arvidsson?
Group stage in Singapore
Not very surprisingly Jon Persson won his last match at the group stage against Li Kwun Ngai. It was a very close match but Persson was at is best on the deciding points and won it 4-1.
Further more it went as expected between Asmussen and Rumgay. The Dane was better and won 4-1 in a game-by-game hard match. Apolonia won the group of course.
Christan “Mr Bean” Larsen won to matches and I still think it’s quite weird that he will be playing in the Swedish division 1 (third division) this year once more.
Further more it went as expected between Asmussen and Rumgay. The Dane was better and won 4-1 in a game-by-game hard match. Apolonia won the group of course.
Christan “Mr Bean” Larsen won to matches and I still think it’s quite weird that he will be playing in the Swedish division 1 (third division) this year once more.
onsdag 4 juni 2008
Juniors in France
At the group stage there are no big surprises.
Mattias Karlsson won his two matches easily as did Simon Arvidsson.
Hindersson from Denmark also qualified for the main event by winning three matches in his group. As did the both French players Le Breton and Le Guen.
Viktor Brodd and Mattias Översjö have won their first two matches and are favourites to win their last match at the group stage. Harald “The Hare” Andersson lost his first game in the group and are now in trouble to qualify.
Halvard Fjell from Norway made a great comeback when he turned his game against Szocs and won 3-2 after being behind by 0-2.
Malin Pettersson won her first to matches. But she was in trouble in the second one against Lengert and won by the smallest of margins in the deciding set.
Singapore
Jon Persson won his second game in the group, this time against Habesohn from Austria. Next he will face Lee Kwun Ngai but due to his big victories he is already through to the main event.
On of my favourite players right now Thiago Apolonia has beaten two players in the group stage with one thing in common. They both will be playing in the Swedish Elitserie next season. First he beat Jakob Asmussen and then went on to win against Gavin Rumgay. These two players will next face each other, who will win?
To be continued..
On of my favourite players right now Thiago Apolonia has beaten two players in the group stage with one thing in common. They both will be playing in the Swedish Elitserie next season. First he beat Jakob Asmussen and then went on to win against Gavin Rumgay. These two players will next face each other, who will win?
To be continued..
TMS Singapore
The competition started off with a win for the only Swede in the starting line up, Jon Persson is in the house. 
Jon Person plays in a group consisting of four players. Li Kwon Ngai (HKG), Pang Xue Jie (SIN) and Habesohn (AUT) and himself of course.
Jon is by far the highest ranked player in the group and should have good chances to proceed to the main event. He started off quite well by beating Pang in straight games, 4-0.
Next he will be facing Habesohn in a key match, if Jon wins his probably through.
Jon Person plays in a group consisting of four players. Li Kwon Ngai (HKG), Pang Xue Jie (SIN) and Habesohn (AUT) and himself of course.
Jon is by far the highest ranked player in the group and should have good chances to proceed to the main event. He started off quite well by beating Pang in straight games, 4-0.
Next he will be facing Habesohn in a key match, if Jon wins his probably through.
fredag 30 maj 2008
News feed from ITTF
China’s Li Xiaoxia the number two seed and Liu Shiwen, the number twelve seed both suffered unexpected defeats in the second round of the Women’s Singles event at the Volkswagen Open Korea in Daejeon on Friday 30th May 2008.
Li Xiaoxia was beaten in seven games by compatriot Fan Ying, whilst Liu Shiwen suffered in six games in opposition to Thailand’s Nanthana Komwong.
Liu Shiwen currently appears at no. 15 on the ITTF Women’s World Rankings whilst Li Xiaoxia is at no. 3; by comparison Fan Ying is ranked no. 33 and Nanthana Komwong no. 80.
Defeat for two star names but not for Guo Yue seeded one, Wang Nan seeded three and Guo Yan, seeded four; all enjoyed safe passages to round three.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Singles event the most notable casualty was the host nation’s Oh Sang Eun; the defending champion, he was beaten in seven games in round two by Hong Kong’s Cheung Yuk.
On the May 2008 ITTF Men’s World Ranking list, Oh Sang Eun appears at no. 9 whilst Cheung Yuk is at no. 35.
However, for the top four seeded men, all from China there were no travails. Wang Hao, Ma Lin, Wang Liqin and Ma Long all progressed without alarm.
Similarly in the doubles events the leading lights negotiated the opening round safely.
Top seeds in the Men’s Doubles competition, Wang Hao and Wang Liqin duly reached the quarter-finals as did second seeds Ma Lin and Ma Long, whilst in the Women’s Doubles event there was joy for the host nation.
Seeded one, Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young reached the round of the last eight pairs as did second seeds, Japan’s Ai Fukuhara and Sayaka Hirano.
Li Xiaoxia was beaten in seven games by compatriot Fan Ying, whilst Liu Shiwen suffered in six games in opposition to Thailand’s Nanthana Komwong.
Liu Shiwen currently appears at no. 15 on the ITTF Women’s World Rankings whilst Li Xiaoxia is at no. 3; by comparison Fan Ying is ranked no. 33 and Nanthana Komwong no. 80.
Defeat for two star names but not for Guo Yue seeded one, Wang Nan seeded three and Guo Yan, seeded four; all enjoyed safe passages to round three.
Meanwhile, in the Men’s Singles event the most notable casualty was the host nation’s Oh Sang Eun; the defending champion, he was beaten in seven games in round two by Hong Kong’s Cheung Yuk.
On the May 2008 ITTF Men’s World Ranking list, Oh Sang Eun appears at no. 9 whilst Cheung Yuk is at no. 35.
However, for the top four seeded men, all from China there were no travails. Wang Hao, Ma Lin, Wang Liqin and Ma Long all progressed without alarm.
Similarly in the doubles events the leading lights negotiated the opening round safely.
Top seeds in the Men’s Doubles competition, Wang Hao and Wang Liqin duly reached the quarter-finals as did second seeds Ma Lin and Ma Long, whilst in the Women’s Doubles event there was joy for the host nation.
Seeded one, Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah and Park Mi Young reached the round of the last eight pairs as did second seeds, Japan’s Ai Fukuhara and Sayaka Hirano.
News feed from ITTF
Elena Timina, the former Russian international now resident and playing in the Netherlands, was the player to raise the eyebrows on the opening day of play, Thursday 29th May 2008, at the Volkswagen Open Korea in Daejeon.
Playing in her typically determined manner, her defensive skills to the fore; she beat Chinese Taipei teenager, Cheng I-Ching before accounting for Hong Kong’s Sun Jin in a hard fought six games duel.
Sun Jin is the latest recruit to the ranks of the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association; a former member of the Chinese national team she was a major force at international level between 1997 and 2000.
During that period, she reached the Women’s Singles final on nine occasions at open international tournaments on the ITTF Pro Tour, being crowned champion twice; whilst at the Sidney Olympic Games she was a silver medallist in the Women’s Doubles event. She partnered Yang Ying, the pair losing to colleagues Li Ju and Wang Nan in the final.
Defeat for Sun Jin but few problems for the highest world ranked players on duty in the qualification stage of the Women’s Singles event; Italy’s Wenling Tan Monfardini and Nikoleta Stefanova plus Thailand’s Nanthana Komwong and Li Jie of the Netherlands all emerged successful.
However, in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event there was one casualty; Chinese Taipei’s Chang Yen-Shu, the third highest world ranked male player on duty, was beaten by Austrian teenager, Stefan Fegerl.
The young Austrian finished in first place in the group overcoming Kuwait’s Ibrahim Al-Hasan to confirm top spot.
Defeat for Chang Yen-Shu but no great problems for the two highest rated men.
China’s Xu Hui and Germany’s Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth both enjoyed success as did the fourth highest world ranked player, Lars Hielscher, also from Germany.
Playing in her typically determined manner, her defensive skills to the fore; she beat Chinese Taipei teenager, Cheng I-Ching before accounting for Hong Kong’s Sun Jin in a hard fought six games duel.
Sun Jin is the latest recruit to the ranks of the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association; a former member of the Chinese national team she was a major force at international level between 1997 and 2000.
During that period, she reached the Women’s Singles final on nine occasions at open international tournaments on the ITTF Pro Tour, being crowned champion twice; whilst at the Sidney Olympic Games she was a silver medallist in the Women’s Doubles event. She partnered Yang Ying, the pair losing to colleagues Li Ju and Wang Nan in the final.
Defeat for Sun Jin but few problems for the highest world ranked players on duty in the qualification stage of the Women’s Singles event; Italy’s Wenling Tan Monfardini and Nikoleta Stefanova plus Thailand’s Nanthana Komwong and Li Jie of the Netherlands all emerged successful.
However, in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles event there was one casualty; Chinese Taipei’s Chang Yen-Shu, the third highest world ranked male player on duty, was beaten by Austrian teenager, Stefan Fegerl.
The young Austrian finished in first place in the group overcoming Kuwait’s Ibrahim Al-Hasan to confirm top spot.
Defeat for Chang Yen-Shu but no great problems for the two highest rated men.
China’s Xu Hui and Germany’s Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth both enjoyed success as did the fourth highest world ranked player, Lars Hielscher, also from Germany.
onsdag 28 maj 2008
Anger management
In this video you can see how Cem Zengs coach wants to go after Korbel. And this is after that Zeng has won. I wonder what would of happened if he lost..
söndag 25 maj 2008
News feed from ITTF
It was a perfect ending to proceedings for the host nation at the Belarus Open in Minsk on Sunday 25th May 2008; their leading male and female players struck gold.
Vladimir Samsonov, the number one seed, won the Men’s Singles title; whilst Viktoria Pavlovich, seeded two, captured the Women’s Singles crown.
At the final hurdle Vladimir Samsonov overcame China’s Xu Xin, the player against whom he had suffered defeat in the final of the team event; earlier he had ousted Turkey’s Zeng Cem in the quarters and Belarus compatriot Evgueni Chtchetinine in the semis.
It was the eighteenth Men’s Singles title of his career on the ITTF Pro Tour making an overall total of nineteen; in 1997 he won the Men’s Singles crown at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals.
Meanwhile, for Viktoria Pavlovich it was her first ever Women’s Singles title on the ITTF Pro Tour. She beat Linda Creemers of the Netherlands in the quarters, twin sister Veronika Pavlovich in the semis and Poland’s Yan Xiaoshan in the final.
It was Yan Xiaoshan who caused the major upset of the day beating Poland’s Li Qian, the number one seed, in the semi-finals; a player against who she lost in the semi-finals of the Women’s Team event.
However, Yan Xiaoshan almost failed to reach the semi-final stage; in the quarters she saved two match points in the vital seventh game against Russia’s seventeen year old Ekaterina Kolodyazhnaya before securing victory.
Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Evgueni Chtchetinine (BLR) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8
Xu Xin (CHN) bt Mikhail Paykov (RUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5
Final
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Xu Xin (CHN) 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8
Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Yan Xiaoshan (POL) bt Li Qian (POL) 11-5, 13-11, 11-2, 11-7
Viktoria Pavlovich (BLR bt Veronika Pavlovich (BLR) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9
Final
Viktoria Pavlovich (BLR) bt Yan Xiaoshan (POL) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5
Vladimir Samsonov, the number one seed, won the Men’s Singles title; whilst Viktoria Pavlovich, seeded two, captured the Women’s Singles crown.
At the final hurdle Vladimir Samsonov overcame China’s Xu Xin, the player against whom he had suffered defeat in the final of the team event; earlier he had ousted Turkey’s Zeng Cem in the quarters and Belarus compatriot Evgueni Chtchetinine in the semis.
It was the eighteenth Men’s Singles title of his career on the ITTF Pro Tour making an overall total of nineteen; in 1997 he won the Men’s Singles crown at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals.
Meanwhile, for Viktoria Pavlovich it was her first ever Women’s Singles title on the ITTF Pro Tour. She beat Linda Creemers of the Netherlands in the quarters, twin sister Veronika Pavlovich in the semis and Poland’s Yan Xiaoshan in the final.
It was Yan Xiaoshan who caused the major upset of the day beating Poland’s Li Qian, the number one seed, in the semi-finals; a player against who she lost in the semi-finals of the Women’s Team event.
However, Yan Xiaoshan almost failed to reach the semi-final stage; in the quarters she saved two match points in the vital seventh game against Russia’s seventeen year old Ekaterina Kolodyazhnaya before securing victory.
Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Evgueni Chtchetinine (BLR) 11-4, 11-6, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8
Xu Xin (CHN) bt Mikhail Paykov (RUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5
Final
Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Xu Xin (CHN) 11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8
Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Yan Xiaoshan (POL) bt Li Qian (POL) 11-5, 13-11, 11-2, 11-7
Viktoria Pavlovich (BLR bt Veronika Pavlovich (BLR) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9
Final
Viktoria Pavlovich (BLR) bt Yan Xiaoshan (POL) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5
As predicted
"I would be really suprised if Xu Xin wouldn't face Samsonov in the final even though both of them must win two matches each to get there".
Samsonov did meet Xu Xin and this time he hade his revenge, he won in a tight game with 4-1.
Both of them was in a class of their own and won all of their matches quite easy. The only player who could threaten them was "Merlin" Yingchao and he was beaten by Xu in the second round.
So another title to "The spiderman from Minsk"
Samsonov did meet Xu Xin and this time he hade his revenge, he won in a tight game with 4-1.
Both of them was in a class of their own and won all of their matches quite easy. The only player who could threaten them was "Merlin" Yingchao and he was beaten by Xu in the second round.
So another title to "The spiderman from Minsk"
Ma Lin is the winner
Ma Lin is the winner i Yokohama Japan.
In the semifinal he met his compatriot Wang Liqin and it was if not a walk in the park then something like that. 4-1 to Ma Lin
In the final he met the player ranked as number one in the world, Wang Hao. Wang Hao had before that won aginst yet another chinese guy, Ma Long, with 4-0.
The final was a open affair but Ma Lin won with 4-2.
11-9, 5-11, 12-10, 13-15, 11-9, 11-6
This means that Ma Lin and Wang Hao has 16 wins each against each other. In recent years Ma Lin has won a little bit more but it's always hard between these two players.
lördag 24 maj 2008
News from Japan and belarus
China in a class of theire own.
Men’s Team Final
CHINA 3-0 CROATIA
Wang Hao v Tan Ruiwu
11-7, 11-8, 11-8
Ma Lin v Zoran Primorac
8-11, 11-5, 111-5, 11-5
Ma Lin/Wang Hao v Andrei Gacina/Tan Ruiwu
11-3, 11-4, 11-6
And they have 4 out of four places in the semifinals.
***
In Belarus the chines "Third" team have already won the title but in the mens singles young Xu Xin who is unseeded won against his compatriot "Merlin" Yingchao. I would be really suprised if Xu Xin wouldn't face Samsonov in the final even though both of them must win two matches each to get there.
Cem Zheng from Turkey who beat Pär Gerell in the olympic qualifications haven't lost a game yet and that should tell some people how good he is. But now his up for ha challenge to great for him, Vladi Samsonov.
The chines guys are so good that it is scary. I just hope that they don't do like the swedish national team did a couple of years ago team and don't let the young ones get there chance. That would kill them like it did in the late nintees.
Men’s Team Final
CHINA 3-0 CROATIA
Wang Hao v Tan Ruiwu
11-7, 11-8, 11-8
Ma Lin v Zoran Primorac
8-11, 11-5, 111-5, 11-5
Ma Lin/Wang Hao v Andrei Gacina/Tan Ruiwu
11-3, 11-4, 11-6
And they have 4 out of four places in the semifinals.
***
In Belarus the chines "Third" team have already won the title but in the mens singles young Xu Xin who is unseeded won against his compatriot "Merlin" Yingchao. I would be really suprised if Xu Xin wouldn't face Samsonov in the final even though both of them must win two matches each to get there.
Cem Zheng from Turkey who beat Pär Gerell in the olympic qualifications haven't lost a game yet and that should tell some people how good he is. But now his up for ha challenge to great for him, Vladi Samsonov.
The chines guys are so good that it is scary. I just hope that they don't do like the swedish national team did a couple of years ago team and don't let the young ones get there chance. That would kill them like it did in the late nintees.
fredag 23 maj 2008
News feed from ITTF
fAt the Asian General Zone Olympic Qualification Tournament in Hong Kong in March, Korea’s Dang Ye Seo caused the major upset of proceedings by beating China’s Wang Nan, the 2000 Olympic Games Women’s Singles champion and three times Women’s Singles World champion.
In Yokohama in the first round of the Women’s Singles event at the Volkswagen Open Japan on Friday 23rd May 2008, she repeated the feat; she beat Wang Nan, seeded four, in a tense seven games duel to book her place in the second round.
Wang Nan was one of four seeded players to fall in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event, the others being Li Jiao of the Netherlands, Hong Kong’s Lin Ling and Japan’s Sayaka Hirano. Li Jiao lost to Hungary’s Geogina Pota, Lin Ling suffered at the hands of China’s Cao Zhen, whilst Sayaka Hirano was beaten by Hong Kong’s Lau Sui Fei.
Defeat for Wang Nan but no such problems for her compatriots; top seed Zhang Yining defeated Romania’s Elizabeta Samara, second seed Guo Yue overcame Korea’s Lee Eun Hee and third seed Li Xiaoxia accounted for Germany’s Elke Wosik.
Meanwhile, in the first round of the Men’s Singles event it was a tale of two halves. Only one seed fell in the top half, that being Singapore’s Yang Zi who lost to Portugal’s João Monteiro but in the lower half of the draw it was a different story; four seeds departed.
Croatia’s Zoran Primorac lost to the rising Chinese star, Zhang Jike, Chinese Taipei’s Chuan Chih-Yuan was beaten by Hong Kong’s Leung Chu Yan whilst the Koreans, Ryu Seung Min and Oh Sang Eun both departed in virtual unison.
Leung Chu Yan’s colleague, Cheung Yuk, defeated Ryu Seung Min whilst Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Peng-Lung ended the hopes of Oh Sang Eun.
However, for the top four seeds in the Men’s Singles event, all from China, there were no great problems.
Top seed Wang Hao and second seed Ma Lin both defeated Japanese opponents in the respective guises of Kaii Yoshida and Masato Shiono, whilst third seed Wang Liqin beat Korea’s Yoon Jae Young and fourth seed Ma Long ended the aspirations of Hong Kong’s Jiang Tianyi.
In Yokohama in the first round of the Women’s Singles event at the Volkswagen Open Japan on Friday 23rd May 2008, she repeated the feat; she beat Wang Nan, seeded four, in a tense seven games duel to book her place in the second round.
Wang Nan was one of four seeded players to fall in the opening round of the Women’s Singles event, the others being Li Jiao of the Netherlands, Hong Kong’s Lin Ling and Japan’s Sayaka Hirano. Li Jiao lost to Hungary’s Geogina Pota, Lin Ling suffered at the hands of China’s Cao Zhen, whilst Sayaka Hirano was beaten by Hong Kong’s Lau Sui Fei.
Defeat for Wang Nan but no such problems for her compatriots; top seed Zhang Yining defeated Romania’s Elizabeta Samara, second seed Guo Yue overcame Korea’s Lee Eun Hee and third seed Li Xiaoxia accounted for Germany’s Elke Wosik.
Meanwhile, in the first round of the Men’s Singles event it was a tale of two halves. Only one seed fell in the top half, that being Singapore’s Yang Zi who lost to Portugal’s João Monteiro but in the lower half of the draw it was a different story; four seeds departed.
Croatia’s Zoran Primorac lost to the rising Chinese star, Zhang Jike, Chinese Taipei’s Chuan Chih-Yuan was beaten by Hong Kong’s Leung Chu Yan whilst the Koreans, Ryu Seung Min and Oh Sang Eun both departed in virtual unison.
Leung Chu Yan’s colleague, Cheung Yuk, defeated Ryu Seung Min whilst Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Peng-Lung ended the hopes of Oh Sang Eun.
However, for the top four seeds in the Men’s Singles event, all from China, there were no great problems.
Top seed Wang Hao and second seed Ma Lin both defeated Japanese opponents in the respective guises of Kaii Yoshida and Masato Shiono, whilst third seed Wang Liqin beat Korea’s Yoon Jae Young and fourth seed Ma Long ended the aspirations of Hong Kong’s Jiang Tianyi.
torsdag 22 maj 2008
Big in Japan
The swedish players in Yokohama didn't do very well. With one exception.
Axelqvist or as we call him in Sweden "Shoulder" lost his both matches. First he lots against Hoyama from Brazil over seven games. In the next match he faced Jiang from HKG and lost to him also. No shame for "shoulder" both opponents are very good players and Jiang is ranked much higher.
Jens Lundqvist surprisingly lost against Shiono from Japan in straight games. Shiono won the group after three wins. Lundqvist won two matches but he can't be happy not proceeding to the main competition.
Jon Persson was the exception. He won his group even though he lost against Keinath. But when he won against Wosik and Tokiyoshi (they play for the sam club in Sweden) he was the winner of the group because Wosik beat Keinath.
Pär Gerell couldn't repeat his fine performance from China. He lost against Takakiwa and was by that out of the competition.
***
This means that Jörgen Persson and Jon Persson both will be playing in the main event. Jörgen playing Chen Qi and Jon will be facing Schlager from Austria.
Axelqvist or as we call him in Sweden "Shoulder" lost his both matches. First he lots against Hoyama from Brazil over seven games. In the next match he faced Jiang from HKG and lost to him also. No shame for "shoulder" both opponents are very good players and Jiang is ranked much higher.
Jens Lundqvist surprisingly lost against Shiono from Japan in straight games. Shiono won the group after three wins. Lundqvist won two matches but he can't be happy not proceeding to the main competition.
Jon Persson was the exception. He won his group even though he lost against Keinath. But when he won against Wosik and Tokiyoshi (they play for the sam club in Sweden) he was the winner of the group because Wosik beat Keinath.
Pär Gerell couldn't repeat his fine performance from China. He lost against Takakiwa and was by that out of the competition.
***
This means that Jörgen Persson and Jon Persson both will be playing in the main event. Jörgen playing Chen Qi and Jon will be facing Schlager from Austria.
tisdag 20 maj 2008
A little more from Buda
In this video we see young danish star Sternberg against young serbian star Jevtovic in a deciding match.
måndag 19 maj 2008
Pär Gerell
The only european gut to proceed to the quarterfinals in Volkswagen open afte beating much higher ranked players such as Oh and Joo from Korea. Both of the koreans ranked in the top ten of the world.
Pär is hoping for a place in the Sweden team in the olympics and this result have improved the chances of going to Beijing.In the quarterfinals Pär met and lost against chines Ma Long over five games.
PG was quite happy for the quarterfinals but he knows he has to improve his game some to really threaten the chines top players.
In the quarterfinals it was 6 chines players and in the semifinals it was the top 4 from China. I think many players out there is hapy that China only can send three players to the olympics.
torsdag 15 maj 2008
Singles in Volkswagen Open
Axelqvist won in five sets over Cai from Singapore but then lost to the winner of the group Jung Sam Lee from Korea. Axelqvist won one game but was destroyed in the other games reaching six points at its most.
Jon Persson lost his two first games and will next be playing Reed from England to avoid the last spot in the group. Drinkhall och Evans lost all there matches and are out of the competition.
Per Gerell shows good form winning his first two games against Fegerl, AUT, and Kim, PRK. Next up Yen-sen Chang from Taipei, a very hard match for the swede competing for a place in the swedish olympic team.
Jon Persson lost his two first games and will next be playing Reed from England to avoid the last spot in the group. Drinkhall och Evans lost all there matches and are out of the competition.
Per Gerell shows good form winning his first two games against Fegerl, AUT, and Kim, PRK. Next up Yen-sen Chang from Taipei, a very hard match for the swede competing for a place in the swedish olympic team.
onsdag 14 maj 2008
Volkswagen open
A small upset!
In the mens team Chuan Chih-Yuan who didn't have a good qualification in Budapest beat Wang Liqin from China in straight sets! Still China was to strong and won the rest of the matches to close the game by 3-1.
In the quarterfinals Korea beat Sweden with 3-1. Jörgen Persson beat Oh Sang Eun with 3-1 after losing the first set and gave the swedes the lead that way. But the koreans where to strong and finished off in style by winning the remaining matches.
Hongkong beat Japan in a close game by 3-2 the same score as it was for Singapore against "Peoples" Republic of Korea.
MORE TO COME..
In the mens team Chuan Chih-Yuan who didn't have a good qualification in Budapest beat Wang Liqin from China in straight sets! Still China was to strong and won the rest of the matches to close the game by 3-1.
In the quarterfinals Korea beat Sweden with 3-1. Jörgen Persson beat Oh Sang Eun with 3-1 after losing the first set and gave the swedes the lead that way. But the koreans where to strong and finished off in style by winning the remaining matches.
Hongkong beat Japan in a close game by 3-2 the same score as it was for Singapore against "Peoples" Republic of Korea.
MORE TO COME..
Video from budapest
In this match we see Gudmundur Stephenson from Iceland play Sangausin from Thailand.
Gummi Stephensen will be playing in Gönnern in Bundesliga next season and he wasn't satisfied with the result. He felt he was out of practise and that he missed to many forehand drives.
See for yourself..
Gummi Stephensen will be playing in Gönnern in Bundesliga next season and he wasn't satisfied with the result. He felt he was out of practise and that he missed to many forehand drives.
See for yourself..
tisdag 13 maj 2008
Who is going to Beijing?
The answer after this weekends qualifications is that there are 16 players how played in Budapest that can book there ticket to Beijing. I’m going to tell you a little bit about some of the players who qualified.
I was in Budapest watching the qualifications and of course I got my own favourites.
One of them was Ahmed Al Saleh from Algeria. He started the tournament by winning his group in front of Spanish player Machado 13-11 in the deciding game. He later on beat Pazsy and Yang Min both in five games. This meaning that he was in the last sixteen and qualified for the Olympics. But in the next match he met Karakasevic and the 28 year old Egyptian wasn’t satisfied finishing in the last sixteen he wanted more. After six games he had more or less crushed Karakasevic and was now to meet Adrian Crisan in the quarterfinals. This time he didn’t have the luck on his side and he lost 15-13 in the deciding game after having five match points! A great tournament for this African player who has an excellent feeling for the game, a good serve and a great backhand.
Another favourite was Apolonia from Portugal; he is ranked as number 106 in the world. This young guy is playing in Jülich on the second table and won 6 games and lost 10. I don’t know if he is staying there but I’m sure he will perform better next season.
Apolonia started of with winning his group quite easy over Tomasi, Italy, and Sanguasin, Thailand only leaving them one game together.
He then crushed Pavelka 4-0 after an impressive performance. He pushed the ball far out in Pavelkas forehand and then quite easily winning the point directly or after just a few times over the net. Apolonia really played well on defence and Pavelka didn’t stand a chance. Pavelka suffered a bit from a sour leg but he wasn’t even close so I don’t think he would of won anyway.
Alfredo Carneros from Spain qualified for the last 16 by winning over Chang in a very tight game. Before that he beat Tugwell from Denmark and English young gun Drinkhall. Carneros wins his games by fighting and never giving up, a great quality for a tt-player. I really think he is worth his place in the Olympics. He has really earned it more then most.
I was in Budapest watching the qualifications and of course I got my own favourites.
One of them was Ahmed Al Saleh from Algeria. He started the tournament by winning his group in front of Spanish player Machado 13-11 in the deciding game. He later on beat Pazsy and Yang Min both in five games. This meaning that he was in the last sixteen and qualified for the Olympics. But in the next match he met Karakasevic and the 28 year old Egyptian wasn’t satisfied finishing in the last sixteen he wanted more. After six games he had more or less crushed Karakasevic and was now to meet Adrian Crisan in the quarterfinals. This time he didn’t have the luck on his side and he lost 15-13 in the deciding game after having five match points! A great tournament for this African player who has an excellent feeling for the game, a good serve and a great backhand.
Another favourite was Apolonia from Portugal; he is ranked as number 106 in the world. This young guy is playing in Jülich on the second table and won 6 games and lost 10. I don’t know if he is staying there but I’m sure he will perform better next season.Apolonia started of with winning his group quite easy over Tomasi, Italy, and Sanguasin, Thailand only leaving them one game together.He then crushed Pavelka 4-0 after an impressive performance. He pushed the ball far out in Pavelkas forehand and then quite easily winning the point directly or after just a few times over the net. Apolonia really played well on defence and Pavelka didn’t stand a chance. Pavelka suffered a bit from a sour leg but he wasn’t even close so I don’t think he would of won anyway.Alfredo Carneros from Spain qualified for the last 16 by winning over Chang in a very tight game. Before that he beat Tugwell from Denmark and English young gun Drinkhall. Carneros wins his games by fighting and never giving up, a great quality for a tt-player. I really think he is worth his place in the Olympics. He has really earned it more then most.
More from Budapest later..
lördag 10 maj 2008
Monday
On monday it will come a text about the qualifications i Budapest.
I will publish videos and interviews with players and my own thoughts.
Until then just feel it...
I will publish videos and interviews with players and my own thoughts.
Until then just feel it...
tisdag 6 maj 2008
Congrats
Niederösterreich won the second match also against Charleroi. this time the final result was 3-2 to Austrians. This time in front of 4000 belgians cheering for Charleroi.
Vladimir Samsonov how played his last match for the Belgians won both his games and is now leaving for Spain and Cajagranada. The best way to say goodbye even if his great play this day didn't pay off for the team.
The winners of 2007/2008 years CL is Niederöstereich and the players who did it was:
The winners of 2007/2008 years CL is Niederöstereich and the players who did it was:
Werner Schlager, 12-3
Ryu Seung Min, 9-4
Chen Weixing, 8-2
Kan
Habesohn
Ryu after winning against Smirnov and making Niederösterreich champions for clubteams in Europe
CL
Niederösterreich won the first match by 3-0
Tonight they travel to Belgium and Spiroudome to play Charleroi for a crowded arena.
The Austrians need only one win to secure the title but nothing is finished until "the fat lady sings". One win.. its not much but they still have to win it.
I think I have the solution for the Belgians, and that is to change places for the players in the line-up.
Tonight they travel to Belgium and Spiroudome to play Charleroi for a crowded arena.
The Austrians need only one win to secure the title but nothing is finished until "the fat lady sings". One win.. its not much but they still have to win it.
I think I have the solution for the Belgians, and that is to change places for the players in the line-up.
- Saive
- Samsonov
- Smirnov
If the Belgians play like this and the Austrians play the same way they did last time we will se Samsonov play Ryu and even though it is a very tough contest, the spider man från Minsk will be the favourite.
Smirnov will have a better chance of winning against Chen then Saive has. That leaves the match between Saive and Schlager and what better player is to have in the deciding match. You want and need a fighter and no one can tell me that Saive isn't able to defeat Schlager in a deciding game for the CL-title.
Why this change you ask yourself?
The Belgians lost the first game 3-0 and have to in 3-0 at home so they have to do something different even though they only lost by a very small margin. Two of the matches were decided in the fifth set.
Watch the live results here. Just watch the top right hand corner for the LSS button to push. Enjoy!
söndag 4 maj 2008
Non-Friction pimples
From the 1/7-08 it will be forbidden to play with non-friction long pimples in international tournaments in most cases it will be forbidden national as well there are a few countries that will allow it for a while longer.
What do you think about this new rule? Is it a rule that will improve the game or not?
Among the top players internationally it’s not so many players who use these kind of rubbers personally I only know of 2 Fabian Åkerström SWE and Amelie Solja GER I probably forget someone but those 2 are the best.
Among the top players internationally it’s not so many players who use these kind of rubbers personally I only know of 2 Fabian Åkerström SWE and Amelie Solja GER I probably forget someone but those 2 are the best.
But what will happen with all the players that just play for fun who use these rubbers? What will they play with instead?
Can someone tell me why they forbid these kinds of rubbers?
My personal thinking in that question is that it is because of economical reasons, the big companies in table tennis want to sell normal pimples instead, they have lost a lot of money the last 5 years cause of the non friction pimples.
I hope you readers will tell me what you think about this.
fredag 2 maj 2008
CL
Tonight at 20.15 CET it's time for the first final between Niederösterreisch, Austria, and Charleroi, Belgium.
Charleroi and Niederosterreich have met each other three times before in the finals of CL and every time the belgians have won. Charleroi have five titles compared with Niederösterreich who have lost five finals before this one.
So history tells us that Charleroi will win this game. But it's never that easy to predict a close match like this.
Charlerois line up will probably be theire three aces:
Samsonov, 14-1, #4
Saive, 8-1, #8
Smirnov, 7-2, #28
Niederosterreich will give us the following line up:
Schlager, 10-3, #16
Ryu Seung Min, 7-3, #8
Chen Weixing, 6-1, #31
You can get live results from the final at http://www.ecl-ettu.com/
I think it will be a very close contest who wins but if Samsonov is in form and plays as well as he been doing this year Charleroi will be very hard to beat. But I do remember that Schlager recently beat Samsonov in the European top 12 contest in the finals.
I think Niederösterreich will win the first leg by 3-2 against Charleroi. But if Saive plays as second player and not third I think Charleroi will have a better chance to win.
Charleroi and Niederosterreich have met each other three times before in the finals of CL and every time the belgians have won. Charleroi have five titles compared with Niederösterreich who have lost five finals before this one.
So history tells us that Charleroi will win this game. But it's never that easy to predict a close match like this.
Charlerois line up will probably be theire three aces:
Samsonov, 14-1, #4
Saive, 8-1, #8
Smirnov, 7-2, #28
Niederosterreich will give us the following line up:
Schlager, 10-3, #16
Ryu Seung Min, 7-3, #8
Chen Weixing, 6-1, #31
You can get live results from the final at http://www.ecl-ettu.com/
I think it will be a very close contest who wins but if Samsonov is in form and plays as well as he been doing this year Charleroi will be very hard to beat. But I do remember that Schlager recently beat Samsonov in the European top 12 contest in the finals.
I think Niederösterreich will win the first leg by 3-2 against Charleroi. But if Saive plays as second player and not third I think Charleroi will have a better chance to win.
onsdag 30 april 2008
The last chance
An exiting journey for my colleges and me is up ahead. 2000 km from Stockholm to Budapest by car.
Pär Gerell the last Swede trying to qualify for the olympics will be very tough competition to get to the Olympics. There are still some great players trying to get to Beijing. 
Crisan-Ranked as number 17 in the world. He has had an impressive season in the German Bundesliga. He has shown great form recently and took the Romanian championship title for the seventh time. Rumour has it that he is injured and might miss the qualification.
Crisan-Ranked as number 17 in the world. He has had an impressive season in the German Bundesliga. He has shown great form recently and took the Romanian championship title for the seventh time. Rumour has it that he is injured and might miss the qualification.Saive- 25 in the world and a scarred veteran from many battles. He is old but not the oldest (Yang Min is the oldest) in this qualification. He often gives you value for the entrance fee by providing amazing duels.
Drinkhall- Ranked as number 4 in the world for U18 players, plays in the German bundesliga for Gönnern but in now moving to Jülich.
Korbel- He is soon German champion (?) with Düsseldorf and the best player on the second table Bundesliga with only one loss. Ranked 36 in the world.
Cheung Yuk-Number 40 in the world right now with a very strong form. Did go to the quarterfinals in the last Pro Tour, on his way to the quartefinals he beat Gao Ning (9) from Singapore.
Keen- The old Dutch man as acted as a specialist this season in beating Swedish table tennis players in the Bundesliga. Ha has beaten J-O Waldner twice, Svensson and Molin he beat 3-0 and he also won over PG, 3-0. 47th in the world.
Karakasevic-This chubby Serb has won quite a lot of matches in Bundesliga this year. He is ranked as number 50 in the world. He has beaten J-O Waldner twice this year. He has very tricky returning services and an amazing feeling for this game.
Freitas- A 20year old portoguese has beaten PG in bundesliga but other then that he has not impressed many with his game this year in Bundesliga on the second table. 143rd in the world.
Blaszczyk- Up and down this season in bundesliga. Has beaten some of the best and recently after lost against some players not as good. Lost against PG in the European qualifications. Have a very nice backhand.
Chiang Peng-Lung- Have lost against a couple of Swedes this season and haven´t impressed anybody, but he is a former star and still ranked 32 in the world. Don't count him out just yet.
Freitas- A 20year old portoguese has beaten PG in bundesliga but other then that he has not impressed many with his game this year in Bundesliga on the second table. 143rd in the world.Blaszczyk- Up and down this season in bundesliga. Has beaten some of the best and recently after lost against some players not as good. Lost against PG in the European qualifications. Have a very nice backhand. Chiang Peng-Lung- Have lost against a couple of Swedes this season and haven´t impressed anybody, but he is a former star and still ranked 32 in the world. Don't count him out just yet.Tugwell- The Danish guy with the best chance of qualifying (Sternberg is the other). Finn is leaving the French league and will next season be playing CL for Roskilde. 69th in the world.
Eloi- French veteran, he is not the biggest guy but one of the fastest and he has a deadly service. 44th in the world.
Filimon- Yet another Romanian player and not a bad one at all. 62 in the world.
Stephensen- Eslöv player "Gummi" stays in the Swedish first division team and will this year be playing at the first table. Lost only one game during this season.
Tosic- Had a problem with his temper in SOC when playing young Swedish player Ramstrand. He pulled through and is with his with fine left hand he is a very dangerous opponent, 90th in the world.
Tosic- Had a problem with his temper in SOC when playing young Swedish player Ramstrand. He pulled through and is with his with fine left hand he is a very dangerous opponent, 90th in the world.***
We also have players such as Bobocica, Pavelka, Hoyama, Chtchetinine, Robertson, Keinath, Pistej, Apolonia and Gorak.
***
Not a easy qualification for Pär Gerell and if he makes the Olympics its a great success for him
Pictures by courtesy of the ITTF
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