ZPRÁVY
Z MS - WTTC NEWS:
Will Czech men's team
reach 10th position on WTTC 2000, at least? VOTE!
ANGLICKY, NÌMECKY - ENGLISH
DEUTSCH
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ÈESKY - CZECH
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26.2.: Sweden edges China for men's world team title
25.2.: Wang sees no end to Chinese success
25.2.:
Damen-Finale der WM
25.2.:
Women's Final Preview
25.2.:
China on verge of a hat-trick
24.2.:
Tischtennis wird revolutioniert!
23.2.:
China maintain unbeaten run into semi-finals
23.2.:
Heister leads Netherlands through
22.2.:
China reaches quarterfinals
22.2.:
France fail to make last eight
22.2.:
DTTB-Herren müssen nachsitzen!
22.2.:
Sweden back from the dead
21.2.:
Mysterious North Koreans
21.2.:
China, S. Korea shine at championships
20.2.: Favourites In Form
20.2.: France Suffer First Day Blues
26.2.:
Sweden edges China for men's world team title
KUALA LUMPUR (February 26, 2000 11:58 a.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com)
- Sweden won the men's world team table tennis championship Saturday when
it toppled defending title holder China 3-2 in the final.
The Swedes, who last won the title in their home city of Gothenburg
in 1993, let China recover from 2-0 down to 2-2 before Jorgen Persson triumphed
in the fifth and deciding contest.
Swedish coach Ulf Karlsson said he was very proud of his players. "They
played according to the plan. It was the Chinese who were under pressure,"
he said.
Jan-Ove Waldner, the 1997 world champion, took to the court first and
stunned reigning world champion Liu Guoliang, taking the deciding third
game 23-21 to put Sweden ahead. It was Waldner's first win in his sixth
meeting with Guoliang.
In-form Persson, world No. 9, came next and the 1993 world champion
was merciless in beating world No. 2 Kong Linghui 21-17, 21-19.
Sweden's progress was checked when Liu Guozheng, world No. 11, beat
Peter Karlsson 21-6, 21-16.
Linghui made amends in his second match, against Waldner, upstaging
the Swede to put China back on track.
The fifth clash was a thriller as Persson and Guoliang fought several
long rallies marked by breathtaking shots that kept them level to 18-18.
The 35-year-old Persson then pulled away to clinch the crown 21-18.
He was named the tournament's most valuable player. The inaugural award
earned him $3,000.
25.2.:
Wang sees no end to Chinese success
Wang Nan gave an ominous prediction of many more years of success for
China following the team’s comprehensive 3-1 defeat of Chinese Taipei in
the final of the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia on February 25.
Speaking after the match, the world no. 1 commented: "It is a good
experience for such a young team to be able to win the world championships.
I hope that because we have a young team, we can improve and win more tournaments."
Wang’s performance in the final, particularly against Chen Jing, was
of the highest quality, and in marked contrast to her defeat in the semi-final
against the Korean Republic: "I looked at the game I lost in the semi-finals
against Kim Moo Kyo with my coach and we had a discussion about the game.
I learned from this experience and came back stronger today. I was much
more aggressive."
Wang also won the Most Valuable Player award after securing two wins
in the final, but she explained that the team prize was the priority: "I
was very glad to win the two points, but more important was the team result."
Chinese coach, Lu Yuan Sheng, pointed out the difficulty of coming
to the tournament without the former world champion, Deng Yaping, for the
first time in recent years:
"One of the main developments between here and in 1997 was in the team.
Then we had Deng Yaping, and Wang Nan did not play in the Final. Here she
played and won two games, which were very important. Wang Nan and Li Ju
are now the backbone of the Chinese team. We have worked very hard for
two years to keep the title."
Li FuRong, vice-president of Chinese Table Tennis, found room for improvement
despite the manner of China’s victory:
"Two players didn’t play that well today, Zhang Yining and Chen Jing.
I think that with Chen it may have been the pressure of the situation.
Zhang Yining is still very young and realises that she must work very hard
and train very hard to become better."
Wang summed up the feelings of the Chinese team:
"We worked hard for this tournament and I’m happy we won."
25.2.:
Damen-Finale der WM
Das Finale der Damen bei der Tischtennis Mannschafts-Weltmeisterschaft
zwischen China und Taiwan heute 19:30 Uhr Ortszeit verspricht äußerst spannend
zu werden.
Denn jede Mannschaft hat überragende Spielerinnen in ihren Reihen.
Dei Chinesinnen sind bis auf Weltmeisterin Wang Nan alle noch ungeschlagen
(sie verlor gegen Kim Moo Kyo/KOR 0:2). Bei den Taiwanerinnen sticht vor
allem Chen Jing hervor. Die Olympia-Zeite verlor bisher erst 2 ihrer 12
Spiele (gegen Mihaela Steff und Galina Melnik).
Jedoch wird das Spiel für Taiwan extrem schwer, da die Mannschaft neben
Chen Jing keine gleichwertige Gegnerin in ihren Reihen besitzt. Und selbst
die "schwächste" Spielerin der Chinesinnen hat durchaus eine Chance gegen
Taiwan 2 Punkte "zu holen".
Also wird Taiwan höchstwahrscheinlich nur der zweite Platz übrigbleiben.
Aber auch dieses Ergebnis wird den Spielerinnen "versüßt". Denn das Nationale
Olympische Kommitee von Taiwan hat jeder Spielerin 100.000 US$ für das
Erreichen des Finales versprochen, dem größten Preisgeld ihrer Karriere.
Jede Spielerin der taiwanesischen Mannschaft bekommt diese 100.000 US$!!
Taiwans Chefcoach Hsu Long-Chien sagte gegenüber der größten englischsprachigen
Tageszeitung Malaysias "The Star" (Auflage rund 400 000), diese Summe ist
ihnen vom Taiwan National Olympic Council (TNOC) fest verspochen worden,
bevor sie zur WM abgereist sind. "Die Money-Offerte des OC hat meine Spielerinnen
motiviert, ihr Bestes bei diesen Weltmeisterschaften zu geben"
25.2.:
Women's Final Preview
Chen Jing will be the main focus of attention when she leads Chinese
Taipei into the women’s final against her former team, China, at the World
Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on February 25.
Chen was part of the China squad that won the world team championships
in 1987 and 1989, and she won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in
Seoul, South Korea, while representing her former country.
More recently, Chen won the 2000 ITTF Pro Tour Finals in Sydney, Australia,
beating the world’s top two players, Wang Nan and Li Ju, on the way. She
could face them both again in the final.
Chen, 31-years-old, has been in stunning form during the championships
in Kuala Lumpur, winning 10 of her 12 matches to stand second in the player
of the tournament rankings, behind Mihaela Steff of Romania.
Ironically, it was Chen’s defeat to Steff in the semi-final that took
the Romanian to the top of the rankings, but it also gave Xu Jing and Tsui
Hsiu-Li the chance to prove that Chinese Taipei are far from a one woman
team.
Xu’s victory over Otilia Badescu in the decisive encounter of the tie,
along with a win for Tsui against Ana Gogorita, showed that the team have
the fighting spirit necessary to take on China.
The teams met in the Group stage of the tournament, but Chinese Taipei
effectively handed China the tie by not selecting Chen or Xu, preferring
to save their leading players for a later meeting with the tournament favourites.
China have looked impressive on their way to the final, winning five
Group matches and the quarter-final without losing a match, but the 3-1
semi-final victory over the Korean Republic will have given Chinese Taipei
hope.
Wang Nan, 21-years-old, suffered China’s first defeat of the competition
in the semi-final, but has otherwise shown the form expected of a world
and Olympic champion, and current world no. 1. Her contest with Chen Jing
could be the deciding factor in the final.
The exact Chinese line-up cannot be predicted as the squad contains
five players in the world’s top 15, and the team is selected according
to the style of the opponents they face. However, Li Ju, the world no.
2, is an almost certain starter as she has played in every match and has
yet to lose. She came through a tough test against Ryu Ji Hae of the Korean
Republic in the semi-final, and the ability to win tight matches could
be needed in the final.
Zhang Yining, world no. 8, and Sun Jin, world no. 6, are both in contention
for the final place in the team, with Zhang the favourite after six straight
wins.
25.2.:
China on verge of a hat-trick
China are one step away from a third consecutive victory in the World
Team Table Tennis Championships after a 3-0
demolition of Japan in the men’s semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
on February 25.
The holders produced another awesome display against a Japanese side
that had performed superbly in their quarter-final against Chinese Taipei.
The step up in class for Japan was clear, as they faced world no. 3, Liu
Guoliang, and world no. 2, Kong Linghui, in the opening matches.
Liu Guoliang immediately established his superiority over Japan’s Toshio
Tasaki by winning the first five points of the opening contest and, despite
being hauled back to 8-8, the Chinese player went on to take the first
game 21-14.
Tasaki then provided the only bright spot of the tie for the Japanese
by taking the next game, after managing to stay with Liu Guoliang until
14-14. He then pulled away for a 21-17 win to level the match.
That seemed to spur Liu Guoliang into action and he attacked Tasaki’s
serve from the first point of the third game. Fierce returning drove Tasaki
backwards and he was forced to play every point from several feet behind
the table, as Liu Guoliang dictated the speed and direction of the rallies.
The world no. 3 raced to a 13-5 lead, at which point Japan called a
timeout. The break could not save Tasaki, though, and Liu Guoliang closed
out the match, 21-11.
With China 1-0 up, Kong gave a masterful performance against Koji Matsushita
in the second match, moving his opponent around at will with a mixture
of powerful drives and short balls. Matsushita was simply outclassed, going
down 21-12 21-9.
Liu Guozheng completed the rout with an equally impressive win, this
time against Seiko Iseka. The Japanese player never got close to the world
no. 11, and China’s final place was secured with a 21-14 21-12 win.
After the match, Chinese coach Cai Zhenhua was not worried that his
team may suffer through playing too many easy matches:
"The 3-0 scorelines are very normal, it’s not unusual at this stage,
but the players must guard against complacency. The real battle is tomorrow."
24.2.:
Tischtennis wird revolutioniert!
Der ITTF-Council hat heute wichtige Beschlüsse gefasst!
Dies sind Bestimmungen für internationale Veranstaltungen:
Es gibt künftig bei WM keine Doppel mehr mit Partnern aus verschiedenen
Ländern!
Die Zahl der Teilnehmer eines Landes bei Weltmeisterschaften wurde
auf 5 pro Land und 2 pro Land über die Weltrangliste (1-10) beschränkt.
Die Weltmeisterschaften werden ab 2003 probeweise in Individual- und
Team-Wettbewerbe gesplittet, ob 2003 Einzel- und 2004 Mannschafts-WM oder
umgekehrt wird bis zur EM in Bremen festgelegt. Bewerber für die Team-WM
ist bisher Südkorea und für Einzel- und Doppel-WM Frankreich
Nach den Olympischen Spielen gilt für alle Pro Tour Wettbewerbe, dass
der Aufschlag nur noch sichtbar vor dem Körper ausgeführt werden darf.
Auf Vorschlag der Athleten-Kommission wird bei Pro Tour Turnieren das
Spielsystem Best of five mit Sätzen jeweils bis 11 getestet.
Beim World Cup der Herren nach den Olympischen Spielen wird im Entscheidungssatz
ab 10 : 10 gespielt.künftig darf der Schläger während eines Matches nicht
mehr gewechselt werden
Die Werbung auf dem Netz ist sanktioniert und die Werbefläche auf Vorderseite/Ärmel
wurde von 160 auf 200 cm? erhöht
23.2.:
China maintain unbeaten run into semi-finals
Chen Jing was the star for Chinese Taipei as they beat Germany 3-1
to reach the semi-finals of the women’s event at the World Team Table Tennis
Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 23.
But the threat from China remains, as they moved into the semi-finals
and maintained their record for not having lost a single match so far in
the championships.
In the Chinese Taipei quarter-final against Germany, Chen, the world
no. 4, beat Qianhong Gotsch in the opening encounter and followed that
with another win in the fourth game, against Jie Schopp, to take Chinese
Taipei through to a semi-final against Romania. Chen's performance against
Gotsch suggested a gulf in class between the world nos. 4 and 5, and her
21-12 21-18 victory put pressure on Jie Schopp to reply for Germany in
the following match. Schopp did just that, levelling the tie with a 21-15
21-19 win against Xu Jing. With Chen available for the reverse singles,
the Germans knew it was imperative that they win the third match.
It was therefore a surprise that they called upon the relatively inexperienced
Olga Nemes to také on Tsui Hsiu-Li in such a vital contest. The German
responded well, taking the first game 21-11, but as soon as the Taipei
player raised her game, Nemes could not respond. She lost the next two
games 21-13 21-11, allowing Chen to clinch a 3-1 victory for Chinese Taipei
by beating Schopp 21-16 21-15.
Standing between Chinese Taipei and a place in the final are Romania,
who beat Singapore 3-1 in their quarter-final. Otilia Badescu overcame
Li Jia Wei 18-21 21-15 22-20 to put the Romanians 1-0 up, before Jing Jun
Hong squared things with a comfortable 21-13 21-16 win over Mihaela Steff.
Antonela Manac restored the lead for Romania by winning 21-18 21-16 against
Tan Paey Fern, before Steff inflicted the second defeat of the evening
on Li. After dropping the first game, the Romanian no. 2 played superbly
to finish the tie with a 19-21 21-19 21-11 victory.
China retained their air of invincibility with a 3-0 win against Hong
Kong. Wang Nan never looked like being troubled by Sing Ah Sim, and the
world no. 1 duly claimed a 21-17 21-14 win. The impressive Li Ju was even
more dominant against Wong Ching, racing to a 21-9 21-10 victory as she
gave her opponent no time to play herself into the points. The drumming
from the Chinese fans that accompanies every point won by their players
was less noticeable in the third match, as Zhang Yining dropped the first
game 21-12 against Kwok Fong Fong. Any thoughts that the first defeat for
a Chinese player in the tournament was imminent were soon dispelled, as
Zhang hit back 21-10 21-12 to take China through.
With the Chinese quarter-final taking place alongside the Korean Republic’s
quarter-final with Japan, the respective sets of supporters were engaged
in a battle to make the most noise.
The intimidating atmosphere had no affect on Korea’s Ryu Ji Hae, who
helped her side to a 3-1 victory over Japan, setting up a semi-final with
China. The world no. 11 defeated Rinko Sakata 21-14 18-21 21-19 in the
opening match, and Lee Eun Sil made it 2-0 with a quick win over Haneyoshi
Junko. Japan’s An Konishi cut Korea’s lead with a 21-17 21-14 win against
Kim Moo Hae, but the class of Ryu Ji Hae was too much for Junko in the
fourth match, and she finished the tie with a 21-16 21-18 victory.
The semi-finals take place on February 24.
23.2.:
Heister leads Netherlands through
Danny Heister led the Netherlands to victory in their play-off fixture
with Indonesia as the top nations made short work of their lower ranked
rivals at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
on February 23.
After battling through the qualifying rounds for teams outside the
top 24 nations, Indonesia, Israel, India and Hong Kong did not have long
to enjoy the experience of meeting some of the world’s top players. World
no. 34 Heister maintained the form that has seen him lose just one match
in the tournament so far, beating Indonesia’s Dedy Dacosta 21-15 21-7 as
the Netherlands strolled to a 3-0 victory. Wins for Trinko Keen and Chen
Sung will have increased confidence levels ahead of the clash with Belgium
on February 24, which will decide who meets Italy in the quarter-finals.
Poland will meet the Korean Republic next, following a 3-0 win against
Israel. Lucian Blaszcyk, Tomasz Krzeszewski and Marcin Kusinski all had
straightforward victories and will look forward to a quarter-final with
China if they can overcome the Koreans.
Austria had an uncomfortable start to their match with India as Ding
Yi was pushed to three games by Chetam Baboor, but the Austrian took command
at the crucial stage to record a 21-13 16-21 21-11 win. Austria now play
Chinese Taipei for the right to meet Japan in the last eight.
The Czech Republic, led by world no. 32 Petr Korbel, defeated Hong
Kong 3-0 to set up a clash with Germany, the winner going on to meet Sweden.
22.2.:
China reaches quarterfinals
Copyright © 2000 Agence France-Press
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Defending champions China swept into the quarterfinals
at the end of the third day's matches in the men's and women's sections
of the Dawei 2000 World Team Table Tennis Championship at the Putra Stadium
here Tuesday. The Chinese women sailed serenely in the last eight but their
male compatriots had a scare when top seed Kong Li Hui had to come from
behind to win his game. Kong, the world No. 2, showed the resilience of
a champion to come back from the brink of defeat to beat Belgian Jean Michael
Saive in the deciding third game. It was relief for the Chinese who went
on to win the next two ties and secure their place in the quarterfinals.
The Chinese men completed their Group A matches without dropping a single
tie.
The other group champions who also advanced to the quarterfinals were
Sweden, South Korea and Japan.
In the women's section, the third day turned out to be a thrilling affair
with two crucial matches to determine the group winners stretching all
the way to the fifth game. At the end of the two battles, one of which
lasted four hours, Germany and Romania prevailed to emerge group winners.
Both Germany and Romania prevailed over Japan and North Korea respectively
to gain entry into the next round of the comeptition. The two European
powers join China and South Korea, who as expected won their final preliminary
matches against Sweden and Hong Kong respectively, to head their groups.
Romania were made to sweat for their victory over determined North
Korea who fought to the very end. With the game tied at 2-2 Romania's Otilia
Badescu and North Korea's Tu Jong Si stepped up for the decider. After
they tied at a game apiece, Badescu kept cool to clinch the winning point
for Romania.
The Germany-Japan match also went down to the wire with both sides
tied at 2-2 but Jie Schopp made it count for the Germans when she beat
An Konishi.
22.2.:
France fail to make last eight
France fail to make last eight
France's men crashed out of the World Team Table Tennis Championships
with a crushing 3-0 defeat to Sweden in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on February
22. France, runners-up in 1997 when the tournament was last held, were
without leading player Jean Philippe Gatien due to illness when they faced
three times champions Sweden in the final Group B match. The much anticipated
contest was something of a disappointment as the French were completely
unable to cope without Gatien. Jorgen Persson beat Patrick Chila 21-13
21-19 to put the Swedes 1-0 up, and Jan-Ove Waldner doubled the advantage
with a comfortable 21-15 21-16 win over Damien Eloi. Christophe Legout
came in for Gatien but could do nothing to turn the tie around, going down
21-13 21-14 to Peter Karlsson. The result left Sweden at the top of the
Group with a maximum 10 points. They now go straight to the quarter-finals
and gain a vital day's rest.
With the Netherlands beating the Slovak Republic 3-1, French hopes rested
on Russia beating Chinese Taipei if they were to steal a qualifying place.
The longest tie of the session saw Chuang Chih-Yuan grab the decisive fifth
match 21-18 18-21 21-11 against Sergei Andrianov for a 3-2 victory, condemning
the watching French squad to an early exit.
Germany and Japan delivered the most exciting contest of the evening
session as they battled for first place in Group D. The Germans led 2-1
following wins for Timo Boll and Torben Wosik, but Koji Matsushita gave
the performance of the day to bring the Japanese level. Matsushita played
a counter attacking game, making a succession of incredible retrievals
from well behind the table that drew Boll into mistakes. The Japanese player
got the full support of the crowd as he played increasingly extravagant
shots, and he came through 17-21 21-12 21-14. Toshio Tasaki then made short
work of beating Peter Franz 21-19 21-13 in the final game, leaving Japan
at the top of the Group.
Tomasz Krzeszewski was the hero for Poland as they edged Denmark for
third place. Krzeszewski defeated Allan Bentsen 13-21 21-18 21-16 to secure
a 3-2 win for the Poles.
China dealt with Group A rivals Belgium with ease in their final match
to take their place in the last eight. The tournament favourites have yet
to lose a match, and Kong Linghui, Ma Lin and Liu Guoliang were not troubled
by the Belgians, who finished second in the Group. Austria took third place
with a 3-0 win against Spain.
Italy were the surprise winners of Group C, with the Korean Republic
and the Czech Republic filling the other two qualifying positions. Massimiliano
Mondelo, Min Yang and Valentino Piacenti all claimed wins to give the Italians
victory over the Czech Republic, while the Korean Republic had a straightforward
3-0 win against Greece.
22.2.:
DTTB-Herren müssen nachsitzen!
(aus dem Bereich "International")
Kuala Lumpur. Der Siegeszug der deutschen Herren-Mannschaft ist bei
den Mannschafts-Weltmeisterschaften 2000 in Kuala Lumpur vorerst gestoppt.
Im Gegensatz zu den DTTB-Damen verloren die Männer ihr letztes Gruppenspiel
gegen Japan mit 2:3 und müssen sich nach Abschluß der Vorrunde mit Rang
2 in der Gruppe D begnügen. Während die Japaner sich direkt für die Runde
der besten Acht qualifizierten, muß der Bronzemedaillengewinner von 1997
zum Erreichen des Etappenziels Viertelfinale morgen abend oder Donnerstag
früh in einem weiteren Zwischenrundenspiel Überstunden leisten. Das deutsche
Team mußte ohne Rekordnationalspieler Jörg Roßkopf antreten, dessen schmerzhafte
Patellasehnenreizung einen Einsatz gegen Japan unmöglich gemacht hatte.
Bis zur 2:1-Führung hatte die DTTB-Formation noch vom Direkteinzug
und somit von eineinhalb Tagen Regenarationspause träumen dürfen. Doch
anschließend verlor Jungstar Timo Boll, der Deutschland gegen seinen Klubkollegen
Tasaki mit 1:0 in Führung gebracht hatte, das Match gegen Abwehrspieler
Koji Matsushita mit 14:21 im Entscheidungssatz. Der für Düsseldorf spielende
Japaner war der überragende Spieler des Abends und hatte bereits mit einem
2:0-Erfolg über Peter Franz zum 1:1 ausgeglichen, bevor der erneut starke
Torben Wosik gegen Iseki in drei Sätzen gewann. Einen schwarzen Tag erwischte
Peter Franz (Bild), der überraschend Matsushita unterlag und beim Stand
von 2:2 gegen Tasaki im ersten Durchgang eine 15:8-Führung aus der Hand
gab, "anschließend spielte sich der Japaner in einen wahren Spielrausch
und ließ Franz nicht den Hauch einer Chance", wie Roman Bonnaire, Sportchef
des Saarländischen Rundfunks und selbst ehemaliger Zweitligaspieler, von
der Pressetribüne aus für den ARD-Hörfunk kommentierte. Spitzensportkoordinator
Dirk Schimmelpfennig: "An Jörgs Verletzung hat die Niederlage nicht gelegen.
Es stand vorher fest: Wenn Rossi Schmerzen hat, wird er auch nicht spielen.
Torben, der für Rossi zum Einsatz gekommen ist, hat eine sehr gute Leistung
gezeigt. Wir haben es heute in zwei Spielen selbst in der Hand gehabt,
die Partie gegen Japan für uns zu entscheiden."
Das deutsche Team befindet sich in der Zwischenrunde in gleichermaßen
ehrenwerter wie spielstarker Gesellschaft, denn auch in anderen Gruppen
gab es nicht nur Favoritensiege. Absolut souverän agierte nur Weltmeister
China in der Gruppe A, während in der Gruppe B Europameister Frankreich
nach Abschluß der Vorrunde sensationell als Gruppenvierter keinerlei Chancen
mehr besitzt, einen der Medaillenränge zu belegen. Der "equipe tricolore"
wurde die unglückliche 0:3-Auftaktniederlage gegen Taiwan zum Verhängnis,
so daß die Franzosen am Ende im direkten Vergleich drei punktgleicher Teams
hinter Gruppensieger Schweden das schlechteste Spielverhältnis aufwiesen
und Taiwan und den Niederlanden den Vortritt lassen mußten. Vollkommen
überraschend ist auch Rang 1 der Italiener in der Gruppe C einzustufen,
die nun im Viertelfinale direkt um eine Medaille spielen, während Südkorea
und die Tschechische Republik wie auch die deutsche Formation einen zweiten
Anlauf in den Zwischenrunden nehmen müssen.
22.2.:
Sweden back from the dead
Sweden's men came back from the dead to beat
the Netherlands 3-2 in the best tie of the competition so far at the World
Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February
22.
Jan-Ove Waldner secured the decisive fifth point against Trino Keen
who had earlier beaten former world champion Jorgen Persson in the opening
match. The result means that the Netherlands can finish no better than
third in group B, while Sweden will progress directly to the finals if
they overcome France in their final group match.
The Netherlands got off to a flying start, with a fired-up Keen blasting
Persson away 21-15 21-16 in a one-sided contest. Things got worse for the
Swedes when leading player Waldner went down to Danny Heister, after looking
in total control for the first half of the match.
After dropping the first game Heister learned to cope with Waldner's
variety of service deliveries, and his aggression carried him to a 17-21
24-22 21-18 win.
At 2-0 down, the pressure was on the inexperienced Fredrik Hakansson
to save Sweden from a potentially disastrous defeat. He rose to the challenge,
making short work of Dutch No.3 Chen Sung with a 21-14 21-12 victory to
keep the tie alive.
Persson and Heister met in the first of the reverse singles, with the
Dutchman still unbeaten in the competition. He carried that form into the
first game which he won 25-23, but Persson battled back to take the match
21-19 21-12.
It was then left to Waldner to use all his experience against Keen
and again the quality of the Swede's service was the difference. The only
moment of doubt for Waldner was when he trailed 19-16 in the first game,
but five successive points got him out of trouble.
Keen was understandably disappointed after the match: "We were 2-0
up and Danny Heister had a good chance with Persson - he was one game up
and 19-all - but he lost."
Regarding the deciding encounter with Waldner, the Dutchman admitted
that his opponent's service was a major factor: "Against Waldner I played
well on my service and felt a little unlucky."His service is just a great
weapon. I could usually get four points on my service but the pressure
was just a little too much. "If I could have made 19-16 with my service
in the first game it might have been different. I felt very close."
With one last match against Slovakia in the evening session, the Netherlands
know that their chance of winning group B has gone.
"I just hope we get third place, that's what we're aiming for now,"
commented Keen.
21.2.: Mysterious North Koreans
Little known about their players or why there
is no men's team.
The shroud of mystery surrounding the North Korean women's team here
is palpable. It is ranked second in the world after bagging the silver
medal at the last World Table Tennis Championships in Manchester, but it
remains an unknown entity. Why? Because that feat was achieved three
years ago. Since then, it has taken part in only three overseas competitions,
all of which were major meets. It was second at both the Asian Championships
and Asian Games in 1998. Last year, its No. 1 Kim Hyon Hui made the last
32 at the World Championships in Holland.
Little is known about the Koreans' training methods, although they
display a combative, aggressive style of play. Veteran reporters need to
double check their lists to identify the players -- who, incidentally,
look nearly identical. All five here have short, stocky physiques with
short, wavy hair.
No one knows why the communist country does not send its players on
the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Pro-Tour events or why
North Korea is not represented in the men's events. (I guess - lack of
money and worries of emigration-Milan-)
Even the ITTF is stumped. Its competition manager Zlatko Carda said:
"They haven't been playing anything for two years, only taking part in
the singles event in Holland last year. I really can't tell you very much.
"They have a good male player called Kim Soon Hui playing in a Swedish
club, the same as former world champion Jan-Ove Waldner. But I don't know
why they haven't got a men's team. Maybe they don't have enough good players
to make up a team."
Again, it is guesswork.
North Korea, which beat Belgium 3-0 yesterday in its opening tie before
30 flag-waving, chanting fans, is the only team with embassy staff as liaison
officers.
It is also the only team not staying in a hotel, but in the embassy,
according to the organisers.
None in the team, including coach Jon Pong Su and a head of delegation,
speaks in any language other than his native tongue.
In the only interview coach Jon granted, before the competition started
and with the help of an interpreter, he said North Korea is aiming to finish
second, behind hot favourite China.
Carda is baffled as to why the country takes part in so few overseas
competitions. He said: "Every year they hold the North Korean Open, which
attracts many players. But I don't know why they don't travel. Whether
it is financial or political, I can't tell."
North Korea, one of the most opaque communist countries in the world,
lives up to its reputation in this tournament. Despite repeated requests
for an interview, the team lets on, through one in its fiercely-protective
entourage, that it will only talk after "a successful tournament".
"After that, I can help to translate," said Kim, a North Korean resident
in Kuala Lumpur and apparently an appointed guide of the team.
"But not now," he said, before shunting off the players in two private
cars.
21.2.:
China, S. Korea shine at championships
KUALA LUMPUR (February 21, 2000 2:14 p.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com)
- Jostling for the final group positions in the women's section of
the World Team Table Tennis Championships intensified Monday, but China
and South Korea appeared to have done enough to secure their places
in the next round.
The two countries won their matches Monday and looked virtually
certain to top their respective groups to assure they advance to the
next level of competition.
But four others - North Korea, Romania, Germany and Japan - will
have to battle it out on Tuesday to decide the two group winners.
Favorites China, led by world No.1 Wang Nan, had little difficulty
against Belarus Monday and will face Sweden in its final Group A
match Tuesday to confirm its position as group winner.
South Korea, leader in Group D, made life easier for itself when it
defeated Hungary 3-0.
North Korea, who has been impressive and looks like a strong
contender to go all the way, seems almost certain of leading Group B
after recording a 3-0 win over Russia.
But unlike China, which is way ahead of the others in Group A, the
North Koreans have some tough competition in the form of Romania,
which it faces Tuesday.
Germany and Japan, which beat Croatia and Yugoslavia respectively,
will have a showdown Tuesday to decide which emerges the winner of
Group C.
In the men's category, former world champion Jan Ove Waldner
steered Sweden closer to a place in the quarterfinals after helping his
team defeat Chinese Taipei 3-1.
Waldner, the world No. 10, won his opening match and went on to
masterfully upset world No.6 Chiang Peng Lung in the fourth game to
hand Sweden a well-earned victory. Waldner, a two-time world champion,
earlier defeated Chuang Chih Yuan 21-12, 21-19 in the first match
between both teams. Jorgen Persson picked up the second point when he overcame
Peng Lung but Chang Yen Shu reduced the deficit after beating Fredrik
Hakansson.
The defeat for Chinese Taipei was its second after going down to Holland
earlier in the day.
As expected, the Chinese men were invincible. They inflicted a 3-0
defeat on Yugoslavia, and a quarterfinal place is all but a formality.
20.2.:
Favourites In Form
China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) ived
up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites in the women’s competition
on the first day of the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia on February 20.
DPR Korea beat Belgium and France to go straight to the top of Group
B, with Kim Hyon Hui the star performer in both ties. The 3-0 victory over
Belgium was a comfortable opening match, but the French proved more of
a test.
France’s leading player, Anne Boileau, came back to beat Tu Jong Sil
18-21 21-18 21-15, levelling the tie at 1-1 after an opening win by Kim
Hyon Hui. The two met in the reverse singles after Kim Yun Mi beat Anne-Claire
Palut to put DPR Korea 2-1 ahead.
Kim Hyon Hui took the opening game 21-13 with typical speed and clinical
finishing, but Boileau fought back to take the second game 21-16. An upset
seemed possible as the decisive game opened with close exchanges, but the
class of Kim Hyon Hui showed as she pulled away to take the match 21-14
and give DPR Korea their second win of the day.
China also won both ties on the opening day, following a 3-0 win over
the Netherlands with a similar result against Chinese Taipei in Group A.
World no. 1 Wang Nan had looked uncomfortable against Melissa Muller in
the opening tie, dropping the first game, but she had no problems defeating
Lu Yun-Feng of Chinese Taipei 21-9 21-6.
World no. 6 Sun Jin made her first appearance of the competition against
Chinese Taipei and surprisingly lost the opening game to Pan Li-Chun 19-21.
The Chinese later said that the level of air conditioning in the arena
had unsettled them, but Sun Jin overcame the cold to finish the match 21-8
21-13.
Group C already looks to be a battle between three teams: Germany,
Japan and Yugoslavia. Germany’s world no. 5 Qianhong Gotsch had no trouble
defeating Poliackova Zufana 21-9 21-5 in the 3-1 victory over the Slovak
Republic and was rested against the Italians, as her side went on to claim
a 3-0 win.
Japan and Yugoslavia also won both their ties to go level with Germany
at the top of the Group. Yugoslavia face their two main rivals on February
21.
The Korean Republic and Hungary took control of Group D, with the Koreans
looking the more impressive. Luxembourg and England were both beaten 3-0,
and the decisive tie of the Group should be the match up with Hungary on
February 21. The Hungarians beat the Ukraine 3-0 but struggled to overcome
Hong Kong 3-2; world no. 21 Batorfi Csilla beating Song Ah Sim 21-19 21-18
in the final match.
In the men’s event, only France suffered defeat among the leading nations,
going down 3-0 to Chinese Taipei in Group B. The defeat could prove costly
as the French are in the hardest of all the Groups, along with three times
winners Sweden, who beat the Slovak Republic 3-1, and the Netherlands who
saw off Russia 3-0.
China were able to select Liu Guoliang, Wang Liqin and Ma Lin – the
world nos. 3,4 and 6 respectively – for their match with Spain. Unsurprisingly,
they won 3-0 to stamp their authority on Group A, and Austria and Belgium
look unlikely to trouble the favourites despite also claiming wins on the
opening day.
The Korean Republic beat Hungary 3-0 in Group C, although world no.11
Kim Taek Soo was taken to 29-27 by Peter Fazekas in the opening game of
the tie. Kim closed out the match 21-7 to put Korea on top of the Group,
along with the Czech Republic and Italy, who beat Greece and Belarus respectively.
Germany and Japan look favourites in Group D, after opening wins against
Denmark and Slovenia. The two teams meet on February 22. (source: www.worldsport.com)
20.2.:
France Suffer First Day Blues
France fell victim to Chinese Taipei in the first surprise of the opening
day at the World Team Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on February
20.
With three players ranked in the world top 19 and as the 1997 runners-up,
France are the top seeds in Group B. However, with Sweden still to play,
the 3-0 defeat to Chinese Taipei has severely damaged France's hopes of
winning the Group.
Superb performances from Chang Yen-Shu and Chuang Chih-Yuan against
former world champion Jean-Philippe Gatien and world no.16 Damien Eloi
respectively, were the key to the shock win.
Chang won a close struggle with Gatien, 21-19 21-23 22-20, raising
his game at exactly the right time to give Chinese Taipei the perfect start.
World no. 19 Patrick Chila then faced the highly rated Chiang Peng-Lung,
ranked tenth in the world. Chiang raced through the first game 21-13 and
looked to be heading for a comfortable win before a lapse in concentration
allowed Chila to take the second game 21-18.
It proved to be only a momentary slip and Chiang ran out a comfortable
21-11 winner in the final game to put the pressure on France's Eloi in
the following contest. Eloi had to beat Chuang, ranked 28 places below
him, to keep France in the match.
With the match evenly balanced at 1-1, Chuang began to dominate the
exchanges and he reached match point for the first time with an incredible
retrieval at 19-19.
Eloi fought to the end, saving four match points before the pressure
eventually told and Chuang secured the win 17-21 25-23 25-23.
In other matches, Group B rivals Sweden lost their first match before
coming back to beat the Slovak Republic 3-1, while in Group A top seeds
China made short work of Spain, winning 3-0.
In the women's competition, China eventually asserted their authority
against the Netherlands despite making a slow start. World no. 1 Wang Nan
lost the opening game 21-19 to Melissa Muller as she struggled to cope
with the Dutchwoman?s power stroking.
Wang then took control of the match, repeatedly setting up the points
with her backspin service to take the next two games, 21-15 21-13. Li Ju
and Zhang Yining, ranked no. 2 and 8 in the world respectively, had more
straightforward wins against Diana Bakker and Floor Tebbe to give the tournament
favourites a 3-0 victory.
Elsewhere, China's Group A rivals Chinese Taipei secured a 3-2 victory
over Sweden after coming back from 2-1 down, while Group D top seeds the
Korean Republic had a straightforward 3-0 victory over Luxembourg. (source:
www.worldsport.com)
zpìt
MS 2000 *** back to WTTC 2000
