2020 ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament
9 qualification places were up for grabs for Tokyo 2020 in both the men’s and women’s team events in Gondomar Portugal.
Serbia and Slovenia emerged the surprise outfits to gain men’s team places in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when play concluded on Sunday 26th January at the ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament in Gondomar Portugal.
In the women’s event the team to secure a precious place contrary to status was DPR Korea.
Unquestionably Serbia was the biggest surprise. For Slovenia another impressive performance they were the no.11 seeds. Hong Kong China started as no.10 seeds as did DPR Korea.
In the men’s event Korea Republic the top seeds fulfilled expectations as did the next in line Chinese Taipei Sweden and France. Likewise Portugal the no.8 seeds and Croatia the no.9 seeds emerged successful. The notable teams to miss out were India the no.5 seeds followed in the order of merit by Austria and Great Britain.
Meanwhile in the women’s event the top eight teams all gained Tokyo 2020 places.
It was a successful venture for Hong Kong China the top seeds as it was for those next on the list Chinese Taipei Singapore Korea Republic Romania and Austria all secured their tickets to Tokyo. Similarly Hungary and Poland the teams which concluded the top eight names progressed. The selection to fall short was Ukraine who started play the no.9 seeds.
Success for Korea Republic in the women’s event but it was by the long route. In the round of the last 16 the round that determined eight places they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of DPR Korea and thus had to join the remaining seven teams who had experienced defeat in the contest for the one remaining position.
They accounted for Ukraine in the second stage quarter-final before overcoming Spain the no.14 seeds and France the no.18 seeds to secure the precious ninth spot.
Star of the show for Korea Republic was 15 year old Shin Yubin. She played in every fixture; consistently she partnered Choi Hyojoo in the doubles losing just one match when against DPR Korea being beaten by Kim Nam Hae and Cha Hyo Sim (7-11 11-7 11-9 12-10). Otherwise the record was unblemished; she remained unbeaten in singles matches.
Also for Poland Natalia Partyka attracted the attention not necessarily because of her performance in Gondomar; for the fourth consecutive time starting in Beijing in 2008 she will compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is a record unequalled by any athlete in any sport.
Several names to note though in particular it was 18 year old Dimitrije Levajac; he was the hero of the hour as Serbia were the surprise package. Not a win to his name on the 2019 ITTF World Tour losing in the opening preliminary round on each of his three appearances listed at a lowly no.397 on the current world rankings he played on a completely different level here in Gondomar.
Against Austria in the opening round in the vital decisive fifth match he kept his nerve to beat Stefan Fegerl in a nail-biting duel (12-10 1-11 10-12 11-8 11-9); then in the second round the decisive round he repeated the feat.
Facing Hong Kong China after accounting for Ho Kwan Kit (11-6 9-11 11-1 8-11 11-6) the overall fixture score level in the crucial fifth match he recorded the biggest upset of the whole tournament. He beat Wong Chun Ting (11-9 8-11 10-12 11-3 11-6) presently listed at no.19 on the world rankings and as high is no.8 some nine months ago in April.
Similarly Slovenia the no.11 seeds had a star name; 21 year old Darko Jorgic; in the crucial last 16 contest against India he overcame both Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (11-9 12-10 11-3) and Sharath Kamal Achanta (10-12 11-7 12-10 11-8) in a 3-1 team success.
Meanwhile for Hong Kong China it was the long route to qualify. Required to compete in the second stage the no.10 seeds they recorded a 3-1 win against Poland before securing a 3-0 success against Hungary the no.17 seeds to book their place in the final.
Opposing the Czech Republic the no.16 seeds a 3-0 success was the margin of victory; the last Tokyo reservation was confirmed.
Action returns to the ITTF World Tour in Germany this week.
