The Swiss Table Tennis Championships 2023 took place from March 25 to 26 2023 at the Schützmatt sports hall in Burgdorf
2022 defending champion Barish MOULLET faced Elias HARDMEIER in the final. The two players from Neuhausen certainly had the most exciting match of the entire tournament from start to finish. The first two games were clearly won by Barish MOULLET and everything suggested that he would be Swiss champion again this year. But during the third game Elias HARDMEIER took over the game and showed his best level of play. He won the third fourth and fifth game and found himself in the lead. It must be said that the fourth game had extended until 18:16 and that it had held the breath of the public for the duration of the match. But Barish MOULLET had not lost all hope and showed discipline even after losing 3 sets in a row which allowed him to win the sixth set.
It was after endless exchanges of balls 68 minutes of play and 7 sets of disputed that Elias HARDMEIER won the seventh set and become Swiss champion thus taking his revenge on last year’s loss to CRISSIER. The match ended with the score of 4-3 (6:11 3:11 11:7 18:16 11:9 11:7 11:3). This match will definitely remain in the memories of players and spectators.
“I have worked hard the last few weeks to be able to bring home this trophy. I am very happy to have achieved this; it was very hard especially in the semi-final where – like later in the final – I was trailing 2-0. It was two tough games and I think I was able to show mental strength I always stayed calm and believed in myself. I think in the end it was decisive. But then there is also the 4th game of the final which was very close (18:16) – whether Barish could lead 3:1 or the score was 2:2 it would have made a big difference. What was decisive was that the momentum was thus reversed and that I was able to achieve victory. I was very happy that it worked and that so many people came to the room” said the new Swiss champion.
After a one year break Rachel MORET returned to claim her title of Swiss champion and this in all possible categories. In singles Rachel Moret has not lost a single game in the entire tournament even during the final against former champion Elmiara ANTONYAN. The latter could not find any chances at all as evidenced by the final score of 4-0 (11:3 11:4 11:4 11:4).
Defending champions Mauro SCHÄRRER and Elias HARDMEIER could not defend their number 1 spot in Doubles. They lost the semi-finals against Thilo VORHERR and Denis BERNHARD. The latter played in the final against the Rio-Star Muttenz duo Pedro OSIRO and Cédric TSCHANZ. Their match was very close so they had to go until the fifth set to be able to conclude the game. After a good match and the encouragement of the fans it was finally Pedro OSIRO and Cédric TSCHANZ who won 3:2 (11:9 7:11 9:11 11:3 11:7).
In Women’s doubles the reigning champions Céline REUST and Salomé SIMONET lost to MORET and Fanny Doutaz. The Romand duo won 3-0 (11:5 11:5 11:8) and lost only one set in the entire tournament.
In mixed double Rachel MORET has once again teamed up with Nicolas CHAMPOD. This duo had already won the title in 2018 2019 and 2020 and intended to win it again this year. They experienced some difficulties especially against the pair Thierry MILLER and Elmira ANTONYAN whom they met in the semi-finals. The match was of such intensity that no one knew which pair would win the suspense lasted the whole match and this literally until the match point. The match ended 3-2 (11:9 7:11 11:8 5:11 11:9) for MORET-CHAMPOD. In the final they met another French-speaking pair Gaël VENDÉ and Fanny DOUTAZ against whom they struggled in the first two sets but ultimately won 3-0 (11:9 13:11 11:5).
With this victory added to her list Rachel Moret won three gold medals in the three categories in which she competed.
“I am very happy to have managed to do the hat-trick this weekend. Especially in doubles with Fanny and Nicolas. It is always a pleasure to be able to play in Switzerland. I also thank all the people who organized and helped the smooth running of the competition ” added Rachel Moret.
