GONDOMAR, Portugal: Serbia and Slovenia emerged the surprise outfits to gain men’s team places in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after the conclusion of ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament on Sunday.
In the women’s event, the team to secure a precious place contrary to status was DPR Korea.
Unquestionably Serbia was the biggest surprise. They commenced play as the no.27 seeds. See how they felt and what they thought.
For Slovenia, another impressive performance, they were the no.11 seeds. Hong Kong, China started as no.10 seeds as did DPR Korea.
Leading outfits
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.
Long route
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 names
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. (Source: ITTF)
