06/29/2012        2012 World Veteran Championships

The winner two years ago in Hohot, the hopes harboured by Germany’s Wilfried Lieck of retaining the Men’s Singles 65-69 years title at the World Veteran Championships in Stockholm remain high, following his splendid efforts on Thursday 28th June in the Ericsson Arena.

He beat England’s Johnny Clarke (13-11, 14-12, 11-9), Sweden’s Nils Billing (11-8, 11-7, 11-4) and the Czech Republic’s Jaroslav Kucera (11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9) to book his place in the semi-finals.

In the penultimate round, he meets the Czech Republic’s Milos Matekjicek; whilst in the opposite half of the draw, an all Chinese battle awaits.

Yang Shoujie confronts Wang Yin.

Quarter-Finals
In the quarter-finals, Milos Matejicek overcame Japan’s Akira Suzuki (11-4, 11-2, 11-6), Yang Shoujie defeated Karel Sekanina, also from the Czech Republic (11-5, 11-7, 11-5) and Wang Yin accounted for Denmark’s Nils Ramberg (11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7).

Semi-Finalists Known
Overall, following the close of play on Thursday 28th June, a total of 32 players remain in the various Men’s Singles categories; a total of 13 nations being represented in the 16 semi-finals.

Sweden has the largest contingent with eight representatives, the Czech Republic has seven and Germany has five.

The other countries represented are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, England, France, Ireland, Russia and the Slovak Republic.

Only Possible Defence
Furthermore, new champions will be crowned; the only possible successful defence being Wilfried Lieck.

However, there is one player who can regain a title.

Intriguing Event
The Czech Republic’s Miroslav Cecava won the Men’s Singles 50-59 years class in 2006 in Rio de Janeiro; four years later in Stockholm he is through the semi-finals in a most intriguing event.

In the penultimate round he faces the host nation’s favourite, Mikael Appelgren.
At the quarter-final stage he Miroslav Cecava overcame Spain’s Ismael Caymel (11-5, 11-6, 11-1); whilst Mikael Appelgren eventually combined mind body and soul to defeat Luxembourg’s Tajan Ciociu (14-12, 7-11, 11-2, 4-11, 11-1).

Mouthwatering Matches
An intriguing lower half of the draw and the top half is equally mouthwatering in the Men’s Singles 50-59 years class.

Two former Chinese internationals confront; Germany’s Wang Yansheng meets Australia’s Lu Qiwei, the man who beat Mikael Appelgren in the group stage of proceedings.

Last Eight
In the round of the last eight, Wang Yangsheng beat Estonia’s Rein Lindmäe (11-3, 11-5, 11-7) and Lu Qiwei defeated Japan’s Masataka Tokai (11-2, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8).

Updated Results
World Veteran Championships 2012: Updated Results