11/4/2007 2007 ITTF WJC Finals & WCC

Some stories simply have to be told to a larger audience. So sit tight for a while – here comes a good one about friendship, camaraderie and most of all love for the sport of table tennis.

It so happens that I conducted my very first ITTF High Performance coaching course in Johannesburg, South Africa, in late September 1998. A sixteen-hour non-stop flight from New York and I was there to meet up with some twenty-five passionate and dedicated coaches from all over South Africa. The course went along pretty well and the discussions ran high both in the conference room and at the venue.

 10/29/2007 2007 ITTF WJC Finals & WCC

Today Monday 29th October is the big moving day in Cape Town for one of the most dedicated group of volunteers I have met during my ten years of world wide table tennis services. Courts and tables in the Good Hope Center will be removed; young athletes and coaches transported to the airport, remaining ITTF officials catered to one final time.

All in all I am sure that Brian Buckton, the South African Table Tennis Board and all the volunteers when the evening comes can take a deep breath and finally relax following some ten days of intense work. From our side... I say Thank YOU very much!

 10/29/2007 2007 ITTF WJC Finals & WCC

The ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals saw two unexpected winners. The Korean Seo Hyun Deok overcame Russia’s Mikhail Paykov with 4-3 while Japan’s Misako Wakamiya beat Ma Wenting with 4-1.

The finals of the World Cadet Challenge ended with Asian winners but Europe as the best continent overall.

 10/28/2007 2007 ITTF WJC Finals & WCC

18.20 Seo Crowns Asian Day
Russia’s Mikhail Paykov had one match point but it was the Korean Seo Hyun Deok, who won the prestigious gold medal. Seo and Paykov were absolutely equal and played a spectacular match.

Seo Hyun Deok’s victory was the last one of an Asian day. All of the six singles and doubles events were won by Asian athletes.

 10/28/2007 2007 ITTF WJC Finals & WCC

16.45 Song a Class of his Own

Song Hongyuan is winner of the Boy’s Singles event. The Chinese deserves this cadet title indeed because the way to gold was not easy at all.

The 14 year old eliminated three European players in a row. After Hunor Szocs and Patrick Franziska, Frenchman Thomas Le Breton had to appreciate how dominant the Chinese talent is.

 10/28/2007 2007 ITTF WJC Finals & WCC

Paul Drinkhall fulfilled his task. The top seeded Englishman had to play in the quarter finals after losing twice in the first stage.

He struggled in the early stages against Japan's Kentaro Miuchi when he failed to convert several game points.

Romania's Elizabeta Samara has already qualified for the semi final and will face Japan's Misako Wakamiya, who overcame Elena Troshneva from Russia with 4-0 in her quarter final match.

 10/27/2007 2007 ITTF WJC Finals & WCC

20.25 Drinkhall and Salifou Win Through
Paul Drinkhall can still win the Boys’ Singles event. The top seeded Englishman struggled in the early stages against Japan’s Kentaro Miuchi when he failed to convert several game points.

Drinkhall finally overcame his opponent with 4-1.

In the second quarter final, Abdel-Kader Salifou beat Borna Kovac. The Frenchman Salifou won a seven game thriller and will tomorrow face Korea’s Seo Hyun Deok.