by Ian Marshall, Editor
There was to be no story book ending for Hugo Calderano, he was beaten in the next round by Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto; a major title for the 22 year old from Rio de Janeiro awaits.
Similarly, in January in Hungary he had reached the semi-final stage courtesy of success in opposition to Germany’s Patrick Franziska but it was in March in Qatar when he blossomed. Wins in opposition to Korea Republic’s Lim Jonghoon; Patrick Franziska’s illustrious colleague, Timo Boll, followed by successes against Tomokazu Harimoto and China’s Lin Gaoyuan saw Hugo Calderano reach the final. Just as in Hungary, he was beaten by Fan Zhendong.
Understandably there were low points in the year, at the Liebherr Men’s World Cup he did not advance beyond the initial group stage but the list of players whom he beat in the year is very impressive and underlines that he can compete against the very best.
Furthermore, has that fact not had a major effect on his colleagues? Has he not given them a sense of belief?
The actual finishing position for Brazil at the major global tournaments in the year was most creditable, the national associations they beat was quite stunning.
In London at the ITTF World Team Cup, with Gustavo Tsuboi and Eric Jouti lining up alongside Hugo Calderano; after beating the United States trio comprising Adar Alguetii, Kanak Jha and Feng Yijun by three matches to nil, they recorded a three-two win in opposition to Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit, Lam Siu Hang and Wong Chun Ting to unexpectedly top the group. Notably Hugo Calderano beat both Wong Chun Ting and Lam Siu Hang; the one further win being recorded by Gustavo Tsuboi in opposition to Ho Kwan Kit in the third match of the engagement.
A quarter-final three-one defeat at the hands of England’s Paul Drinkhall, Liam Pitchford and Sam Walker was the end result but by beating Hong Kong, the South Americans had underlined the fact that they could compete on equal terms against a major global power. In 2007 in Magdeburg, Hong Kong had been silver medallists, in 2009 in Linz, bronze medal winners.
Fast forward to late April and early May in Halmstad at the Liebherr 2018 World Team Championships and the fact that Brazil was a major international force was endorsed.
Once again with Hugo Calderano, Gustavo Tsuboi and Eric Jouti in action; they finished in second place in their group behind China but ahead of Portugal, the Czech Republic, Russia and DPR Korea; all nations with rich histories of international success. A place in the opening round booked; they beat Croatia by three matches to two in what was arguably the most dramatic encounter of the whole tournament.
Yet again Hugo Calderano proved the inspiration, he beat both Tomislav Pucar and Andrej Gacina before in the vital concluding match of the fixture, Gustavo Tsuboi recovered from a two games to nil deficit and the brink of defeat in the third to overcome Tomislav Pucar by the very narrowest of margins.
One round later it was to be a three-one defeat when facing Germany, the one Brazilian success being the win recorded by Hugo Calderano against Bastian Steger but the more important factor was that the only defeats Brazil suffered at the Liebherr 2018 World Team Championships were against the top two seeds, the teams who contested the final. It was a most worthy effort.
In 2018 Hugo Calderano reached new heights, so did Brazil.