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China National Games 2021 brought some surprises
More than 120 players took part in the qualification for the China National Games 2021 singles event main draw that will be held in September. Players, like Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin, Lin Gaoyuan, Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun have already secured their places for their success in the World Championships and World Cups of the previous years.
Overall, this tournament did not brought a lot of surprising results, but there still were few that caught the attention. In singles event, the 17-year-old Zeng Beixun knocked out Zhao Zihao, who is World Ranked 23 at the moment. Talented youngster will take part in the main draw of this tournament. He is definitely a player that might see rise in the nearest future.
Another unexpected result happened in the team qualification event. Xu Ruifeng managed to overcome the current World Ranking vice-leader – the experienced China international Xu Xin.
Below you can see all the players that advanced to the main draw of the China National Games 2021 singles event, and the players they won on their way to the main draw.
QUALIFIED PLAYERS IN SINGLES
Sun Wen 
4-1 vs. Niu Zegan (11-5, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6)
4-0 vs. Wang Tingyu (11-8, 11-6, 12-10, 11-5)
4-2 vs. Zhao Zihao (11-13, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7) Zhou Qihao
4-0 vs. Xiao Chao (11-5, 11-8, 11-4, 11-3)
4-1 vs. Wei Zhihao (11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-2)
4-0 vs. Zeng Beixun (11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 12-10) Quan Kaiyuan
4-2 vs. Liu Hanfeng (11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 11-13, 19-17, 12-10)
4-2 vs. Zhu Yi (11-7, 10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8)
4-1 vs.
Bora Vang (9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7) Wang Lingkun
4-1 vs. Xiong Mengyang (3-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8)
4-0 vs. Song Zhuoheng (11-6, 11-9, 13-11, 11-5)
4-2 vs. Gao Yang (7-11, 11-5, 3-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-9) Shang Kun
4-3 vs. Hou Yingchao (11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9)
4-2 vs.
Zhai Yujia (7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-15, 11-7, 11-6)
4-0 vs. Xu Haidong (11-9, 13-11, 11-7, 11-8) Zhou Yu
4-1 vs. Lyu You (11-5, 11-9, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6)
4-0 vs. Chen Yuanyu (11-3, 11-8, 11-5, 13-11)
4-3 vs. Zhou Kai (9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 10-12, 15-13, 11-6, 12-10) Yan An
4-1 vs. Zhang Chaoyue (11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5)
4-0 vs. Jiang Shihui (11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 16-14)
4-2 vs. Xue Fei (6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-8) Fang Bo
First Round Bye
4-0 vs. Fei Junhang (11-4, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8)
4-0 vs. Yan Sheng (11-9, 11-6, 11-6, 11-8) Yu Ziyang
4-0 vs. Wu Di (11-5, 11-9, 11-8, 11-8)
4-0 vs. Xi Sheng (11-8, 11-6, 11-7, 17-15)
4-3 vs. Zhang Yudong (5-11, 13-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9) Yuan Licen
4-2 vs. Wei Shihao (11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 18-16, 11-6)
4-1 vs. Liu Yebo (11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8)
4-3 vs. Zhi Jinpeng (13-11, 11-1, 10-12, 7-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-8) Liang Yanning
4-1 vs. Li Wenchong (11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6)
4-3 vs. Fang Yingchi (7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8)
4-2 vs. Lin Shidong (13-11, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8) Xu Yingbin
4-0 vs. Su Yujie (11-7, 11-5, 11-6, 11-)
4-1 vs. Li Haoteng (11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5)
4-1 vs. Wang Qikai (11-5, 15-13, 9-11, 11-2, 11-8) Niu Guankai
4-3 vs. Liang Tianhong (11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 6-11, 14-12)
4-1 vs. Zhou Xijun (11-6, 11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 11-5)
4-2 vs. Sai Linwei (11-8, 10-12, 11-0, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5) Liu Dingshuo
First Round Bye
4-0 vs. Yang Shuo (11-9, 11-8, 11-9, 14-12)
4-3 vs. Zhao Zhaoyan (10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9) Ma Te
4-0 vs. Zhang Boao (11-4, 11-5, 14-12, 11-7)
4-2 vs. Song Xu (11-9, 6-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9)
4-2 vs. Han Qiyao ( 6-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-6) Xiang Peng
4-0 vs. Yao Gengbo (11-5, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7)
4-2 vs. Cheng Jingqi (12-14, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8)
4-3 vs. Xu Chenhao (6-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-9, 10-12, 12-14, 11-6)ROUND 3 LOSERS WHO QUALIFIED
4 –
Zeng Beixun
0 – Zhao Zihao4 –
Bora Vang
1 – Gao Yang4 –
Xu Haidong
0 – Zhou Kai4 –
Zhang Yudong
0 – Zhu Jinpeng4 –
Lin Shidong
1 – Wang Qikai4 –
Sai Linwei
1 – Zhao Zhaoyan4 –
Xu Chenhao
2 – Han QiyaoDon’t miss out the news from Table Tennis Media, subscribing to our free newsletter and explore the premium content on our Patreon.
Cao Wei, China National Games 2021, Fan Zhendong, Fang Bo, Gao Yang, Laing Guodong, Liang Jingkun, Lin Gaoyuan, Lin Shidong, Liu Dingshuo, Ma Long, Niu Guankai, Quan Kaiyuan, Sai Linwei, Shang Kun, Sun Wen, Vang Bora, Wang Chuqin, Wang Kaibo, Wang Zhicheng, Xi Sheng, Xu Chenhao, Xu Haidong, Xu Xin, Xu Yingbin, Xue Fei, Yan An, Yan Sheng, Yang Shuo, Yu Heyi, Yu Ziyang, Zeng Beixun, Zhang Chao, Zhang Yudong, Zhao Zihao, Zhou Kai, Zhu Yi -
Borussia with a strong start in Bundesliga semi-finals
ASV Grünwettersbach had a tough debut in their German Bundesliga semi-finals debut. Club from Grünwettersbach reached the Bundesliga semi-finals for the first time in their history. However, Borussia Düsseldorf reminded them, who is the favorite in this season’s run for the German crown.
Borussia’s veteran Timo Boll started the match-up with a strong 3-0 win over the experienced defender Wang Xi. Their teammates had a more tight games. Anton Källberg, who has became the Borussia’s leader this season, had a nerve-racking game against the Dang Qiu. The German took the lead in the first set, but the Swede bounced back and took a 2-1 lead. Qiu was able to win the fourth set strongly, but he was short in the decisive one, losing 9-11.
Kristian Karlsson was up next to finish the deal for Borussia and initially, it looked like a confident win. The Swede took a 2-0 lead against the Slovenian Deni Kozul. Nevertheless, Grünwettersbach’s player stood up for such challenge and took it to the fifth set. It was intense one, but Karlsson still managed to close the deal, winning the fifth set 15-13.
2020/21 BUNDESLIGA SEMI-FINALS
3 –
Borussia Düsseldorf
0 – ASV Grünwettersbach Timo Boll – Wang Xi 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-8)
Anton Källberg – Dang Qiu 3-2 (9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9) Kristian Karlsson – 
Deni Kozul 3-2 (11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 8-11, 15-13)Don’t miss out the news from Table Tennis Media, subscribing to our free newsletter and explore the premium content on our Patreon.
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ASV Grünwettersbach writes a new chapter in its Bundesliga history
The regular season of German Bundesliga has came to the end in a dramatic fashion and with historic accolades for the ASV Grünwettersbach. In the game day 22, the last one before the play-offs, Grünwettersbach needed to get a win against Post SV Mühlhausen to secure spot in the Final Four of the German league.
This meeting started with a dramatic 2-3 Wang Xi loss to Mühlhausen’s Steffen Mengel. Xi was leading 2-1, but Mengel managed to make a comeback, winning the fifth set 11-5. In the next game, Dang Qiu got a solid 3-0 win over the Austrian Daniel Habesohn. Then came the third game that was the crucial one in this meeting. Slovenian Deni Kozul and Czech Lubomir Jančarik put up a real intense fight. After several lead changes, it all came down to the fifth set that was won by Kozul. Grünwettersbach took a 2-1 lead and it was up to Wang Xi to secure the win against the Romanian Ovidiu Ionescu. After losing the first set, Xi turned the game around and pulled a 3-1 win that ended the match and secured Grünwettersbach’s place in the play-offs. There they gonna meet with Timo Boll’s Borussia Düsseldorf that ended the regular season in the top spot.
In other matches, Darko Jorgic made a great comeback against Borussia’s Timo Boll. After being down 0-2, Slovenian managed to win the next three sets, including the fifth one 11-2. However, this did not help his team much, as Saarbrücken still lost to Borussia 1-3.
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA GAME DAY 22
ASV Grünwettersbach – Post SV Mühlhausen (3-1)
Wang Xi – Steffen Mengel 2-3 (8-11, 11-9, 16-14, 8-11, 5-11) Dang Qiu – 
Daniel Habesohn 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-9) Deni Kozul – 
Lubomir Jančarik 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9) Wang Xi – 
Ovidiu Ionescu 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3)1. FC Saarbrücken TT – Borussia Düsseldorf (1-3)
Patrick Franziska – Kristian Karlsson 1-3 (10-12, 11-8, 14-16, 5-11)
Dimitrije Levajac – Ricardo Walther 0-3 (9-11, 5-11, 12-14) Darko Jorgic – Timo Boll 3-2 (5-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-2) Patrick Franziska – Anton Källberg 2-3 (4-11, 9-11, 11-7, 15-13, 7-11)TTC Neu-Ulm – TSV Bad Königshofen (3-0)
Emmanuel Lebesson – Bastian Steger 3-1 (13-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5)
Tiago Apolonia – Kilian Ort 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5)
Vladimir Sidorenko – 
Filip Zeljko 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-6)TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen (3-2)
Benedikt Duda – 
Maciej Kubik 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3)
Alvaro Robles – Simon Gauzy 3-1 (11-7, 11-9, 4-11, 15-13)
Alberto Miño – Samuel Kulczycki 2-3 (8-11, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 7-11) Benedikt Duda – Simon Gauzy 2-3 (12-14, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7, 4-11) Alvaro Robles/Alberto Miño – Samuel Kulczycki/Maciej Kubik 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-7)TTC OE Bad Homburg – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell (0-3)
Lev Katsman – 
Quadri Aruna 2-3 (11-7, 8-11, 11-9, 6-11, 9-11) Maksim Grebnev – Ruwen Filus 0-3 (5-11, 9-11, 11-13) Nils Hohmeier – Fan Bo Meng 0-3 (8-11, 4-11, 9-11)SV Werder Bremen – TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau (3-1)
Kirill Gerassimenko – 
Ioannis Sgouropoulos 3-1 (11-13, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9)
Marcelo Aguirre – Cristian Pletea 3-2 (11-13, 14-12, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7) Hunor Szőcs – 
Robin Devos 2-3 (11-13, 11-8, 14-12, 6-11, 9-11) Kirill Gerassimenko – Cristian Pletea 3-1 (11-5, 11-7, 3-11, 11-4)BUNDESLIGA STANDINGS
Pos. Team Won Lost Matches Won/Lost Difference 1 
Borussia Düsseldorf 
20 2 62-17 +45 2 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 15 7 56-25 +31 3 TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 15 7 55-35 +20 4 ASV Grünwettersbach 13 9 52-42 +10 5 TTC Neu-Ulm13 9 46-38 +8 6 SV Werder Bremen12 10 44-44 0 7 TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt12 10 43-45 -2 8 TSV Bad Königshofen11 11 45-45 0 9 Post SV Mühlhausen11 11 43-44 -1 10 TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell6 16 32-54 -22 11 TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau 
3 19 19-61 -42 12 TTC OE Bad Homburg 1 21 18-65 -47 To see more of TTM content, subscribe to our YouTube & follow us on Instagram.
1. FC Saarbrücken TT, 2020/21 Bundesliga Germany, Alberto Miño, Aleksandar Karakaševic, Alvaro Robles, Anton Källberg, ASV Grünwettersbach, Bastian Steger, Benedikt Duda, Borussia Düsseldorf, Bundesliga Germany, Cristian Pletea, Dang Qiu, Daniel Habesohn, Darko Jorgic, Deni Kozul, Dimitrije Levajac, Emmanuel Lebesson, Fan Bo Meng, Filip Zeljko, Hunor Szöcs, Ioannis Sgouropoulos, Kilian Ort, Kirill Gerassimenko, Kristian Karlsson, Lev Katsman, Lubomir Jancarik, Maciej Kubik, Maksim Grebnev, Marcelo Aguirre, Mattias Falck, Nils Hohmeier, Ovidiu Ionescu, Patrick Franziska, Post SV Mühlhausen, Quadri Aruna, Ricardo Walther, Robin Devos, Ruwen Filus, Samuel Kulczycki, Simon Gauzy, Steffen Mengel, SV Werder Bremen, Tiago Apolonia, Timo Boll, TSV Bad Königshofen, TTC Neu-Ulm, TTC OE Bad Homburg, TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell, TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt, TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen, Vladimir Sidorenko, Wang Xi -
Skachkov gets the final spot in the Olympic qualification in Doha
In the first phase of qualification, Kirill Skachkov (WR 55) lost in a tough semi-finals match up against the experienced Greek defender Panagiotis Gionis (WR 49) 3-4. However, in the second phase of the qualification, he got past the Ukrainian Lei Kou (WR 56) 4-1, then relatively easily got a 4-0 win over the 25-year old Belgian Florent Lambiet to book himself a place in the final against the Englishman Liam Pitchford (WR 15). The English international continued to struggle in Doha and the experienced Russian got a 4-1 win.
Skachkov joined the 33-year old Czech Lubomir Jancarik (WR 94), 23-year old Hungarian Bence Majoros (WR 61) and 26-year old Slovakian defender Yang Wang (WR 34), who all were successful in the first phase of qualification and also got their place in the Tokyo Olympics.
Today started the 2020 Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Doha. From 13 to 17 April, South American players will get a chance to earn their place in the Tokyo Olympics and 21 to 25 April will be another chance for the European players to get the final tickets to Japan.
2020 WORLD SINGLES QUALIFICATION FINALS IN DOHA
Lubomir Jančarik – 
Lei Kou 4-0
Bence Majoros – Florent Lambiet 4-1
Yang Wang – Panagiotis Gionis 4-2 Kirill Skachkov – 
Liam Pitchford 4-1Don’t miss out the news from Table Tennis Media, subscribing to our free newsletter and explore the premium content on our Patreon.
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