Ma Long is the Liebherr 2015 Men’s World Cup Champion

2015 World Champion MA Long is now the 2015 Men’s World Cup champion after a devastating performance at the Liebherr 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup that concluded today in Halmstad, Sweden.

In a highly anticipated final, world number one MA accounted for 18 year old compatriot FAN Zhendong 4-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8) for a convincing victory.

MA is now well on track towards a table tennis Grand Slam (World Championships, World Cup, Olympic Games) dream, after winning two major World Titles events consecutively in 2015.

The 26 year old, who will be able to celebrate his victory with his birthday on Tuesday stated “2015 has been a fruitful year for me. The World Championships victory earlier this year definitely made me stronger mentally and skills-wise, giving me more confidence to win this event.”

“I played really well today, Sweden has been a lucky place for me, I won the World Tour Swedish Open in 2011, and the Men’s World Cup today. It feels great here!”

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV made up for his crushing defeat by MA Long in the semi final to clinch third place. The German resumed his long running battle with Jun MIZUTANI, which dates back to 2005. OVTCHAROV was too strong on this occasion, powering his way to a 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 victory to claim his second Men’s World Cup bronze medal.

“It was a great match against Jun, really difficult, long rallies”, said Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. “I’m really tired, I’ve played 18 matches since the start of the European Championships, I now need two days to recuperate before I play in the Polish Open in Warsaw, Poland, that will start on 21 Oct.”

The surprise of the tournament was Brazilian Gustavo TSUBOI, who made several massive upsets to become the first Latin American player to make the Men’s ITTF World Cup quarter final since 1989!

All eyes now turn to the 2015 ITTF Women’s World Cup, which begins 30 October in Sendai, Japan.

Ma Long Aiming to Create More History at Liebherr 2015 Men’s World Cup

World Champion MA Long is aiming to etch his name in table tennis history by winning the Liebherr 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup, which starts tomorrow 16 October in Halmstad, Sweden.

The 27 year old Chinese needs to win the second ITTF world title event of the year, in order to keep his hopes of becoming a table tennis grand slam alive. The table tennis grand slam consists of winning the World Championships, the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

The last man to achieve this was his team mate ZHANG Jike, who complete the feat by becoming the 2011 World Champion, 2011 Men’s World Cup Champion and the 2012 Olympic Champion.

MA who has been struggling with a back injury recently stated: “Of course it is my goal to complete the prestigious grand slam. But right now I am focusing on winning this event after losing a tight final last year to ZHANG (who did not qualify for the event this year). My back is feeling much better and I can’t wait to get started!”

The Liebherr 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup only consists of 20 of the world’s best players. 17 of the players competing here had to qualify through their respective Continental Cups, which means only the best of the best can compete.

The only three other players to receive the golden ticket to play in the 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup are the current World Champion MA Long (CHN), one host country representative Kristian KARLSSON (SWE), and 18 year old Anton KALLBERG (SWE) who received a wildcard into the event.

Ma Long is looking more more success here in Halmstad

Kicking off the event are seeds nine to 20, playing round robin in four groups of three players (two matches each). The top two players from each group progresses to the second round of the competition. This first round draw can be found here: http://bit.ly/1Ms9YiR.

In the first stage, all eyes will be on Jimmy BUTLER (USA), who is returning to the Men’s World Cup for the first time since 1992! The 44 year old came out of his 11-year retirement through injury only last year to get back to the top of international table tennis.

After his final training session before the action begins tomorrow, the American stated: “I am overwhelmed being back. It is amazing to be amongst the world’s elite again. When I started my comeback I did not think this would be possible. I will do my best tomorrow to cause some upsets!”

The second round, which starts on Saturday, is a straight knockout with the eight players that progressed from the first round, facing off against the top eight seeded players. The players play the round-of-16 and quarterfinals on Saturday, with the semifinals and final on Sunday.

Assar & Meshref Heading to the ITTF World Cups

The Egyptian pair of Omar ASSAR and Dina MESHREF are the 2015 ITTF-Africa Cup Champions and in turn have qualified for the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup’s later this year.

The 2015 ITTF-Africa Cup, which brings the best of the best African players together, concluded today in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

To clinch the prestigious World Cup spot for the first time, ASSAR defeated the 2014 champion and ITTF Male Table Tennis Star Quadri ARUNA (NGR) 11-4, 11-4, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7 in a very entertaining final.

“I was well prepared for this tournament and now I can play in the World Cup”, said 24 year old ASSAR. “I have been in China for one month preparing and I was focused to win this tournament.”

ASSAR will be very much at home at the Liebherr 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup; the tournament will be staged later this year in Halmstad, Sweden where he lives.

“I only dropped two games throughout the tournament and I didn’t lose a match; I am happy with my performance overall. In the final, I was positive and I did not give Aruna the chance to attack, I put him on the defence.”

Becoming champion in Cameroon meant that MESHREF is off to her third Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in Sendai, Japan in late October.

Assar and Meshref book their places at ITTF World Cups

To clinch the title, MESHREF defeated her close friend and teammate Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY in the final 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6.

“It is always a difficult match playing against Nadeen, my teammate, because we practise together and we know each other’s weaknesses”, stated MESHREF. “I hope to make this, my third appearance at the World Cup, a memorable one because I have yet to win a match in my two appearances.”

The ITTF World Cups are amongst the most prestigious events in the world, with only the top 18 players qualifying for the event through the continental cups, plus the world champion and one wildcard.

The Liebherr 2015 Men’s World Cup will be held in Halmstad, Sweden on 16-18 October and the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Sendai, Japan on 30 October – 1 November.

Qualifications for the 2015 ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups:

Current World Champion: MA Long (CHN), DING Ning (CHN)

NN Table Tennis Club 2015 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER), Marcos FREITAS (POR), Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE), LIU Jia (AUT), Petrissa SOLJA (GER), Irene IVANCAN (GER)

GAC Group 2015 Asian Cup: XU Xin (CHN), Jun MIZUTANI (JPN), FENG Tianwei (SIN), LIU Shiwen (CHN)

K-Sports 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup: William HENZELL (AUS), LAY Jian Fang (AUS)

Double Fish 2015 ITTF-North America Cup: Jimmy BUTLER (USA), ZHANG Mo (CAN)

2015 ITTF-Latin America Cup: Gustavo TSUBOI (BRA), Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA)

2015 ITTF-Africa Cup: Omar ASSAR (EGY), Dina MESHREF (EGY)

Tsuboi and Kumahara Qualify for ITTF World Cups

Brazil has once again proven itself as the table tennis powerhouse in Latin America, with its top players Gustavo TSUBOI and Caroline KUMAHARA claiming the men’s & women’s titles respectively at the 2015 ITTF-Latin America Cup that concluded in Cuba on 31 May 2015.

Their victory means that the duo qualify directly to take on the world’s best players from other continents at the prestigious ITTF World Cup’s later in the year.

Despite losing the first 2 games in the all-Brazilian finals, TSUBOI was able to turn the tide around to defeat the defending champion, Cazuo MATSUMOTO 4-2 (8-11, 6-11, 11-8, 13-11, 11-7, 11-7) to claim his second ITTF-Latin America Cup title after his first victory back in 2011.

Delighted about gold, the top seed shared, “We know each other since we are under 18. We train together and this was the most difficult match I had. Our matches were always close and this time I have to fight back. It was really hard when I am trailing behind and I had to change the rhythm to win.”

“It’s a double joy for me because it is also my birthday today. Now I will take some time to enjoy this victory and I will think of the Pan American Games next.”

Tsuboi and Kumahara celebrate their victories at the 2015 ITTF-Latin America Cup

In the women’s finals matchup, KUMAHARA successfully defended her crown to score the third continental cup title in her career. She accounted for her compatriot GUI Lin 4-0 (12-10, 12-10, 11-8, 11-2) to seal her victory.

The Sao Paulo native expressed “Although it was a 4-0 match, it was hard. I began very well in all four games but she fought back, making it difficult for me.”

“There is always high level table tennis at play at the Latin American Cups and matches are hard from the group phase. I was happy for my performance here and gained confidence for the Pan American Games. This year I haven’t been good, not very focused. I wasn’t expecting to be champion but this achievement makes me keep training harder. The Pan American Games are going to be difficult.”

The Liebherr 2015 Men’s World Cup will be held in Halmstad, Sweden on 16-18 October and the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Sendai, Japan on 30 October – 1 November.

The ITTF World Cups are amongst the most prestigious event in the world, with only the top 18 players qualifying for the event through the continental cups, plus the world champion and one wildcard.

Qualifications for the 2015 ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups:

Current World Champion: MA Long (CHN), DING Ning (CHN)

NN Table Tennis Club 2015 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER), Marcos FREITAS (POR),

Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE), LIU Jia (AUT), Petrissa SOLJA (GER), Irene IVANCAN (GER)

GAC Group 2015 Asian Cup: XU Xin (CHN), Jun MIZUTANI (JPN), FENG Tianwei (SIN), LIU Shiwen (CHN)

K-Sports 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup: William HENZELL (AUS), LAY Jian Fang (AUS)

Double Fish 2015 ITTF-North America Cup: Jimmy BUTLER (USA), ZHANG Mo (CAN)

2015 Latin-America Cup: Gustavo TSUBOI (BRA), Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA)