Records smashed on Day 3 at Rio 2016

Bojan Tokic and Dimitrij Ovtcharov hits stunning 33-31 world record in their opening game! Third day of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games table tennis event concluded with several record breaking matches that rocked the arena in Riocentro Pavilion 3. 2014 ITTF Male Table Tennis Star Quadri ARUNA was in unbeatable form against former world number one, and six-times European Champion Timo BOLL (GER) in the battle for a quarterfinal spot, prevailing 12-10, 12-10, 11-5, 3-11, 5-11, 11-9 to become the first African table tennis player to make it through to the quarterfinals where he will play World Champion MA Long (CHN) for a place in the semifinals. After a tough 4-3 opening match against LI Ping (QAT) earlier today, third seeded Dimitrij OTCHAROV was put through another challenge in the Round of 16 against Slovenia’s Bojan TOKIC, especially in the first game! The first game finished 33-31 to TOKIC, which is a world record score. This insane game went for a whopping 26 minutes, which is longer than a lot of the full matches here at Rio 2016. On the game that will go down in table tennis folk law, OVTCHAROV stated: “It was very cool to be a part of this world record game, but it is a shame that I didn't get to win it.” The European champion may not have won the world record game, but he was able to win the next four to clinch the match 4-1 (31-33, 12-10, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7) to progress to the quarterfinals where he will meet his club team mate Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR). The capacity Brazilian crowd went home disappointed, after a spirited Hugo CALDERANO (BRA), who played the tournament of his life lost against the number four seeded Jun MIZUTANI (JPN). MIZUTANI’s win sets up an intriguing clash with Marcos FREITAS (POR). 2010 Youth Olympic Games champion Koki NIWA recovered from 1-3 down to upset against world number eight WONG Chun Ting (HKG) 4-3 (6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8). NIWA, whom some people questioned about his selection in the Japanese team now plays defending champion ZHANG Jike (CHN) in the quarterfinals. Similarly, for NIWA’s teammate Ai FUKUHARA, who have lost several high profile matches in the last year, the table tennis community have raised much doubt with her being selected for the Women’s Singles over 15-year-old Mima ITO. Competing in her fourth Olympic Games, FUKUHARA was set on proving her critics wrong, the sixth seed was on fire to defeat DPR Korea’s top defender RI Myong Sun with a convincing 4-0 (11-5, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7) victory. “Olympic is very special, not same as other international events. It’s really not easy. I trained very hard in these months just for the Olympic game here in Rio. I'm now sure my practicing is paying off,” shared the Japanese star. “It was a big turning point when I was 10-10 score in the 2nd game. It was a big advantage for me when I got 12-10 score at that game finally.” FUKUHARA will continue her quest for an Olympic medal against the London 2012 bronze medalist FENG Tianwei (SIN) tomorrow. KIM Song I (PRK) continued shocking her opponents with her defensive style, defeatingCHEN Szu-Yu (TPE) 4-2 and will now play YU Mengyu (SIN). The final two women’s quarterfinal matches will be contested between the number one seed DING Ning (CHN) and HAN Ying (GER) and between the reigning Olympic champion LI Xiaoxia (CHN) and CHENG I-Ching (TPE).

Ishikawa & Chuang Crash out of Rio 2016 Singles Event

A devastated Ishikawa after being crashed out of the Rio 2016 Women's Singles event. The top 16 men and women seeds of the Rio 2016 Olympic table tennis event officially started their quest for the Olympic medals today, 07 August 2016, facing the challenge of the 16 players qualified from the initial rounds and it did not all go to plan. Korea DPR’s KIM Song I caused one of the biggest upsets at the Rio 2016 table tennis event by eliminating fourth seeded Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) to make her way through to the top 16 of the Women’s Singles event. Facing one of the best female table tennis players in the world, the 21-year-old was fearless and stood firm on the court to challenge the world number four. Despite losing the first two games, KIM was quick to get back on her feet to gain control of the match, prevailing 4-3 (7-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9). The seven games thriller that excited the local crowd in Riocentro Pavilion 3 did not went smoothly, with ISHIKAWA attempting to call for an injury time-out for a cramp which was denied as it is not considered an injury. “It was just a cramp but I never had a cramp in any matches ever, so I’m very upset. I played very well in beginning but I got so exhausted because there was too much moving around. It’s a shame thatmy physical strength couldn’t keep up,” shared the London 2012 team silver medalist who couldn’t contain her disappointment. “Today is my mom's birthday and I had wanted to celebrate her with my win today.” 2014 Male Table Tennis Star Quadri ARUNA (NGR) put the crowd into further shock as he played the match of his life to knock out world number seven CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) out of the Men’s Singles event, dominating 4-0 (11-6, 12-10, 11-6, 11-7). “Last time I played Chuang Chih-Yuan was earlier this year on the ITTF World Tour in Germany, where I lost in four straight games, my goal today was to improve on that performance and fight to win one game!” stated a pleased ARUNA. “After I won the first game I became more confident. This is the best moment of my life and my career.”” Local hero Hugo CALDERANO kept the host nation’s hopes for an Olympic medal high, by defeating world number 15 TANG Peng (HKG) in front of possibly the loudest crowd that a table tennis event has ever witnessed. CALDERANO, who made history at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games to win the first Olympic table tennis medal for Latin America, overcame TANG Peng 4-2 (8-11, 14-12, 11-7, 4-11, 12-10, 11-7) in front of a sellout crowd of over 6,000 passionate fans. Whilst seeds crumbled around them, top seeds MA Long (CHN) and DING Ning (CHN) dominated the court, beating Jonathan GROTH (DEN) and Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) 4-0 respectively. The battle for the remaining places in the Men’s and Women’s singles round of 16 continues tomorrow, 8 August at Riocentro Pavilion 3.

2016 Olympic Draws:Table Tennis

Seeding Confirmed for Rio 2016 Olympic Table Tennis Event

The seeding for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis event has been determined after the announcement of the ITTF August 2016 World Rankings, with reigning World Champions MA Long (CHN) and DING Ning (CHN) leading the seeding in the Men’s and Women’s Singles event respectively.

World number one MA, who has swept all major Men’s Singles titles in 2015, has his eyes set on Gold on his Olympic Singles debut in Rio, to become the fifth male table tennis Grand Slam Champion in history.

The road to Gold will not be a smooth one for MA, as he will have to fend off tough challengers, including teammate, Current Olympic Champion ZHANG Jike who will be the second seed in Rio. The world number four will be aiming for a consecutive Olympic Gold to complete his second table tennis Grand Slam.

Hot contenders for the Olympic medals, Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, Japan’s Jun MIZUTANI and Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan filled up the remaining spots in the top five seeding, and will be looking to topple the Chinese’s dominance in Rio.

In the Women’s Singles, World number two DING will look to avenge her loss in the Women’s Singles Final at the London 2012 Olympic Games against compatriot LI Xiaoxia, to earn her first Grand Slam title.

2010 World Team Champion and world number four FENG Tianwei (SIN) takes the one place ahead of the third seeded reigning Olympic Champion LI Xiaoxia (CHN).

Japan’s Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Ai FUKUHARA occupies the fourth and sixth seeding places respectively, while Germany’s HAN Ying taking the fifth seed on her first quest for an Olympic medal.

All 70 Men’s and 70 Women’s Olympians will be drawn at the Draw Ceremony set to take place on 3 August, 12:00 local time at Riocentro Pavilion 4.

A press conference will be held immediately after the draw at 14:00, with the following players attending:

• DING Ning (CHN)-2011, 2015 World Champion, 2012 Olympic Women’s Singles Silver
• ZHANG Jike (CHN) -2011, 2013 World Champion, 2011, 2014 Men’s World Cup Champion, Reigning Olympic Champion
• Ai FUKUHARA (JPN) -2012 Olympic Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist, Team Silver
• Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) -2000 Olympic Men’s Singles Quarterfinalist, 1997 World Championships Silver
• Hugo CALDERANO (BRA) -2014 Youth Olympic Games Bronze medallist, 2015 Pan American Champion, 2016 Latin American Champion & Latin American Cup Champion

The Rio 2016 Olympic Table Tennis event will be held from 06 – 17 August 2016 at the Riocentro Pavilion 3.

Highlights and Upcoming events of 2016

Russian Table Tennis Players Cleared to Play at 2016 Olympic Games

After careful review of the criteria set up by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 24 July 2016 following the release of the McLaren report, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has determined that the three Russian athletes qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be allowed to compete.

ITTF’s investigation of the matter included individual test analysis of these players outside the Russian anti-doping system, and confirmation by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that none of the concerned players were implicated in the McLaren findings released on 18 July 2016.  

ITTF believes that the provided evidence meets the requirements of the IOC and confirms the eligibility of the three qualified Russian players Polina MIKHAILOVA, Maria DOLGIKH and Alexander SHIBAEV to play at Rio 2016.

If ITTF’s ongoing testing program and/or further findings from Prof. McLaren’s extended mandate reveals any potential anti-doping rule violation or wrongdoing, the ITTF will take immediate action to investigate and take sanction within the framework of the World Anti-Doping Code and the ITTF’s applicable regulations.

The ITTF will continue to take doping issues very seriously and do everything in its power to ensure that table tennis stays clean, not just at the Olympic Games, but in all levels of table tennis.

The Olympic table tennis event runs between 6-17 August at Riocentro Pavilion 3.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) through it's marketing partner TMS International have extended it's deal with table tennis equipment manufacture for four more years.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) through it's marketing partner TMS International have extended it's deal with table tennis equipment manufacture for four more years.

The deal, which now runs until 2020 continues Double Fish's tradition of being the official table supplier at the prestigious World Tour Grand Finals, which will be held this year in Doha, Qatar on 8-11 December.

TMS International's Managing Director Anders THUNSTROM stated:"TMS International is very happy to extend the agreement with Double Fish for the World Tour Grand Finals until 2020 (2017-2020). Double Fish has now been the Official Table supplier for the World Tour Grand Finals since 2004, and it was a priority for us to extend with with Double Fish for another four years. I also take it as confidence and satisfaction from Double Fish towards TMS and the World Tour Grand Finals to make the commitment for another Olympic cycle."

ITTF's President Thomas WEIKERT was equally pleased with the resigning of ITTF's long term partner: "Double Fish has always been a very solid and reliable partner for the ITTF, so I am very happy they will continue as the table sponsor at the World Tour Grand Finals. For the World Tour Grand Finals, they have provided us with some veryaestheticallypleasing tables, and we look forward to some more amazing designs over the next four years."

General Manager of Guangzhou Double Fish Sports Goods Group Corporation Limited YE Yiqiang added: "I would like to express our sincere thanks to ITTF and TMS for their trust and support in our company. We are really happy to extend our cooperation with ITTF and TMS. For the coming four years we will continue to provide high-quality equipment for the World Tour Grand Final."