| LIN Gaoyuan & WANG Mangyu, China’s next generation of table tennis superstars took their first step to stardom today by becoming champions at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Hybiome Austrian Open in Linz, Austria.
Fresh from his 2017 ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup victory just last week in India, LIN was on fire against YAN An (CHN) in the final, racing to a 3-0 lead to start his road to glory today 24 September 2017.
Despite YAN having much more experience than the 24-year-old LIN, the up and coming star of global table tennis dominated the match to start to finish to claim his first ITTF World Tour 12-10, 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 11-7.
LIN, who had to fight through qualification to even make the main draw of the event stated: “I’m very happy to be able win my first World Tour title, claiming another title after the Asian Cup with such a tight schedule.
“I was looking forward to making my first appearance at the World Tour final, but nervous at the same time, especially playing against Yan An, he has won World Tour titles in the past. I think I played well on court in the final. I have played in so many World Tour events, and now finally with a title, it’s a dream come true for me.”
In the Women’s Singles battle for Gold, it was a matchup between two up & coming stars WANG Manyu (CHN) and GU Yuting (CHN), both fighting for a career first ITTF World Tour title.
The more experienced WANG, who had made it to the finals at the Qatar and Australian Open earlier this year, eventually prevailed over first time World Tour finalist GU to take the title 4-0 (11-9, 12-10, 11-2, 11-9).
“Even though I won 4-0, three of the games were won by a narrow 2-points difference, so it’s not as easy as the overall 4-0 seems,” stated the 18-year-old.
“Of course, I’m happy with the victory, I have lost 2 final matches on the World Tour this year, so this victory is definitely a breakthrough for me. It’s my first World Tour title, with a first, there will be a second, a third and so on. I hope this will be a good start for me.”
Chinese duo CHEN Xingtong & SUN Yingsha toppled top seeded Japanese pair of Honoka HASHIMOTO and Hitomi SATO to claim another Women’s Doubles title in 2017 with a 3-2 (4-11, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-4) victory.
Lost in the Women’s Doubles final, Japan fought hard for the Men’s Doubles title in Linz, with Koki NIWA and Jin UEDA taking the crown 3-1 (11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8) over German pair Ruwen FILUS and Ricardo WALTHER on their first partnership.
There are just two ITTF World Tour events left for the world’s top players to gain #Race2Astana points for the Seamaster 2017 World Tour Grand Finals to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan.
With the conclusion of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum Austrian Open, the world’s top table tennis stars have some time off before preparing for the Men’s & Women’s World Cups later next month: - Liebherr 2017 ITTF Men’s World Cup – 20-22 Oct 2017, Liege (BEL)
- Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals – 27-29 Oct 2017, Markham (CAN)
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