Medallists Known: Women’s Team: Korea Republic Takes Revenge

Women’s Team: Korea Republic Takes Revenge:

After 3 hours and 55 minutes, and five tight games, Korea Republic finally defeated Japan in what can be considered revenge for their Quarterfinal loss in Moscow in 2010 (3-2 in favor of Japan and about 5 hours of play). Today in the fifth game, the duel between South Korean Kim Kyung-Ah and Japanese Kasumi Ishikawa held spellbound the 9500 spectators in Westfalenhallen, Dortmund. In the fifth set, Kim Kyung-Ah was 4-8 behind before claiming 5 points in a row. After two match points saved (10-11 and 11-12), the South Korean chopper led her team to the Semi-finals. Two years later in 2012, Korea Republic thus took their revenge.

After their 6th place finish in Moscow 2010, the Hong Kong team has now made it to the Semi-finals. Despite their 3-0 win over Netherlands, it was definitely a tough match. On Saturday, Hong Kong will play China in the Semi-finals. China, silver medal in Moscow 2010, won easily over Poland without dropping a set.

Facing the World Champions from Singapore, Germany played at their best for more than 3 hours and 35 minutes. But that was not enough to defeat the defending champions. The Germans led 2-0 and Kristin Silbereisein was two points away from winning the match (against Li Jiawei) in the fifth set (10-10). The Singaporean players eventually won 3-2 after Wang Yuegu won the deciding set in the fifth match won against defender Irene Ivancan. Bronze medalist in 2010 in Moscow, Germany will not represent Europe in the Semi-finals this year, where four Asian teams are vying for the title.

Women’s Teams Championship Division

Friday, 30 March 2012: Quarter-finals Results

China – Poland: 3-0

Netherlands – Hong Kong: 0-3

Japan – Korea Republic: 2-3

Germany – Singapore: 2-3

Saturday, 31 March 2012: Semi-finals

04.00 pm: China – Hong Kong

10.00 am: Korea Republic – Singapore

Men’s Team: Germany, Last Step to Reach the Finals

With their 3-1 success against Singapore, Japan has reached the Semi-finals for the third time in a row. The Japanese team is the youngest among competitors at a similar level: the average age of the trio (Jun Mizutani, Kenji Matsudaira and Koki Niwa) on the field of play today is barely 20 years.

Timo Boll, Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Patrick Baum easily defeated Sweden 3-0 to secure their place in the Semi-finals. Germany, five times European champion in a row, will field on Saturday a more experienced team than Japan.

Unsurprisingly, China has emerged ahead of Austria (3-0) who played without Werner Schlager. Liu Guoliang, the Chinese coach, had decided to entrust the task of winning to Ma Lin, Ma Long and Zhang Jike. Together with Xu Xin and Wang Hao, China will start as favorites on Saturday against Korea Republic.

The South Koreans will try to reach the Finals, as they did in 2006 and 2008. They will probably send Joo Se Hyuk, Ryu Seung Min and Oh Sang Eun, and try to spring a surprise against the Chinese, who held the title of World Champion since 2001.

It will be the same four teams in the Semi-finals as 2010, but certainly not the same program.

Men’s Teams Championship Division

Friday, 30 March 2012: Quarter-finals Results

China – Austria: 3-0

Chinese Taipei – Korea Republic: 1-3

Japan – Singapore: 3-1

Sweden – Germany: 0-3

Saturday, 31 March 2012: Semi-finals

07.00 pm: China – Korea Republic

01.00 pm: Japan – Germany. Photo by Remy Gros.