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German Progress Checked in Velenje

The Czech Republic’s Hana Bartosova caused the principal upset on the second day of play, Wednesday 16th January 2008, at the Slovenian Open in Velenje.

In the Qualification Stage of the Women’s Singles event, after having lost to Turkey’s Fulya Oezler on the opening day, she beat Germany’s Laura Stumper, the second highest world ranked player on duty.

Hana Bartosova won in five games and thus progressed to the main draw, gaining the verdict of top spot in the group on games ratio. She had lost to Fulya Oezler in seven games, whilst Laura Stumper had beaten the Turkish star in four straight games; second place was to be the lot of the German and an earlier than anticipated exit from proceedings.

However, the demise of Laura Stumper was the only upset amongst the leading ladies on duty and there was good news for Germany. Kristin Silbereisen, the highest ranked player in action, and Zhenqi Barthel, the fourth, both emerged as group winners.

Similarly, Chinese Taipei’s Lu Yun-Feng came through unscathed; the third highest world ranked player on duty in the Qualification Stage of the Women’s Singles event, she finished her first stage matches unbeaten.

Meanwhile, in the Qualification Stage of the Men’s Singles event it was Scotland’s Gavin Rumgay who caught the eye. He finished his group matches with a fine win over Hungary’s Janos Jakab to secure a direct entry to the Main Draw.

A disappointment for Hungary but there was joy for the country bathed in table tennis history. Daniel Zwickl and David Zombori came through their group matches successfully and were required to play one further match each in the Preliminary Round to gain a place in the Main Draw.

Both succeeded, David Zombori beat Turkey’s Zeng Cem whilst Daniel Zwickl overcame Ukraine’s Aleksandr Didukh.

Wins for David Zombori and Daniel Zwickl and there was also success for other rising European male stars. Sweden’s Robert Svensson and Johan Axelqvist, Serbia’s Marko Jevtovic and Bojan Milosevic plus Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia, Russia’s Kirill Skachkov and Italy’s Mihasi Bobocica emerged victorious to reserve main draw places.