2021 ITTF-ATTU Asian Table Tennis Championships

[Juan El Gordo Pérez]

Team competitions commence play at the 2021 ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships in Doha on Tuesday 28th September.

Proceedings follow the same principle at two years ago in the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta.

In each of the men's team and women's team events, there are two divisions, the Championship Division and the First Division.

Teams in the First Division compete initially on a group basis, teams finishing in first positions in each group advance to a progressive knock-out stage; the finalists join the six seeded teams in the Championship Division.

The top six teams from Yogyakarta gain direct entry to the Championship Division; in the Indonesian city those teams were as follows:

Men: China, Korea Republic, Japan, Chinese Taipei, India, Hong Kong

Women: China, Japan, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, Thailand

However, China and DPR Korea do not compete in Doha.

Thus, the seventh place team in Yogyakarta, Iran, gains direct entry to the Men's Championship Division; in the women's event the seventh and eighth placed teams advance directly. The teams in question are Korea Republic and Hong Kong.

Therefore, the six direct entries are:

Men: Korea Republic, Japan, Chinese Taipei, India, Kong Kong and Iran

Women: Japan, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, DPR Korea, Thailand, Korea Republic and Hong Kong


The quarter-final draw is as follows:

Men:

Korea Republic v Hong Kong
Iran v India
Japan v Division One Qualifier
Chinese Taipei v Division One Qualifier


Women:

Japan v Division One Qualifier
Hong Kong v Chinese Taipei
Thailand v Korea Republic
Singapore v Division One Qualifier

Play in the team events concludes on Friday 1st October

[Juan El Gordo Pérez]

Facilities par excellence, the equal or better than any ever witnessed at a continental tournament; commencing on Tuesday 28th September in Doha’s Lusail Arena, the 2021 ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships witnessed standards never previously realised.

Make no mistake, that statement is not a criticism of anything that had gone before; recent editions such as two years ago in Yoyakarta and four years previous in Wuxi, were splendid events of which the organisers could be proud.

Quite simply, following the WTT Star Contender tournament staged in the same venue , the Qatar Table Tennis Association in conjunction with the Asian Table Tennis Union and the International Table Tennis Federation have taken matters to new heights.

On the opening day of play, the first division in each of the men’s team and women’s team events was the subject; the ultimate goal a place in the championship division. It was an opportunity for member associations whose realistic hopes of reaching the later rounds at an Olympic Games or World Championships are minimal.

Most importantly, it was a chance to compete in surroundings that would befit both prestigious tournaments.

Speaking to the world’s leading players, many will tell you, provide the conditions and naturally we raise our standard, one follows the other.

No contest more illustrated that fact than the men’s team fixture that pitched Kyrgyzstan against Kuwait; the engagement went the full five match distance, all attacking top spin players, not a defender in sight, the duel lasted a quite incredible two hours and 40 minutes!

Man of the moment for Kyrgyzstan was Talgat Sagyndkov; in the second encounter he beat Mansour Al-Enezy (11-4, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5), in the fourth he won the “match of the day”.

He recovered from a two games to nil deficit to beat Marzooq Alrashidi by the very narrowest of decisions in the fifth deciding game (10-12, 8-11, 14-12, 11-5, 15-13).

It is a match he will never forget and one that endorsed the theory that if the premises are state-of-the art, players respond.

Rather less dramatically, Akylbek Kasymov accounteed for Mansour Al-Enezy to seal the victory (11-7, 11-9, 14-12).

Success for Kyrgyzstan, defeat for Kuwait but without any doubt, a contest fit the occasion.

[Juan El Gordo Pérez]

First place was the outcome for the leading outfits, following the conclusion of the group stage of play in the men’s team and women’s team events at the 2021 ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships in Doha on Tuesday 28th September.

However, life was not without its moments of drama, especially in the women’s team event, the hour hand on the clock was well past 10.15 pm, as Iran eventually secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against a most spirited Indonesian trio.

Backbone of the success was Neda Shahsavari, present at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games; the 35 year old used her experience to good effect to beat Novida Widarahman in the opening match of the fixture (11-5, 19-17, 11-4), before in the fourth contest accounting for Dwi Oktaviani Sugiarto (11-7, 11-6, 11-4).

The wins set the scene for Mahshid Ashtari to seal the victory, she duly obliged; in the concluding match of the engagement, she beat Novida Widarahman (11-9, 11-9, 11-8).

Success for Indonesia came in the guise of Dwi Oktaviani Sugiarto. In the second match of the meeting, she overcame Mahshid Ashtari (11-7, 6-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-9), before in the immediately ensuing contest, Siti Aminah defeated Shima Safaei (7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5).

Otherwise, it was success for the principal teams without a single match being surrendered; the 3-0 score line, the popular outcome.

Four groups in the initial phase of the women’s team event, in addition to Iran, it was first place for India, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, in the men’s team event the only notable combination to experience any problems was Kazakhstan; they were tested by the Maldives, a 3-1 outcome being margin of victory.

Mohamed Shaffan emerged the player to trouble Kazakhstan; in the third match of the fixture, he beat Irisbek Artukmetov (6-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-4).

However, Kirill Gerassimenko proved rock solid overcoming both Ahmed Khalid Akhyar (11-1, 11-1, 11-4) and Moosa Ahmed (11-4, 11-4, 11-3); in the one remaining contest Aidos Kenzhigulov defeated Moosa Ahmed (8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6).

First group place for Kazakhstan in the men’s team event, it was the same for Singapore, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Uzbekistan.

Group winners now enter a knock-out stage; the finalists join the six seeds in the main draw.

[Juan El Gordo Pérez]

Japan meets Hong Kong, Korea Republic opposes Singapore, that is the outcome in the women’s team event at the 2021 ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships, following the close of play on the second day of action, Wednesday 29th September, in the splendid setting of Doha’s Lusail sports hall.

Secure a top two finish in the first division and join the top six seeds was the initial task.

India and Kazakhstan made the reservations.

Represented by Archana Girish Kamath, Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutirtha Mukherjee, India recorded a 3-0 win against the Uzbekistan outfit comprising Rozalina Khadjieva, Sugdiyana Madalieva and Markhabo Magdieva.

A comprehensive win, for Kazakhstan, the main draw place was somewhat harder earned, a 3-1 margin of victory was the outcome against Iran in what proved a true team effort.

Anastassiya Lavrova lost to Mahshid Ashtari in the opening match of the encounter (11-4, 2-11, 11-8, 11-6) but later recovered to beat Neda Shahsavari in what was to be crucial concluding contest (11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 14-12).

Likewise, Sarvinoz Mirkadirova defeated Neda Shahsavari (10-12, 12-10, 12-10, 7-11, 11-5); Zauresh Akasheva added the icing to the cake by overcoming Shima Safaei (11-5, 11-6, 11-9).

Places in the main draw secured, for both India and Kazakhstan it was the end of the road. No changes to the selection, India experienced defeat when facing Japan, Kazakhstan in opposition to Singapore.

Nevertheless, both proved worthy adversaries, both contests being decided by the 3-1 margin.

Lining up alongside Hitomi Sato and Miyu Nagasaki, no changes to the Indian line-up, Saki Shibata proved the mainstay of Japanese success; she prevailed against both Archana Girish Kamath (10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 10-12, 11-9) and Sreeja Akula (8-11, 10-12, 11-2, 11-9, 11-8).

Similarly, for Singapore, with Goi Rui Xuan and Zhou Jingyi completing the selection, Lin Ye steered her team to victory. She overcame Zauresh Akasheva (11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 9-11, 11-2) and Anastassiya Lavrova (11-7, 11-6, 11-2).

Meanwhile, in the fixtures concerning the seeded outfits that had gained direct draw access, it was success for the Korea Republic and Hong Kong.

Selecting Jeon Jihee, Lee Zion and Shin Yubin, Korea Republic recorded a 3-0 win against Thailand’s Phantita Pinyopsian, Suthasini Sawettabut and Wirakarn Tayapitak.

Immediately following Hong Kong secured a 3-1 margin of victory in opposition to Chinese Taipei.

Star of the show was Doo Hoi Kem; she accounted for both Liu Hsing-Yin (11-5, 11-4, 11-7) and Chen Szu-Yu (11-9, 13-11, 12-10).

The semi-finals and finals of the women’s team event will be played on Thursday 30th September.

[Juan El Gordo Pérez]

Places in the main draw at stake, equally places in the 2022 World Team Championships in Chengdu also at stake; that was very much the focal point for outfits in the first division of the men’s team event at the 2021 ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships in Doha on Wednesday 29th September.

Six groups the previous day; those finishing in first places entered a knock-out stage in which the two finalists joined the six who had gained main draw direct entries.

Moreover, 10 teams qualified for the 2022 World Team Championships, the top six seeds guaranteed a place.

Thus, the fixtures that started the day had an importance of note; win and a place in Chengdu beckoned, lose and you were on the reserve list, nothing guaranteed.

Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan emerged successful.

Represented by Ali Alkhadrawi, Naif Al-Jadai and Abdulaziz Bu Shulaybi, Saudi Arabia recorded a 3-2 win against the Uzbekistan outfit formed by Abdulaziz Anorboev, Mukhammad Uktamboev and Zokhid Kenjaev.

The player to cause the problems for Saudi Arabia was Zokhid Kenjaev. He accounted for both Naif Al-Jadai (11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9) and Ali Alkhadrawi (5-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-3).

Hard fought, at the same stage, matters were less stressful for the Kazakhstan trio formed by Kirill Gerassimenko, Aidos Kenzhigulov and Alan Kurmangaliyev. They recorded a 3-0 win against Bahrain’s Salman Abuhamda, Rashed Rashed and Mohamed Saleh.

A top 10 finish achieved, for Kazakhstan with no changes to the selection in the contest to determine a main draw place, a 3-1 victory was recorded against Thailand’s Nanpat Thanmathikom, Sitisak Nuchchart and Puripong Saelee.

Once again as throughout the tournament, Kirill Gerassimenko remained steadfast. He accounted for both Puripong Saelee (12-10, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5) and Nanpat Thanmathikom (10-12, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8).

Conversely, with the same three players in action, Saudi Arabia experienced defeat at the hands of the Singapore combination formed by Clarence Chew, Josh Shao Han Chua and Pang Yew En Koen. Architect of the Singaporean success was Clarence Chew; he beat Naif Al-Jadi (11-6, 5-11, 12-14, 11-8, 11-7) and Ali Alkhadrawi (11-5, 11-6, 11-5).

Both in the lower half of the draw, Kazakhstan meets Japan; Singapore opposes Chinese Taipei.

Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, seeded teams in action, matters have advanced to the semi-final round; Korea Republic opposes India.

Impressively, with Sharath Kamal Achanta, Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran on duty, India recorded a 3-1 win against Iran’s Nima Alamian, Noshad Alamiyan and Amir Hossein Hodaei; by the same margin the Korea Republic outfit comprising Jang Woojin, Lee Sangsu and Lim Jonghoon overcame Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit, Lam Siu Hang and Wong Chun Ting.

Backbone of Korean Republic success was Jang Woojin, he beat both Lam Siu Hang (11-9, 9-11, 15-13, 12-10) and Wong Chun Ting (11-8, 12-14, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9); for India the man in form was Sharath Kamal Achanta. He accounted for both Nima Alamian (11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5) and Noshad Alamiyan (11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9).

The men’s team quarter-finals will be played on Thursday 30th September, the semi-finals and final on Friday 1st October.