I Dig Sports
Second seeds succeed, surprise winners in Amman
Published in
Table Tennis
Tuesday, 09 April 2019 11:06
Competing in class 7-8, the no.2 seed, she accounted for Turkey’s Kubra Korkut in the final (11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8), having in the penultimate round overcome Kelly van Zon of the Netherlands (9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 13-11), the top seed and reigning Olympic champion.
However, it should be taken into account that both Kelly van Zon and Kubra Korkut are class 7 athletes and thus of a greater disability than Aida Dahlen.
Success for the second seed, it was the same in class 9-10; in a group organized event, Merve Demir finished ahead of colleague Neslihan Kavas, the top seed, the crucial contest being the straight games win (11-6, 11-9, 12-10) over her compatriot.
Meanwhile, for Zainab Hasan Farhoosi, the first place was technical; the absence of the leading player, Norway’s Merethe Tveiten, resulted in the Iraqi being the premier name. She finished ahead of compatriot, Najlam Imad Laft Al Dayyeni, in the match to decide top spot she recorded a straight games win on opposition to her compatriot (11-3, 11-4, 11-6); a feat she achieved in all other engagements.
Success for Aida Dahlen, Zainab Hasan Farhoosi and Merve Demir contrary to original expectations; for Germany’s Sandra Mikolaschek and the host nation’s Khetam Abuawad, in the wheelchair categories, it was first prize as their top seeded status advised.
Sandra Mikolaschek secured the class 1-4 title accounting for Turkey’s Irem Oluk in the final (11-7, 12-10, 11-5); in a group organized event, Khetam Abuawad emerged the class 5 champion. In the contest which decided the top two positions, she beat Thailand’s Panwas Sringam (11-5, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7).
Play now continues with the women’s team events.
2019 Para Al-Watani Championships: Draws and Results
Tagged under
Osama Abu Jame finished in first place in a group organized class 3 event; it was as expected, he commenced matters as the top seed. The second position gained by Islam Al-Yamani was contrary to predictions; he was the fourth highest rated on duty.
In the engagement that decided first position Osama Abu Jame accounted for Islam Al-Yamani in straight games (11-4, 11-8, 11-2) but in his concluding match of the day, he almost came to grief. He escaped from the jaws of defeat in the third game against Nigeria Ahmed Owolabi Koleosho to eventually secure victory by the very narrowest of margins (8-11, 9-11, 17-11, 11-9, 13-11).
Success as anticipated for Osama Abu Jame; it was the same in class 5 for Tommy Urhaug. In a group organised event, in the crucial concluding contest, he overcame Nigeria’s Nasiru Sule, the no.2 seed (11-5, 11-5, 11-6) to secure first place. Notably, he concluded the event without surrendering a single individual match.
Impressive from Tommy Urhaug, it was even more impressive from Hassan Janfeshan and Mahdi Masoumiyakhdamo, both occupying the no.2 seeded places in the draw. Hassan Janfeshan secured the class 1-2 title beating Thailand’s Thirayu Chueawong in the final (7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9), the latter having caused a major semi-final upset by ousting Hungary’s Endre Major, the top seed (11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-13). In class 4 at the final hurdle, Mahdi Masoumiyakhdamo overcame Indonesia’s Adyos Astan(12-10, 11-5, 11-8), the top seed to claim first prize.
Play now continues with the men’s team wheelchair events.
Tagged under
Against the odds they contested the class 8 final, Seyed Amirhossein emerging the winner in impressive fashion, he won in straight games (11-9, 11-7, 11-8), the success coming after both had caused semi-final surprises.
In the penultimate round, Seyed Amirhossein had beaten Thailand’s Phisit Wangphonphatanasiri, the top seed (7-11, 11-5, 5-11, 11-4, 11.8), in the opposite half of the draw, Victor Farinloye had ended the hopes of Hungary’s Gyula Istvan Zborai, the no.2 seed (11-4, 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9).
A surprise outcome; it was not the situation in the remaining men’s singles standing categories. In each instance the final witnessed success for the top seed in opposition to the second seed.
Jean-Paul Montanus of the Netherlands won class 6-7, after overcoming Thailand’s Suriyone Thapaeng (11-3, 11-7, 11-5), he beat Belgium’s Ben Despineux, (11-3, 11-9, 13-11) to secure the title. Similarly, Laurens Devos clinched the class 9 top prize, semi-final success in opposition to Hungary’s Dezo Bereczki (11-8, 11-9, 11-3), later in the deciding contest he accounted for Nigeria’s Tajudeen Agunbale (11-5, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8).
Meanwhile, not to be upstaged Krisztian Gardos secured gold in class 10 and with a degree of style. Success against Thailand’s Bunpot Sillapakong to book his place in the final; he overcame Malaysia’s Mohamad Azwar Bakar to clinch gold (13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-4).
Proceedings in the men’s standing events concluded, play now continues with the men’s team standing class categories.
2019 Para Al-Watani Championships: Draws and Results
Tagged under
Top 16 finish last time out, will Lubomir Pistej defy the odds again?
Published in
Table Tennis
Tuesday, 09 April 2019 11:32
Launching his campaign in the upper half of the draw Lubomir Pistej claimed a major opening round scalp in Düsseldorf, eliminating Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik, seeded 11th, across five games to announce himself in style.
One round later Lubomir Pistej accounted for another seeded opponent, knocking Finland’s Benedek Olah out of the running before ensuring his spot in the top 16 with a straight games victory over Hungary’s Tamas Lakatos.
Dreaming of a spot in the quarter-finals but it wasn’t to be for Lubomir Pistej, falling to Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto in the Round of 16. Defeat for the Slovakian but an excellent campaign nonetheless.
The display was somewhat unprecedented for Lubomir Pistej having exited at the first hurdle of the Men’s Singles draw in the previous four editions of the event and his outstanding run in Düsseldorf surpassed his personal best finish from the 2007 World Championships in Zagreb where he reached the second round following a terrific victory over 2003 World champion Werner Schlager.
A top doubles player Lubomir Pistej has already enjoyed a successful outing in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, partnering Barbora Balazova to a fine semi-finals finish in the Mixed Doubles event at Seamaster 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open in January.
Lubomir Pistej and Barbora Balazova will pair up once again in Mixed Doubles action when the Liebherr 2019 World Championships arrive in under two weeks’ time while Samuel Kaluzny will partner Pistej in the Men’s Doubles category.
Watch Lubomir Pistej compete with the best in Budapest by grabbing your Liebherr 2019 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships tickets below:
Tickets
Tagged under
At just five years of age, his table tennis coach nicknamed him “Messi” for his resemblance to the Argentine football star, Lionel Messi.
“Although I like football, table tennis has been my passion. Coming from a sporting family made it easy for me to enjoy the game and my parents have been very supportive.” Mohamed Sameh
The Grade Nine pupil of Mostfa Kaml Language School in Cairo, Mohamed Sameh is a confident young man.
“I believe I can become the best in table tennis in Egypt because of the kind of support I have been getting from my family. My sister who is also a member of the national junior team has been very supportive. For me table tennis is my life; I dream and eat the game. I want to be like my idol, China’s Ma Long. He is such a talented player whose calmness when playing table tennis has attracted a lot of followers across the world. Apart from Ma Long, I love Quadri Aruna of Nigeria because of his footwork and his forehand. The Nigerian is such a great ambassador of Africa.” Mohamed Sameh
Understandably, he dreams of playing on the big stage.
“I look forward to playing at the Olympic Games but I must first rule Africa and I am ready to walk that path.” Mohamed Sameh
Tagged under
Without pre-Masters tune-up, Mickelson unsure how he'll play
Published in
Golf
Tuesday, 09 April 2019 08:58
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The new PGA Tour schedule forces players to make tough decisions, and that included a critical pre-Masters choice for Phil Mickelson.
It’s no secret that Mickelson likes to play his way into major form; he’s played the week before the Masters 10 of the past 11 years. (The lone exception was 2013.) But with the Houston Open pushed to the fall and the Valero Texas Open sliding into the pre-Masters spot, Mickelson opted instead for some extra work at Augusta National.
“How am I going to try to get my best performance this week when I’m not playing the week before? So I came here four days last week and did a lot of course-work prep,” Mickelson said Tuesday at the Masters. “Then I went home and worked on my game, so we’ll see.”
Mickelson is one of the most experienced players in the field – he’s making his 27th career start here – but he’s still learning the breaks on the greens and double-checking his notes from past visits.
“So when I get to the tournament site this week, all I’m worried about is executing and getting my game sharp and I don’t have to worry about the golf course and what’s going on and what changes have been made,” he said. “I’ve already made those decisions on how I’m going to play.”
And he’s going to play aggressively, vowing to pound driver all over Augusta, especially if it remains soggy after early-week rain.
But without being tournament-tested the week before the Masters, he’s still unsure how he’ll perform this week.
“I’m just as curious as anybody,” he said. “It’s a chance to be fresh and ready, but it’s also a chance to maybe not be as sharp. I’m just not quite sure how it’s going to play out.”
Tagged under
Without pre-Masters tune-up, Mickelson unsure how he'll play
Published in
Golf
Tuesday, 09 April 2019 08:58
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The new PGA Tour schedule forces players to make tough decisions, and that included a critical pre-Masters choice for Phil Mickelson.
It’s no secret that Mickelson likes to play his way into major form; he’s played the week before the Masters 10 of the past 11 years. (The lone exception was 2013.) But with the Houston Open pushed to the fall and the Valero Texas Open sliding into the pre-Masters spot, Mickelson opted instead for some extra work at Augusta National.
“How am I going to try to get my best performance this week when I’m not playing the week before? So I came here four days last week and did a lot of course-work prep,” Mickelson said Tuesday at the Masters. “Then I went home and worked on my game, so we’ll see.”
Mickelson is one of the most experienced players in the field – he’s making his 27th career start here – but he’s still learning the breaks on the greens and double-checking his notes from past visits.
“So when I get to the tournament site this week, all I’m worried about is executing and getting my game sharp and I don’t have to worry about the golf course and what’s going on and what changes have been made,” he said. “I’ve already made those decisions on how I’m going to play.”
And he’s going to play aggressively, vowing to pound driver all over Augusta, especially if it remains soggy after early-week rain.
But without being tournament-tested the week before the Masters, he’s still unsure how he’ll perform this week.
“I’m just as curious as anybody,” he said. “It’s a chance to be fresh and ready, but it’s also a chance to maybe not be as sharp. I’m just not quite sure how it’s going to play out.”
Tagged under
Barca 'can't leave United alive' in first leg - Pique
Published in
Soccer
Tuesday, 09 April 2019 13:37
MANCHESTER, England -- Gerard Pique warned former side Manchester United that Barcelona will put the tie to bed if they get the chance in Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Pique, who spent four years at United as a youngster, returns to Old Trafford this week for the first time since moving back to Barca in 2008.
Barca start the tie as favourites but United come into the clash buoyed by an impressive comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the last round. Pique says he watched both games against PSG and urged his teammates to take the chances which come their way to avoid suffering the same fate as the French champions.
"I think the PSG tie is a great example," the defender said in a news conference on Tuesday. "I think [at Old Trafford], PSG played better. In the second half they scored and could have scored more.
"But you can't leave United alive. If you can beat them [by] scoring a lot of goals, you have to do it. They have a great history and they showed that in Paris, even with a lot of young lads from the academy. It's a great example for us. We have to be switched on from the first minute until the last."
Pique, 32, spent his formative years at United under Sir Alex Ferguson. The Premier League side's form has suffered since Ferguson's retirement in 2013 but Pique still believes they're England's best club despite currently sitting sixth in the Premier League.
"Since I played here, they have always been one of England's great teams," he added. "Obviously, teams have ups and downs and moments of transition but they're the biggest team in England.
"They consider the Premier League the same as the Champions League here -- if not more important -- and since the Ferguson era they've been the biggest team and will keep on being the biggest team. Things aren't [going as well at the moment] but I hope they change and quickly they get back on top.
"I spent several years here, between 17 and 21, my first as a professional. I played in good games alongside great players and also had some crazy times off the pitch. I left my family and friends to come here and I returned to Barcelona an adult. It's a special game for me."
Pique was briefly teammates with current United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his time at United and he has fond memories of the Norwegian, who has turned the English side's fortunes around since replacing Jose Mourinho in December.
"It was a great experience to train alongside him," Pique remembered. "He was one of the veterans and he helped me a lot when it came to adapting to the country and the club. I'm happy to see him in charge of Manchester United, he's done a great job, he's won lots of games playing much better. It will be tough and I hope we can win.
"I imagine we will have the ball, but we have to try and control their counters. They have strong, quick players on the break: [Romelu] Lukaku and [Marcus] Rashford. We have to be careful on dead balls, corners, free kicks. We have to avoid giving them away or defend them well."
Barca have won the Champions League four times since 2006 but have fallen at the quarterfinal stage in each of the last three seasons. It's increased their desire to win it this season -- especially after watching rivals Real Madrid win it three times in a row -- but Pique denied the players are under additional pressure to perform.
"Pressure would be if we'd never won it or if this was the only title left for us [to win] this season," he said. "That is not the case. We have done things well this season and that's why we are where we are: [11 points] clear in La Liga, in the Copa del Rey final and in the last eight in Europe.
"Look back and you will see that we have done very well in [all competitions] in recent seasons. So, there's no pressure. There's a lot of excitement."
Tagged under
Harry Kane exited Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League quarterfinal match against Manchester City on Monday with an apparent ankle injury.
Kane collided with City defender Fabian Delph on the sideline and limped off the Tottenham Stadium pitch toward the tunnel with the assistance of team trainers.
Lucas Moura came in for Kane.
Kane missed six weeks earlier this season after suffering ankle ligament damage in a Jan. 15 Premier League match against Manchester United.
Tagged under
Weeks after expressing his displeasure over the slow, low Chepauk track in the season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni was once again critical of the pitch following another low-scoring match, against Kolkata Knight Riders.
After Super Kings inserted Knight Riders, keeping the dewy conditions in Chennai in mind, the visitors laboured to 108 for 9 in 20 overs, with only Andre Russell passing 20. Super Kings' spinners Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh and Ravindra Jadeja bowled 15 dots each and ended with combined figures of 12-0-53-5.
Super Kings' batsmen themselves struggled to get going in the chase, but opener Faf du Plessis ushered them home with seven wickets and 16 balls to spare.
Super Kings and Knight Riders played on the same pitch that was used for the hosts' fixture against Kings XI Punjab on Saturday. Dhoni likened the pitch to the opening game of the season that produced a mere a 141 runs. The spinners accounted for 10 of the 13 wickets to fall in that game.
"Well, again, it became like the first game," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation on Tuesday. "We were cribbing about the track but we ended up winning the game. And [after] losing Bravo, it's slightly difficult for us to get the combination right because we're missing an allrounder and David [Willey] is not here, so it can't be a straight swap.
"So, if you look it looks a good wicket to us. But, I don't think we want to play on wickets like these because it becomes too low-scoring and it becomes slightly difficult for our batters to get going. And also what happens is that it's slightly more difficult if you're batting first. As the dew comes in, it becomes slightly easier in the second half."
Seamer Deepak Chahar, who claimed 3 for 20, echoed his captain Dhoni's thoughts and said Super Kings want a "better" pitch at home. He put down the sluggish nature of the pitches down to the extreme heat and humidity in Chennai.
Ahead of the matches and during practice sessions, the groundstaff have shielded the playing square from getting to dry under the blazing Chennai sun by setting up a tent-like structure.
"I'm happy I performed well, but obviously we're looking for a better wicket," Chahar said. "Nobody wants this type of a wicket. It's [because of] the soil and heat and you can't help it. It's very hot here and the pitch curators are doing their best job to give us a good track. But, at the end of the day you can't help it."
Tagged under
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
