Dang Qiu dominates the final and secures the German table tennis team a golden finish at the home European Championship. Before that, there is a sporting drama about Nina Mittelham for the women.
The emotional contrast at the end of the table tennis competitions could hardly have been greater.
The new European champion Dang Qiu fell to his knees after the golden German finish at the European Championships in Munich, then he was celebrated by 5000 loud fans in the Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle. Only an hour and a half earlier, German finalist Nina Mittelham had given up in tears and pain. So there was gold, silver and great emotions on the final day in Munich – and all without the experienced and guarantor Timo Boll, who had already been caught in the quarter-finals.
Qiu becomes European Champion – Mittelham injured
Qiu defeated the Slovenian Darko Jorgic 4:1 (10:12, 14:12, 11:8, 11:9, 11:2) and thus ensured the much celebrated conclusion of the title fights in the final. “Of course it’s unexpected somewhere. Now I’m speechless. I still can’t believe it, to be honest,” said Qiu, whose words were almost drowned out by the loud applause. “If you knock Mister European Championship Timo Boll out of the tournament, you might have to win the tournament,” Qiu joked.
On the other hand, there was a small sporting drama about Mittelham. She had to give up in the most important game of her career, apparently her shoulder was causing problems. “I have no words, so I’m sad and I don’t know what to feel right now. It’s a very sad situation,” said the victorious Austrian Sofia Polcanova, who benefited from the task. Sabine Winter and Shan Xiaona lost in the semifinals but won bronze.
Stars Boll and Ovtcharov out early
Unlike Mittelham and Qiu, who were still able to fight for gold on the final day, Boll and Dimitri Ovtcharov’s dreams were shattered prematurely. The exceptional 41-year-old player unexpectedly lost 4-0 to his club colleague and eventual winner Qiu. After his 4-0 win the day before in the round of 16 against the Slovakian Wang Yang, Boll was eliminated from the European Championship after just 28 minutes.
Then the world ranking ninth Ovtcharov from TTC Neu-Ulm also missed the semifinals. The Olympic bronze medalist lost in the quarterfinals against Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson 2:4 in 53 minutes. “Unfortunately, it was a very clear affair. He played great and deserved to win. I would have liked to have made it closer in front of this great crowd,” admitted Boll. However, this defeat is not associated with the end of a career, as the old master later asserted. “I’m not stopping yet,” said Boll.
Source: Stern
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