Viktoria Pavlovich Staves Off French Challenge to Retain European Crown

October 22, 2012

Courtesy of ITTF

Currently listed at no.19 on the Women’s World Rankings and the no.3 seed in Herning, Viktoria Pavlovich of Belarus won the Women’s Singles title at the European Championships on Sunday October 21, 2012 and thus regained the title won two years ago when the tournament was staged in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

On the concluding day, the 32 year old from Minsk, withstood a determined French challenge to emerge successful.

At the semi-final stage she remained resolute to end the aspirations of Li Xue, the no.16 seed (11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9); before, in the final, defeating the very much in-form Xian Yifang, the no.15 seed (11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 13-11).

In the counterpart Women’s Singles semi-final, Xian Yifang had upset the seeding.

Ended Austrian Hopes
She ended the hopes of Austria’s Liu Jia, the no.5 seed and winner of the Women’s Singles title in Aarhus in 2005, the one and only previous occasion that the tournament has been staged in Denmark.

So Near Again
The winner in 2005 but for the third time at a European Championships, it was a case of so near yet so far for Liu Jia.

In 2008 in St Petersburg and two years later in Ostrava she was the runner up in the Women’s Singles event; in the former she was beaten by Lithuania’s Ruta Paskauskiene, in the latter by Viktoria Pavlovich.

Rich Vein of Form
Victory for Viktoria Pavlovich reflected her current rich vein of form; she excelled at the recent LIEBHERR Women’s World Cup in Huangshi where she beat Li Jiao of the Netherlands, the incumbent European champion, before Romania’s Elizabeta Samara ended progress.

Favorite for Gold
On the concluding day of play, Viktoria Pavlovich was the favorite to capture the title; she was the highest seeded player but competing against two fellow defenders, both with skills honed in China and against one she had never faced in a World Ranking event previously, was a testing challenge.

Never previously had she confronted Li Xue on the international scene but she had faced Yi Fangxian on two previous occasions but not in recent times.

Tradition Maintained
In 2006 they crossed swords in the opening round of affairs at the Croatian Open and in 2009, in the second round of the Women’s Singles event, at the H.I.S. World Championships in Yokohama.

On both occasions Viktoria Pavlovich won in five games; in Herning she maintained the tradition.

Li Xue beaten by Viktoria Pavlovich at the semi-final stage
Photo By: Remy Gros

Joins Illustrious Names
The success posted by Viktoria Pavlovich now puts her amongst the elite of the Championships history.

She becomes one of eight players to have won the Women’s Singles title at a European Championships on more than one occasion since the tournament was first staged in Budapest in 1958.

Hungary Leads
Only Hungary’s Eva Koczian has a better record, she is the only player to claim the Women’s Singles titles on more than two occasions; she won in 1958 in the inaugural event before defending her title successfully in 1960 in Zagreb and then regaining the crown in Malmö in 1964.

No other woman can match the success of Eva Koczian and in terms of Women’s Singles titles, Hungary leads the way. Judit Magos won in both 1974 in Novi Sad and in 1978 in Duisburg.

Netherlands Success
Next in line comes the Netherlands with Bettine Vriesekoop winning in 1982 in Budapest and in 1992 in Stuttgart.

Li Jiao succeeded in 2007 in Budapest and 2011 in Gdansk-Sopot.

Two Successes
The other present day nations to enjoy two Women’s Singles successes are Luxembourg, Russia and the Slovak Republic.

Luxembourg’s Ni Xialian won in Eindhoven in 1998 and in Zagreb in 2009, Russia’s Zoja Rudnova in 1970 in Moscow and 1972 in Rotterdam; while the Slovak Republic’s Valentina Popova was crowned champion in 1980 in Berne and in 1984 in Moscow.

Yi Fangxian, the Women’s Singles silver medalist in Herning
Photo By: Remy Gros

Represented the Soviet Union
At the time both Valentina Popova and Zoja Rudnova represented the Soviet Union; of course in those days Belarus, the country Viktoria Pavlovich represents, was part of the that conglomeration.

A Boost
You can draw your own conclusions as to the most successful national associations but a European born winner, in an era when on seven of the previous ten editions of the event, a player who learned their trade is China before moving to Europe has succeeded, is surely a boost for the sport in Europe.

It is no criticism whatsoever of those who moved west, none at all. They are the most courteous, well-mannered and charming people you could wish to meet; if their presence can raise standards then it is for the good of the sport.

Was the presence of Ding Yi and Qianli in Austria a reason Werner Schlager scaled the greatest heights in 2003? Did he benefit from their presence?

More to Follow?
The silver medal gained by Elizabeta Samara at the recent LIEBHERR Women’s World Cup and success in Herning for Viktoria Pavlovich on a day when the other three semi-finalists originated from beyond European boundaries, are performances to note.

Both in the past month have mounted commendable challenges to Asian excellence; may it be the first of many.

Competition is the essence of sport.

Elizabeta Samara excelled at the recent Volkswagen Women’s World Cup
Photo By: Remy Gros

Download Full Results
For full results visit: European Championships 2012 – Full Results