(by Steve Hopkins, photo ITTFWorld)
Like a year ago, Macao will once again host the ITTF World Cup next month (April 14 to 20). Galaxy Arena is one of the world’s premier table tennis venues – add in the best players from each Region (the top four of each Continental Cup) to the best players in the World Rankings, and we have the makings of one of the best table tennis events of the year.
The Continental Cups were the Pan Am Cup, Asian Cup, Europe Top 16 Cup, Africa Cup, and Oceania Cup. Each Semifinalist received an automatic invitation to Macao. The next big announcement comes on Tuesday, when the top players by World Ranking will receive their invitations.
In the Pan American Cup, the four men who qualified were Kanak Jha (USA), Eugene Wang (CAN), Horacio Cifuentes (ARG), and Eric Jouti (BRA). The top four women were Bruna Takahashi (BRA), Lily Zhang (USA), Mo Zhang (CAN), and Amy Wang (USA). Kanak Jha’s victory over Eugene Wang featured great backhand power and placement. His consistent play and his ability to counter very aggressive individual big swings from Wang is the reasoning for the win. Jha has developed into a player with great footwork and precise placement – and he has shown all of us that he has the ability to compete with the best in the World. His plan will be to make real waves in Macao next month.
The top four at the Asian Cup were Wang Chuqin (CHN), Liang Jingkun (CHN), Lin Shidong (CHN), and Lin Yun-Ju (TPE). The top four women were Wang Manyu (CHN), Sun Yingsha (CHN), Chen Xingtong (CHN), and Kuai Man (CHN). In the Men’s Final, it was Wang Chuqin over Liang Jingkun. Chuqin dominated with aggressive forehands, applying pressure throughout the match. Chuqin is one of the best at execution of classic tactics, short serves and lightning fast attacks. Jingkun’s best match was one round earlier when he upset World No. 1 Lin Shidong. Each of these players, the top four in Asia, should have a chance to medal in Macao.
The top four finishers at the Europe Top 16 Cup were Alexis Lebrun (FRA), Darko Jorgic (SLO), Patrick Franziska (GER), and Truls Moregard (SWE). The women were Ying Han (GER), Elizabeta Samara (ROU), Xiaona Shan (GER), and Sabine Winter (GER). In the Men’s Final, Alexis Lebrun defeated Darko Jorgic 4-1 (11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9). Alexis’s strategy was a mixture of aggressive topspin attacks and well-placed defensive blocks. He uses wide angles and doesn’t normally try to overpower his opponents – but his variation was a winning combination. Like the Asian Cup winners, any of the Top Four in Europe should have a chance to medal in Macao – in fact, Europe has managed to have one player in the top three in most of the major world tournaments in 2024.
The top four in the Africa Cup were Omar Assar (EGY), Quadri Aruna (NGR), Abdel-Kader Salifou (BEN), and Ylane Batix (CMR). And the top four women were Hana Goda (EGY), Dina Meshref (EGY), Mariam Alhodaby (EGY), and Fatimo Bello (NGR). Omar Assar and Quadri Aruna have been the top two players in Africa in recent years. This year was a tight 4-3 win for Assar. Assar’s forehand power and careful serves provided the winning combination. Unlike Asia and Europe, the winners of the Africa Cup do not always make deep runs. The goal of Assar and Aruna will be to score an upset or two and hope to do something historic.
In the Oceania Cup, it was Nicholas Lum (AUS) in first followed by Finn Luu (AUS), Alfred Dela Pena (NZL), and Dean Shu (NZL). The Women were Constantina Psihogios (AUS), Maylis Giret (NCL), Li Chunli (NZL), and Jocelyn Lam (NZL). The winners of the Oceana Cup have not generally affected the draw much in large events. That said, it has not been many years since the same could be said about players from the Western Hemisphere. Perhaps this is the year for a breakthrough for Australia or New Zealand.
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