by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

He beat Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan in five games (11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-9) to reserve his place in the second round of proceedings.

Different Point of View

It was a much different Slovenian to the one I had met in Halmstad; there he explained that Olympic year,with qualification and preparation, takes a great deal out of the body. He hinted that Rio de Janeiro might be his last.

“No chance, I want to be in Tokyo; this crowd is incredible, the atmosphere is amazing, just think what it will be like in four years’ time in Tokyo where table tennis is a bigger sport that here in Brazil”, smiled Bojan Tokic, gripped by Olympic fever.

“Make no mistake, I want to be in Tokyo”, he stressed; the way he played, he might well be in Japan’s capital city.

Good Preparation

“Here if feel in really good shape; this morning I practised with Xu Xin and Jun Mizutani”, added Bojan Tokic.

Notably both Xu Xin and Jun Mizutani are left handers like Noshad Alamiyan; furthermore, according to the current Men’s World Rankings, they are best two on planet earth!

“I felt under really big pressure today, I’m expected to beat Noshad”, added Bojan Tokic. “He’s very good, especially his serves; if I had his serves I’d be World champion!”

So now Bojan Tokic, you know what you must do if want to be World champion!

Major Dignitaries Present

Bojan Tokic had responded to the atmosphere in the hall and he had responded to home support.

Alain Brian Bergant, the Slovenian Ambassador in Brazil was watching the action eagerly, as was Dr. Maja Makovec Brencic, the Slovenian Minister of Sport alongside colleagues Dr Boro Strumbelj, the Director General of Sport, Bogdan Gabrovec, President of the National Olympic Committee and Iztok Cop, the Slovenian Chef de Mission.

“It’s a very special occasion”, said Dr Maja Makovic Brencic. “We had high expectations and we wanted to show our sport.”

The support was appreciated; moreover Bojan Tokic responded.