by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

In the setting of Riocentro Pavilion 3; both outfits showed no hint of charity as two-nil victory margins were posted in a most clinical manner.

Convincing wins

China beat Thailand with the partnership of Feng Panfeng and Zhao Ping overcoming Anurak Laowong and Yuttajak Gunbancheun in the opening doubles contest (6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7) to make a quite ideal start.

Matters concluded with Feng Panfeng returning to the table to beat Anurak Laowong (11-8, 11-6, 11-8) to book the final place.

Doubles win

Likewise in the contest against Brazil, an imposing doubles win set Germany on the victory road. Thomas Brühle and Thomas Schmidberger overcame David Andrade de Freitas and Welder Knaf in three straight games (11-9, 11-6, 11-8), before Thomas Brühle brought matters to an end.

He beat Welder Knaf in four games (6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3).

Playing better

“I feel we both played better than yesterday”, said Thomas Schmidberger; the German duo having beaten the Sweden partnership of Victor Sjoqvist and Alexander Oehren in a similar as to the victory against Brazil.

“Today I had a much better feeling for the ball “, added Thomas Schmidberger. “Today was one hundred per cent better.”

Teacher

Perhaps that is slight exaggeration but it is view with Thomas Brüchle concurred.

“I agree, it was good performance today; I am happy”, he said. “Also you must remember they are full time players; we have to work for our living, I am a teacher.”

Amongst other subjects Thomas Brüchle teaches German and Mathematics to 16 year old students.

Final and bronze medal

The final and bronze medal contests are scheduled for 6.30pm on Friday 16th September.