by Simon Daish

Home fans will be hoping to see a Hungarian player win a trophy at the Hungarian Open for the first time come the conclusion of the opening tournament of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour. Budapest provides the perfect platform for the home players to launch their seasons off in style.

Outgoing coach Peter Téglás will lead the Hungarian women’s team as head coach for the final time at an ITTF World Tour event and, while he is mindful of the tough opposition awaiting his players in the country’s capital city of Budapest, coach Teglas believes that the tournament presents a strong opportunity for his squad to register early ITTF World Tour points.

“Among the major Table Tennis nations only Japan can not come, so it will be a very difficult race for all Hungarians. If Dora Madarasz could repeat her performance from her European Championships doubles appearance, or if Georgina Pota gets to the top four alongside (doubles partner) Matilda Ekholm of Sweden, it would be very important from the organisers point of view, since all of us want to get to the World Tour Grand Finals. Here they can gather important points”, Peter Téglás.

Ádám Pattantyús is the highest placed Hungarian player set to compete in the Men’s Singles category after he was named as the no.29 seed for the event.

Hungary hasn’t yet to date seen one of its athletes compete in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles final and while Ádám Pattantyús may not head into the 2017 Hungarian Open as the favourite to mount a title challenge, the 38-year-old is hoping to put in a positive showing in the category.

“I’m seeded in the top 32… It will be hard to win even one game, but my goal is to get into the top sixteen”, Ádám Pattantyús.