by Simon Daish

Representing Sweden and Hungary respectively, Matilda Ekholm and Georgina Pota have formed a formidable doubles alliance and have enjoyed a strong outing together on the international circuit throughout 2017.

The duo have impressed on a consistent basis on this year’s ITTF World Tour with four Women’s Doubles medals helping to cement their place at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals.

Victory against the top seeded pairing in New Delhi handed Ekholm and Pota the Women’s Doubles title at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour India Open while the mixed nationality team secured silver medals from the ITTF World Tour competitions in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria.

Ekholm and Pota also added an ITTF Challenge Series prize to their collection, mounting a terrific comeback to claim the plaudits at the tournament held in Otocec, Slovenia in April.

There is one further European pair competing in the Women’s Doubles draw in Astana with the Slovak Republic’s Barbora Balazova and the Czech Republic’s Hana Matelova also confirming their participation.

The Women’s Doubles gold medal has eluded Europe for 12 years, is the long wait for success set to draw to an end in Astana?