by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
In that memorable tournament Hungary beat China twice to win the Men’s Team title; in Rades the partnership of Amin Ahmadian and Amirreza Abassi did exactly same.
On the opening day of play, in the group stage the Iranians had overcome the Chinese duo of Zhang Shangzheng and Zhang Bo by three matches to one; one day later in the final, they did exactly the same.
Perhaps the success gained by Istvan Jonyer, Tobor Klampar and Gabor Gergely is a little ahead of that achieved by Amin Ahmadian and Amirreza Abasi with Zhang Shangzheng and Zhang Bo having no current world ranking, to beat China twice in the same tournament is a moment to be savoured.
“I must confess that from the group stage to the final, all the matches were very tough; For me it was amazing for Iranian players to beat the Chinese team twice in the same competition. I am very happy winning the title and I hope this will put me in good mood for the singles event. I am also optimistic that I can make it to the final of the Boys’ Singles.” Amin Ahmadian
Success against China in the final but the semi-final success in opposition to India’s top seeded partnership of Manav Vikash Thakkar and Maush Itpalbhai Shah was an even greater success. Man of the moment against the top seeded Indians was Amin Ahmadian; he beat both Manush Utpalbhai Shah (12-10, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7) and Manav Vikash Thakkar (5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10) to prove the backbone of a three-two victory.
Earlier at the quarter-final stage Amin Ahmadian and Amirreza Abasi had accounted for the combination formed by Egypt’s Marwan Abdulwahab and Jordan’s Khaled Kade. In the opposite half of the draw Zhang Shangzheng and Zhang Bo had recorded full distance five match victory against the partnership comprising Canada’s Jeremy Hazin and Hungar’s Csaba Bence, prior to overcoming Serbia’s Dimitrije Levajic and Nikola Grujic by three matches to nil.
Defeat for China but in the Cadet Boys’ Team event there was success.
Li Yaoqin and Liu Menhong beat Belgium’s Louis Laffineur and Alessi Massart to claim the top prize.
Team events concluded, attention now turns to the individual competitions.
