by Simon Daish

Claiming her first Women’s Singles gold medal at the 2017 Austrian National Championships with a stunning victory over Liu Jia, Sofia Polcanova went on to add the Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles alongside Li Qiangbing and Simon Pfeffer.

Last year in Wolfsberg Sofia Polcanova accounted for Liu Yuan in straight games to reach the top step of the singles podium and once again proved successful in the two doubles competitions, partnering Ines Diendorfer and Simon Pfeffer to glory in the respective Women’s and Mixed Doubles events.

Now with the 2019 nationals just around the corner can Polcanova make it three triple crown successes in a row?

Arguably her main challenger in the singles, Liu Jia, seeded third, is searching for an astonishing 16th Women’s Singles title at the event and will be determined to be reunited with the trophy which she last held aloft in 2016.

2018 runner-up Liu Yuan will also be present, entering the draw as the no.2 seed while Amelie Solja and Karoline Mischek have been seeded fourth and fifth respectively.

In the Women’s Doubles tournament Sofia Polcanova sides with Ines Diendorfer for the second year running while Simon Pfeffer and Polcanova are going for a third consecutive Mixed Doubles title.