FILIPINOS BEATEN IN QUARTER FINALS OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF PING PONG
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Jan 2013
Filipinos Joseph Cruz and Richard Gonzales were eliminated in the quarter finals of the 2013 World Championship of Ping Pong at the Alexandra Palace in London.
Cruz was beaten by Russia's Maxin "Magic Max" Shmyrev 11-8/11-5 while Gonzales stretched America's Ilija Lupulesku before losing in a terrific three sets encounter 12-10, 7-11 and 11-9.
Matchroom Sport executive Luke Riches described the matches saying "Shmyrev had too much for Joseph Cruz in a 2-0 win before Lupulesku won a belter against Gonzales in a match where both players gave everything."
The Filipinos won $3,000 each for their efforts.
Russia?s Maxim Shmyrev successfully defended his Matchroom Sport World Championship of Ping Pong title, coming through what Riches described as "a pulsating final" to defeat Nigeria?s Sule Olaleye 3-2.
It was a culmination of two day?s incredible play from the 41 year-old from Moscow who was never really extended until the 49 year-old Nigerian gave him all he could handle as they took the match to a decider.
The match reached high levels intensity at times as both players hammered forehands across the table in an all-out assault. It could have gone either way but in the end it was the likeable Shmyrev who outlasted his opponent to add to the title he won in Las Vegas in 2011.
He won a gold medal, the magnificent trophy and a cheque for $20,000.
?It was an unbelievably difficult final,? said a jubilant Shmyrev.
?It was in my mind about my friend who died last week. I was leading but my thoughts about my friend came to my mind and I lost a bit of concentration. I feel I was a little bit better than Sule but it was a difficult game.
?I thought I had a chance because I have the experience as the defending champion. But everybody had a chance. It was a fantastic competition, it made a really good show and everything was fantastic and I will be back to defend my trophy next year,? added the Russian.
For Olaleye it was a case of so near and yet so far as he was just two points away from a magnificent victory before Shmyrev dashed his hopes. He received $10,000 for his efforts.
?I really tried my best but I couldn?t finish it tonight. I could not have given any more than I did. I had to go for it, I went for it but there was nothing that I could do, he did well.
?I really enjoyed this tournament, it was an unbelievable weekend. Next year I will try and win, but it is not easy because it is such a tough competition.?
Shmyrev had made his way to final with a 2-0 win over American Yugoslavian Ilija Lupulesku 11-5/13-11 which was his toughest match to date. That set him up for the championship match with Olaleye who dashed UK hopes with comprehensive win over Chris Doran 11-8/11-1.
In the bottom half of the quarter finals earlier there were mixed fortunes for the remaining two players left in the event. Summer Olympic hope Andrew Baggaley finally succumbed after an excellent run as he was beaten in two sets by top Nigerian Sule Olaleye. Then Chris Doran set the home crowd on fire as he put paid to Dutch hopes with a 2-0 victory over Martin Groenewald.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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