Post SV Mühlhausen still on the road to success in the Champions League
Successful Champions League start in Stage 2 for the German representatives of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL). TTC Neu-Ulm and Post SV Mühlhausen both won 3-1.
In the first match of Group C, TTC Neu-Ulm won already on Sunday against the Polish representative K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo. In the first singles match, Lin Yun-Ju gave the hosts from Mulhouse a 3-1 lead against Jakub Dyjas (8:11, 11:7, 11:6, 11:7). Vice world champion Truls Möregardh increased the score against Jonathan Groth to 2-0 in the meantime (11:7, 4:11, 11:5, 11:6). In the third match of the evening, Dimitrij Ovtcharov had to give way to Kaii Konishi, who is already 41 years old. The penholder player provided the connecting point with 7:11, 6:11, 11:5, 9:11. In the top match between Lin Yun-Ju and Jonathan Groth, the number seven of the current world ranking made short work of the match (13:11, 12:10, 11:4) and secured the 3-1 victory for the world class trio.
Post SV Mühlhausen wins after trailing against SPG Felbermayr Wels
In the second group match of group B, Post SV Mühlhausen welcomed SPG Felbermayr Wels from Austria. The current leader of the ÖTTV Bundesliga lost 0-3 against GV Hennebont TT in the first group match and was therefore under pressure.
In the first singles match of the evening, Daniel Habesohn and Andreas Levenko faced each other in the packed sports hall of Post SV. The Kiev-born Austrian Levenko got off to the better start against his twelve-year older compatriot and won the first two rounds with 5:11. In the third set (11:4) Habesohn seemed to be able to turn the match in his favor. However, set four went to Levenko with a very close 12:10, which secured the 1-0 lead for SPG Felbermayr Wels. Steffen Mengel directly tied the match at 1-1 with a 3:1 victory over the South Korean Ganghyeon Park (12:10, 11:8, 10:12, 11:5).
Ovidiu Ionescu shows strength
The next match was played by Ovidiu Ionescu against Jiri Martinenko. The Romanian made a furious start and won the first two sets 11:9 and 11:8. Martinenko won the third set 8:11, before Ionescu brought all his quality to the table in the fourth and won the set 11:6.
With a 2-1 lead for POST SV, the two previously winless players entered the box. The closely contested first set was secured by the 36-year-old double European Champion of 2018 with 11:8. In the second set Ganghyeon Park made a dream start with five points in a row, which Habesohn could not equalize, before the third set again went narrowly to the Austrian with 11:9. The decision of the evening followed in the fourth set. Habesohn's converted match point for 11:7 was the highlight of the evening and the Post SV fans cheered loudly for the fourth victory in the fourth Champions League match. Post SV Mühlhausen remains unbeaten in the Champions League. The winning streak is now to be continued against the top team from Hennebont on Nov. 19.
Post SV Mühlhausen vs. SPG Felbermayr Wels Daniel Habesohn - Andreas Levenko 1:3 (5:11, 5:11, 11:4, 10:12)
Steffen Mengel - Ganghyeon Park 3:1 (12:10, 11:8, 10:12, 11:5)
Ovidiu Ionescu – Jiri Martinenko 3:1 (11:9, 11:8, 8:11, 11:6)
Daniel Habesohn - Ganghyeon Park 3:1 (11:8, 6:11, 11:9, 11:7)
View on the upcoming matches in the TTCLM and in the Europe Cup
Thursday 17.11.:
Champions League: HBOstrov Havlivkuv Brod vs. Borussia Düsseldorf (6 p.m.)
Champions League: AS Pontoise Cergy TT vs. 1. FC Saarbrücken TT (7.30 p.m.)
Europe Cup: Solex-Consult TT Wiener Neustadt vs. TTC Neu-Ulm Team Euro (6.30 p.m.)
Friday 18.11.:
Europe Cup: TTC Neu-Ulm Team Euro vs. EC: Solex-Consult TT Wiener Neustadt (6.30 p.m.)
Saturday 19.11.:
Champions League: Post SV Mühlhausen vs. GV Hennebont TT (5 p.m.)