European Table Tennis Championships – Ovtcharov wins first European Championship game – Sport

Linz (dpa) – Defending champion Dang Qiu and former world number one Dimitrij Ovtcharov won their first games at the European Table Tennis Championships in Linz. The 27-year-old Dang Qiu from Borussia Düsseldorf beats the Dutchman Gabrielus Camara in 4-0 sets.

The two-time individual European champion Ovtcharov (TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell) defeated Ioannis Sgouropoulos from Greece 4:1. “The European Championship is one of the biggest tournaments,” said the 36-year-old. “A few days ago I looked again at my win against Wladi Samsonow in Vienna in 2013. Nice memories, now we are back in Austria – and I hope that is a good omen.”

The European Championship in Linz is the first major tournament after the international career of record European champion Timo Boll. The currently best German player in the world rankings is Patrick Franziska (1. FC Saarbrücken). The number twelve in the ranking won 4-0 against the Austrian Julian Rzihauschek in the first main round.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:241017-930-263451/1