Parker Shines !

[DaveR]

http://www.sportfocus.com/newsimage/joanna5.jpg



In front of a sell-out crown at the Beaulieu Sports Hall in Nantes (5,000) Great Britain's Joanna Parker has made a brilliant start as she strives to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The 20-year-old stunned Spain’s Fang Zhu, ranked no. 82 in the world, winning the deciding game for a 4-3 victory and then proceeded to destroy Slovakia's Barbora Balazova to put herself in pole position to qualify from the round-robin stage.

Fellow compatriot and recently crowned National Champion Kelly Sibley did not fare so well, however, losing her opening match to Belarus' Viktoria Pavlovich without winning a game.

In the men's tournament, highly-rated 18-year-old Paul Drinkhall recovered from an opening 4-2 defeat by France's Christophe Legout to beat Spaniard Victor Sanchez 4-3.

Meanwhile Gavin Rumgay is still in with a shout due to an unexpected victory, over no. 94 in the world, Tomas Keinath. This was followed by a defeat to Italy’s Mihai Bobocia, which means he could still qualify in second place.

But Adam Robertson had a day to forget with defeats by Aleksandar Karakasevic and David Zombory, all but ending his hopes of qualification.

Watch out for Joanna Parker’s next and final group match streamed live on the TTLive website at 17:00.

Results
Joanna Parker (GBR) 233 bt. Fang Zhu (ESP) 82: 6-11, 11-13, 11-6, 11-8, 2-11, 11-7, 11-6 (4-3)
Joanna Parker (GBR) 233 bt. Barbora Balazova (SVK) 283: 11-9,12-10,11-4,11-7 (4-0)

Viktoria Palovich (BLR) 43 bt. Kelly Sibley (GBR) 186: 11-7,11-6,11-4, 11-5 (4-0)

Gavin Rumgay (GBR) 308 bt. Thomas Keinath (SVK) 94 8-11, 4-11,13-11,11-2,5-11,11-8, 11-6 (4-3)
Mihai Bobocia (ITA) 130 bt. Gavin Rumgay (GBR) 308: 11-9, 11-7, 14-12, 11-5 (4-0)

Aleksandar Karakasevic (SRB) 48 bt. Adam Robertson (GBR) 181: 6-11,11-5,11-5,11-5,11-8 (4-1)

Christophe Legout (FRA) 62 bt Paul Drinkhall (GBR) 194: 12-10,11-9,10-12,11-4,5-11,11-5 (4-2)
Paul Drinkhall (GBR) 194 bt. Victor Sanchez (ESP) 241: 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-8 (4-3)

ETTA Report

[MK Chris]

Oddly, I think Joanna Parker (while being a very good player) hasn't lived up to her potential. I know she's still young, but she's always been number 2 to someone - first Helen Lower and then Kelly Sibley overtook her.

[HarryBelafonte]

:fcb::bag:can she fullfill her potential:thumbsup:

[DaveR]

We will see Harry ! ................................

The final matches of the group stages have been played and although it was looking like the possibility of two players getting through (Joanna and Paul), only Paul managed it. The others will now have to try and get through the last qualifier in Budapest starting on 8th May.


Joanna Parker
Although being top of the group with one match still to play, she was still far from safe, needing to win to guarantee getting through. Having already overcome a massive 151 places in the world rankings list to beat Fang Zhu 4-3, she was performing well. Despite an extremely close fought battle, Cornelia Vaida eventually got the better of her, 4-3. This put her joint first with Zhu and Vaida, but she lost out due to match points, coming in third.

Kelly Sibley
After an amazing performance last weekend reaching the finals of all four categories she entered and walking away with three National titles, she must have gone into this event on a high. Having lost the first match she had to win her second and final one of the group stages (only three people in her group). Kelly however was not able to overcome the Ukrainian who is ranked 35 places higher, going out 4-1.

Paul Drinkhall
Having lost one and won one, Paul Drinkhall then annihilated the world number 70 Slobodan Grujic 4-0 to go top of the group and secure entry into the next stage.

Gavin Rumgay
He was still in with a chance of going through in second place, but Rui Wu Tan proved to be too strong winning 4-1.

Adam Robertson
After getting off to a good start swapping set wins with the Pole, Adam was looking at going out on a high, unfortunately Zeng Yi Wang scraped through the last two sets to win 4-2.

Results:
Cornelia Vaida bt. Joanna Parker 11-6, 13-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-13, 9-11, 11-3
Margaryta Pesotska bt. Kelly Sibley 11-2, 6-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-9
Rui Wu Tan bt. Gavin Rumgay 7-11, 11-1, 14-12, 11-9, 11-6
Zeng Yi Wang bt. Adam Robertson 11-9,9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9
Paul Drinkhall bt. Slobodan Grujic 12-10, 11-4, 11-2, 11-5

[HarryBelafonte]

will eddy fullfill his potential:rocker::rocker:

[Mr Wilko]

will eddy fullfill his potential:rocker::rocker:


rumours have it that he never does!!!!!!!! :rocker::rocker:

[Firepower]

Teenager Robert Frank is one step away from becoming Australia's youngest table tennis Olympian.
The 18-year-old is one of four men and four women who remain in contention for a place in the Australian Olympic team in Beijing in August.
Despite suffering a leg injury, Frank qualified fourth at the Australian qualification tournament and will now compete at the Oceania qualifying tournament in New Caledonia from April 5-8.
A finish in the top three will secure a place at Beijing, but if Australia takes out two of the top three spots in the men's or women's competition it will also qualify all four players for the teams events.
Frank now finds himself in the company of 2004 Olympian and Australian No.1 William Henzell, Commonwealth Games veteran David Zalcberg and former Australian junior champion Kyle Davis.
The women's team is a carbon copy of that fielded for the Commonwealth Games - Australian No.1 and Olympic veteran Miao Miao, Stephanie Sang, Olympian Jian Fang Lay and May Cho.
"It's pretty exciting being only 18 and still in the competition for playing in the 2008 Olympics," Frank said.
"Not many kids my age get to do something like this so it's good to actually have a chance."
Table Tennis Australia high performance manager Sue Stevenson said Australia was the top Oceania nation so they were hopeful of taking out the top three places.

Just reading the above story and obviously not knocking the Australian team or aspiring young olympic team selection process, im curious is it easier to gain olympic selection over in Australia due to less players or is it as hard as say UK or others?

[Mr Wilko]

it seems like the chinese think its easier than in the UK????