Timo Boll Adds to Medal Haul at Polish Open

First published on Monday, November 30, 2009

Last updated on Monday, November 30, 2009

Timo BOLL overcame German national team colleague Bastian STEGER in the final of the Men’s Singles event at the Polish Open in Warsaw on Sunday 29th November 2009 to add to his collection of prestigious titles.

It was his 21st appearance in a Men’s Singles final at an open international tournament on the ITTF Pro Tour and 17th time that he has emerged as the champion; it is a quite remarkable conversion record.

Furthermore, BOLL, the top seed in Warsaw, can add one further ITTF Pro Tour title to his collection; in December 2005 he won the Men’s Singles crown at the Volkswagen Pro Tour Grand Finals in the Chinese city of Fujian.

Meanwhile, for Bastian STEGER, the no.12 seed, there was consolation in defeat; it was his first ever appearance in a Men’s Singles final on the ITTF Pro Tour.

At the semi-final stage both BOLL and STEGER had been in fine form, recording straight games wins; BOLL beat compatriot Patrick BAUM, seeded no.6, whilst STEGER ousted Austria’s Robert GARDOS, seeded no.8.

Yet another singles title for Timo BOLL but in the Women’s Singles event it was the opposite end of the scale.

China’s FAN Ying, seeded no.9, won her first ever Women’s Singles crown on the ITTF Pro Tour beating Korea’s PARK Mi Young, the no.5 seed, in the final.

Both defenders, both players who rely on the art of backspin, they had excelled at the semi-final stage by ousting the top two seeds. FAN Ying had overcome no.1 seed, compatriot GUO Yan; whilst PARK Mi Young had accounted for second seed, Singapore’s FENG Tianwei.

Gold for FAN Ying in the Women’s Singles event and there was also gold in the Women’s Doubles competition; in harness with WANG Yu and not seeded, the pair overcame compatriots GUO Yan and WANG Xuan, the no.6 seeds in the final.

Defeat for the seeded pair against the non seeded pair but in the Men’s Doubles final it was the reverse scenario.

Korea’s KIM Jung Hoon and OH Sang Eun, seeded no.7, beat the French pairing of Christophe LEGOUT and Abdel Kader-Salifou to clinch the top prize.

Men’s Singles
Semi-Finals
Timo BOLL (GER) bt Patrick BAUM (GER) 11-5, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6
Bastian STEGER (GER) bt Robert GARDOS (AUT) 14-12, 11-3, 11-4, 14-12

Final
Timo BOLL (GER) bt Bastian STEGER (GER) 11-9, 12-10, 11-2, 11-7

Women’s Singles
Semi-Finals
FAN Ying (CHN) bt GUO Yan (CHN) 11-6, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8
PARK Mi Young (KOR) bt FENG Tianwei (SIN) 9-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6, 11-7

Final
FAN Ying (CHN) bt PARK Mi Young (KOR) 8-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9

Men’s Doubles
Final
KIM Jung Hoon/OH Sang Eun (KOR) bt Christophe LEGOUT/Abdel-Kader SALIFOU (FRA) 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7

Women’s Doubles
Final
FAN Ying/WU Yang (CHN) bt GUO Yan/WANG Xuan (CHN) 8-11, 11-2, 8-11,11-6,11-3, 11-8