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! ! Liebherr 2016 ITTF Men’s World Cup

Player Biographies

#ITTFWorldCup Page 1

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FAN Zhendong (CHN)

Qualification: Substitute

Current World Ranking: 2

Seed: 1

Age: 19

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 2

Best WC Result: 2015 Silver

Highlights of career: 2012 Junior World Champion, 2014 Youth Olympic Champion, 2014 & 2016 World Team Champion, 7 ITTF World Tour titles

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin

Interesting story: Despite missing out on the singles spot for the Rio , Fan proved himself that he is not a force to be reckoned with by beating the Olympic Champion 4-0 at the Open last month.

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XU Xin (CHN)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 3

Seed: 2

Age: 26

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 3

Best WC Result: 2013 Champion

Highlights of career: 2015 Mixed Doubles & Men’s Doubles World Champion, Rio 2016 Olympic Team Champion

Playing info: Attack/Left/Penhold

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin

Interesting story: At the recent China National Championships, led the Shanghai team to win the team event. He also publicly revealed his girlfriend of 7 years, after the Rio Olympics.

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Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 6

Seed: 3

Age: 28

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 9

Best WC Result: 2013 & 2015 Bronze

Highlights of career: 2015 Men’s Singles Champion, 2012 Olympic Games Men’s Singles Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: German, English

Interesting story: Born in Ukraine, Ovtcharov moved to Germany following the Chernobyl disaster. Ovtcharov swept all major titles in Europe in 2015. His wife gave birth to a baby girl after the Rio Olympic Games.

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WONG Chun Ting (HKG)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup Bronze

Current World Ranking: 7

Seed: 4

Age: 25

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup Bronze, 2015 World Championships Mixed Doubles Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Penhold

Language(s) spoken: Cantonese, Mandarin, English

Interesting story: Wong won his first ITTF World Tour title at the Czech Open last year, and also a bronze medal from the World Championships in mixed doubles. Wong is expected to lead the Hong Kong team to greater heights in 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

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Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 5th place

Current World Ranking: 9

Seed: 5

Age: 40

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 16

Best WC Result: 2009 Champion

Highlights of career: 26 ITTF World Tour titles, 1998 World Championships Silver

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Russian, German, Serbian, English, French, Spanish

Interesting story: Samsonov advanced into the Men’s Singles semi-final of the 2016 Olympic Games for the first time in Rio, before losing the bronze medal to (JPN). Samsonov is also the Chairman of the ITTF Athletes’ Commission.

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JEOUNG Youngsik (KOR)

Qualification: Wild Card

Current World Ranking: 10

Seed: 6

Age: 24

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 2

Best WC Result: 2013 Qual. Groups

Highlights of career: 2 ITTF World Tour titles, 2011 World Championships Men’s Doubles Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Korean

Interesting story: Jeoung nearly caused an upset at the 2016 Rio Olympic Gamess, when he threatened the current World Champion Ma Long by having a 2-0 lead. Jeoung’s ultimate goal in is to win the Olympic Games.

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Tiago APOLONIA (POR)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 7th place

Current World Ranking: 18

Seed: 7

Age: 30

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 3

Best WC Result: 2014 Quarterfinalist

Highlights of career: 2014 European Team Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Portuguese, English

Interesting story: Apolonia married in July with German table tennis player Zhenqi Barthel.

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GAUZY Simon (FRA)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 9th place

Current World Ranking: 19

Seed: 8

Age: 21

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 2

Best WC Result: 2015 Round of 16

Highlights of career: 2015 European Games Team Silver

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: French, English

Interesting story: His younger brother Paul also plays table tennis and is currently ranked 269th in the world. Roger Federer is Gauzy’s idol, he hopes to meet him soon.

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LEE Sangsu (KOR)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup 6th place

Current World Ranking: 20

Seed: 9

Age: 26

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2013 World Championships Mixed Doubles Silver

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Korean

Interesting story: In 2010, Lee created history by being the first player to advance from the qualification stage the main draw and win the ITTF World Tour Slovenian Open title. Lee took part in his first Olympic Games in Rio.

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Bastian STEGER (GER)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 8th place

Current World Ranking: 20

Seed: 10

Age: 35

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2012 & 2016 Olympic Games Team Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: German, English

Interesting story: One of the experienced players in the German team, Steger was chosen as the third player for the Olympic team event over his younger teammate Franziska Patrick.

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Stefan FEGERL (AUT)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 6th place

Current World Ranking: 22

Seed: 11

Age: 28

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2015 European Team Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: German, English, Mandarin

Interesting story: Stefan started playing table tennis when he was two years old, but only began focusing on becoming a professional player at the age of 17. His father-in-law coached his role model (CHN), he is married to Austrian table tennis player Li Qiangbing.

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Quadri ARUNA (NGR)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-African Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 25

Seed: 12

Age: 28

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 3

Best WC Result: 2014 Quarterfinalist

Highlights of career: Rio 2016 Olympics Men’s Singles Quarterfinalist, 2014 ITTF Male Table Tennis Star & Star Point Winner

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: English

Interesting story: After reaching the quarterfinals of the 2014 Men’s World Cup, Aruna proved his abilities again at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, eliminating famous names such as (GER) and Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) to reach the quarterfinals.

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Alexander SHIBAEV (RUS)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup Bronze

Current World Ranking: 26

Seed: 13

Age: 26

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 2

Best WC Result: 2014 Qualification Stage

Highlights of career: 2008 European Youth Championships Silver, 2011 European Championships Men’s Doubles Silver

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Russian, English

Interesting story: An outstanding youth player, Shibaev broke into the Top 30 in March 2016, and will be looking for a breakthrough into the Top 20.

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Kristian KARLSSON (SWE)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 4th place

Current World Ranking: 29

Seed: 14

Age: 25

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 2

Best WC Result: 2015 Round of 16

Highlights of career: 2012 European Championships Doubles Silver, 2014 Champions League Winner with Pontoise

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Swedish, English

Interesting story: Karlsson trained in Trollhättan until he was 16, subsequently he moved away from home to go to high school. During his high school years, Karlsson had 10 training sessions a week.

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Hugo CALDERANO (BRA)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Latin American Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 31

Seed: 15

Age: 20

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2015 Champion, 3 time Latin American Champion, 2014 Youth Olympic Games Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Portuguese, English

Interesting story: Calderano underwent a hand surgery in 2013, and as a result he started solving the Rubik’s cube non-stop. He now plays in the Bundesliga (Germany) representing Liebherr Ochsenhausen.

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GAO Ning (SIN)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup 4th place

Current World Ranking: 41

Seed: 16

Age: 33

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 4

Best WC Result: 2007 Quarterfinalist

Highlights of career: 2015 Southeast Asian Games Champion, 2007 Asian Cup Champion, 2008 & 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals Men’s Doubles Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin

Interesting story: The most senior player on the Singapore men’s team, Gao was named the Singapore Sportsman of the year in 2008.

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Par GERELL (SWE)

Qualification: Substitute

Current World Ranking: 43

Seed: 17

Age: 34

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2015 ITTF-European Championships Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Swedish, English

Interesting story: Gerell is regarded as having one of the best service ever. At the Czech Open last year, together with opponent Adrien Mattenet, they entertained the crowd with a rally that lasted 91 shots.

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Joao MONTEIRO (POR)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup Silver

Current World Ranking: -

Seed: 18

Age: 33

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2015 ITTF-European Championships Men’s Doubles Champion, 2014 European Team Champion

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Portuguese, English

Interesting story: Monteiro is married to Romanian player -Monteiro, and has a baby daughter.

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David POWELL (AUS)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Oceania Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 283

Seed: 19

Age: 25

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2016 ITTF-Oceania Cup Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: English

Interesting story: Prior to the 2016 Olympic Games in , Powell was teaching maths at Strathcona Grammar School in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. His profession and his students helped to keep him focused.

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FENG Yijun (USA)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-North American Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 287

Seed: 20

Age: 19

MWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2016 ITTF-North American Cup Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Penhold

Language(s) spoken: English, Mandarin

Interesting story: At the North America Cup in June, Feng won the title for the first time and earn his ticket to play Men’s World Cup. He also represented USA at the Olympic Games in August.

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