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Rio 2016 Olympic Games TABLE TENNIS PLAYER BIOGRAPHIES MEN Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 1. MA Long Country: China Qualification method: Asian Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Team Gold No. of Olympic Appearances (incl. Rio): 2 (Singles Debut) World Ranking: 1 Age: 27 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Beijing, China Career highlights: 2015 World Champion, 2015 Men’s World Cup Champion, 2015 World Tour Grand Finals Champion Interesting story: The world number one has won 22 ITTF World Tour titles. Ma will complete his first grand slam if he wins the Men’s Singles Gold in Rio. Social Media Accounts: https://www.facebook.com/MaLongOfficial Weibo: @Caption 2. ZHANG Jike Country: China Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Singles Gold No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 2 World Ranking: 4 Age: 28 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Beijing, China Career Highlights: 2013, 2011 World Champion, 2011, 2014 Men’s World Cup Champion, 2012 Olympic Champion Interesting story: Zhang was named after Brazilian footballer Zico and is a big fan of Cristiano Rolnaldo. Zhang will be fighting to achieve his second Grand Slam in Rio. Social Media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/ZhangJikeOfficial Weibo: @ Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 2 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 3. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Country: Germany Qualification Method: 2015 European Games Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Singles Bronze, 2008 Men’s Team Silver No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 3 World Ranking: 5 Age: 27 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Düsseldorf, Germany Career Highlights: 2015 European Games Men’s Singles Champion, 2012 Olympic Games Men’s Singles Bronze Interesting story: Born in Ukraine, Ovtcharov moved to Germany following the Chernobyl disaster. Ovtcharov swept all major titles in Europe in 2015. Social Media accounts: http://www.facebook.com/DimitrijOvtcharov http://instagram.com/dimaovtcharov Weibo: @!"#$%&'(" 4. Jun MIZUTANI Country: Japan Qualification Method: Asian Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Singles Round of 16 No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 3 World Ranking: 6 Age: 27 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Iwata, Japan Career Highlights: 2009 World Championships Men’s Doubles Bronze Interesting story: Mizutani was crowned Japan’s National Champion at the age of 17. He won the National Championships in January 2016 for the 8th time, which is a tied record. Social Media accounts: https://twitter.com/mizutani__jun Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 3 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 5. CHUANG Chih-Yuan Country: Chinese Taipei Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Singles 4th Place No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 4 World Ranking: 7 Age: 35 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei Career Highlights: 2013 Men’s Doubles World Champion Interesting story: Chuang lost the bronze medal to Ovtcharov at the 2012 Olympics despite leading 2-1. Chuang runs a table tennis club with his mother in Kaohsiung. 6. WONG Chun Ting Country: Hong Kong Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: Debut No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 8 Age: 24 Playing style: Right/Penhold/Attack Residence: Hong Kong Career Highlights: 2016 Asian Cup Bronze, 2015 World Championships Mixed Doubles Bronze Interesting story: Wong was never the celebrated player in his junior days, but his hard work and perseverance paid off when he won his first ITTF title at the Czech Open last year, and also a bronze medal from the World Championships in mixed doubles. He is now the leading male player for Hong Kong. Social Media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/wongchuntinghkg/ https://instagram.com/tingwong0907/ Weibo: @ 0907 Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 4 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 7. Vladimir SAMSONOV Country: Belarus Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2000 Men’s Singles Quarterfinalist No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 6 World Ranking: 9 Age: 40 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Minsk, Belarus Career Highlights: 1997 World Championships Silver Interesting story: Samsonov is the chairman of the ITTF Athletes’ Commission. Samsonov holds the record for the most number of ITTF World Tour titles (26 titles). Social Media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/VSamsonov https://instagram.com/vsamsonov_tt/ Weibo: @ )&*+(,(" 8. JEONG Youngsik Country: Republic of Korea Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: Debut No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 10 Age: 24 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Seoul, Korea Republic Career Highlights: 2011 World Championships Men’s Doubles Bronze, 2 World Tour titles Interesting story: Jeoung started playing at the age of 5 and has established himself as one of the top Korean players the past few years. Jeong’s father is also a table tennis player. Social Media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/youngsik.jung.102 https://instagram.com/jungyoungsik/ Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 5 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 9. Marcos FREITAS Country: Portugal Qualification Method: European Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Team Quarterfinalist, 2012 Men’s Singles Round of 32 No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 3 World Ranking: 12 Age: 28 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Vienna Career Highlights: 2014 European Team Champion Interesting story: Freitas first represented Portugal when he was 11 and now he practices at the Werner Schlager Academy in Austria. Social Media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/marcosfreitaswebsite http://instagram.com.marcosfreitaspt https://twitter.com/marcosfreitas1 10. Timo BOLL Country: Germany Qualification Method: European Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2004 Men’s Singles Quarterfinalist No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 5 World Ranking: 14 Age: 35 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Erbach Career Highlights: 2007 World Championships Men’s Singles Bronze, 6 time European Champion, Former world number 1 Interesting story: Despite undergoing a knee surgery in October 2015, Boll shows that he is still one of the best players in the world, as he qualified for his fifth Olympic Games 6 months later. Social Media accounts: http://www.facebook.com/timoboll https://twitter.com/timoboll Weibo: @-.*(/(00 Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 6 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 11. LEE Sangsu Country: Republic of Korea Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: Debut No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 15 Age: 25 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Seoul, Korea Republic Career Highlights: 2013 World Championships Mixed Doubles Silver Interesting story: In 2010, Lee created history by being the first player required to play in the qualification stage to win the ITTF World Tour Slovenian Open title. 12. TANG Peng Country: Hong Kong Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Singles Round of 64 No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 2 World Ranking: 16 Age: 35 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Hong Kong Career Highlights: 2012 Olympic Men’s Team 4th Place Interesting story: Tang will be taking part in Rio together with his wife/fellow teammate Tie Yana. Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 7 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 13. Tiago APOLONIA Country: Portugal Qualification Method: European Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Team Quarterfinalist, 2008 Men’s Singles Round of 64 No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 3 World Ranking: 17 Age: 30 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Saarbrücken, Germany Career Highlights: 2014 European Team Champion Interesting story: Known as the Cristiano Ronaldo of table tennis, Apolonia plays for Saarbrücken in the Bundesliga’s final, and states that the club is like his second family. He got married in July with the German table tennis player Zhenqi Barthel. Social Media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/followtiago http://instagram.com/tiagoapolonia https://twitter.com/TiagoApolonia 14. Simon GAUZY Country: France Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: Debut No. of OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 18 Age: 21 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Paris, France Career Highlights: 2015 European Games Team Silver 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. Social Media accounts: https://www.facebook.com/simongauzy1/ https://twitter.com/simongauzy https://www.instagram.com/simongauzy/ Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 8 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 15. Koki NIWA Country: Japan Qualification Method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2012 Men’s Team