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TWO PINOYS IN LAST EIGHT OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF PING PONG By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 07 Jan 2013  Richard Gonzales. Two Filipino have progressed to the last eight in the fast-paced ping pong action at the Alexandra Palace in London. The two Filipinos with a chance at winning the top prize of $20,000 are Joseph Cruz and Richard Gonzales eased their way into the quarter-finals. Cruz beat Stephane Lebrun (France) 11-9/11-3 while Gonzales bested England?s Tony West 11-8/11-5. Matchroom Sport executive Luke Riches told us "These two look as strong as anyone left in the competition." Aside from the two Filipinos including a Russian, a Romanian American, two Englishmen, a Nigerian and a Dutchman. The final match was perhaps the best of the session as Holland?s Martin Groenwold overcame Egle Adomelyte in the only three set match of the round. Both were well-supported with the fired-up Dutchman?s army of fans including Loekie the Lion, who is proving a real hit with the audiences at the Ally Pally. The Lithuanian girl who has been a picture of concentration throughout, won the first set, before Groenwold came back to take the second. The match was anyone?s at 9-9 in the decider but the Dutchman went for a couple of do-or-die forehand smashes to secure the win. Defending champion Maxim Shmyrev has also proved a popular character with the North London crowd and once again looked all business as he defeated Hungary?s Krisztian Szabo without dropping a game. ?It is so fantastic and with every win I?m stronger and stronger through every point and every match. Thanks to the spectators and I hope they see some great matches. All players will be difficult for me but I will fight for every point,? said the delighted Russian. There were wins for the two Filipino ?liha? players left in the draw as firstly Joseph Cruz and then Richard Gonzales eased their way into the quarter-finals with wins over Stephane Lebrun (France) and England?s Tony West respectively. These two look as strong as anyone left in the competition. There was another good win for the wily old American Ilija Lupulesku. The former Romanian international has been a bit of a dark horse in this tournament but now finds himself in the quarter-finals courtesy of a straight sets win over the final Hungarian in the event, Gergely Urban, Lupulesku said, ?I said yesterday that I would get better and better. It?s nice to play in front of a big crowd and the spectators are great. The level of play is very good and I?m very impressed. I didn?t expect so many players could play sandpaper this good.? 2012 Olympian Andrew Baggaley continued his excellent run with a 2-0 victory over veteran Frenchman Patrick Chila. ?I?m getting better and better with each match and I?m now quite confident. It?s a fantastic event for me so far so I?m happy,? said a delighted Baggaley. Nigerian sharp-shooter Sule Olaleye had too much for Gavin Rumgay (Scotland), one of the remaining sponge bat players in the competition. 11-3, 11-4 was the score and the Luxembourg-based African will be a tough nut to crack in Sunday night?s quarter-finals. Chris Doran, the 21 year-old from Northampton won an all-English clash as he defeated Andrew Rushton 2-0. Both are top level sponge bat table tennis players and both entered this tournament with no real idea with how they would perform against established hard bat players but both acquitted themselves well and Doran?s dream is still alive. Last 16 Results Maxim Shmyrev (RUS) 2-0 Krisztian Szabo (HUN) 11-5, 11-5 Joseph Cruz (PHI) 2-0 Stephane Lebrun (FRA) 11-9, 11-3 Ilija Lupulesku (USA) 2-0 Gergely Urban (HUN) 11-8, 11-9 Richard Gonzales (PHI) 2-0 Tony West (ENG) 11-8, 11-5 Andrew Baggaley (ENG) 2-0 Patrick Chila 11-5, 11-7 Sule Olaleye (NIG) 2-0 Gavin Rumgay (SCO) 11-3, 11-4 Chris Doran (ENG) 2-0 Andrew Rushton (ENG) 11-5, 11-5 Martin Groenewald (NED) 2-1 Egle Adomelyte (LTU) 7-11, 11-6, 11-9 Quarter Final Draw (Matches commence at 18.00 GMT) Maxim Shmyrev (RUS) v Joseph Cruz (PHI) Ilija Lupulesku (USA) v Richard Gonzales (PHI) Andrew Baggaley (ENG) v Sule Olaleye (NIG) Chris Doran (ENG) v Martin Groenewald (NED) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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