BERLIN, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — German table tennis player Qiu Dang claimed his first major tournament on Sunday, winning the Euro 2022 men’s singles title by defeating Darko Jorgic of Slovenia 4-1 in the final in Munich, Germany.
Jorgic narrowly won the first set, but Qiu battled all the way back in the next four sets, eventually clinching the win 10-12, 14-12, 11-8, 11-9, 11-2.
“This is the greatest achievement I have ever made,” Qiu said. “I feel like I’m the luckiest person on earth right now. It’s unbelievable.”
Qiu was born into a table tennis playing family in Germany. His parents are both former Chinese table tennis players and used to play in the German league. His brother Qiu Liang is also a table tennis player and currently plays in League 2.
“When I turned the second set, I knew I had the momentum and the crowd was always on my side,” Qiu said. “Luckily I played really well after that and somehow I won all the sets. It boosts my confidence. Many legends have won this tournament before and now I am one of them.”
Qiu knocked out eight-time European champion Timo Boll in the quarter-finals and double gold medalist Mattias Falck of Sweden in the semi-finals en route to the final.
As for Qiu’s next goals, the world number 10 discussed the World Championships and the Olympic Games. “I have to keep my results consistent or this title means nothing,” he said.
In the women’s singles final, Sofia Polcanova of Austria won the first set 11-9 before her opponent Nina Mittelham of Germany retired midway through the second set with a shoulder injury.
This is Polcanova’s second title at the 2022 European Championships, after the 27-year-old collected women’s doubles gold and a mixed doubles bronze.
Source: sn.dk