Marcos Freitas and Tiago Apolónia are Portugal’s survivors in the Men’s Doubles event at the 2008 Liebherr European Championships. The Portuguese double Marcos and Tiago defeated today Thursday Denmark’s pair Kasper Sternberg / Martin Monrad in three straight games. They won 11-9, 11-3, 11-6. With this victory the Portuguese will face today Hungary’s double, Ferenc Pazsy (no. 106) and Janos Jakab (no. 89) at 5.00pm (local time). Unluckily the other two athletes, João Monteiro and Énio Mendes were moved away yesterday in the opening day after losing their games. Monteiro who was playing with Italy’s Mihai Bobocica (no. 102), lost to Sweden’s pair Robert Svensson (no. 109) / Jon Persson (no. 155) in five games (13-11, 11-1, 5-11, 7-11, 11-6), whilst Mendes who was playing with Spain’s Victor Sanchez (no.227) were defeated by the pair Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth / Zoltan Lelkes also with 3-2.

Success for Portugal's players Marcos Freitas and João Monteiro, in the opening day at Men’s Singles tournament in the 2008 Liebherr European Championships, an event that takes place in S. Petersburg Russia, until 12 October. Marcos Freitas (no. 87) defeated England’s Darius Knight (no. 319) in four straight games (11-7, 13-11, 11-8, 12-10), whilst João Monteiro (no. 60) overcame Sweden’s Jon Persson (no. 155) also in four games (11-7, 11-6, 11-1, 11-6). Sadness for Tiago Apolónia (no. 97) and Énio Mendes (no. 313) who lost their matches in five games, against Vladimir Samsonov (no. 5) and Fedor Kuzmin (no.69) respectively. Freitas will face today Norway's Geir Erlandsen (no. 107) at 6.00pm (local time), while Monteiro will play with Slovenia’s Sas Lasan (no. 218) at 5.00pm (local time).

photo: ITTF

Marcos Freitas World’s number 87, Tiago Apolónia World’s no. 97, João Monteiro Word’s no. 60 and Énio Mendes World’s no.313, are the four Portuguese players who will play at the Men’s Singles competition in the 2008 Liebherr European Championships, an event that begins tomorrow Thursday 9th October in St. Petersburg. Alltogether approximately 160 men and 140 ladies will fight in the 2008 Liebherr European Championships' individual competitions for the medals. Marcos will face England’s Darius Knight ranked no. 319, Tiago Apolónia will measure forces with Belarus’ number one Vladimir Samsonov and current number 5 on the ITTF World Ranking list, João Monteiro will confront Sweden’s Jon Persson ranked no. 155, and Énio Mendes will play with Russia’s Fedor Kuzmin ranked no. 69.

photo: ITTF

Success for the Portuguese pair Marcos Freitas and Tiago Apolónia, that started today in the best way their participation in the 2008 Liebherr European Championships, an event that takes place in the modern hall of the Petersburgskiy Sports & Concert Complex, in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, until 12 October. In the Men's Doubles competition Portugal’s won the pair from Moldova, Eugeniu Milchin (no. 879) / Pavel Weinstein (without ranking) with 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-7). With this victory Marcos and Tiago will face tomorrow, Thursday 9 October at 3.00pm (local time), Denmark’s Kasper Sternberg (no. 350) / Martin Monrad (no. 117).

When it semeed that Portugal would get a better result than in the Euros 2007 in Belgrade, our Selection lost to Poland and complicated the situation. Portugal got the 15th place in the 2008 Liebherr European Men’s Team Championships but goes down from Championships Division to the Challenge Division. Today Portugal defeated Slovakia by 3-0, with Marcos Freitas (87) starting the match and winning Lubomir Pistej (122) in four games (7-11, 7-11, 11-8, 6-11). Tiago Apolónia (97) defeated Peter Sereda (116) also in four games (9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 3-11) whlist Énio Mendes (313) won Michal Bardon (186) in five games (10 -12, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 9-11). The Final match in the Men’s Team event ended 3-2 for Germany. But the European Championships will continue in St. Petersburg (Russia), until 12th October, with the men’s doubles and men’s singles event. Tomorrow our athletes will disput the Men’s Doubles competition with Marcos Freitas making double with Tiago Apolónia, João Monteiro with Italy’s Mihai Bobocica (112) and Énio Mendes with Spain’s Victor Sanchez (227).