Nothing catches the attention like the tradition duels between arch rivals.
Contests
such as golf’s Ryder Cup, which sees the Europeans face the Americans,
the Ashes cricket Test Matches as England plays Australia or the Old
Firm football match in Scotland, when the city of Glasgow forms into
two distinctive camps to support either Celtic or Rangers.
They are special events, events which go beyond the disciplines of their sport and beyond the disciplines of sport.
Most Noticeable
In
table tennis there are traditional rivals, many national leagues will
have such situations but on a global scale such confrontations are less
pronounced but surely are to be encouraged.
The most noticeable
I have witnessed being in the Men’s Team final of the table tennis
events at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2008, when Brazil
played Argentina; the atmosphere was explosive.
It was "whatever the sport, you must win".
Scenario
If
there is to be such scenario the surely that can be when the two
traditionally strong continents of Europe and Asia meet; in the 1980s
the Euro-Asia tournament was a contest that brought the might of the
world together.
Now, in 2009 it is to be regenerated but in a different guise.
All Stars
The
Europe-Asia All Stars will be staged in Beijing on Wednesday 25th and
26th August and in Istanbul on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th November
2009.
It is a contest that involves the continents leading male
players and following the H.I.S. World Championships in Yokohama, in
line with the May 2009 ITTF World Rankings, Europe has nominated its
team.
Selection
The
selected players are: Timo Boll (GER), Vladimir Samsonov (BLR),
Kalinikos Keanga (GRE), Michael Maze (DEN), Werner Schlager (AUT) and
only for the event in Istanbul, Gencay Menge (TUR).
Television
Chinese National Television (CTTV) and Eurosport will broadcast the event. I
Source: www.ittf.com
