WTT Feeder: Two medals secured – Wan out
November 21, 2024 – At the WTT Feeder in Düsseldorf, which is worth $22,500, the first medal decisions were made on Thursday – with three Germans in the middle. While Yuan Wan came away empty-handed and had to say goodbye to the tournament in the quarter-finals just short of the medal positions, Steffen Mengel and Kay Stumper are still in the race on Friday. With their semi-finals they are guaranteed a medal. The decision will be made on Friday as to whether bronze will remain – or whether there will even be a German-German final.
Kay Stumper is only ranked 15th at the WTT Feeder in Düsseldorf – but on Thursday evening he easily won a secure medal in the quarterfinals against Yuto Muramatsu. Against the Japanese, who plays for Saarbrücken in the Table Tennis Bundesliga, Stumper was always in the lead in the first two sets. It was only in the third round that Muramatsu was able to gain a small lead for the first time with a score of 3-0. But after Düsseldorf equalized to make it 4-4 and then pulled away, the defender no longer had a chance. At midday, Stumper had prevailed against top seed Ricardo Walther in one of two German round of 16 matches.
In the semi-finals he will now face the Chinese Zhou Qihao. The second semi-final is also a German-Chinese duel. Steffen Mengel plays against Chen Yuanyu for the final. The feeder in Düsseldorf seems to be a good place for the German. About a year ago he secured the title in the Rhine metropolis, his second within a week. This year he fought his way to a secure medal against Martin Allegro, who defeated Fanbo Meng in the second round. The Belgian was able to keep the first three sets particularly balanced, but ultimately had to admit defeat 1:3.
Yuan Wan, on the other hand, came away empty-handed. She lost 3-1 to China’s Han Feier in the quarterfinals. This means that the German failed to reach the medal positions in both the singles and doubles with her Turkish partner Ece Harac.
The German games at a glance:
Men’s singles
Quarterfinals
Kay Stumper – Yuto Muramatsu JPN 3:0 (8,5,6)
Steffen Mengel – Martin Allegro BEL 3:1 (8,-12,13,6)
Semifinals
Kay Stumper – Zhou Qihao CHN, Friday 11.10 am
Steffen Mengel – Chen Yuanyu CHN, Friday 11.45 a.m
Women’s singles
Quarterfinals
Yuan Wan – Han Feier CHN 1:3 (-8,-8,4,-10)
All games and results can be found on the WTT tournament page.
You can find a live stream on YouTube.
(AT)
**What role has the WTT Feeder series played in providing opportunities for younger German players to gain experience and compete at a higher level?**
## World Today News Interview: WTT Feeder Düsseldorf
**Welcome to World Today News! Today we’re discussing the exciting developments at the WTT Feeder in Düsseldorf, where German table tennis players have secured a strong presence in the medal rounds. Joining us are two esteemed guests:**
* **[Guest 1]: A former professional table tennis player and commentator, with years of experience analyzing the sport.**
* **[Guest 2]: A sports journalist specializing in coverage of German athletes and international competitions.**
**Part 1: German Triumphs & Missed Opportunities**
**Host:** Both Steffen Mengel and Kay Stumper have advanced to the semifinals, guaranteeing them medals. What stands out about their performance so far?
**[Guest 1]:**
**Host:** Kay Stumper, ranked 15th, surprised many with his decisive quarterfinal victory. What contributed to his success against Yuto Muramatsu?
**[Guest 2]:**
**Host:** Sadly, Yuan Wan was eliminated in the quarterfinals. What factors might have contributed to her loss against Han Feier?
**[Guest 1]:**
**Part 2: German-Chinese Showdown**
**Host:** Friday will see exciting semifinals with both German players facing Chinese opponents. How do you expect these matches to unfold?
**[Guest 2]:**
**Host:** Mengel has a history of success in Düsseldorf. What are the psychological advantages he might hold in this familiar environment?
**[Guest 1]:**
**Host:** China is a dominant force in table tennis. What strategies should Stumper and Mengel employ to counter their opponents’ strengths?
**[Guest 2]:**
**Part 3: Looking Ahead – The Future of German Table Tennis**
**Host:**
This tournament has highlighted the potential of young German players. What does this performance signal for the future of German table tennis on the international stage?
**[Guest 1]:**
**Host:** What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for German athletes aiming to compete at the highest levels of the sport?
**[Guest 2]:**
**Host:** Thank you both for your insightful analysis and predictions. We wish both Steffen Mengel and Kay Stumper the best of luck in their upcoming matches!
**Closing:**
For all the latest news and live updates from the WTT Feeder in Düsseldorf, please visit worldtabletennis.com and follow the WTT official YouTube channel.
