Table tennis world championship 1977

Table tennis world championship
1975 ← World Cup 1977 → 1979
date	26.3. - 5.4.1977
venue	Birmingham
winner
Single (♂)	Mitsuru Kohno
Single (♀)	Pak Yung-sun
Double (♂)	Li Zhenshi Liang Geliang
Double (♀)	Pak Yong-ok Yang Ying
Doubles (mixed)	Jacques Secrétin Claude Bergeret
Team (♂)	People's Republic of China
Team (♀)	People's Republic of China

The 34th table tennis world championship took place from March 26th to April 5th, 1977 in Birmingham ( England ) in the National Exhibition Center. More than 500 participants from 65 nations took part.

Overview

Although the spectators in the hall frenetically cheered the English team around Desmond Douglas from Jamaica (he played for Borussia Düsseldorf in the German Bundesliga for many years ), it did not reach one of the top places in the team competition, singles or doubles. Six 6 out of 7 titles went to Asia. Only the French Jacques Secrétin won a title for Europe with his doubles partner Claude Bergeret . Experts described the fifth place of the German men's team as sensational, also because the team had been relegated from the top tier of the European league a few weeks before the World Cup .

Game mode

Team competition men

First, the teams were divided into preliminary round groups. According to the previous World Cup, the strongest teams played in group A and B of category I with 8 nations each. The weaker teams met in Group A and B of Category II with 9 and 10 nations respectively. The remaining (weakest) teams remained in 4 groups of category III with 6 to 7 nations each. According to the “everyone against everyone” mode, a ranking was played out.

The intermediate round followed . In Category I, the first two teams played for places 1 to 4 (and thus for the world championship title), the third and fourth-placed teams fought for places 5 to 8, and the fifth and sixth teams fought for places 9 to 12, the Both of the bottom of the table played for places 13 to 16.

This intermediate round provided for the following eight pairings for Category 1:

• (1) 1st place in group A versus 2nd place in group B.
• (2) 2nd place in group A versus 1st place in group B.
• (3) 3rd place in group A versus 4th place in group B.
• (4) 4th place in group A versus 3rd place in group B.
• (5) 5th place in group A versus 6th place in group B.
• (6) 6th place in group A versus 5th place in group B.
• (7) 7th place in group A versus 8th place in group B.
• (8) 8th place in group A versus 7th place in group B.

The final round or the so-called placement games followed:

• The winners from (1) and (2) played for the world title
• The losers from (1) and (2) played for 3rd and 4th place
• The winners from (3) and (4) played for 5th and 6th place
• The losers from (3) and (4) played for places 7 and 8
• The winners from (5) and (6) played for 9th and 10th place
• The losers from (5) and (6) played for 11th and 12th place
• The winners from (7) and (8) played for 13th and 14th place
• The losers from (7) and (8) played for 15th and 16th place

The same system was used for categories II and III and the ranks from 17.

Team competition women

The women's teams played according to the same system as the men. In category I there were groups A and B with 9 nations each. Category II consisted of two groups of eight and in Category III four groups of 5 nations each were formed.

As with the men, there was an intermediate round and then the placement games.

Final result of the group matches in Category I.

	Men's
space	Group A	Group B
1.	China	Japan
2.	Hungary	Sweden
3.	Germany	Yugoslavia
4th	ČSSR	USSR
5.	France	Poland
6th	England	South Korea
7th	Indonesia	Denmark
8th.	Australia	Romania

	Ladies
space	Group A	Group B
1.	China	South Korea
2.	North Korea	Japan
3.	Hungary	USSR
4th	England	Hong Kong
5.	ČSSR	France
6th	Sweden	Germany
7th	Romania	Yugoslavia
8th.	Bulgaria	Poland
9.	Belgium	Indonesia

Cutting off the Germans

The German participants were looked after by the national coaches Christer Johansson and Istvan Korpa . The captain of the gentlemen was Dr. Peter von Pierer , captain of the ladies Hannelore Schlaf . Dr Josip Trupkovic was the medical supervisor.

Team competition men

The German team started in Group A of Category I. They won against France (5: 1), Australia (5: 0), ČSSR (5: 3), Indonesia (5: 0) and England (5: 1). There were defeats against Hungary (1: 5) and China (1: 5). This was enough for 3rd place. Jochen Leiß managed to win against the sixth in the world rankings Li Zhenshi from China.

Thus, the Germans played for places 5 to 8 in the intermediate round. Here the team surprisingly won 5: 4 against the USSR. In the final round she met the ČSSR again. The 5-3 victory meant fifth place at the World Cup.

The balance sheets of the players in the team fights:

player	Balance sheet
Wilfried Lieck	15: 4
Jochen Leiß	14: 6
Peter Stellwag	8: 7
Peter Engel	8: 4
Heinrich Lammers	1: 2

Team competition women

The German women started in Group B of Category I. They reached 6th place after victories against Yugoslavia (3: 2), Indonesia (3: 0) and Poland (3: 1) as well as defeats against France (2: 3), the USSR ( 1: 3), Japan (0: 3), South Korea (0: 3) and Hong Kong (1: 3).

So in the second round it was about places 9 to 12. After the 1: 3 defeat against the ČSSR, the German team played in the final round for place 11 or 12. The 3-0 victory against France meant 11th place.

The balance sheets of the players in the team fights:

player	Balance sheet
Kirsten Kruger	3: 4
Ursula Hirschmüller	8: 6
Wiebke Hendriksen	0: 7
Double Hirschmüller / Krüger	6: 4

Individual competition

The weaker players had to qualify for the main round in qualifying rounds according to the "everyone against everyone" mode. The stronger players were divided directly into the main round, where, according to the knockout system, every loser was eliminated immediately.

The main round was a 128 field for men and a 64 field for women.

Men's singles

Heinrich Lammers first had to compete in the qualifying round, where he reached the main round after victories against Rafy Monjogolian (Lebanon), Goh Su Bae (South Korea) and Palle Rud (Denmark). Here he won against the Scottish Richard Yule , but then retired in the 64th round against the Hungarian Gábor Gergely .

Peter Engel came just as far with a win over David Sanchez (Spain) and a defeat Milivoj Karakašević (Yugoslavia).

Even Peter Stellwag reached the last 64. He won against Cheng Ke Yick (Hong Kong) and then lost to the Chinese Liang Ko Liang .

Jochen Leiß was among the last 32 . After victories over Stephen Knapp (Australia) and Yong Lu Veng (Hong Kong), he failed to Kuo Yao Hua (China).

The most successful was Wilfried Lieck . He threw Miroslav Schenk (ČSSR), Stefano Bosi (Italy) and Zoran Kosanović (Yugoslavia) out of the competition. In the round of 16 he lost in the 5th set against the 1971 world champion Stellan Bengtsson (Sweden).

Ladies singles

Monika Stork failed in the qualifying round. The win against Monika Grefberg (Finland) was not enough as she lost to Annie Larsen (Denmark).

Kirsten Krüger had prevailed in the qualifying round, but was eliminated immediately in the main round due to the defeat against Elmira Antonyan (USSR).

Also Wiebke Hendriksen got no further: Against Ri Song Suk (North Korea) was the last stop.

Ursula Hirschmüller , on the other hand, was more successful . She won against Judit Magos (Hungary), Pak Yong-ok (North Korea) and Ilona Uhlíková (ČSSR). So she was - as the only European - in the quarterfinals, where she was defeated by the Chinese Zhang Deying .

Men's doubles

The main round consisted of a 64 field. Some doubles first had to prove themselves in the qualifying round.

Lammers played doubles with Sweden's Per Sandström. With clear victories over Paul Raphel (USA) / Yosef Shifman (Israel) (without a fight), Robert Blair / Graham Lassen (New Zealand) and Aristides Filho / Ricardo Inokuchi (Brazil) they qualified for the main round. Here they defeated Chen Scheng Shien / Vong Lu Veng (Hong Kong), but were eliminated in the round of 32 against the Chinese Guo Yuehua / Liao Fu Min.

For Engel / Leiß in the main round was immediately concluded, as they lost to Wang Chun / Wang Hui Yuan (China).

Lieck / Stellwag survived the first round against Giovanni Bisi / Massimo Costantini (Italy), but then lost to Gábor Gergely (Hungary) / Milan Orlowski (ČSSR).

Ladies doubles

The main round consisted of a 128 field. There was also a qualifying round.

Stork played with the Austrian Ingrid Wirnsberger . With victories over Lucia Sandoval / Rosa Penailillo (Chile) and Omaima Gharbi / Hoda Laimona (Egypt) they got into the main round. Here they prevailed against Indu Puri / Shailaja Salokhe (India), but then failed to Hendriksen (Germany) / Beatrix Kisházi (Hungary).

Hirschmüller / Krüger were in the last 32 against Patrice Fleming / Grace McKay (Scotland). This was the final destination against the Russians Elmira Antonyan / Soja Rudnowa .

The most successful was the Hendriksen / Beatrix Kisházi (Hungary) pair . Victories over Celia Akamatsu / Suely Yamada (Brazil), Stork / Ingrid Wirnsberger and Claude Bergeret / Brigitte Thiriet (France) brought them to the round of 16. Here they lost against Pak Yong-ok (North Korea) / Yang Ying (China).

Mixed

The mixed competition was held in a qualifying round and a main round with a 64 field, both groups in a knockout system. This competition was not overly appreciated, however; István Jónyer , Kjell Johansson and Stellan Bengtsson , for example , did not take part, while other - including German - doubles lacked a certain seriousness.

Lammers / Stork failed in the qualifying round against the Dutch Nico Van Slobbe / Marianne Van der Vliet.

Even angels / Hirschmüller did not come to the main round. In the qualifying round they were eliminated after beating James Wuisan / Diana Wuisan (Indonesia) by losing to James Morris / Jan Morris (New Zealand).

In the main round, the reigning European champions Lieck / Hendriksen did not survive the first round, because Orlowski / Uhlíková (ČSSR) were stronger.

In contrast, Leiß / Krüger went one round against Nige Eckersley / Karen Witt (England). In the field of 32 they were eliminated from the eventual world champions Secrétin / Claude Bergeret (France).

referee

A team of three referees from Germany took part: Manfred Ehler, Werner Hustedt and Egon Geese. You led the men's final in doubles.

politics

• According to a resolution by the Organization for African Unity OAU, Kenya is boycotting the World Cup because countries that have sporting contacts with South Africa are participating in the World Cup.
• The Chinese Wang Chun refused to compete against the Israeli Shlomo Mendelson in the men's individual competition. He was therefore disqualified. China boycotted Israel, with whom it had no diplomatic relations at the time.
• Many observers - such as Eberhard Schöler - expressed the suspicion that some games were deliberately lost by the Chinese, mainly against North Koreans. For example, the title in the women's doubles was given away to Pak Yong-ok (North Korea) / Yang Ying (China). The American men's doubles Rick and Danny Seemiller were also given victory in the round of 16 by the Chinese Kuo Yoa Hua / Liaou Fu Min. It was also questioned whether the Japanese Mitsuru Kohno became individual world champion on his own. However, no one provided any evidence or plausible explanations for this behavior.
• The title win in the women's singles for the North Korean Pak Yung-sun did not come about in a real way. Chinese Zhang Li was ordered to purposely lose the final for political reasons.
• At the ITTF Congress, which was taking place parallel to the Games, the Soviet Union and Hungary applied to allow anthems and flags to be used at awards ceremonies. This motion did not find a majority.

useful information

• For the first time at a table tennis world championship, doping controls were carried out. For this, some players were drawn every day.
• The German doctor Dr. Josip Trupkovic also looked after the Yugoslav team because their doctor suffered a heart attack shortly before the start of the World Cup.
• A journalists' tournament was also held, which Jaroslav Staněk (ČSSR) won.
• Guo Yuehua claims that he deliberately lost the individual final against Japanese Mitsuru Kohno due to a Chinese stable management , because the team performance of the Chinese should be in the foreground.
• Wilfried Lieck receives the Richard Bergmann Fair Play Prize from SCI . Lieck had claimed an edge ball against himself in the fifth set at 18:20 in the game against Stellan Bengtsson, which the referee had overlooked. As a result, this set was lost with 18:21.
• The Japanese Mitsuru Kōno receives the Victor Barna Prize from the SCI .
• A UK postage stamp is issued on January 12, 1977 ( Michel Catalog No. 728). In Birmingham two special postmarks are used. Four postage stamps (Michel catalog no. 1615–1618) were issued from North Korea on April 5, 1977. There is also a special stamp. The French Post issued a special postage stamp (Michel catalog no. 2060) on December 17, 1977 on the occasion of the 1977 Mixed World Cup title for Jacques Secrétin and Claude Bergeret . There is also a first day special cancellation.

Results

Monika Stork was only used in the individual competitions.

competition	rank	winner
Team men	1.	China ( Huang Liang , Li Zhenshi , Guo Yuehua , Liang Geliang , Wang Chun)
	2.	Japan (Masahiro Maehara, Tokyo Tasaka , Tetsuo Inoue, Mitsuru Kohno , Norio Takashima)
	3.	Sweden ( Ulf Thorsell , Stellan Bengtsson 2 , Roger Lagerfeldt, Kjell Johansson , Ake Grönlund)
	5.	Germany ( Peter Engel , Heiner Lammers , Jochen Leiß , Wilfried Lieck , Peter Stellwag )
	24.	Austria ( Erich Amplatz , Harald Koller , Günter Müller , Franz Proglhof , Heinz Schlueter )
	30th	Switzerland ( Jurek Barcikowski , Thomas Busin , Laszlo Földy , Markus Frutschi )
Team women	1.	China ( Zhang Li , Zhang Deying , Chu Hsiang-Yun, Ge Xinai )
	2.	South Korea (Soon Ok Kim, Hyun Sook Chung, Lee Ailesa , Ki Won Lee)
	3.	North Korea (Song Suk Li, Pak Yung-sun , Pak Yong-ok , Chang Ae Kim)
	11.	Germany ( Wiebke Hendriksen , Ursula Hirschmüller , Kirsten Krüger )
	24.	Austria ( Dolores Fetter , Brigitte Gropper , Ingrid Wirnsberger )
	28.	Switzerland ( Steffi Danioths , Theresia Földy , Vreni Lehmann , Renate Wyder )
Men's singles	1.	Mitsuru Kohno - JPN
	2.	Guo Yuehua - CHN
	3.	Liang Geliang - CHN
	3.	Huang Liang - CHN
Ladies singles	1.	Pak Yung-sun - PRK
	2.	Zhang Li - CHN
	3.	Zhang Deying - CHN
	3.	Ge Xinai - CHN
Men's doubles	1.	Li Zhenshi / Liang Geliang - CHN
	2.	Huang Liang / Lu Yuansheng - CHN
	3.	Stellan Bengtsson 2 / Kjell Johansson - SWE
	3.	Anton Stipancic / Dragutin Šurbek - YUG
Ladies doubles	1.	Pak Yong-ok - PRK / Yang Ying - CHN
	2.	Chu Hsiang-Yun / Lijie Wie - CHN
	3.	Soon Ok Kim / Ki Won Lee - COR
	3.	Zhang Li / Ge Xinai - CHN
Mixed	1.	Jacques Secrétin / Claude Bergeret - FRA
	2.	Tokyo Tasaka / Sachiko Yokota - JPN
	3.	Li Zhenshi / Yan Guili - CHN
	3.	Sang Kuk Lee / Ki Won Lee - KOR

Medal table

rank	country	gold	silver	bronze	total
1	People's Republic of China	4th	4th	6th	14th
2	Japan	1	2	0	3
3	France	1	0	0	1
3	North Korea	1	0	1	2
5	South Korea	0	1	2	3
6th	Sweden	0	0	2	2
7th	Yugoslavia	0	0	1	1
Total		7th	7th	12	26th

literature

• Journal DTS 1977/6, pp. 39-51
• Journal DTS 1977/7, pp. 4-18
• Journal DTS 1977/8, pp. 6-40
• Journal DTS 1977/9, pp. 24-27

Web links

• Entry in ITTF database

credentials

1. ↑ DTS magazine , 1977/6 p. 4
2. ↑ DTS magazine , 1977/8 p. 20
3. ↑ DTS magazine , 1977/8 p. 35
4. ↑ tischtennis magazine , 2013/6 p. 22
5. ↑ DTS magazine , 1977/9 edition Süd-West p. 4
6. ↑ DTS magazine , 1990/1 p. 46
7. ↑ table tennis - bulletin of the German Table Tennis Association of the GDR, 1977/6 p. 19