Table tennis medal hopes dashed
DAVID WEINER IN ISRAEL
RUSSIA scuppered Australia’s chances of open table tennis gold with a comprehensive 3-0 win on Thursday (July 16). Dion Besser, Guy Fainbloom and Barak Mizrahi all lost their singles matches as the dominant Russians consigned the Australians to the play offs for the minor placings.
In junior action, the Aussie trio of Levi Romanov, Justin Tyler and Effie Block finished with a 3-0 sweep to claim the ninth spot in the final day of play offs.In the masters’ field, Australia enjoyed success on Thursday (July 16) to seal fifth place. The Aussies had to deal with toughest side of the draw.
Two of their opponents —- Israel and Russia -— will likely play off for gold, but the Australians enjoyed a respectable campaign in one of the more highly skilled masters’ fields in Maccabiah history.
A trio of 3-0 wins against Canada put the Aussies into the fifth place playoff, where they beat Slovakia. Raymond Rosen won in straight sets, Roman Kluger lost in straight sets, before Raymond Rosen and Sam Parasol squared the ledger in the doubles. Raymond Rosen stepped up to seal the tie and fifth place with a reverse singles triumph.
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