The ÖTTV duo Robert Gardos/Sofia Polcanova lost in the semifinals of their tournament branch on Thursday in Havirov in the Czech Republic at the start of the Olympic qualification in mixed doubles and so have to make another attempt for a Paris ticket on Friday.
After a bye in the round of 16, they defeated the Serbs Dimitrije Levajac/Izabela Lupulesku 4-0 (10,4,1,8), but in the afternoon they lost to the Spaniards Alvaro Robles/Maria Xiao 1-4 (8,-5, -2, -4, -8). Of the 26 couples who competed on Thursday, only the winners of two tournaments had a quota place.
Polcanova/Gardos have to wait for an Olympic ticket
The remaining 24 teams will try again on Friday using the same format, so that a total of four tickets for the games will be awarded at this event. If Gardos/Polcanova miss this chance on Friday, they still have a good chance of qualifying for the Olympics based on their world rankings. So far, no red-white-red table tennis players have been qualified for the major summer sporting event.
