They were among the most notable transfers of the summer break: TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell signed Kao Cheng-Jui and Dimitrij Ovtcharov for the new season. Both players made their debut in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) on the very first matchday against TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. However, Ovtcharov’s return was initially unusual, yet ultimately successful.
Ovtcharov's first rally upon his return to the TTBL was an awkwardly missed backhand over the table in the opening match against Ochsenhausen. But shortly after that shaky start, he secured his first singles victory for Fulda-Maberzell. His opponent, Ochsenhausen’s head coach Bogdan Pugna, conceded the match after just one rally, handing Ovtcharov an easy win.
Ochsenhausen was without key players Hugo Calderano, Simon Gauzy, and Leonardo Iizuka Kenzo. Following the match, Pugna apologized to the fans, stating that he wasn’t at a competitive level to give them at least an entertaining performance.
Ovtcharov and Kao Stay Undefeated
Despite the unusual start, Ovtcharov quickly found his rhythm and delivered a strong performance against Shunsuke Togami. Although the sets were closely contested, the experienced German prevailed each time. "I’ve managed to beat Togami in recent matches, so I came in with a lot of confidence," Ovtcharov told Dyn afterward. He admitted that after the Olympic Games, it wasn't easy to motivate himself again for such strong opponents, but said, "Once I'm back on the court, I remember what it feels like to lose, and I'm excited to be playing in Germany again."
Fulda's other new signing, Kao Cheng-Jui, had also contributed to the team’s success earlier in the evening. His match against 16-year-old Tiago Abiodun turned into a high-quality battle, with the 21-year-old Taiwanese emerging victorious 3-0. The first two sets were incredibly close, with Abiodun squandering eight set points in the second set—a critical turning point. Kao then comfortably closed out the third set. In the opening match of the evening, Togami had given Ochsenhausen a 1-0 lead with a 3-0 win over Fanbo Meng, but Fulda’s impressive newcomers turned the tide and secured a 3-1 overall victory.
For those who missed the action, here’s a full match summary of the thrilling encounter between Ochsenhausen and Fulda. Watch the highlights below, courtesy of the Bundesliga (TTBL) YouTube channel.
Results of the match
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen vs TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell - 1:3
Togami vs Meng - 3:0
Pugna vs Ovtcharov - 0:3
Abiodun vs Kao - 0:3
Togami vs Ovtcharov - 0:3