Ovtcharov tames Harimoto to clinch ITTF India Open title

Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the World No. 5, overcame 13-year-old Japanese Tomokazu Harimoto on Sunday to clinch the ITTF World Tour India Open title at Thyagraj Sports Complex in New Delhi.

Dimitrij Ovtcharov of Germany holds his winner's trophy.

As expected, World No. 5 Dimitrij Ovtcharov made 13-year-old Japanese sensation Tomokazu Harimoto wait in his bid to become the youngest winner of an ITTF World Tour men singles title. Before the chants of “Dima… Dima…,” rented the air at the Thyagraj Sports Complex, the German scripted 11-6, 11-8, 11-4, 14-12 to stop a rampaging Harimoto, >conqueror of Sharath Kamal on Saturday evening, to claim the USD 150,000 India Open title.

A crowd favourite after Sharath’s exit, Ovtcharav had also won the 2010 India Open, the last time an ITTF Tour event was held in the country.

Earlier, Japan’s Mori Sakura added the ladies singles title to the Under-21 crown by overcoming Sweden’s Matilda Ekholm in seven games. Both singles winners received USD 18,000 each.

The results

Men singles (final): Dimitrij Ovtcharov (Ger) bt Tamokazu Harimoto (Jpn) 11-6, 11-8, 11-4, 14-12; (semifinals): Ovtcharov bt 3-Koki Niwa (Jpn) 8-11, 11-2, 9-11, 12-10, 14-16, 11-2, 11-8; Harimoto bt 11-Sharath Kamal bt 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9.

Women singles (final): Mori Sakura (Jpn) bt Matilda Ekholm (Swe) 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6.

Men doubles (final): Morizono Masataka and Yuya Oshima (Jpn) bt Ruwen Filus and Ricardo Walther (Ger) 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9.

Women doubles (final): Matilda Ekholm (Swe) and Georgina Pota (Hun) bt Doo Hoi Kem and Lee Ho Ching (Hkg) 9-11, 11-3, 5-11, 14-12, 11-8.