Finnish table tennis player Benedek Oláh, 33, will not be seen at the Summer Olympics in Paris at the turn of July-August.
Benedek Oláhin the last straw for the Paris Olympics was broken on Thursday, when the Finn lost to Slovenia in the opening round of the tournament For Hiroto Shinozuka set 0–3 (8-11, 7-11, 10-12).
The Japanese is more than 50 places higher than Olá on the table tennis world list.
Oláh was already down 5–8 in the third set, but rose with five consecutive points to a 10–8 lead and two set points. However, the last four points of the match were recorded on the account of the Japanese.
Two wins from the Ljubljana race would have been required for a place in Paris, after which the Olympic ranking closes. The second round opponent would have been Denmark Jonathan Groth (22nd in the world list).
According to ITTF’s unofficial information, 13 players from the ranking can enter the table tennis men’s singles. Oláh’s ranking on that list is 17th, that is, the Finn is in fourth place, says the Finnish Table Tennis Association.
Oláh has represented Finland at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.