Most significantly he remained unbeaten throughout, overall in the four day period, in singles matches, the record was top marks, 10 out of 10; he played ten matches he won them all.

• JBS: Fabian Fritz (Austria) 11-1, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
• JBS: Frantisek Oderka (Czech Republic) 11-6, 10-12, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6
• JBS: Andrea Puppo (Italy) 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4
• JBS: Eduard Ionescu (Romania) 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11
• JBS: Maciej Kubik (Poland) 18-16, 12-10, 11-6, 13-11
• JBT: Jovan Jockov (Serbia)11-9, 11-8, 11-9
• JBT: Oliver Both (Hungary) 11-5, 11-3, 14-12
• JBT: Dalibor Diko (Slovakia) 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9
• JBT: Maksim Bokov (Russia) 11-6, 3-11, 11-8, 12-10
• JBT: Damir Alhmetsafin (Russia) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-6

 
Equally note that in addition to his defeat at the hands of Samuel Kulczycki in the junior boys’ singles final, Maciej Kubik, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Monday 10th February, only lost one further match; in the junior boys’ team final against Russia, he was narrowly beaten by Damir Alhmetsafin (12-14, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8).

Surely both these young men have a role to play in Poland’s future; at the moment the country is experiencing a lull in men’s fortunes, success is heavily reliant on the shoulders of Jakub Dyjas and Marek Badowski.

World Championships

At the Liebherr 2018 World Team Championships in Halmstad, Jakub Dyjas and Marek Badowski lined up alongside Pawel Fertikowski, Tomsasz Kotowski and Patryk Zatowka.

They finished in sixth place in their initial phase group behind Korea Republic, Austria, Croatia, France and India; in the second stage they lost 3-1 to Slovenia; the result not a win to their name, an equal 21st place to outcome.

Journey forward one year to Budapest and the Liebherr 2019 World Championships, Jakub Dyjas, Marek Badowski and Patryk Zatowka remained from the previous year. Patryk Chojnowski completed the selection. Jakub Dyjas stood out; he emerged the most successful, he reached the third round of the men’s singles event where he lost to Japan’s Koki Niwa.

Look ahead

Now look forward to the Hana Bank 2020 ITTF World Team Championships; it a very different situation for Poland’s men’s team; no longer are they in the Championship Division. They are the fifth seeded outfit in division two. They are listed behind Denmark, Russia, Ukraine and the United States.

Note the selection, Jakub Dyjas and Marek Badowski remain but no other players from Halmstad or Budapest; the names that complete the team are those of Maciej Kubik and Samuel Kulczycki.

A role to play in Poland’s future, a major role to player, furthermore sooner rather than later!