Olympia: Nina Mittelham Delivers a Flawless and Brilliant Performance in Round 2

 **Paris: Nina Mittelham Shines as Third German to Advance to Second Round of Olympic Table Tennis Tournament**

Nina Mittelham has made a remarkable impact at the Olympic table tennis tournament in Paris, becoming the third German player to secure a spot in the second round. Following a dominant 4-0 victory over Australian player Minhyung Jee, the European Championship runner-up from Berlin now vies for a position in the round of 16. This achievement follows the successful advances of her national teammates Dang Qiu and Dimitrij Ovtcharov, who secured their places in the subsequent rounds over the past two days.

In her Olympic singles debut, Mittelham is set to face the formidable yet relatively unknown North Korean competitor Pyon Song Gyong. Meanwhile, European champion Dang Qiu is scheduled to be the first German player to compete in the round of 16 this evening at 8 p.m. at the South Paris Arena, where he will face Kazakh player Kirill Gerassimenko.

**Nina Mittelham: Highly Concentrated and Almost Flawless Performance**

From the outset, Nina Mittelham demonstrated exceptional concentration and precision against Minhyung Jee. The world number 16 from Berlin moved fluidly from the first rally, quickly finding her rhythm and employing a tactically astute approach against the Australian’s unconventional playstyle. Jee, known for her close-to-the-table stance and long pimples on the backhand side, attempted to disrupt Mittelham’s topspins and attack with her forehand. However, Mittelham remained composed, minimizing errors and strategically preparing her points with varied spins and positional adjustments. 

Post-match, Mittelham explained her ease against Jee's unconventional tactics: “I didn’t find her pimples troublesome and didn’t face many issues with her spin. I felt quite good overall, and when my legs are functioning well, I perform well against material players. My early experiences playing against anti-topspin rubbers and long pimples in my youth helped me a lot.

**Nina Mittelham: Managing Nervousness and Olympic Atmosphere**

Despite the unique Olympic setting, Mittelham experienced only minimal nervousness: “My nerves settled after the first two balls. They resurfaced towards the end as I was closing out the match. Overall, I played and moved well, and I hope to maintain this form.” The insights gained from her national teammates Xiaona Shan, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, and Dang Qiu, who had competed in singles prior to her, as well as her own mixed doubles experience, contributed to her preparedness: “Being the last German to compete in singles worked to my advantage, as I could benefit from their feedback. I felt confident, especially given my recent training and mixed doubles performance.”

National coach Tamara Boros was highly impressed with Mittelham’s performance: “Nina’s play, tactics, and body language were exemplary. Playing in such an atmosphere against long pimples is no easy feat, and she handled it very well. I am extremely satisfied with her performance.”

**"The Atmosphere is Just Amazing"**

The intense atmosphere in the arena, characterized by loud cheers and roars, was a new experience for Mittelham: “It’s incredibly loud once you enter the venue. Every time the French player Jia Nan Yuan completed a set, the hall erupted, making it challenging to concentrate, especially during serves. Despite this, the atmosphere is incredible. It’s so much more enjoyable than on the regular tour, with the spectators supporting every point. It’s an unbelievable experience.”

**Preparing for the Round of 32 Against Pyon Song Gyong**

Following her initial victory, Nina Mittelham now turns her focus to the round of 32, where she will compete for a spot in the round of 16 against North Korea’s Pyon Song Gyong. Pyon, ranked 170th in the world, demonstrated her capabilities in the first round with a 4-1 win over Doo Hoi Kem. Although not widely known in global table tennis circles, Pyon has shown significant skill, notably reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 Asian Games before being defeated by world champion Sun Yingsha.

Mittelham admits to limited knowledge of Pyon: “I don’t know much about her. I watched her match against Doo Hoi Kem, and we’ll analyze it thoroughly later. North Koreans are very skilled, as seen in mixed doubles where another Korean is in the semifinals. It’s crucial not to underestimate her. I’m looking forward to the match with nothing to lose.” Mittelham also notes the difficulty in preparing for an unfamiliar opponent, as training sessions are strictly scheduled and watching her match is the only available insight.

National coach Tamara Boros provided additional insights: “Pyon doesn’t have a standout weapon but is a reliable topspin player from both sides. She isn’t as dangerous in passive play. Nina needs to stay active and make the first ball after serve and return challenging for her opponent.”

**Results and Scheduling of German Players**

**Women’s Singles, Round of 64**

- July 29: Nina Mittelham - Minhyung Jee AUS 4:0 (7,9,7,8)

**Women’s Singles, Round of 32**

- Still to be scheduled: Nina Mittelham - Pyon Song Gyong PRK

**Men’s Singles, Round of 64**

- July 28: Dang Qiu - Tiago Apolonia POR 4:1 (-2,3,2,6,10)

- July 27: Dimitrij Ovtcharov - Marcos Madrid MEX 4:0 (3,7,3,5)

**Men’s Singles, Round of 32**

- July 29, 8 p.m.: Dang Qiu - Kirill Gerassimenko KAZ

- Still to be scheduled: Dimitrij Ovtcharov - Vitor Ishiy BRA or Nicolas Lum AUS (match on Monday at 12 p.m.)