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September 25, 2008

Men's World Cup: Michael Maze Replaces Injured Thiago Monteiro

Michael Maze the last minute replacement for Thiago Monteiro Photo By: Ayoade Ademakinwa

Courtesy of ITTF An injury sustained in the table tennis events at the 12th Ramadan Games in Abu Dabi has forced Brazil's Thiago Monteiro to withdraw from the Liebherr Men's World Cup, to be staged in the Belgian city of Liège, from September 26 - 28, 2008. He is replaced by Denmark's 27-year-old Michael Maze.

It is an immense disappointment for the Brazilian.

Outstanding Form
The young man, who hails from Fortelza in the north of Brazil, was in outstanding form at the Latin American Championships earlier in the year in the Dominican Republic winning the Men's Singles title beating the host nation's Lin Jun in the final.

Furthermore, he impressed at the recent Beijing Olympic Games and he has competed in the Men's World Cup on one previous occasion; that was in 2004 in Hangzhou when he beat Korea's Ryu Seung Min, a player he also beat one month ago at the Beijing Olympics!

Similar Situation
Michael Maze is in a similar situation, he has played in the Men's World Cup on one previous occasion.

Ironically, that was also in Liège; the one and only previous occasion that the Belgian city has hosted the event in 2005.

Quarterfinalist
On that occasion, the Dane reached the quarterfinal stage eventually losing to Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus.

In the group stage he lost to China's Wang Liqin in his opening match but then overcame Lin Ju and Korea's Oh Sang Eun.