ARGENTINEAN MISCHIEF ALSO IN TABLE TENNIS

The Argentinean mischievous way is famous in Brazil especially when it comes to football. Gonzalo Barak, in the best portenho (native of Buenos Aires) way, was very sly during his match against Vitaly Efimov, which he won 3-1.

 

"This is my style. It is a way of deviate the opponents concentration and I don't believe it is disrespectful", he said in his defense.

 

Gozalo's shouts whenever he did a point were another adversary to the Portuguese table tennis player, who, not knowing how to react, watched the Argentinean grow and win the game.

 

"The yell is something spontaneous that comes from inside. I don't do it on purpose, nor to offend anyone. We [the Argentineans] have guts. The same blood our national football team sheds inside the field, I shed when I play table tennis", stated the player, who is competing in Brazil for the first time.

 

However attitudes like Gozalo's can have an expensive price to an athlete. The Argentinean player was warned through a yellow card by the umpires and could, according to Vilmar Schindler, assistant general-umpire of the Brazilian Junior Open, have been expelled.

 

"The procedure is this one that was taken by the umpires. We know to distinguish when a cheer becomes an offense. Yelling in excess can disturb the opponent and, also, other tables".