Samsonov eyeing home comforts

All eyes will be on the evergreen Vladimir Samsonov when he attempts to win the ITTF Belarus Open on home soil this week.<br /> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/19/605085header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/19/605085header.jpg" /></a><br /> The 38-year-old is the top seed for the event in Minsk, which starts on Thursday and will mark the first time a plastic ball is used in international competition rather than the celluloid model.<br /> <br /> Samsonov has played on the ITTF Tour every year since arriving on the scene in 1996, when he made a debut to remember by winning in Bolzano, Italy.<br /> <br /> That was a sign of things to come for the veteran, who has added another 22 titles since that victory 18 years ago, and he will be targeting another success this week.<br /> <br /> Now ranked 12th in the world, Samsonov will be out to ensure second seed Kaii Yoshida is unable to retain his title by taking his tally of tournament wins to 24 in what would be a hugely popular triumph in his homeland.<br /> <br /> Yoshida, the world number 36, beat Kohei Sambe in an all-Japanese final in Minsk last September and the 2013 runner-up - seeded 16 - will be eager to go one better this time around.<br /> <br /> Omar Assar won the Nigeria Open in June and the Egyptian is the third seed in Belarus following his success in Lagos.<br /> <br /> The top six seeds in the women's competition all hail from Japan and it is world number 14 Ai Fukuhara who takes the mantle as top seed.<br /> <br /> Big things are also expected of Sayaka Hirano and Yuka Ishigaki - seeded two and three respectively - in the Belarusian capital.<br /> <br /> Nadeen El-Dawlatly, meanwhile, heads into the event brimming with confidence after being crowned Nigeria Open champion.

ITTF news sports Vladimir Samsonov Samsonov eyeing home comforts

All eyes will be on the evergreen Vladimir Samsonov when he attempts to win the ITTF Belarus Open on home soil this week. The 38-year-old ...

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