Table tennis is a sport where an athlete needs a crazy reaction and incredible accuracy. Ovcharov Dmitry is a striking example of a combination of these qualities. He is the owner of trophies both at the club level and in the international arena. Thanks to his talent and skill, the athlete will forever remain in the history of table tennis.
Childhood and family
September 2, 1988 in Kiev, the son Dmitry was born in the Ovcharov family. They were a very athletic couple, father Mikhail - winner of the USSR table tennis championship, mother Tatyana - coach. When his son was 4 years old, the Ovcharov family moved to Germany, in the city of Tydern. Here, little Dima begins to train under the guidance of his father.
The beginning of an international career
In 2000, Ovcharov Sr. began coaching with the local TSV Schwalbe Tündern table tennis team. At that time, she played in the 4th strongest division, and by 2005 the team led by the Ukrainian coach reached the first Bundesliga. In the same year, Ovcharov Dmitry begins to play in his father's team and becomes one of the leaders.
In 2006, Dmitry received a call to the German national team. His first games were in the qualifying match of the European Championship against Romania. Dmitry won confidently in two singles matches. This was followed by the European Championship, held in Serbia. The German team at that tournament got the “gold” in the team standings, and Dmitry Ovcharov got the “bronze” in singles. Table tennis, it is worth noting, is almost as popular in Germany as soccer. Therefore, Dmitry immediately got an army of fans.
Olympics 2008
Germany at the Olympic Games fell into the same group as Canada, Croatia, and Singapore. According to the results of the group stage, the Germans with Ovcharov Dmitry as part of reached the semifinals. In the 1/2 finals of the German national team, the Japanese team opposed. The land of the rising sun was defeated, and the Germans reached the final.
The Chinese became the Germans rivals in the finals, defended their title of the best team in the world and took away the “gold”. A good player for the national team, Ovcharov failed in singles. His performances there ended at the 1/8 final stage. After the Beijing Olympics, thanks to successes in the national team, Dmitry climbed to 19th place in the world ranking.
Between the first and second Olympiads
After the Beijing Olympics, Ovcharov Dmitry together with the German team wins the bronze medals of the World Cup. In 2010, the German national team becomes the silver medalist of the World Cup. At the end of the same year, Dmitry Ovcharov becomes the champion of the single division of the European Super Cup. 2011 added another bronze medal of the World Cup to the piggy bank of Ovcharov and the German team. After this competition, Dmitry received the right to participate in the Olympic Games in London.
London Olympic Games
Before the start of the Olympic Games in London, the German team took part in the World Cup, which ended in second place for her.
Summer games for Dmitry Ovcharov were very successful. In the match for 3rd place, a pair formed: Taiwanese Chuan Zhiyuan and German Dmitry Ovcharov. Tennis in Taiwan is not a very popular game, but table tennis is a discipline in which Taiwan's athletes have conquered many peaks. Beating a worthy opponent, Dmitry received a well-deserved bronze. The team also managed to win third place. At the end of 2012, Dmitry distinguished himself at the club level. Fakel - Gazprom, playing with Dmitry Ovcharov, is winning the European Super Cup.
In 2013, the athlete submits to the European Championship in singles. In the final, Ovcharov met with teammate Samsonov. This tournament brought Dmitry the 6th championship in the national team.
At the European Championships 2015, Ovcharov managed to defend his last year's title. In the final, Dmitry successfully fought against the Portuguese Markus Freitas, and the team again won the silver medal. The next major tournament of that year was the European Games in Baku. In these competitions, Dmitry became the winner and, in addition to the gold medal, received the right to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Club career
Table tennis is, above all, an individual sport in which personal achievements in international tournaments are valued. However, there is also a club career in this sport. Dmitry Ovcharov began his club career in 2005 at the Tyunder club, which was headed by his father Mikhail. In 2007, Dmitry was transferred to Borussia from Düsseldorf. In 2009, Ovcharov leaves to play for the Belgian Royal Villette Charleroi. In 2011, Orenburg Fakel-Gazprom signs a contract with Dmitry Ovcharov.
Technical sponsor
Each sport has its own inventory. In table tennis, the racket is the athlete's main tool. Fans of a talented tennis player are probably tormented by the question of what Dmitry Ovcharov plays. Looking at the number of trophies that he managed to win, you ask yourself another question. Isn't Dmitry Ovcharov's magic racket? According to the tennis player himself, since childhood he has been supported by Donic. And as you can see, there is no magic, and the racket is the same as that of other table tennis stars.
Personal life
Dmitry met his wife Jenny Melshtr when they were 15 years old. Jenny also played table tennis in her youth, and the acquaintance with Dmitry happened just at the competitions. After 3 years, Dmitry and Jenny met again at the competitions in Prague and since then began to meet. And on July 5, 2014, the couple played a wedding in the town of Bergish Gladbach.