Bastian Steger
Bastian Steger ( born March 19, 1981 in Oberviechtach ) is a German table tennis player. Since the 2010/11 season he plays for the table tennis Bundesliga 1 FC Saarbrücken. The right-handed attacking player plays in shakehand style. His specialty is the impact backhand topspin.
Youth
With seven years Bastian Steger came under the guidance of his father's table tennis. In 1990 he was winner of the popular sports event mini - championships. Thereafter he devoted himself intensively to the table tennis sport, but put the priority on a solid education. There followed several victories in school and youth events in the state of Bavaria. In 1995, he was with Daniel Demleitner German masters of the students in the doubles. In individual he reached the final at the Junior 1999.
Establishment in the world rankings
With the finals of the Pro Tour Finals in Korea 2011 Bastian Steger experienced his previous career highlight. Only in the final he was beaten from Japan Jun Mizutani, after he had thrown teammate Dimitrij Ovtcharov and also the former Olympic champion Ryu Seung- min from the tournament. By the finals Bastian Steger climbed in January 2011 to 22nd place in the world rankings. His previous best position in the world ranking he held in June, July and October 2011 with number 19. 6 March 2011 him a double triumph in the German Championship succeeded in Bamberg: After his double win with partner Lars Hielscher he could defeat in the final of the Men's Single Page Dimitrij Ovtcharov; Both finals were decided in the seventh set. In March 2012 he was in the absence of the German record champion Timo Boll defend his title. In the final match he reiterated Dimitrij Ovtcharov in a high-class seven- set match in his place.
At the Olympic Games in London in 2012 he reached with the German national team after victories over Sweden and Austria the semi-finals, which was lost by 1-3 against China. Steger lost it in both the double and the decisive third individual. In the match for bronze, the German team defeated Hong Kong 3-1. At the European Championships in 2012 and 2013 Steger came in individual each in the semi-finals and thus won the bronze medal. In 2013 he was defeated while teammate and eventual champion Dimitrij Ovtcharov with 2:4. In addition, he was part of the team that won the title, but was not used. In doubles, he retired with Patrick tree already in the first round.
Game style
Steger is like almost all the top stars Forward. The special feature of Steger's game, however, is that it acts strongly on both sides and thus relies not only on his forehand. He can fall back on a good Rücktopspin and - counter. This allows the Saarbrücken also an almost neutral position at the table, because he does not have to revolve continually his backhand.
Private
Steger Sports soldier and heard as Staff Sergeant for sports promotion group Mainz. He has a girlfriend.
Previous clubs
- ASV Fronberg (from 1990)
- TSV Kareth - Lappersdorf
- DJK SB Regensburg (until 2000)
- Borussia Dusseldorf (from 2000)
- 2006/07-2010 TTC Frickenhausen
- Since 2010 /11: 1.FC Saarbrücken
Awards
- 2008 men's team athlete of the year 3rd place
- 2011 Saarland Team of the Year 1st Place
Best Merits
Singles
- European Championships: Bronze 2012, 2013
- German champion: 2011, 2012
- Europe League: winner 1999, 2000 and 2001
- Pro Tour Grand Finals: Finale 2010
- Slovenian Open: Bronze 2010
Doubles
- German champion: 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2014
- DTTB Top 12: Winner 2003
- Brasil Open: 2011
- Korea Open: 2010
- Slovenian Open: Silver 2010
- Polish Open: Silver 2009
- Australian Open: Bronze 2007
- Japan Open: Silver 2002
- Italian Open: Silver 2002
Team
- Olympics: Bronze 2012
- World Cup: Bronze 2006, Silver 2010
- European Championships: gold in 2007, 2008, silver in 2002, 2003
- European Youth Championship: 1998
- German champion: 2003, 2007
- German Cup: 2007, 2012
Results from the ITTF database