Polish KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo won the opening leg of the Europe Cup Men quarterfinal. In Austria they overcame Solex-Consult TT Wiener Neustadt in straight matches. Jonathan GROTH gave KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo dream start with the victory over Frane Tomislav KOJIC in straight games (11:9 12:10 11:5). Jakub DYJAS followed his path with the win over Ivor BAN but he needed one game more (9:11 12:10 11:6 11:5). Kaii KONISHI sealed the duel with the victory over Felix WETZEL (11:5 10:12 11:8 14:12). “The match was very close and the victory did not come as easy as the results predicts. Our adversaries preformed at very high level. Therefore we are very happy that we managed to close the opening leg in straight matches. Now we have to recover as quick as possible because we have next duel on Thursday ” explained Jakub. GV Hennebont TT also secured opening match win. They overcame Top Spin Messina in Italy after five matches fierce fight. Matteo MUTTI beat Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS in the opening game 11:5 5:11 10:12 11:8 6:2) and Leonardo MUTTI overcame Kristian KARLSSON to give hosts 2:0 lead (7:11 11:6 9:11 11:6 6:4). Anders LIND pushed the match into opposite direction with the victory over Marco RECH DALDOSSO (7:11 11:4 11:5 11:5). KARSSON beat Matteo (11:8 11:3 11:4) and SGOUROPOULOS overcame Leonardo in the decisive match (6:11 11:8 11:2 9:11 6:3). “ We did not start very well because all of us were a bit nervous. On the other side the opponents were really focused and strong . In the end we came back with less mistakes and more self-confidence. We are happy for this victory from 0-2 down ” said SGOUROPOULOS.
The registrations for the European Universities Championship in Table Tennis already opened
European University Sports Association (EUSA) opened the registration process for the next year’s European Universities Championship in Table Tennis. EUSA invited players to register through the national university sports bodies in European countries. In 2023 20 sports are offered in the EUSA sports programme: Football Tennis Table Tennis Handball Badminton Water Polo 3×3 Basketball Volleyball Futsal Combat Sports (Judo Karate Kickboxing Taekwondo) Basketball Orienteering Rugby 7s Golf Rowing and Beach Sports (Beach Handball and Beach Volleyball). Table Tennis became part of the sport programme of the European Universities Championships in 2007 when the first EUC in Table Tennis was organised in Ostrava Czech Republic from June 21-24. The 1st European Universities Table Tennis Championship saw 25 university teams (16 men and 9 women) with 110 participants from 12 European Countries which took part in the event. This year will be the 10th edition of the European Universities Championship in Table Tennis which coincidentally will again take place in Czech Republic in the city of Olomouc from 4-9 of July. The city of Olomouc is already experienced in organising a European Universities Championship in Table Tennis since it hosted it back in 2017 having 6 competitions through singles doubles and team events with 130 participants present representing 28 European universities from 13 countries. The organization of the EUC Table Tennis shall be mainly based on the most recent Technical Regulations of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and will consist of one men’s tournament maximum of 24 (twenty-four) teams and one women’s tournament maximum of 24 (twenty-four) teams. Each match consists of single matches only. The winner of the match will be determined by the rule ‘best of five’. For the European Universities Championship in Table Tennis you can register until February 15th through the following link.
ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly won the Golden match
ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly moved to the semifinal of the Europe Cup Women. They won the opening leg but then they lost second match against SKST Plus Hodonin. Czech team’s brave effort was rewarded with another chance. The clubs moved to the Golden match. Even in that duel ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly did not won easily. Natalia PARTYKA was unbeaten in first match. She overcame Isa COK (11:3 11:9 8:11 7:11 6:5) and LI Samson (11:8 6:11 11:5 13:11). Karin GROFOVA added third point to the scoreline after victory over LI Samosm (11:8 9:11 11:9 11:4) whilst Anais SALPIN won one for French side. She beat Marketa SEVCIKOVA (7:11 12:10 6:11 11:8). In Golden match GROFOVA beat SALPIN 11:6 COK beat PARTYKA 11:8 and LI beat SEVCIKOVA 11:6. “It was a very interesting match. We were losing 0:2 and it was very important that Anis SALPIN won her singles match. This made us mentally stronger. But in the end everything was decided by the Golden Match. It was a completely new experience for me and I must say that we were under a lot of pressure. I lost my match I didn’t feel very well. But my teammates won the sets and we are very satisfied with advancing to the semi-finals ” explained COK. Jaroslav MIKESKA coach SKST Hodonín added: “We fulfilled the goal we set before this match. We won 3:1 and forced the Golden Match. When it comes to that point it is a big lottery to win it. It is impossible to tactic there is no time out and everything happens very quickly. The only thing we didn’t want was Markéta ŠEVČÍKOVÁ to play with Li Samson. It happened and to made it even worse it happened in the deciding game. It was a great pity.” Italian Quattro Mori Cagliari and Czech Moravsky Krumlov already secured their semi-final’s spots. On 28th January Spanish Tecnigen Linares and Hungarian SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club will play last quarterfinal to decide on last semifinalists.
ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly beat SKST Plus Hodonin
In the opening leg of the Europe Cup Women quarterfinal ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly beat SKST Plus Hodonin in four matches. LI Samson gave her club good start with the victory over Marketa SEVCIKOVA (12:10 11:6 11:2) but Natalia PARTYKA brought back Czech team back in game with the victory over Anis SALPIN (11:9 11:13 11:8 11:9). Isa COK beat Karin GROFOVA (11:4 11:6 11:9) before Natalia created a chance for another point but failed in close finsih. PARTYKA forced LI go to go full distance and lost by death point (9:11 13:11 11:13 11:4 5:6). “We are happy to win the first round of the quarterfinal it was a very tight match until the end. Li Samson played a very good match at 2/1. She won 6/5 in the last game against Natalia PARTYKA. Li Samson was in good shape and also won her first match before PARTYKA was a bit too strong for Anais SALPIN and I played quite good at 1/1 so I’m happy that I could bring an important point for the team ” said Isa COK. Second leg is scheduled for Friday. Previously Italian Quattro Mori Cagliari and Czech Moravsky Krumlov already secured their semi-final’s spots. On 28th January Spanish Tecnigen Linares and Hungarian SH-ITB Budaörsi Sport Club will play last quarterfinal to decide on last semifinalists.
Czech Republic made it two out of two under STRBIKOVA’s lead
In two days Czech Republic recorded two wins in Group A2 of the Stage one of the European Championships Team. After Italy they prevailed against Portugal tonight. Ines MATOS gave guests good start. She overcame Zdena BLASKOVA (4:11 11:7 11:7 11:6) Marketa SEVCIKOVA beat SHAO Jieni to level the match (4:11 11:9 11:3 11:7). Jana VASENDOVA overcame Patricia SANTOS (11:8 8:11 10:12 11:5 11:9) and Katerina TOMANOVSKA overcame SHAO Jieni (11:7 11:5 11:9). This is second win for the team under the leadership of Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ. “We are very happy with the win. The Portugal team was not with the strongest lineup but I also rested Hana MATELOVÁ. It was fifty fifty. Markéta ŠEVČÍKOVÁ performed excellently defeating SHAO Jieni. I really didn’t expect that before the match. And the match was also very difficult for Jana VAŠENDOVÁ who was playing for the Czech national team for the first time. She was nervous she lost a big lead in two sets but in the end she was able to finish it successfully. I am very happy with her. It was a collective performance today which makes me happy.” XIE Juan coach of Portugal said: “This match was not important for us from the point of the result because we already secured the progress to the European Championship. After the first individual match also the first place in the group was secured. However this result is not what I expected. We definitely didn’t come here to lose. As for Shao Jieni she is not in good physical condition so she did not play at one hundred percent. However Ines MATOS and also Patricia SANTOS played well “
Denmark beat Poland in Gdansk
In Group A2 of the Stage one of the European Championships Teams Denmark overcame Poland in Centrum szkolenia PZTS Andreja Grubby in Gdansk. The only player who scored for hosts today was Milosz REDZIMSKI who beat Jonathan GROTH (11:5 4:11 11:9 5:11 17:15). In team Denmark Anders LIND overcame Artur GRELA (11:5 11:6 13:11) and beat REDZIMSKI (10:12 11:5 11:9 11:8). Tobias RASMUSSEN prevailed against Marek BADOWSKI after five games (11:5 12:10 9:11 9:11 11:9). In Group A2 Portugal beat both Poland and Denmark.
Czech Republic recovered from 2:1 to beat Italy in Havirov
Czech Women’s team kept spectators at the edge of their seats in five matches thriller against Italy. In Havirov hosts recovered after being 2:1 in reverse to win the duel against Italy in Group A2 of the Stage one of the European Championships Team. The back-bone of Czech Republic’s win was Hana MATELOVA with two wins over Debora VIVARELLI (11:9 11:13 8:11 11;6 14:12) and Giorgia PICCOLIN (11:2 11:6 11:6). Zdena BLASKOVA lost five games thriller against PICCOLIN (11:9 10:12 12:10 10:12 9:11) but in the decisive match she beat VIVARELLI (9:11 11:4 11:4 11:4). Katerina TOMANOVSKA lost to Nikoleta STEFANOVA (9:11 9:11 4:11). Renata STRBIKOVA commenced her term as head coach with the victory. “It was my first match as a head coach and I have to say that the players prepared a really nervous debut for me. But it turned out well so I’m very happy. First single was very important when Hana MATELOVÁ played well in the end against Debora VIVARELLI. Then it could have been over when Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ had a match point against Giorgio PICCOLIN. But the Italians returned to the match and I am very happy that Hana MATELOVÁ also managed to record the win in the second individual match. Then Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ also played well without nerves so I am very satisfied.” Elena TIMINA also pointed at the opening match as a was very important. “We had a chance to win 3:0 unfortunately MATELOVA won in the close finish at the end of the first match. We were under a lot of pressure because we knew we had to win 3:1 or 3:1 with a good number of games. We still had a chance until the fourth singles match. We have to quickly forget the disappointment and prepare for the next phase of the game.” Italy failed to post any victory in four matches and there is only one left in the Group – between Czech Republic and Portugal tomorrow. Portugal has three wins so far whilst Czech’s ratio is 1:2.
Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ new head coach of Women’s Czech team
Tomorrow in Havirov Czech Republic will meet Italy in the Stage one of the European Championships Teams. It will be the first match for the hosts under the new leadership. Just a few days before the duel there was a change in the position of coach of the Czech women’s national team. Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ became the new head coach; assistant is XU Kai who worked in Poland for over twenty years. For the match are listed: Hana MATELOVÁ Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ Markéta ŠEVČÍKOVÁ and Jana VAŠENDOVÁ and the goal is of course to advance to the championship in Malmö. “The change of the head coach was unexpected and quick but I think I had enough time to prepare well for the adversaries. If the Portugal team comes complete they are favorites. But we’re not giving up on this game either. For me personally it is good that play against the Italian team first. We already beat them in the opening match. Of course we will want to win we will motivate the players for that ” said Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ before the matches.
Portugal recorded second away win in three days
Portugal made it two out of two in the Stage one of the European Championships Teams. Marcos FREITAS Joao GERALDO and Tiago APOLONIA beat Denmark in their second away match in Group A2. Previously they beat Poland in Poznan. In Roskilde FREITAS opened the duel with the victory over Anders LIND (11:6 11:7 11:13 11:6) GERALDO prevailed against Jonathan GROTH (13:11 15:13 11:5) and APOLONIA beat Tobias RASMUSSEN (11:6 11:9 11:5). “It was important to record straight matches victory. Two away wins puts us in the very good position. We are very motiveted to repeat the same success in front of home crowd. We hope we will conclude the opening Stage in the same maner ” said FREITAS.”Denmark is top class team last time we lost against them. This time we were very focused.” In the same Group Poland will meet Denmark on Thursday.
TTC Neu-Ulm and ttc Berlin eastside wins the German Cup
Champions League men’s semifinalists TTC Neu-Ulm and Women’s quarterfinalists ttc Berlin eastside secured the German Table Tennis Cup. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was “totally happy” on Sunday afternoon. The German national player may have been spoiled for the title having already won two individual Olympic bronze medals – but OVTCHAROV also experienced a premiere in the Final Four. With the TTC Neu-Ulm the 34-year-old celebrated the triumph in the German Table Tennis Cup and thus secured the club’s first title in the club’s history. The Neu-Ulm team won the final against record cup winners Borussia Düsseldorf 3-0. In the semifinals they had previously won the derby against TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 3-0; in the same stage Düsseldorf won 3-0 against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT. “It was a very special event for all of us ” OVTCHAROV stated. Because not only the title win was historic but also the atmosphere. 5000 fans flocked to the sold out ratiopharm arena Ulm/Neu-Ulm cheered on the teams loudly and gave the organizing table tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) a new audience record. 4 600 spectators came in 2020 followed by two Final Four without fans present due to the pandemic. It was “an absolutely deserved victory for the Neu-Ulm team” which Düsseldorf’s superstar Timo BOLL then had to acknowledge and as usual showed himself to be a fair sportsman: “Neu-Ulm has a super strong team ” said BOLL. “Of course we would have liked to have made it closer and we were actually in a good mood. But Neu-Ulm showed us the limits this time.” Boll was only beaten in the second individual match of the final. With Truls MOREGARDH he delivered a table tennis festival which the spectators rewarded with enthusiastic applause. In the end World vice-champion MOREGARDH had the moment of joy 3: 2 – just as close as in the 2021 World Championships semi-finals in Houston (4: 3). The other two singles were clearer: LIN Yun-Ju beat Anton KÄLLBERG 3-0 and with the same result OVTCHAROV prevailed in the duel between the German national team and European champion Dang QIU. Both teams had shown their world class in the semi-finals on Sunday. Düsseldorf got revenge for the 1:3 defeat in last year’s final against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT and this time beat their long-term rival 3:0. BOLL scored 3:1 against his national team colleague and good friend Patrick FRANZISKA. At the next table Neu-Ulm beat Ochsenhausen with OVTCHAROV working hard and knocking out Can AKKUZU in the fifth game. “I didn’t find my game but I tried to take the positives into the final ” said OVTCHAROV. “Fortunately I managed to do that.” The first title of the year in Germany went to ttc Berlin eastside. In the final four of the cup championships they prevailed in front of their home crowd in the final against TSV Langstadt. SV Böblingen and TSV Schwabhausen missed out on making the final. For the capital city it is the eighth cup victory in the tenth edition of the cup competition which was reintroduced in 2014. As in the semi-finals they were able to win against the Hessians in the final without defeat. Last but not least thanks to a confident opening win by Serbian Sabina SURJAN who didn’t give Tanja KRÄMER a chance. In the second match between Nina MITTELHAM and Franziska SCHREINER it initially looked like a clear affair for the Berliner. But SCHREINER recovered to level. However she didn’t make it against the World number 14 in the fifth game. The confidence of the players from Langstadt seemed a bit broken afterwards so that SHAN Xiaona scored the final point in Berlin’s victory against Chantal MANTZ 3-1. “We deservedly won the Cup I am very satisfied and happy ” said coach Irina PALINA. “The performance of the team not only in the final but throughout the tournament was very good. But it wasn’t just the performance of to those who played the whole bench went along well and everyone played their part in our success.” Like last year TSV Langstadt lost the cup final but can still be satisfied: “Without Peti (Petrissa SOLJA end of career) and Minnie (Minni Soo Wai Yam) we didn’t really know where we were. We finished second in such a strong field we can be absolutely satisfied with that. In the final we took a full risk with the line-up and put Tanja in first place who had won against SURJAN in the Bundesliga game. But today she couldn’t do it again ” analyzes TSV coach Thomas HAUKE. Final Borussia Düsseldorf – TTC Neu-Ulm 0:3 Anton KÄLLBERG – LIN Yun-Ju 0:3 (6:11 5:11 3:11) Timo BOLL – Truls MOREGARDH 2:3 (9:11 11:8 7:11 12:10 8:11) Dang QIU – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 0:3 (5:11 7:11 3:11) Semifinals Borussia Düsseldorf – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 3:0 Anton KÄLLBERG – Cedric NUYTINCK 3:0 (11:8 11:9 11:7) Dang QIU – Darko JORGIC 3:1 (11:8 5:11 11:7 11:5) Timo BOLL – Patrick FRANZISKA 3:1 (11:5 7:11 15:13 12:10) TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – TTC Neu-Ulm 0:3 Simon GAUZY – Truls MOREGARDH 0:3 (6:11 6:11 9:11) Alvaro ROBLES – LIN Yun-Ju 1:3 (9:11 11:13 11:9 9:11) Can AKKUZU – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 2:3 (15:13 9:11 19:17 7:11 11:13) Final ttc berlin eastside – TSV Langstadt 3:0 Sabina SURJAN – Tanja KRÄMER 3:0 Nina MITTELHAM – Franziska SCHREINER 3:2 SHAN Xiaona – Chantal MANTZ 3:1 Semifinals ttc berlin eastside – SV Böblingen 3:0 Nina MITTELHAM – Mitsuki YOSHIDA 3:0 DING Yaping – Annett KAUFMANN 3:2 SHAN Xiaona – Qianhong GOTSCH 3:0 TSV Schwabhausen – TSV Langstadt 2:3 Mercedesz NAGYVARADI – Chantal MANTZ 1:3 Sabine WINTER – Tanja KRÄMER 2:3 YIANGZI Liu – Franziska SCHREINER 3:1 Sabine WINTER – Chantal MANTZ 3:1 NAGYVARADI/LIU – KRÄMER/SCHREINER 1:3
