The Andalucia 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championships started in style on Sunday 6 November in the southern Spanish city of Granada. A total of 39 World titles are at stake in 11 classes for men and women. For the first time ever titles will be awarded for women in class 1 and mixed doubles further improving gender equality in Para table tennis. Until 12 November 326 players from 51 teams will compete in the world-class Palacio de los Deportes a record number of participating teams since the first edition of the World Para Championships in 1990. All continental federations are represented. ITTF President Petra SÖRLING commented “The excitement for the event is palpable; the World Para Championships are held every four years which just adds to the importance of this event for our top athletes. I would like to commend the Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation and its delivery partners particularly the Government of Andalusia region and the Municipality of Granada. Our hosts have been outstanding and have prepared an event worthy of its stature. I have personally witnessed the evolution of Para table tennis for a decade. This World Para Championships is the next level and is providing the players with the splendid stage their performances deserve.” Miguel Angel MACHADO President of the Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation said “it has been so many years working in collaboration with our athletes so that today our dream and yours has come true. This dream is to participate and organise a World Championships in our country a World Championships that surely all of you will always remember.”
Andalucia 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championships Starts in Dramatic Style
The Andalucia 2022 World Para Table Tennis Championships started in style on Sunday 6 November in the southern Spanish city of Granada. A total of 39 World titles are at stake in 11 classes for men and women. For the first time ever titles will be awarded for women in class 1 and mixed doubles further improving gender equality in Para table tennis. Until 12 November 326 players from 51 teams will compete in the world-class Palacio de los Deportes a record number of participating teams since the first edition of the World Para Championships in 1990. All continental federations are represented. ITTF President Petra SÖRLING commented “The excitement for the event is palpable; the World Para Championships are held every four years which just adds to the importance of this event for our top athletes. I would like to commend the Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation and its delivery partners particularly the Government of Andalusia region and the Municipality of Granada. Our hosts have been outstanding and have prepared an event worthy of its stature. I have personally witnessed the evolution of Para table tennis for a decade. This World Para Championships is the next level and is providing the players with the splendid stage their performances deserve.” Miguel Angel MACHADO President of the Royal Spanish Table Tennis Federation said “it has been so many years working in collaboration with our athletes so that today our dream and yours has come true. This dream is to participate and organise a World Championships in our country a World Championships that surely all of you will always remember.”
Novi Sad kick off next week’s action in Champions Legue
In Champions league Women the action commenced in Group B where two matches already has been played. Whilst other clubs awaits the start of the Stage two French Metz already recorded two win in their Group. Serbian champions Novi Sad suffered against Metz in the opening match of the Round before French club beat Czech Republic’s SKST Plus Hodonin. Next week the action in this Group will be concentrated in Novi Sad. On Tuesday Novi Sad will host SKST Plus Hodonin and two days later Metz is coming to Serbia. For this season’s Champions League Novi Sad brought the reinforcement. For a first time in Serbia’s women’s clubs history one Asian player will wear club’s jersey. LAM Yee Lok from Hong Kong will join Anamarija ERDELJI Aneta MAKSUTI and Tijana JOKIC. “ So far we were the only club in Champions League that relied solely on domestic players. We had to strengthen our lines to took the best of club’s recent success. Playing in Round two of the Champions League is our best result so far” explained coach Slobodan STOJANOV. Czech Republic’s SKST Plus Hodonin on their side has former Top 10 player Japan’s Sakura MORI. “ She makes sure that the club record two pints in each match we are looking for the chance to stop her ” said STOJANOV. Last week Adina DIACONU beat MORI to launch Metz to victory. “After the defeat in the first game in Metz we know that it is with Novi Sad that we will probably fight for the second place in the group. We will play without Natalia PARTYKA who is participating in the PARA World Championship. We want to get the best possible result every point will be important. We will be complete in the rematch at home. Novi Sad has a balanced team it will be very important if LAM Yee Lok who is apparently the team’s number one plays ” said Jaroslav MIKESKA coach of SKST Plus Hodonín.
Novi Sad kick off next week’s action in Champions Legue
In Champions league Women the action commenced in Group B where two matches already has been played. Whilst other clubs awaits the start of the Stage two French Metz already recorded two win in their Group. Serbian champions Novi Sad suffered against Metz in the opening match of the Round before French club beat Czech Republic’s SKST Plus Hodonin. Next week the action in this Group will be concentrated in Novi Sad. On Tuesday Novi Sad will host SKST Plus Hodonin and two days later Metz is coming to Serbia. For this season’s Champions League Novi Sad brought the reinforcement. For a first time in Serbia’s women’s clubs history one Asian player will wear club’s jersey. LAM Yee Lok from Hong Kong will join Anamarija ERDELJI Aneta MAKSUTI and Tijana JOKIC. “ So far we were the only club in Champions League that relied solely on domestic players. We had to strengthen our lines to took the best of club’s recent success. Playing in Round two of the Champions League is our best result so far” explained coach Slobodan STOJANOV. Czech Republic’s SKST Plus Hodonin on their side has former Top 10 player Japan’s Sakura MORI. “ She makes sure that the club record two pints in each match we are looking for the chance to stop her ” said STOJANOV. Last week Adina DIACONU beat MORI to launch Metz to victory. “After the defeat in the first game in Metz we know that it is with Novi Sad that we will probably fight for the second place in the group. We will play without Natalia PARTYKA who is participating in the PARA World Championship. We want to get the best possible result every point will be important. We will be complete in the rematch at home. Novi Sad has a balanced team it will be very important if LAM Yee Lok who is apparently the team’s number one plays ” said Jaroslav MIKESKA coach of SKST Plus Hodonín.
Borussia Düsseldorf’s big starts already more than ready
Big guns enters the competition at the Champions Legue Men next week. Last year’s champions Borussia Düsseldorf commenced this season’s journey from Stage two in Group A with the match against Czech Republic’s HB Ostrov Havlíčkův Brod on Tuesday. „In the past three years it was a really unlucky situation – 2020 season was quitted due to covid before semis 2021 we won and 2022 season was quitted again before final. We played three good years but to be stopped not by a stronger opponent but due other issues it´s always unlucky for the players and the clubs. So we are glad that the new TTCLM season starts right now said Coach Danny HEISTER. Player with record number of European titles Timo BOLL recently came from Asia and the whole team had a very busy October. “My team is in a good shape. Timo played very well in China last events after a period with some problems Dang QIU and Anton KALLBERG are practicing after China trip already and Kay STUMPER played good at WTT Contender in Slovenia. I think the group is not easy and if all is running well it will be a duel between Bogoria and us to reach the semis. So both clubs should win against Ostrov and so it´s our goal to have a good start in the new TTCLM season with a victory against Czech team ” explained HEISTER. Like every year club faces challenges on few horizons. Dang QIU spoke of it: „It was hard to stay in China for several weeks with a special quarantine situation. For me it was awesome to win silver medal at World Championships with the team. I am happy to be back home now and that we are back with Borussia in German Bundesliga German Cup and TTCLM. Until Christmas we will have 12 matches and we have to find our track to handle it the best way. Therefore it would be helpful to start these weeks with a win. The new system only the group winner will go into knockout stage doesn´t allow any defeats. Of course we are favorite against Ostrov and we need to finish this match as winner.” HB Ostrov looking forward their duel with German club. “We have two very strong opponents in the group and we are happy to play against the legendary club Borussia Düsseldorf. The team consisting of Tomáš TREGLER Pavel ŠIRUČEK Dmitrij PROKOPCOV and Tomáš MARTINKO will be ready for the first match. Every point in this match will be a success for us and an invitation to a home match. 50 of our fans will come to cheer us on so the atmosphere in the hall will be great ” said HB Ostrov Manager Miroslav JINEK. So far only one match was played in second stage. In Group C Poland’s K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo beat Sporting Clube de Portugal 3:0.
Borussia Düsseldorf’s big starts already more than ready
Big guns enters the competition at the Champions Legue Men next week. Last year’s champions Borussia Düsseldorf commenced this season’s journey from Stage two in Group A with the match against Czech Republic’s HB Ostrov Havlíčkův Brod on Tuesday. „In the past three years it was a really unlucky situation – 2020 season was quitted due to covid before semis 2021 we won and 2022 season was quitted again before final. We played three good years but to be stopped not by a stronger opponent but due other issues it´s always unlucky for the players and the clubs. So we are glad that the new TTCLM season starts right now said Coach Danny HEISTER. Player with record number of European titles Timo BOLL recently came from Asia and the whole team had a very busy October. “My team is in a good shape. Timo played very well in China last events after a period with some problems Dang QIU and Anton KALLBERG are practicing after China trip already and Kay STUMPER played good at WTT Contender in Slovenia. I think the group is not easy and if all is running well it will be a duel between Bogoria and us to reach the semis. So both clubs should win against Ostrov and so it´s our goal to have a good start in the new TTCLM season with a victory against Czech team ” explained HEISTER. Like every year club faces challenges on few horizons. Dang QIU spoke of it: „It was hard to stay in China for several weeks with a special quarantine situation. For me it was awesome to win silver medal at World Championships with the team. I am happy to be back home now and that we are back with Borussia in German Bundesliga German Cup and TTCLM. Until Christmas we will have 12 matches and we have to find our track to handle it the best way. Therefore it would be helpful to start these weeks with a win. The new system only the group winner will go into knockout stage doesn´t allow any defeats. Of course we are favorite against Ostrov and we need to finish this match as winner.” HB Ostrov looking forward their duel with German club. “We have two very strong opponents in the group and we are happy to play against the legendary club Borussia Düsseldorf. The team consisting of Tomáš TREGLER Pavel ŠIRUČEK Dmitrij PROKOPCOV and Tomáš MARTINKO will be ready for the first match. Every point in this match will be a success for us and an invitation to a home match. 50 of our fans will come to cheer us on so the atmosphere in the hall will be great ” said HB Ostrov Manager Miroslav JINEK. So far only one match was played in second stage. In Group C Poland’s K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo beat Sporting Clube de Portugal 3:0.
Acting president Pedro MOURA visited Germany for ETTU Suppliers Pool talks
With existing events with long lasting tradition and forthcoming new projects in sights ETTU preparations for next year are in full swing. Strong support from the ETTU Suppliers Pool is the backbone of success behind all ETTU events and projects and to ensure further cooperation and future development during this week Acting president Pedro MOURA visited some of the members of ETTU Suppliers Pool and also table tennis brands that could possible join our family. Accompanied by the ETTU Project Manager Galia DVORAK Acting President visited Butterfly in Dusseldorf Victas in Bremen and Contra/Gewo in Hamburg. “This was the beginning of several visits we will do to all the table tennis brands that have been and fortunately will be working close with ETTU for the European table tennis. Although some of them are not yet ETTU Suppliers Pool members our wish is that all of them are part of the ETTU family in the near future being our partners in our new projects and future events. With all of them we wish to work and we all of them we wish to grow. We were presenting our projects for the future and I bring a very positive feedback as I feel they all want to be part of the development of our sport in Europe. I will be back in Germany next week to continue the visits ” said Acting President MOURA. In Dusseldorf ETTU representatives met with SFO of Butterfly Europe Hajo NOLTEN Hiroshi KIMURA and FANG Wei. In Bremen Victas General Manager Peter FRANZ welcomed the guests whilst in Hamburg Contra/Gewo company were represented in talks by Wolfgang SOHNS Olaf BAUER Pedro DE SOUSA and Wiebke SOHNS. Beside long running events like European Championships Champions League Europe Top 16 Cup Europe Under 21 Championships Europe Cup for clubs European Youth Championships Europe Youth Top 10 ETTU launched Europe Trophy for clubs two years ago and added two more events for young players next year. This year we will have European Under 13 Championships and European Youth Series. The latest came as a huge success of the Europe Under 13 Challenge this year at Podgorica. Talks also included projects of ETTU Development Program as one of the ETTU current top priorities. The Eurotalents Pre-Selection Camps and the Eurotalents U13 Program 2023 are essential part of the ETTU Development plan alongside Coaching Seminars and Women Coaching Seminars Para camps and creation of a Network of European Training Centers.
Acting president Pedro MOURA visited Germany for ETTU Suppliers Pool talks
With existing events with long lasting tradition and forthcoming new projects in sights ETTU preparations for next year are in full swing. Strong support from the ETTU Suppliers Pool is the backbone of success behind all ETTU events and projects and to ensure further cooperation and future development during this week Acting president Pedro MOURA visited some of the members of ETTU Suppliers Pool and also table tennis brands that could possible join our family. Accompanied by the ETTU Project Manager Galia DVORAK Acting President visited Butterfly in Dusseldorf Victas in Bremen and Contra/Gewo in Hamburg. “This was the beginning of several visits we will do to all the table tennis brands that have been and fortunately will be working close with ETTU for the European table tennis. Although some of them are not yet ETTU Suppliers Pool members our wish is that all of them are part of the ETTU family in the near future being our partners in our new projects and future events. With all of them we wish to work and we all of them we wish to grow. We were presenting our projects for the future and I bring a very positive feedback as I feel they all want to be part of the development of our sport in Europe. I will be back in Germany next week to continue the visits ” said Acting President MOURA. In Dusseldorf ETTU representatives met with SFO of Butterfly Europe Hajo NOLTEN Hiroshi KIMURA and FANG Wei. In Bremen Victas General Manager Peter FRANZ welcomed the guests whilst in Hamburg Contra/Gewo company were represented in talks by Wolfgang SOHNS Olaf BAUER Pedro DE SOUSA and Wiebke SOHNS. Beside long running events like European Championships Champions League Europe Top 16 Cup Europe Under 21 Championships Europe Cup for clubs European Youth Championships Europe Youth Top 10 ETTU launched Europe Trophy for clubs two years ago and added two more events for young players next year. This year we will have European Under 13 Championships and European Youth Series. The latest came as a huge success of the Europe Under 13 Challenge this year at Podgorica. Talks also included projects of ETTU Development Program as one of the ETTU current top priorities. The Eurotalents Pre-Selection Camps and the Eurotalents U13 Program 2023 are essential part of the ETTU Development plan alongside Coaching Seminars and Women Coaching Seminars Para camps and creation of a Network of European Training Centers.
ETTU launches the Europe Youth Series next year
European Table Tennis Union proudly launches the new series of events for the young players next year. The Europe Youth Series shall be open for entry to all Member Associations of the ETTU for the players Under 15 and Under 13 categories. We are building on the success of the Europe Under 13 Challenge this year at Podgorica in Montenegro and the decision of the Munich Congress to launch a European Under 13 Championships next year. “ETTU is very proud of launching the Europe Youth Series already in 2023 after the huge success reached with the Europe Under 13 Challenge held in Podgorica in 2022. With this decision we are answering to our member Associations appeal providing more opportunities to our European youngsters to compete internationally. In this series we are also promoting our goal on the gender equality as we are encouraging competitions with mix teams a system that was the big responsible for the unanimous applause our Europe Under 13 Challenge received last June. Together with the EYS ETTU will also be presenting the ETTU Ranking System allowing players and coaches to follow their development. I want to personally thank all ETTU staff and ETTU committees involved in the implementation of the Europe Youth Series as well as the Europe Ranking System which I am absolutely sure will have an very positive impact on all our Member Associations coaches and players ” said ETTU Acting President Pedrom MOURA. ETTU Acting Deputy President Heike AHLERT added: “I am very thankful that we can give our European associations this new opportunity to have more competitions for the age categories U 13 and U 15 – and I really hope that we will have bids for launching competitions especially with team events. As we have seen at the U 13 challenge the mixed team event was very much appreciated. Team events are very important for the developement and the social aspect of sport is particularly important here. Thank you to all involved in this project!” The Europe Youth Series will consist of the following age categories: U15 girls (born 1st January 2008 and younger) U15 boys (born 1st January 2008 and younger) U13 girls (born 1st January 2010 and younger) U13 boys (born 1st January 2010 and younger) Mandatory events for the organisers are Boys and Girls Singles events for Under 13 and Under 15 categories. Organisers can decide to have Mixed Teams or Boys Teams and Girls Teams Events for both age categories. Optional events are Mixed Doubles and Doubles Events. Whether there will be or not Doubles events it will be four or five days events. In Mixed Teams in each match two boys and two girls can be nominated by the team captain. A third or fourth player from the team can’t play in that specific match. In exceptional circumstances Competition Manager of the event can allow players from the different associations playing in the same team with condition that in the same team can’t be players from more than two Associations. The ETTU ranking for U15 and U13 will be available in 2023 as an experimental ranking system. The seeding for European Youth Series events will be according to European U13 and U15 ranking. The ETTU ranking system for U13 and U15 will be introduced no later than 15th of December 2022. The deadline for the bidding process for the Associations interested in organising the event is 30th November 2022. Please submit this document to ETTU Competition Manager (competition@ettu.org) and to Secretariat (registration@ettu.org) no later than Wednesday 30.11.2022. You can find relevant documents here.
ETTU launches the Europe Youth Series next year
European Table Tennis Union proudly launches the new series of events for the young players next year. The Europe Youth Series shall be open for entry to all Member Associations of the ETTU for the players Under 15 and Under 13 categories. We are building on the success of the Europe Under 13 Challenge this year at Podgorica in Montenegro and the decision of the Munich Congress to launch a European Under 13 Championships next year. “ETTU is very proud of launching the Europe Youth Series already in 2023 after the huge success reached with the Europe Under 13 Challenge held in Podgorica in 2022. With this decision we are answering to our member Associations appeal providing more opportunities to our European youngsters to compete internationally. In this series we are also promoting our goal on the gender equality as we are encouraging competitions with mix teams a system that was the big responsible for the unanimous applause our Europe Under 13 Challenge received last June. Together with the EYS ETTU will also be presenting the ETTU Ranking System allowing players and coaches to follow their development. I want to personally thank all ETTU staff and ETTU committees involved in the implementation of the Europe Youth Series as well as the Europe Ranking System which I am absolutely sure will have an very positive impact on all our Member Associations coaches and players ” said ETTU Acting President Pedrom MOURA. ETTU Acting Deputy President Heike AHLERT added: “I am very thankful that we can give our European associations this new opportunity to have more competitions for the age categories U 13 and U 15 – and I really hope that we will have bids for launching competitions especially with team events. As we have seen at the U 13 challenge the mixed team event was very much appreciated. Team events are very important for the developement and the social aspect of sport is particularly important here. Thank you to all involved in this project!” The Europe Youth Series will consist of the following age categories: U15 girls (born 1st January 2008 and younger) U15 boys (born 1st January 2008 and younger) U13 girls (born 1st January 2010 and younger) U13 boys (born 1st January 2010 and younger) Mandatory events for the organisers are Boys and Girls Singles events for Under 13 and Under 15 categories. Organisers can decide to have Mixed Teams or Boys Teams and Girls Teams Events for both age categories. Optional events are Mixed Doubles and Doubles Events. Whether there will be or not Doubles events it will be four or five days events. In Mixed Teams in each match two boys and two girls can be nominated by the team captain. A third or fourth player from the team can’t play in that specific match. In exceptional circumstances Competition Manager of the event can allow players from the different associations playing in the same team with condition that in the same team can’t be players from more than two Associations. The ETTU ranking for U15 and U13 will be available in 2023 as an experimental ranking system. The seeding for European Youth Series events will be according to European U13 and U15 ranking. The ETTU ranking system for U13 and U15 will be introduced no later than 15th of December 2022. The deadline for the bidding process for the Associations interested in organising the event is 30th November 2022. Please submit this document to ETTU Competition Manager (competition@ettu.org) and to Secretariat (registration@ettu.org) no later than Wednesday 30.11.2022. You can find relevant documents here.
