The STAG European Veterans Championships officially began with the Opening Ceremony which took place in the Main Hall of the Rimini Fair. There are more than 3000 players in Rimini. The director of the event Giuseppe MARINO welcomed the players and all the participants in the event: “The Italian Table Tennis Federation and all of us of the Organizing Committee are particularly excited after a year of intense work to welcome you to our beautiful Italy to the biggest table tennis tournament of 2022. We have done everything possible to try to make your participation in the STAG European Veterans Championships unforgettable hoping it will find a place of honor in your best memories book. Remember the championship slogan “Enjoy your play enjoy your stay” . The parade of flags of the 42 participating countries was held on the notes of the Inno alla Gioia and the acting president of the European Table Tennis Union Pedro MOURA spoke: “Dear friends it is a pleasure for me to see you at this ceremony of the European Veterans Championships. This event and these fantastic athletes are the best example of table tennis in Europe. You are all proof of how we can continue to love our sport at all ages. After three years of great difficulties the three thousand players who are present here in Rimini are an incredible number. And we warmly welcome our first ever para competition at the Veterans Championships. I wish the championships the success they deserve and I declare them officially open”. The President of the International Table Tennis Federation Petra Sörling expressed her greetings: “Friends of table tennis how are you? We are a big family and I am really happy to see you so many here in Rimini despite the difficulties of the moment we are living to experience all together the emotions that only our sport can offer. I thank the Organizing Committee the referees the volunteers and all those who made all this possible in a wonderful city like Rimini which will certainly make this event even more special”. The two longest-lived European athletes and the two Italians were awarded. The plaques were received by 94-year-old Belgian Jozef JANSENS from ETTU acting president Pedro MOURA 94-year-old Czech Eliska KREJCOVA from ITTF president Petra SÖRLING 89-year-old Italo Bolther from ITTF Foundation member Stefano BOSI and 73-year-old Rita POGOSOVA from president of the Veterans Commission of the ETTU Zdenko KRIZ. The Italian National Anthem was performed by the “Appassionante” recognized as the first female opera-pop musical group in the world with a long career at an international level. Giorgia Mara and Stefania who form the trio were back on the stage alternating their vocal virtuosity with dance shows with music from Romagna and performances by the Rhythmic section of the Italian Gymnastics Federation. All in the name of Italianisms and territoriality. Today is the time to compete and everyone will play to win but also to have fun.
Four gold medals for Romania at the Balkan Youth Championships
At the end of the Team’s Events Romania clinched all four gold medals at the Balkan Youth Championships in Bulgaria’s Albena. It is the last test for the tams in Balkan Region before the start of the European Youth Championships in Belgrade in less than two weeks. In Junior Boys Team’s event in the final Romania’s Andrei TOMICA Matei DUMITRESCU Paul SZILAGYI and Horia URSUT overcame Turkey’s Ugurcan DURSUN Hakan ISIK Mehmet Ali KARABOGA and Furkan SİMSEK YIGIT. Greece clinched bronze with the team composed of Efraim MANOLOPOULOS EUSTRATIOS Alexandros MADESIS Vissarion GIANNOUTSOS SOKRATIS and Iakovos AIVATIDIS. In Junior Girls Team’s Event in wining Romania’s team have played Elena ZAHARIA Camelia MITROFAN Evelyn UNGVARI and Andrea TEGLAS. In the final Romania beat Serbia. Team of Serbia was represented by Sara RADAK Reka BEZEG Katarina GVOZDENOVIC and Dusica TODOROVIC. Moldova’s Valeria VIERU Alexandra CHIRIACOVA and Camelia MERENCO. In cadet Boys Event Romania’s Rares CUESDEAN Luca OPREA and Robert PODAR are the winners. Uros NINKOVIC and Borislav RAJIC led Serbia to the silver. Bulgaria is third with Yoan VELICHKOV Stefan DIMITROV Mirolsav SCHMIDT and Lyudmil DIMITROV . Cadet Girls Event concluded with the win of the Romania’s team composed by Bianca MEI ROSU Cristina SINGEORZAN and Alesia SFERLEA. They overcame Turkey with Busra DEMİR and Aybuke Banu and Asude Tuba SİMSEK. Moldova’s Victoria MIHAILOV and Ecaterina SIREAC are third.
Sonja MILIC and Aldo DONDA from Italian to European Championships
At the Rimini Fair everything is ready for the start of the STAG European Veterans Championships. The Opening Ceremony will be tomorrow. The Italian Veterans Championships have just ended and many players who have won the titles will also be involved in the Continental event. Two of them are Sonja MILIC and Aldo DONDA who won the 65-70 and Over 80 competitions respectively. “So far I took part in three editions of the European Championships in 1995 in Vienna in 1997 in Prague and in 2009 in Porec. My greatest satisfaction was the bronze medal won in Prague in the Over 40 singles. It was a surprise. My daughter Vanja who was 14 years old at the time followed me on the bench as a coach. I remembered that she was not satisfied with my game. I lost in the semifinals and I was very happy anyway. In that tournament everything went right and on my way I had the adversaries against whom my game worked well. Here in Rimini it is difficult to make predictions. When I play I always do it to win and so I will try to get the best possible result this time too. I have trained to play against long pimples and if I find athletes who use them I think I will be comfortable ” explained MILIC. Donda is used to play great events in Italy. “For me – he states – it is the third time after the 1986 World Championships right here in Rimini and the 2003 European Championships in Courmayeur. In 1986 it was my first experience and I was not prepared. In total this is my 10th European Championship and I have also played in six World Championships. At the World Championships of 1992 in Dublin I won the consolation tournament and at the 2009 European Championships in Porec I won the silver medal in the Over 70 doubles with Ferdinando CARÙ. Last time in 2019 in Budapest I reached the round of 16 in singles. Here in Rimini to do well you will also need to have a little luck. I will be 83 years old on July 2 the day of the finals. Who knows dreaming costs nothing”.
Registration for EVC2023 in Sandefjord is open
One year before the gates open at Oslofjord Convention Center in Norway you may now secure your place in the event. EVC2023 has already attracted some attention with the “One Village. One Venue”-concept with playing halls hotels restaurants beach and social events in one resort. With 4000 players staying in the same place many of them bringing their families this will for sure be a unique experience. On www.evc2023.com you may now register for the competition book accomodation at the resort and even add a tour to other parts of Norway. You will also find the information you need including a preliminary schedule and useful information on how to get to Norway from all parts of Europe. The limit of participants is set to 4000 entries and the early bird offer will be on until the end of October 2022.
Rimini is ready to host STAG European Veterans Championships
It will be a great show at the Rimini Fair from 25th June to 2nd July with the Stag European Veterans Championships which will involve about 3 000 athletes over the age of 40 from all over the continent. Italy will host the event for the second time after the edition of Courmayeur in 2003. Rimini was already the site of the Veteran World Championships in 1986. The countries represented will be 42 and those with the largest delegations are Germany with 843 players Italy with 503 and France with 242. “We are thrilled ” said Giuseppe Marino operative director of the event ” to be able to host such an important event which will allow thousands of players to follow their passion for table tennis and at the same time to spend days that we hope will be unforgettable with their families. Italian hospitality is world famous and we are sure everyone will be fine in Rimini and on the Romagna coast. We cannot wait to welcome everyone”. Preparations are progressing in the best way. “We have been here for a week ” Technical Director Roman PLESE explained.” And we are working hard. Everything is ready for the European Veterans Championships. In these days we organized here a lot of national tournaments and the Mediterranean Table Tennis Under 15 Championships which were a sort of test event of EVC. The Italian Veterans Championships have just started and will end on Friday. We set up 110 tables for the competitions and 28 for the warm-up. We look forward to the arrival of the delegations”.
Chengdu 2022 World Championships Finals
The world’s strongest teams prepare to face off in Chengdu People’s Republic of China from 30 September to 9 October 2022. With exactly 100 days to go to the event the list of entries for the upcoming 2022 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals Chengdu has been unveiled.The following 40 men’s and women’s teams will be vying for one of the sport’s most coveted titles. Men’s Teams* Women’s Teams* China (host)Egypt (Africa)Nigeria (Africa)Algeria (Africa)Togo (Africa)Republic of Korea (Asia)Chinese Taipei (Asia)India (Asia)Japan (Asia)Islamic Republic of Iran (Asia)Singapore (Asia)Hong Kong China (Asia)Kazakhstan (Asia)Saudi Arabia (Asia)Thailand (Asia)Germany (Europe)Russia** (Europe)Sweden (Europe)Denmark (Europe)England (Europe)Austria (Europe)Czech Republic (Europe)Romania (Europe)Portugal (Europe)France (Europe)Croatia (Europe)Brazil (PANAM)Chile (PANAM)Argentina (PANAM)United States of America (PANAM)Canada (PANAM)Puerto Rico (PANAM)Australia (Oceania)New Zealand (Oceania)Tunisia (Intercontinental Africa)Uzbekistan (Intercontinental Asia)Slovenia (Intercontinental Europe)Peru (Intercontinental PANAM)Vanuatu (Intercontinental Oceania)Belgium (Intercontinental Team World Ranking) China (host)Egypt (Africa)Nigeria (Africa)Tunisia (Africa)Mauritius (Africa)Japan (Asia)Republic of Korea (Asia)Hong Kong China (Asia)Singapore (Asia)India (Asia)Thailand (Asia)Chinese Taipei (Asia)Kazakhstan (Asia)Islamic Republic of Iran (Asia)Uzbekistan (Asia)Germany (Europe)Romania (Europe)France (Europe)Portugal (Europe)Austria (Europe)Ukraine (Europe)Poland (Europe)Luxembourg (Europe)Hungary (Europe)Russia** (Europe)Netherlands (Europe)Brazil (PANAM)Canada (PANAM)United States of America (PANAM)Chile (PANAM)Puerto Rico (PANAM)Argentina (PANAM)Australia (Oceania)Vanuatu (Oceania)Algeria (Intercontinental Africa)Indonesia (Intercontinental Asia)Sweden (Intercontinental Europe)Guatemala (Intercontinental PANAM)Fiji Islands (Intercontinental Oceania)Korea DPR (Intercontinental Team World Ranking) The teams will be divided into eight groups. Each group of five teams will play a complete round-robin competition. Then a final knock-out phase will be played with the winners of each group and the teams placing second.ITTF President Petra Sörling commented “With just 100 days to go until the 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals all eyes are on Chengdu and we cannot wait to witness a breath-taking competition. As we are about to accelerate the preparations I am grateful to our hosts who have taken every necessary measure to ensure the successful delivery of our marquee event.” Liu Guoliang the ITTF Executive Vice President WTT Council Chair and Chinese Table Tennis Association President commented: “Chengdu is a beautiful stylish and vibrant city. It has successfully delivered high-level events such as ITTF Men’s World Cup Women’s World Cup and ITTF World Tour. This time World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals will add a new stroke to the history of this city. As the host we expect players to show themselves on this stage and may the fans enjoy a table tennis festival during the golden autumn in October.”The ITTF the Chinese Table Tennis Association and the City of Chengdu authorities are working hard to give the players the opportunity to compete in the best and safest conditions. The 2022 World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals Preparatory Committee has worked on extensive COVID-19 countermeasures to ensure all participants arrive smoothly participate securely and return safely. The event will be put under strict closed-loop management in a bubble format.With the 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan cancelled it has been four years since the team event was last held. The Chinese teams took gold in the men’s and women’s events in Halmstad Sweden in 2018. Playing on home soil this year Team China will be the favourite. * Qualification pathway:As per the vote of the ITTF Board of Directors 33 teams qualified from the Continental Stage (4 for Africa 10 for Asia 11 for Europe 6 for Americas and 2 for Oceania) and the host nation qualification is guaranteed. Five additional quotas as replacement of the Intercontinental Stage which did not place due to Covid-19 were then distributed in the following way: Europe (1): The highest-ranked not-yet qualified team from the European Championships 2021 Group Stage according to the World Team Ranking published after the 2021 EC Final StageAsia (1): Position 11 (2021 Asian Championships) in each genderPANAM (1): The winner of the consolation (7th position) at the 2021 PANAM ChampionshipsAfrica (1): The winner of the consolation (5th position) at the 2021 African ChampionshipsOceania (1): The highest-ranked not-yet qualified teams from the Teams World Ranking (January 2022). Finally the last quota was allocated to the highest ranked not-yet qualified team from the ITTF Table Tennis Teams World Ranking (January 2022). ** About the Russian Men’s and Women’s TeamsOn 1 March 2022 the ITTF Executive Committee decided that no Russian or Belarusian players and officials are currently allowed in ITTF events in line with the recommendations formulated by the IOC Executive Board. A decision regarding their participation to the 2022 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals will be made during the next meeting of the ITTF Executive Committee on 26-27 July
Elisa NGUYEN and Benjamin GIRLINGER clinched gold in Girl’s and Boy’s Singles in Podgorica
Germany’s Elisa NGUYEN and Austria’s Benjamin GIRLINGER clinched gold medals at the 2022 Europe Under 13 Challenge in Podgorica. Elisa NGUYEN prevailed against Portugal’s Julia LEAL in the final of the Girls Singles event 3:0 (11:5 11:8 11:5). In Boy’s Singles in much closer duel Benjamin GIRLINGER overcame Poland’s Samuel MICHNA 3:1 (15:13 11:13 11:5 11:9). On the third step of the medal rostrum were Aleks PAKULA of Poland and Turkiye’s Berk ÖZTOPRAK. In Girl’s Event Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA of Poland and Beatriz PINTO of Portugal won bronze. Day after they played in the final of the Mixed Team Event three players from the Poland’s team reached the semi final of the singles event. Only one progressed to the very last match. In the penultimate stageBenjamin GIRLINGER overcame Aleks PAKULA of Poland (9:11 11:9 11:7 11:9). For Poland’s Samuel MICHNA it was reverse scenario. Turkiye’s Berk ÖZTOPRAK put young Polish player under severe pressure but Samuel prevailed 1:3 (11:13 9:11 12:10 6:11). In the semi final of the Girls Singles Elisa NGUYEN overcame Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA of Poland in full distance match (7:11 8:11 11:8 11:9 11:5). Elisa was two games down before she recovered to win next three. Teammates Beatriz PINTO and Julia LEAL decided who will represent Portugal in the final. After PINTO had a better start Julia recovered and progressed to the ultimate stage 1:3 (11:9 11:13 10:12 9:11).
SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov and Panathinaikos A.C. crowned champions at first ever Europe Trophy
SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov and Panathinaikos A.C. entered the history books as a first ever winners of the Men’s and Women’s Europe Trophy. In the Grand final played in last three days in Havirov SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov beat Arteal Tenis De Mesa whilst and Panathinaikos A.C.overcame TT Moravský Krumlov at the ultimate stage. Hosts SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov overcame Spain’s Arteal Tenis De Mesa in very tough duel. “I came to the game after we were down 0:1 and I felt big pressure. My match was very important I do not know how we will recover in case of 0:2. It was the same like yesterday when I had to play at 2:2 but I guess I proved as a worthy player when it comes to pressure. I won all three fifth games I played ” said VALENTA.”Our goal was to reach the final the trophy is real bonus.” After three days of play Panathinaikos A.C. Lost first individual match at the tournament against TT Moravský Krumlov from Czech Republic. “We showed good spirt and we stayed focused despite very big challenge. Two matches today went full distance and playing until six points in the decisive game is the new experience for us ” said Aikaterini TOLIOU. Final SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov (CZE) vs. Arteal Tenis De Mesa (ESP) 3:1 Zokhid KENJAEV vs. Andre SILVA 1:3 (7:1 10:12 11:6 4:11) Jan VALENTA vs. Enio MENDES 3:1 (5:11 11:8 11:9 11:8) Petr DAVID vs. Humberto MANHANI 3:1 (12:10 10:12 11:7 11:7) Zokhid KENJAEV vs. Enio MENDES 3:1 (12:10 11:5 7:11 11:1) Panathinaikos A.C. (GRE) vs TT Moravský Krumlov (CZE) 3:1 Szandra PERGEL vs. Bernadett BALINT 3:1 (11:7 5:11 11:8 11:6) Aikaterini TOLIOU vs. Mitsuki YOSHIDA 3:2 (11 :9 11:3 13:15 7:11 6:3) Ana TOFANT vs. Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA 2:3 (11:9 11:13 13:15 11:8 4:6) Szandra PERGEL vs. Mitsuki YOSHIDA 3:0 (11:5 11:7 11:8)
Panathinaikos A.C. will meet TT Moravský Krumlov in match for trophy
Spanish Arteal Tenis De Mesa and SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov will clash tomorow in the final of the Europe Trophy Grand Final in Havirov. Greek Panathinaikos A.C. will meet TT Moravský Krumlov in their quest for the title in Women’s Event. Arteal Tenis De Mesa needed only three matches to overcame spirited team of CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc from Romania in the semi final whilst the hosts had much harder task in the penultimate stage. SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov was streched to fill distance in the duel against French TT Metz. Last two matches also concluded by narow margin. Zokhid KENJAEV lost to Florian BOURRASSAUD 2:3 but Jan VALENTA beat Damien LLORCA – 3:2. In women’s semi final Panathinaikos A.C. overcame KTTC AFP Antwerpen whilst TT Moravský Krumlov prevailed against SCO Ossiachersee Bodensdorf. Semi Final Men CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc (ROU) vs Arteal Tenis De Mesa (ESP) 0:3 Sebastian LOSO vs. Andre SILVA 0:3 (7:11 5:11 6:11) Gyorgy SZILARD vs. Enio MENDES 1:3 (9:11 11:7 7:11 7:11) Munteanu LUCIAN vs. Humberto MANHANI 0:3 (7:11 5:11 4:11) SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov (CZE) vs. TT Metz (FRA) 3:2 Zokhid KENJAEV vs. Damien LLORCA 3:0 (11:8 11:8 11:6) Jan VALENTA vs. Florian BOURRASSAUD 0:3 (10:12 7:11 9:11) Petr DAVID vs. Corentin MAZAUD 3:1 (9:11 11:9 11:7 12:10) Zokhid KENJAEV vs. Florian BOURRASSAUD 2:3 (11:4 11:7 9:11 5:11 3:6) Jan VALENTA vs. Damien LLORCA 3:2 (11:7 7:11 5:11 11:7 6:3) Position no. 5 TJ Geolog Roznava (SVK) vs TalTech Sports Club (EST) Ingemar PÉTER vs. Stanislav STROGOV 3:0 (12:10 11:9 11:8) Igor ZAVADSKIJ vs. Arturs REINHOLDS 3:0 (11:9 11:8 11:9) Gregor GALLO vs. Samuli SOINE 0:3 (6:11 8:11 10:12) Ingemar PÉTER vs. Arturs REINHOLDS 3:1 (11:8 11:8 6:11 11:6) Position no.7 Grantham Academy (ENG) vs. Draycott & Long Eaton TTC (ENG) 3:0 Callum EVANS vs. Connor GREEN 3:2 (6:11 8:11 12:10 11:6 6:5) Olly TYNDALL vs. Rhys DAVIES 3:0 (11:9 11:6 11:8) Jordan WYKES vs. Toby ELLIS 3:0 (11:8 11:6 11:7) Women Semi finals KTTC AFP Antwerpen (BEL) vs Panathinaikos A.C. (GRE) 0:3 Angelique GERTENBACH vs. Aikaterini TOLIOU 0:3 (7:11 2:11 3:11) Sara DEVOS vs. Szandra PERGEL 0:3 (6:11 5:11 5:11) Julie VAN HAUWAERT vs. Ana TOFANT 1:3 (11:9 6:11 7:11 13:15) TT Moravský Krumlov (CZE) vs SCO Ossiachersee Bodensdorf (AUT) 3:0 Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA vs. Aleksandra VOVK 3:0 (11:8 11:6 11:6) Bernadett BALINT vs. Katarina STRAZAR 3:2 (11:5 8:11 11:8 12:14 6:4) Mitsuki YOSHIDA vs. Lea PAULIN 3:1 (11:5 4:11 12:10 11:7) Position no.5 SKST Bratislava (SVK) vs SU Sparkasse Kufstein (AUT) 3:1 Dominika WILTSCHKOVÁ vs. Anita NYITRAI 0:3 (11:13 9:11 3:11) Eliška ŠTULLEROVÁ vs. Györgyi BENE 3:1 (9:11 11:6 11:7 11:2) Jana TEREZKOVÁ vs. Renata PENGÖ-MURA 3:0 (11:9 11: 5 11:4) Dominika WILTSCHKOVÁ vs. Györgyi BENE 3:1 (11:9 6:11 11:5) Position no.7 Fusion TTC (ENG) vs. Draycott & Long Eaton TTC (ENG) 3:1 Elena TODIRCA vs. Erin GREEN 3:0 (11:7 11:8 11:9) Sanne DE HOOP vs. Anna GREEN 3:1 (11:9 11:9 9:11 11:5) Danielle KELLY vs. Millie ROGOVE 2:3 (9:11 8:11 11:3 11:7 5:6) Elena TODIRCA vs. Anna GREEN 3:0 (11:3 11:4 11:2)
Czech Republic won title in Mixed team event at the Under 13 Challenge
After three days of fierce fights players from Czech Republic are crowned champions in the Mixed Team Event at the first ever 2022 Europe Under 13 Challenge. Poland is second whilst in the match for the third position Romania beat Sweden. In the final Czech Republic beat Poland in exciting and close duel that went from one side to another. Czech Republic had a better start and won the opening point in mixed doubles but then Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA and Aleks PAKULA pushed Poland to 2:1. Hanka KODETOVA was stretched to full distance against Anna ULATOWSKA before she level the score. In last match Jan SKALDA beat Samuel MICHNA. In the semi final played earlier today Poland overcame Sweden in straight matches. Adam WALLIN and Siri BENJAGARD prevailed against Samuel MICHNA and Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA in mixed doubles whilst Mark USOV and Gabriela AALTONEN won their singles matches against Aleks PAKULA and Anna ULATOWSKA respectively. Czech Republic recovered from being 0:2 in reverse to beat Romania. Robert ISTRATE and Andreea BAISU overcame Jan SKALDA and Hanka KODETOVA in mixed doubles to give Romania good start. Alexandra DICU stayed on same path against Tereza KOVARICKOVA but then Jakub KABELKA changed the course of the match. He beat Mihai NAGY. Jan SKALDA and Hanka KODETOVA won their singles against Andreea BAISU and Robert ISTRATE to secure the overall victory.
