Hungarian Table Tennis Association will organise 5th Youth Table Tennis World Festival. Beside the opportunity for youngsters to play the event is officially provides ITTF ranking points. These are going to be the U11 U13 U15 U17 and U19 categories at the World Festival in 2022. It will be held at the Olympic Sport Park of Győr which was built for the European Youth Olympic Festival of 2017. The competition will be held on 47 tables with an extra 22 tables available to use as warm up practice tables. An international coaching seminar and international training camp are also included in the program. The 3 most successful countries according to the points system and the 3 most successful Hungarian clubs shall be awarded with prize money. As the World Festival is not only open just for national teams but for clubs and regional teams as well organisers throughout the second half of 2021 have sent the invitation to all relevant teams clubs and players based on their available database. Registration is now open and Hungarian Table Tennis Association are waiting for all entries; the preliminary deadline for registration is the 25th of April 2022 and the final deadline for all entries is the 20th of May 2022. HTTA invites players to participate at the Youth TT World Festival to be held in Hungary in June 2022. Registration link: http://worldfestival2022.hu/en/registration-form/ Official website (English): https://worldfestival2022.hu/en The link of the promotion video https://youtu.be/6VOoP-UMjoY
The online entries for the Europe Under 13 Challenge open on Monday 18th April
This summer ETTU will launch new event which will give young players great opportunity to compete and to work on their skills. Table Tennis Association of Montenegro under the authority of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) organizes the 2022 Europe Under 13 Challenge in Podgorica from Thursday 16th June – Sunday 19th June 2022. The initiative for having this new competition came by the ETTU Youth committee in cooperation with ETTU Executive Board Vice President Heike AHLERT EB member Sonja GREFBERG and ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. ” We thought it is time to create an event for the younger athletes to involve more associations in Europe to send their youngest players male and female to a competition where also the coaches of the associations have the possibility to learn and exchange their opinions about the development of table tennis in Europe. To emphasize that we do want to show that table tennis is a sport for young girls and promote that associations should work more on this we suggested having the mixed team competition as the key element of this project and the Executive Board decided to do it ” explained ETTU Executive Board Vice President Heike AHLERT.”I really hope that we will have many participating teams from all over Europe. If this new competition will be a success ETTU wants to keep this event – maybe as U 13 European Championships.” The online entries for the Europe Under 13 Challenge opens on Monday 18th April. Under 13 players shall be under 13 years of age on the 31st December immediately before the start of the year in which the tournament take place (players born on or after 1st January 2009 and younger).
USD Apuania Carrara Tennistavolo clinched the title in Europe Cup Men
The crowned champions in Europe Cup Men in season 21/22 are USD Apuania Carrara Tennistavolo. Italian club overcame Austria’s SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt in second leg 3:1 after they lost the opening encounter last week at home 2:3. The duel from two players who knows each other very well Croatia’s teammates Frane Tomislav KOJIC and Andrej GACINA went full distance as it was expected. GACINA had a better start but pendulum swung and in fourth game it was Andrej who was playing to stay in the match. He pushed to decider but in close finish KOJIC gave hosts dream start. Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA brought match back to the new start after he beat Felix WETZEL. In addition BOBOCICA beat KOJIC in full distance fourth match to seal the victory for USD Apuania Carrara Tennistavolo. Tomas KONECNY suffered by the hands of Lubomir PISTEJ in third match. SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt – USD Apuania Carrara Tennistavolo 1:3 Frane Tomislav KOJIC – Andrej GACINA 3:2 (5:11 11:6 11:8 13:15 6:2) Felix WETZEL – Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA 1:3 (10:12 11:6 11:13 3:11) Tomas KONECNY – Lubomir PISTEJ 1:3 (9:11 11:9 4:11 5:11) Frane Tomislav KOJIC – Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA 2:3 (11:6 10:12 14:12 8:11 5:6) Opening leg Apuania Carrara Tennistavolo – SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2:3 Andrej GACINA – Felix WETZEL 3:0 (11:3 11:6 11:8) Lubomir PISTEJ – Frane Tomislav KOJIC 0:3 (4:11 2:11 5:11) Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA – Tomas KONECNY 2:3 (4:11 11:9 8:11 11:2 5:6) Andrej GACINA – Frane Tomislav KOJIC 3:1 (11:7 7:11 11:6 12:10) Lubomir PISTEJ- Felix WETZEL 1:3 (7:11 11:5 6:11 5:11)
UCAM Cartagena T.M at the top of the Europe Cup again
For a fourth time in history UCAM Cartagena T.M. clinched the title in the Europe Cup Women. Spanish club beat French Grand Quevilly in the final of the competition. Maria XIAO won the opening match against LI Samoson by sudden death point. It was LI who had a better start and Maria was down 0:1 and 1:2 but managed to level and to reach the sixth point first in decisive game. Dora MADARASZ won opening two games against Pauline CHASSELIN but in third French player managed to settle into the better rhythm. It was 7:5 7:7 and at the end 11:7 in third game. By narrow margin in fourth game Pauline extended the match. Once again the match was resolved by sudden death point however this time the nerves – wrecking finish went to French account. Anais SALPIN beat Silvia EREDLYI to give her club advantage but Maria XIAO was at the top of the game once again against CHASSELIN. UCAM Cartagena T.M – Grand Quevilly 3:2 Maria XIAO – LI Samson 3:2 (5:11 11:6 7:11 11:8 6:5) Dora MADARASZ – Pauline CHASSELIN 2:3 (11:5 11:6 7:11 10:12 5:6) Silvia ERDELYI – Anais SALPIN 1:3 (6:11 10:12 11:9 8:11) Maria XIAO – Pauline CHASSELIN 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:7 15:13) Dora MADARASZ – LI Samson 3:0
KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg clinched the title in the Champions League
For a second time in history KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg clinched the title in the European Champions Legue Women. In the final they overcame defending champions TTC Berlin eastside in both legs. Both times in Poland week ago and in Germany tonight they prevailed in full distance thrillers. The opening match between Nina MITTELHAM and FU Yu concluded in straight games but there were few tense moments especially in the first game. Nina was 8:4 ahead but FU managed to level. However after that the control was constantly in MITTELHAM’s hands. SHAN Xiaona was also down 3:9 against YANG Xiaoxin before SHAN narrowed the gap. Eventually YANG won the opening game but SHAN had a better start in next before Monaco’s player recovered to win the second game. In third SHAN changed the course of the match. She won the third and in thrilling fourth pushed the match into decisive game. In final game YANG sealed the victory. Britt EERLAND struggled to find any chank in HAN Ying’s armor in the opening game. It was 0:10 before the game even heated up. At 1:4 in next HAN did not lose the steam so Britt called for the time out. At 8:4 after brilliant stroke from HAN EERLAND got injured but after another time – out she returned. HAN stayed on the same path and the match concluded in three games. Nina MITTELHAM was the main power in Berlin’s club. On her second exit to the table she beat YANG Xiaoxin and pushed the hosts into decisive match. SHAN fought hard but Portugal’s FU was stronger tonight. Final – second leg TTC Berlin eastside – KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg 2:3 Nina MITTELHAM – FU Yu 3:0 (11:8 11:7 11:5) SHAN Xiaona – YANG Xiaoxin 2:3 (7:11 5:11 11:9 12:10 3:6) Britt EERLAND – HAN Ying 0:3 (2:11 6:11 7:11) Nina MITTELHAM – YANG Xiaoxin 3:1 (14:12 5:11 11:9 11:9) SHAN Xiaona – FU Yu 1:3 (13:11 7:11 7:11 4:11) Opening leg KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg – TTC Berlin eastside 3:2 HAN Ying – SHAN Xiaona 3:2 (12:10 8:11 14:16 14:12 6:2) YANG Xiaoxin – Nina MITTELHAM 3:0 (11:3 11:8 11:9) Elizabeta SAMARA – Britt EERLAND 1:3 (11:7 6:11 9:11 10:12) HAN Ying – Nina MITTELHAM 2:3 (11:6 12:14 12:10 3:11 1:6) YANG Xiaoxin – SHAN Xiaona 3:1 (11:8 10:12 11:8 11:4)
Everything is open in Wien
The second leg of the Europe Cup Men will be played on Saturday in Austria. Previously Italy’s USD Apuania Carrara Tennistavolo lost after the long distance thriller against SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2:3. Last week’s host depended heavily on newly crowned champion of the WTT Star Contender Doha 2022 Andrej GACINA and he justified his role with two wins. Unfortunately it was insufficient because Frane KOJIC beat Lubomir PISTEJ and Tomas KONECNY overcame Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA and in the decisive duel Felix WETZEL beat PISTEJ. “We were unlucky. I was play good but MUTTI was positive for covid and he was not able to come and PISTEJ suffered by the back injury until the beginning of the match. Ten days before he got injury and he started not well recovered. His performance was not at the top level. The important math between Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA and Tomas KONECNY was decided with one point ” said GACINA. It was 3:2 so everything is possible. “It is very open match ahead of us. We have chances but we are not thinking of it; we only wants to give our best. After we will see and analyse.” Frane KOJIC is satisfied with the outcome of the opening leg. “In the first match whole team was at the level which allowed us to win. However with the 3:2 victory there is absolutely no advantage for return leg. Saturday is the new day we will play the new match in different venue and with different balls…”explained KOJIC. Only what is for certain for Croatian star is the faith in the team. “We will give our best and we will try to make our supporters happy on the home soil. We are aware they are favorites having GACINA playing in superb shape now but everything is open ” concluded Frane KOJIC.
Ultimate battle for the 2022 crown in Berlin
On home soil on Friday at 18.30 CET TTC Berlin eastside will clash with KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg in the second leg of the European Champions League Women’s final. They suffered by the hands of the Poland’s club players in the opening leg but narrow defeat provides them with a lot of space to change the course of the final in their advantage. Winners of the Champions league in 2019 KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg will have really tough task against defending champions TTC Berlin eastside. German club have been at the top of the medal rostrum five times already. In the opening duel HAN Ying and YANG Xiaoxin had a very good start against SHAN Xiaona and Nina MITTELHAM but then Britt EERLAND changed the course of the match against Elizabeta SAMARA. It is not sure that SAMARA will play in the return leg due the neck injury she suffered in opening leg. “I got injured in the second game but fortunately we have a strong team In Berlin it will be open match with the new system everything is possible so we expect again a top class duel ” said SAMARA who also confirmed that she is feeling better now regarding the injury.
Dora MADARASZ: I hope the spectators will give us support
Their away match against French ALCL TT Grand Quevilly Spanish UCAM Cartagena concluded with the straight matches win. The return leg of the final of the Europe Cup Women is scheduled for Friday 19 CET. In first match Maria XIAO beat Pauline CHASSELIN 3:1. LI Fen needed only three to overcome Anis SALPIN and Dora MADARASZ went full distance against LI Samson. “I think score does not really show how difficult match it was; especially my encounter against LI. However I am very happy that we could win 3-0 at the end especially as a guest team. Second leg will be more difficult because we know how close we are to trophy and that puts some extra pressure on us. In my case I will fight against the pressure by being focused on my match and always for the next ball. We are ready and cannot wait for the second leg at home and hope lot of spectators will come to cheer for us ” said Dora MADARASZ.
Eurotalents Development Camp U-15 / U-17 I in Vila Nova de Gaia
Eurotalents Development Camp Under 15 and Under17 I is running now in Portugal’s Vila Nova de Gaia (April 3rd – 10th 2022) “We have just finished the first day of our first Eurotalents Development Camp. We have excellent conditions at the FPTM National Center Pavilhao Municipal. On duty are three coaches who run the camp: Ricardo OLIVEIRA Francisco SANTOS and Joao NEVES who is fitness trainer ” reported ETTU Development Manager Neven Cegnar. The total of 36 players and 15 coaches from 13 national associations are present in Portugal. “We are pleased that on Wednesday all our young players and coaches will participate in the valuable ITTF project WTTD 2022 which is prepared and led by ETTU Special Projects Operations Manager Galia DVORAK ” announced CEGNAR.
YANG Xiaoxin led KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg to another victory
Winners of the Champions league in 2019 KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg won the opening leg of the Women’s final against defending champions TTC Berlin eastside. This week’s finalist of the WTT Star Contender Doha 2022 HAN Ying reached beat SHAN Xiaona in thrilling five games opening match. Teammates from German national team pushed each other to the limits but eventually HAN’s defensive skills prevailed. After the drama in the opening match duel between YANG Xiaoxin and Nina MITTELHAM was resolved in quick three games. Britt EERLAND brought Germany’s club back in game with the victory over Elizabeta SAMARA. Britt recovered after being down one game to null to win her match. On her second exit to the table HAN Ying was forced to go full five games once again but this time she lost. Nina MITTELHAM lost the opening game struggled in the second and third but in superb style won last two games. In decisive match YANG Xiaoxin added another win to her scoreboard. SHAN Xiaona did not manage to find the answer to her game. KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg – TTC Berlin eastside 3:2 HAN Ying – SHAN Xiaona 3:2 (12:10 8:11 14:16 14:12 6:2) YANG Xiaoxin – Nina MITTELHAM 3:0 (11:3 11:8 11:9) Elizabeta SAMARA – Britt EERLAND 1:3 (11:7 6:11 9:11 10:12) HAN Ying – Nina MITTELHAM 2:3 (11:6 12:14 12:10 3:11 1:6) YANG Xiaoxin – SHAN Xiaona 3:1 (11:8 10:12 11:8 11:4)
