The Kosovo National championships was held in the city of Ferizaj with participation of 150 players.In the men’s singles Kreshnik MAHMUTI defended the title after triumph in the final over his teammate Fatih KARABAXHAKU 4-3 (11:13 11:8 11:6 4:11 7:11 11:9 11:8). In the women’s singles Shega HASHANI a 16 year old after a dramatic match managed to win against the former champion of Kosovo Linda ZEQIRI 4-3 (8:11 12:10 6:11 11:7 11:5 6:11 11:9) Men’s Singles 1.Kreshnik Mahmuti 2.Fatih Karabaxhaku 3.Milot Makolli 3.Blend Hajdari Women’s Singles 1.Shega Hashani 2.Linda Zeqiri 3.Loresa Imeri 3.Alma Mehmeti Men’s Doubles 1.Blend Hajdari/Dardan Imami 2.Kreshnik Mahmuti/Fatih Karabaxhaku 3.Argjend Ferati/Tomor Gjaka 3.Petrit Drenica/Altin Muli Women’s Doubles 1.Alma Mehmeti/Lenë Osmani 2.Jerina Rexhepi/Shega Hashani 3.Ajola Hajdari/Taibe Ruli 3.Bjondina Hasani/Loresa Imeri Mixed Doubles 1.Fatih Karabaxhaku/Taibe Ruli 2.Kreshnik Mahmuti/Linda Zeqiri 3.Jeton Azizi/Lenë Osmani 3.Blend Hajdari/Alma Mehmeti.

Newly crowned champion in Norway are Rebekka CARLSEN and Borgar HAUG. Rebekka Carlsen from B-72 won gold in Women’s singles during the Norway National Championships. It was a final victory 4-1 against club friend Rikke Skåttet in a well-played final 11-9 11-4 11-7 4-11 and 12-10. The bronze medals were won by Aida DAHLEN Randesund IL – BTG and Martine TOFTAKER B-72. Borgar HAUG from Fornebu BTK clinched gold medal in Men’s singles. Borgar won the final against Jimmy Ojakangas from Laksevåg BTK with 4-1 (11-4 7-11 11-9 11-5 11-7). The bronze medals were awarded to Finn VETVIK Fornebu BTK and Alexander KLERCK FRANSSON Fokus BTK. In Para Event for Women standing single the winner is Aida DAHLEN from Randesund IL – BTG. There were four participants in this class and Aida won three straight 3-0 victories. The silver medal was won by Nora KORNELIUSSEN Fokus BTK while Jenny HELENE SLETTEN from Notodden BTK secured the bronze medal. In Para men standing single Pablo JACOBSEN from Fornebu BTK went to the top in the men’s doubles standing after the final victory 3-2 against Steffen Salomonsen from Fokus BTK 11-6 3-11 11-13 11-7 and 11-4. It was Pablo’s first gold in this class and a clear proof that the 22-year-old has taken new steps. The bronze medals went to Zsolt BERECKI Trondheim BTK and Fredrik N. JOHANSEN from Fokus BTK. In Para men’s sitting single Tommy URHAUG from Stord BTK clinched gold. Tommy has won countless golds and in the group against silver winner Sebastian VEGSUND Fokus BTK and bronze winner Atle Kristian KOLBEINSEN Bergen PIL he secured two easy 3-0 victories.

Giorgia PICCOLIN (Centro Sportivo Esercito) and Niagol STOYANOV (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) clinched the singles titles at the Italian Championships which were played in Biella In the PalaPajetta PICCOLIN won for the fourth time in a row. She beat 4-1 in the finals Nikoleta STEFANOVA (Tennistavolo Norbello) who returned to the field after six years. Bronze medalists were Debora VIVARELLI (Centro Sportivo Esercito) and Gaia MONFARDINI (Tennistavolo Castel Goffredo). “I had already played against Nikoleta ” recalled PICCOLIN “my first finals in 2014 and to face her again after eight years was a great emotion. At that time I was 18 while now I am a older and my game improved very much. The day before the decisive rounds of the tournament I felt a bit of pressure but then I told myself that I should not have proved anything to anyone and I should just have fun. In the quarters I met Nicole ARLIA for the first time and it was tough. I knew that she is a very difficult player and in fact she caused problems for me. In the finals Nikoleta started well winning the first game then however point by point I managed to raise my level and I did it”. It was the third gold medal for STOYANOV again after four years (the first two wins were in 2014 and 2018). He defeated 4-1 Jordy PICCOLIN (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) Giorgia’s brother who was in his first final match of his career. Mihai BOBOCICA (Aeronautica Militare) anche Andrea PUPPO (Tennistavolo Reggio Emilia) climbed to the third step of the podium. “Before the championships ” declared STOYANOV ” I thought that there would be this four-year anniversary but every year it is very difficult to win. I’m very happy. The last few months have been complicated for me from different point of views and coming home with this title is very important. I am also satisfied with my game without that I would not have been able to achieve this result. I am happy with what I have managed to do. The match against Mihai BOBOCICA in the semifinals was challenging and also against Leonardo MUTTI in the quarters I had to fight hard. In the finals against Jordy I knew it was his first match for the title and I remembered how it was for me. I congratulate him because I think he had a great performance and his first title will come shortly. I feared he might come back because anything can happen when you do not convert match-points. I was aware that it would not be over until I won the last rally”. STOYANOV and PICCOLIN also defended 2021 title in mixed doubles. They accounted for Carlo ROSSI (Marcozzi Cagliari) and Nicole ARLIA (Tennistavolo Castel Goffredo) 3-0. Marco RECH DALDOSSO (Aeronautica Militare) and VIVARELLI and Leonardo MUTTI (Aeronautica Militare) and MONFARDINI were classified third. In the men’s and women’s doubles John Michael OYEBODE (Il Circolo Prato 2010) and PICCOLIN and MONFARDINI and her mother Tan WENLING (Tennistavolo Castel Goffredo) won their first gold medals. Silver medalists were the defending champions STOYANOV and BOBOCICA and VIVARELLI and PICCOLIN and bronze medalists were respectively Antonino AMATO (Marcozzi Cagliari) and RECH DALDOSSO and Daniele PINTO (Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre) and ROSSI and among the women Veronica MOSCONI (Centro Sportivo Esercito) and Chiara COLANTONI (CIATT Prato) and Le Thi Hong LOAN (Tennistavolo Castel Goffredo) and ARLIA.   Men’s singles: Quarters finals: Mihai BOBOCICA – Carlo ROSSI 3-0 (11-5 11-7 11-4) Niagol STOYANOV – Leonardo MUTTI 3-2 (11-9 10-12 11-9 9-11 11-7) Jordy PICCOLIN – Daniele PINTO 3-1 (11-9 11-5 8-11 11-4) Andrea PUPPO – Marco RECH DALDOSSO 3-2 (8-11 8-11 11-5 11-8 11-3) Semifinals: Niagol STOYANOV – Mihai BOBOCICA 4-1 (11-6 7-11 11-4 14-12 11-9) Jordy PICCOLIN – Andrea PUPPO 4-1 (8-11 11-9 11-6 11-8 14-12) Finals: Niagol STOYANOV – Jordy PICCOLIN 4-1 (11-4 11-4 15-13 11-13 14-12) Women’s singles: Quarters finals: Debora VIVARELLI – Miriam CARNOVALE 3-0 (11-6 11-8 11-7) Giorgia PICCOLIN – Nicole ARLIA 3-2 (11-7 8-11 12-14 11-5 11-7) Nikoleta STEFANOVA – Chiara COLANTONI 3-1 (4-11 11-7 11-8 16-14) Gaia MONFARDINI – Le Thi Hong LOAN 3-1 (11-5 5-11 11-8 11-6) Semifinals: Giorgia PICCOLIN – Debora VIVARELLI 4-1 (6-11 11-5 11-4 11-8 11-3) Nikoleta STEFANOVA – Gaia MONFARDINI 4-0 (11-8 11-3 15-13 11-6) Finals: Giorgia PICCOLIN – Nikoleta STEFANOVA 4-1 (11-13 11-9 11-4 11-9 11-7) Men’s doubles: Semifinals: Niagol STOYANOV/Mihai BOBOBICA – Daniele PINTO/Carlo ROSSI 3-1 (11-7 11-7 7-11 12-10) John Michael OYEDODE/Jordy PICCOLIN – Antonino AMATO/Marco RECH DALDOSSO 3-2 (11-13 2-11 11-6 11-6 11-7) Finals: John Michael OYEDODE/Jordy PICCOLIN – Niagol STOYANOV/Mihai BOBOBICA 3-2 (8-11 12-10 12-10 4-11 11-9) Women’s doubles: Semifinals: Debora VIVARELLI/Giorgia PICCOLIN – Le Thi Hong LOAN/Nicole ARLIA 3-0 (11-2 11-9 11-7) Gaia MONFARDINI/Tan WENLING – Veronica MOSCONI/Chiara COLANTONI 3-2 (8-11 10-12 11-6 11-8 11-1) Finals: Gaia MONFARDINI/Tan WENLING – Debora VIVARELLI/Giorgia PICCOLIN 3-2 (18-16 9-11 11-7 8-11 15-13) Mixed doubles: Semifinals: Niagol STOYANOV/Giorgia PICCOLIN – Marco RECH DALDOSSO/Debora VIVARELLI 3-0 (11-8 11-8 11-7) Carlo ROSSI/Nicole ARLIA – Leonardo MUTTI/Gaia MONFARDINI 3-2 (11-9 9-11 11-8 7-11 12-10) Finals: Niagol STOYANOV/Giorgia PICCOLIN – Carlo ROSSI/Nicole ARLIA 3-0 (11-5 11-1 11-7)

Fans present in the sports hall in Kutná Hora and also those watching on TV saw two seven-game-thrillers in the final stages of the National Championships. The women’s singles final between Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ and Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ was decided in the seventh set just like the men’s duel between David REITŠPIES and Tomáš TREGLER. The two finalists are also the two most successful players in this season’s Czech top division. David REITŠPIES got the better of Tomáš POLANSKÝ in the first semifinal and in the second one it was Tomáš TREGLER who came on top against the titleholder Jiří VRÁBLÍK. The final offered table tennis of the highest quality. Both players experienced highs and lows one time it was TREGLER with the lead then it was REITŠPIES. It had to be the seventh set to decide the tie. And David REITŠPIES was the better one towards the end. Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ lost in the last year’s final in Havířov against a seven-time-winner Hana MATELOVÁ who said after the game that her rival will lift the trophy one day. Back then she had no idea how soon it was going to happen. Just a year later TOMANOVSKÁ defeated Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ in the final. Her opponent was already 3:0 up and TOMANOVSKÁ struggled to find her rhythm. But the Bundesliga player of TTG Büngen/Münster-Sarmsheim didn’t give up. She fought her way back to tie the game and then finish at 4:3 for the gold. The winners in each category: Men’s singles: David REITŠPIES (SKST Cheb) Women’s singles: Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ (TTG Büngen/Münster-Sarmsheim) Men’s doubles: Šimon BĚLÍK (SKST Havířov) Tomáš MARTINKO (TJ Ostrava KST) Women’s doubles: Markéta ŠEVČÍKOVÁ (SKST Hodonín) Tamara TOMANOVÁ (TJ Ostrava KST) Mixed doubles: Petr DAVID Kristýna ŠTEFCOVÁ (SKST Havířov)

Estonian individual championship in 2022 was held last weekend in Tallinn. Men’s Singles Aleksandr SMIRNOV (LTK Kalev) Toomas LIBENE (LTK Kalev) Maksim VUHKA (Viimsi PINX) Vallot VAINULA (Pärnu LTK Vint-90) Women’s Singles Airi AVAMERI (Taltech SK) Reelica HANSON (Aseri SK) Vitalia REINOL (LTK Narova) Kätlin LATT (LTK Kalev) Women’s Doubles Reelica HANSON / Kätlin LATT (Aseri SK/ LTK Kalev) Airi AVAMERI/ Alina JAGNENKOVA ( Taltech SK/ Maardu LTK) Vitalia REINOL/ Sofia Viktoria GEROISKAJA (LTK Narova/ LTK Kalev) Liidia ANDREEVA/ Arina LITVINOVA (LTK Narova/ LTK Narova) Men’s Doubles Vallot VAINULA/ Aleksandr SMIRNOV (Pärnu LTK Vint-90/ LTK Kalev) Stanislav STROGOV/ Aleksandr LUŠIN (Taltech SK/ Maardu LTK) Mart LUUK/ Mihkel PAE (Pärnu LTK Vint-90/ Viljandi LTK Sakala) Sergei PETROV/ Maksim VUHKA (Viimsi PINX/Viimsi PINX) Mixed Doubles Vallot VAINULA/ Airi AVAMERI (Pärnu LTK Vint-90/ Taltech SK) Maksim VUHKA/ Liidia ANDREEVA (Viimsi PINX/ LTK Narova) Mihkel PAE/ Reelica HANSON (Viljandi LTK Sakala/ Aseri SK) Stanislav STROGOV/ Vitalia REINOL (Taltech SK/ LTK Narova)  

Hundreds of guests met for a gala dinner after the English national championships including former European champions Jill HAMMERSLEY-PARKER and John HILTON and other legends including Desmond DOUGLAS Mary WRIGHT and Paul DAY. ETTU acting president Pedro MOURA made a presentation to the Table Tennis England Chairperson Sandra Deaton on behalf of the ETTU and also on behalf of his home nation Portugal. Sandra DEATON said: “We were so pleased to welcome Pedro because we know how busy he is – I was delighted he could join us for such a special occasion. “It was wonderful to receive his gifts in the spirit of friendship co-operation and a shared passion for table tennis. “It’s so important for us to have that strong relationship because the European events are the first step on the performance ladder for so many young athletes.”

Tom JARVIS won the English national men’s singles title for the first time and Maria TSAPTSINOS beat Tin-Tin Ho to win the women’s singles for the second time. JARVIS was in his first final and WALKER his fourth but whoever won would be champion for the first time at the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships held in Nottingham. WALKER took the first game but JARVIS won the next three and despite WALKER fighting back in the fifth JARVIS won 4-2 (3-11 11-8 11-8 11-4 3-11 11-6). In the women’s event TSAPTSINOS did not allow four-time champion Ho to settle as she won 4-0 (11-5 11-4 11-7 14-12) on her fourth match point. WALKER and JARVIS won the men’s doubles by defeating Chris DORAN and Joe FERGUSON 3-2 (11-5 9-11 9-11 11-2 11-5) and HO and TSAPTSINOS won the women’s doubles against Emily BOLTON and Charlotte BARDSLEY 3-1 (11-6 6-11 11-6 11-6). The mixed doubles was won by WALKER and TSAPTSINOS who beat Josh BENNETT and Lois PEAKE 3-0 (11-4 11-3 11-3) meaning TSAPTSINOS won all three trophies she was competing in. There were two para finals with Tokyo Paralympics medallist Jack HUNTER-SPIVEY defeating Daniel BULLEN 3-0 (11-3 11-7 11-7) in the Class 3-5 final and Ross WILSON beating Kim DAYBELL 3-1 (11-7 11-6 9-11 11-9) in the Class 6-10 final. The under-21 men’s singles trophy was won by Shayan SIRAJ and the under-21 women’s singles by Charlotte BARDSLEY  

Eric GLOD and Sarah De NUTTE are the 2022 national champions crowned last weekend at FOYER National Championships in Coque. It is Sarah 9th title in the row and 10th overall whilst Eric won his second. Eric GLOD prevailed 4-0 against Evgheni DADECHIN while Sarah De NUTTE defended her title in a thrilling and very dramatic final against Tessy GONDERINGER 4-3 after Tessy GONDERINGER had led 3-0.

The 28th table tennis championship of Moldova which ended last weekend (March 26 and 27) took place in the new capital’s specialized table tennis hall (Bucuriei st. 12 A). For the second year in a row the players of the honored coach of Moldova Valery GROSUL Alexandra KIRYAKOVA from Dubossary and the student of the honored coach of Moldova Vladimir SEMIPYADNY Vladislav URSU from Chisinau became the absolute champions of Moldova. Men’s singles: Vladislav Ursu – Andrei Putsuntica 4:0 Women’s singles: Alexandra Kiryakova – Natalina Brynza 3:2 Men’s doubles: Vladislav Ursu-Andrei Putsuntike Veniamin Dubrovin-Evgeny Koshchug Igor Ni-Mihai Ginda Women’s doubles: Alexandra Kiryakova-Valeria Vieru Natalina Brynza-Vitalina Brynza Vlada Karaulnaya-Camellia Merenko Mixed Doubles: Alexandra Kiryakova-Vladislav Ursu Victoria Parfeni-Denis Cerna Vlada Karaulnaya-Andrey Putsuntike

Last weeked on March 26 and 27 Montenegro Table Tennis Association hosted Montenegrin senior singles championships for the season 2021/22. This years’ champions are Ivona PETRIĆ and Filip RADOVIĆ who defended their singles titles from last year in two exciting final matches. In the womens’ singles final Ivona PETRIĆ won against Simona PEROVIĆ 4:2 and third places were awarded to Snežana ĆULAFIĆ and Azra KALAČ. Filip RADOVIĆ was victorious over Filip RADULOVIĆ his club team mate 4:2 while the semifinalists and bronze medal winners were Andrej MILOŠEVIĆ and Bojan CUBOVIĆ. Womens’ doubles champions this year are Ivona PETRIĆ and Simona PEROVIĆ who won in the final against sisters Snežana and Dragana ĆULAFIĆ. In the thrilling men’s doubles final Filip RADULOVIĆ and Irfan ČEKIĆ became this year’s champions by winning the title from last year’s gold medalists – Filip RADOVIĆ and Luka BAKIĆ. Mixed doubles champions title was defended by Simona PEROVIĆ and Filip RADULOVIĆ. The event was held in sport hall „Verde Sport“ in Podgorica Montenegro which will host ETTU’s pilot event – Europe U13 Challenge in June 2022.