Latvian National Championships 2022 will take place on March 26-27 2022 in the Salaspils Sports Hall 1 Smilšu street. Start of the Final tournament is on March 26 at 12:00 and on March 27 is at 11:00. The main favorite for Men’s Singles this year could be Arturs REINHOLDS who missed the previous championship as well as Olegs KARTUZOVS. The most titled Latvian Table tennis player Sandijs VASILJEVS is on the run too and the runner up of the previous championships Aleksandrs MASKALONOKS who will definitely want to prove that it was not an accident. The list goes on with the new progressive player Daniels KOGANS who last year missed a little to get to the Men’s Singles final. Baiba BOGDANOVA the winner of the singles championship last year will definitely be the main favorite for this year Women’s Singles Event as well as the young talented player Sabina MUSAJEVA who already has once won champion’s title and certainly want to repeat it. Last year Sandijs VASILJEVS clinched gold in Men’s Singles at the Latvian National Championships 2021 and Baiba BOGDANOVA is the crowned champion in Women’s Singles Event.
A further step towards professionalism – Gold Badge for Roman KLECKER
Roman KLECKER of Czech Republic has become the first Gold Badge (GB) umpire worldwide. The GB Umpire was created to identify highly qualified International Umpires who have been Blue Badge umpires for at least 2 years performing on the highest level and being assessed during all these events. Roman KLECKER is not only performing excellent in the venue but he is also supporting people who are suffering. During these days he is coordinating the support of Ukraine refugees at the Slovak-Ukraine border.
Defending champion Tin-Tin HO aiming for 50th title in England
There will be a new men’s singles champion – or perhaps a golden old one – at the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships in England this weekend. Liam PITCHFORD is missing the event to compete at the WTT Star Contender in Doha and Paul DRINKHALL has withdrawn with an ankle injury. It means Sam WALKER is the top seed and he will be aiming to win the title for the first time. He lost in the final in 2016 and 2017 to DRINKHALL and in 2018 to Pitchford. The only other player in the competition who has won the title before is Andrew BAGGALEY who last won it in 2010. England players Tom JARVIS and David MCBEATH will also be aiming to win but WALKER is determined to come out on top. WALKER said: “I don’t want to make four finals and get four second places – I want to make sure I win it this time and it is a big driving force for me. I very much believe I’m going to be the best player at the tournament and I have to show that now.” The women’s singles will likely see defending champion Tin-Tin HO battle with 2019 champion Maria TSAPTSINOS for the title but England players Denise PAYET Emily BOLTON and Charlotte BARDSLEY can also compete for medals. HO has won 49 national titles in her career from under-11 to senior and she has three chances to win her 50th as she partners WALKER in the mixed doubles and TSAPTSINOS in the women’s doubles. The championships will be held at the University of Nottingham from March 25-27 and include under-21 men’s and women’s singles as well. Table 1 will be shown live on the Recast platform on Friday and Saturday and on the BBC Sport website on Sunday.
ALEKSANDROV and TRIFONOVA aiming titles in Bulgaria
Arena Asarel Panagyurishte will be the venue of the Bulgaria’s National Championships to be held from March 24th to 27th. In Men’s singles category main favorite is last year’s winner Teodor ALEKSANDROV alongside Petyo KRASTEV and Denislav KODJABASHEV. Among the top names in Women’s event are reigning champion Polina TRIFONOVA as well as Maria YOVKOVA and Kalina HRISTOVA. Last year’s champions Men`s Singles- Teodor ALEKSANDROV Women`s Singles- Polina TRIFONOVA Men`s Doubles- Teodor ALEKSANDROV/ Denislav KODJABASHEV Women`s Doubles- Polina TRIFONOVA/ Maria YOVKOVA Mixed Doubles- Denislav KODJABASHEV/ Mariya YOVKOVA Schedule Day 1 (24.03.22) Men`s Women`s Qualifications Day 2 (25.03.22) Doubles Mixed Doubles Main Draws Day 3 (26.03.22) Men`s Women`s Main Draws Day 4 (27.03.22) FINALS
Borussia Düsseldorf is the winner of the European Champions League men
The ETTU Executive Board confirmed at its meeting on 19th March 2022 that German club Borussia Düsseldorf is the winner of the European Champions League men 2021-2022 season following their semi-final victory over 1.FC Saarbrücken TT on 3 March. Borussia Düsseldorf beat 1.FC Saarbrücken TT having won 3:0 in straight matches in the first leg and 3:1 in the second leg. The other semi-final was cancelled after the ETTU Executive Board decided on 3 March that Russian clubs would not be permitted to compete in any European Club competitions for the 2021-2022 season. The trophy will be delivered to Borussia Dusseldorf at the earliest opportunity.
The draw for the Europe Trophy
The draw for the Europe Trophy Group Stages was held today in Luxembourg. Region A is divided in two Groups. In Group A is the host of both Groups Fusion TTC with Batts Grantham Academy and Murrayfield TTC. In Group B are Ormesby Table Tennis Club Joola Plymouth Draycott & Long Eaton TTC and Somerset Sabres. The matches will be played will be played on 23rd and 24th April. The same dates are reserved for Region B in Estonia with TalTech Sports Club TTC Hercogs PT Espoo Pöytätennis 75 (PT 75) and GTTF. Region C with Club Tennis Taula Valls Del Nord (host) Clube Desportivo 1º de Maio and Arteal Tenis De Mesa will play on 15th and 16th April. That is the same date for Region D with SV Union Velbert 2011 e.V Metz TT TTV Red Stars Venray and TT Vedrinamur. The action on 15th and 16th April will be also in Regions E and F together in Czech Republic where will play SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov (host) SK Přerov 1908 TJ Geolog Roznava UTTC Raiffeisen Kennelbach and STK Aladza. Regions G and H will play in Romania on 28th and 29th May. There will meet Stk Temerin-Ferocoop TTC Mladost96 and CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc (host). In Women’s Europe Trophy the Region A with Joola Plymouth TTC Fusion TTC Draycott & Long Eaton TTC St. Neots Table Tennis Club Ormesby Table Tennis Club (host) and Murrayfield TTC will play on 23rd and 24th April. The 28th and 29th May is reserved for Regions B D G H together in Latvia. There will play Panathinaikos A.C KTTC AFP Antwerpen GTTF and Salaspils GTK (host). Regions E and F starts first on 15th and 16th April. There are TT Moravský Krumlov (host) SCO Ossiachersee Bodensdorf SG Motor Wilsdruff and A.S.D. Tennistavolo Norbello “Guilcer” in Group A and “Stolnotenisove Centrum SKST Bratislava (host) SU Sparkasse Kufstein ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari “B” AD Muravera TT “A” AD Muravera TT “B” in Group B.
Chen Meng and Fan Zhendong Win Singapore Smash Singles Titles
Singapore Smash came to a conclusion as Olympic gold medallist Chen Meng and men’s world No. 1 Fan Zhendong were crowned the singles champions in front of a packed Infinity Arena. World No. 2 Chen Meng beat fourth-ranked world champion Wang Manyu 4-3 (11-9 8-11 11-9 11-8 6-11 9-11 11-8) for the women’s title while men’s world champion Fan Zhendong defeated two-time Olympic singles champion Ma Long 4-3 (11-6 11-6 6-11 9-11 8-11 11-8 11-7). Fan Zhendong who lost to Ma Long said: “This is a very meaningful win for me. It’s my first time playing against Ma Long since Tokyo 2020 and the atmosphere was very good. There were some opportunities that I didn’t quite seize in the fourth and fifth games. For the sixth game I was just focused on winning one point at a time because I knew it was important to turn things around. Ma Long is someone worthy of respect both as an opponent and team-mate. There are many things I can learn from him in terms of attitude as well as his techniques and I’ll continue to put in effort to be more like him.” Local fans had plenty to cheer for as well with Singapore men’s doubles pair Clarence Chew and Ethan Poh beat the 2019 World Championship finalists Spaniard Alvaro Robles and Romanian Ovidiu Ionescu en route to the quarter-finals. They put up a valiant fight before falling to Chinese pair Fan Zhendong the men’s singles world No. 1 and Wang Chuqin. Fan favourite Ni Xia Lian of Luxembourg who reached the women’s doubles semi-finals with compatriot Sarah De Nutte added: “We are very happy to be here and we’re very appreciative that this event is happening during such a difficult period. Everybody has worked so hard and spent time and energy and we’ve received so much help. People in Singapore are so warm and we are always moved. I just feel sorry we don’t have much time to return the warmth to the people but what we can do is we play our best to show our appreciation and we hope people love our game.”
Ukrainian Table Tennis Federation asks for help
President of the Ukrainian Table Tennis Federation Oleksandr ZATS sent the letter of gratitude to the European Table Tennis Union for posting information on the site for assisting through the European Federations in accommodation of Ukraine’s players coaches and young players with their parents Special thanks were expressed to ETTU Special Projects Operations Manager Galia DVORAK for communication and assistance in organizing of help. In addition UTTF has created a charitable foundation for targeted financial support of tennis players (https://www.uttf.com.ua/posts/fntu-zapochatkovuie-svij-blagodijnij-fond-). The collected funds are distributed among the members of the UTTF according to the applications received from the members as well as to resolve other acute issues. You can help: 1.by transferring funds to the Foundation of the Ukrainian Table Tennis Federation: JOINT STOCK COMPANY ‘THE STATE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF UKRAINE’ Ukraine 03150 Kyiv 127 Antonovycha Str. S.W.I.F.T.: EXBS UA UX CHIPS UID: 316282 (for US dollars payment only) Iban: UA2332231300000260060000395 (UA USD EUR) EUR Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt am Main Germany DEUT DE FF EUR Raiffeisen Bank International AG Vienna Austria RZBA AT WW EUR UniCredit Bank AG Munich Germany HYVE DE MM USD JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. New York USA CHAS US 33 USD Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas New York USA BKTR US 33 USD Citibank N. A. New York USA CITI US 33 USD The Bank of New York Mellon New York USA IRVTUS 3N Purpose of payment: help to Ukrainian Table Tennis Federation Accommodate Ukrainian athletes with their families in clubs. Please send your opportunities conditions and contact person to uttf.ukraine@gmail.com. Our representative will contact you to agree on all the details.
Patrick FRANZISKA beat XU Xin in Singapore
Five European players booked their places in the quarter final of their respective Men’s and Women’s Singles Events at the Singapore Smash 2022. One of the most impressive wins in the Round of 16 was recorded by Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA who beat World No.10 XU Xin of China 3-2 (11-6 8-11 11-9 9-11 11-9) “I’m really lost for words right now. These are the matches and moments you work for. You practise all your life as you want to beat the best of the best. And today was one of these days and moments where I did something which I never did before. And not many have also done so before. For sure I’ll have a good night sleep today. When you play against the top Chinese players you need to have self-confidence. You need to believe you can beat them. Even though I have never beaten XU Xin before tonight’s match I don’t go in and say I cannot do it and will lose. That’s not what I will say to myself. I told myself I can do it” said Patrick FRANZISKA. In the match for the semis he will meet top seeded FAN Zhendong of China. Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden beat Benedikt DUDA of Germany in a close four games win (6-11 11-4 11-6 11-8). KARLSSON will face World No.5 LIANG Jingkun in the quarterfinals. “I know it’s one of my closest friends on the tour so it’s always special to play Benedikt. The match was very tactical and we forced ourselves to difficult positions. I think I managed to handle things a little bit better so I’m very happy to win the match the today ” said Kristian KARLSSON. Dang QIU of Germany is somewhat of a surprise quarterfinalist the World No.41 has defeated Omar ASSAR Jonathan GROTH and Anton KALLBERG. Remarkably only one game has been dropped along the way and that was in his Round of 16 match against KALLBERG. World No.19 Sofia POLCANOVA has booked her place in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Singles with a four game win over and Suthasini SAWETTABUT (11-8 8-11 11-6 11-9). POLCANOVA joined Yaun Jia Nan of France in the quarters.
YUAN Jia Nan beat Women’s World No. 3 Mima ITO in Singapore
Women’s world No. 3 Mima ITO of Japan was the biggest casualty at Singapore Smash on Tuesday (15 March) falling 3-1 (5-11 11-7 11-8 11-7) to world No. 67 YUAN Jia Nan of France while men’s world No. 1 Fan Zhendong and Olympic champion Ma Long both survived scares to advance to the men’s singles quarter-finals at the OCBC Arena. YUAN said of her performance against Ito: “I just wanted to do my best in the match and give a good fight because it was my first time playing against (Ito). Initially I was just concentrating on not losing 3-0 and was aiming to just win one game. After winning one game I told myself if I can win a second game that would be good. I didn’t have any specific strategy against her I just wanted to go out there and play my best and I didn’t expect that I would win.”
