On the opening day of the battles at the 2022 Europe Under 13 Challenge in Podgorica first qualification stage is on the menu. In six groups 21 team fight for the place in second Group stage. Top two teams will progressed to the Stage two and booked their places in one of the four groups with three teams. Top seeded team of Austria was among the first teams to progress to the next stage. Benjamin GIRLINGER Adrian KASTL Nina SKERBINZ and Elina FUCHS recorded two wins against Belgium 4:1 and Ukraine 5:0. Belgium also beat Ukraine and moved forward to the A final in the second Stage. No. two seeds Romania faced much harder challenge. Robert ISTRATE Mihai NAGY Andreea BAISU and Alexandrab DICU overcame Hungary in straight matches but against Poland they were under severe pressure. Romania started well with the doubles before Anna ULATOWSKA and Aleks PAKULA changed the course of the duel. In last two matches BAISU and ISTRATE was forced to go full distance to beat Katarzyna RAJKOWSKA and Samuel MICHINA. As it was expected Poland finished second after win over Hungary in third round. Next team on the seedings list Czech Republic is also safely through with two wins over Sweden and Greece. Jan SKALDA Jakub KABELKA Hanka KODETOVA and Tereza KOVARICKOVA lost only one out of 10 matches in the duel against Sweden. It was Mark USOV who gave one point to his team. However in the last round Sweden beat Greece and finished second at the table. Portugal’s YE Dinis Carlos GONCAVLES Julia LEAL and Beatriz PINTO justified their rankings in Group 4 They overcame Croatia Switzerland and North Macedonia. Croatia suffered one defeat and against Switzerland played 3:2 but it was sufficient for the position no. two in the Group. but in Group 5 we have reverse scenario for Italy. The leading team in that groups suffered defeat against Germany 1:4 and they beat Turkey only 2:3.Eventualy Germany concluded day one at the tournament unbeaten at the top of the table. Jonathan GAISER Lukas WANG Elisa NGUYEN and Lisa SOPHIE WANG beat Italy Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Italy is second. In Group 6 England was under pressure against Spain. Kacper PIWOWAR Abraham SELLADO Sienna JETHA and Eva ECCLES won by narow margin 3:2. However against Montenegro and Kosovo they faced no problems on their way to the top of the Group. Without due alarm against the hosts and Kosovo Spain also booked the progress to the A final qualifictions.
Hosts SKST TESLA BATTERIES Havířov looks for semis
The action in the first ever Europe Trophy Grand Finals commences tomorrow at 10 AM CET. The competition started in March with Group phase and this weekend SKST Tesla Batteries Havirov hosts the ultimate stage of the competition. Host nation Czech Republic will have two representatives KST Tesla Batteries Havirov and TT Moravský Krumlov. Men are in Group B with TalTech Sports Club (EST) CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc (ROU) and Draycott & Long Eaton TTC (ENG). “Our basic plan is to advance from the group to the semifinals. Then we’ll see what our chances are. It will be very important whether Zokhid KENYAEV takes office. We have him on the players list but he hasn’t played for our club yet. He is an experienced player and with him our chances would be significantly higher. I think the second group has two favorites for the overall victory clubs from France and Spain. But we will play in our hall that should be an advantage ” said SKST TESLA BATTERIES Havířov coach Kamil KOUTNÝ. In Group A are: Arteal Tenis De Mesa (ESP) Metz TT (FRA) Grantham Academy (ENG) and TJ Geolog Roznava (SVK). In women’s event in Group A are: Panathinaikos A.C. (GRE) SKST Bratislava (SVK) Draycott & Long Eaton TTC (ENG) SCO Ossiachersee Bodensdorf (AUT). Host nation’s representatives are in Group B with Fusion TTC (ENG) KTTC AFP Antwerpen (BEL) SU Sparkasse Kufstein (AUT). “We are looking forward to the Grand Finals it will be another highlight of the season. We arrived with the strongest team and we want to fight for victory. We played the Champions League the European Cup this year and now we are waiting for the end of the Europe Trophy. No other club has played all three competitions. The favorite to win is in my opinion Panathinaikos Athens. They have Szandra PERGEL and Ana TOFANT on the players list they are very good rivals. There will be a strong Austrian Kupfstein in our group but I believe that we will be able to advance ” said Jindřich BÍLA coach of TT Moravský Krumlov.
Europe U13 Challenge brings European hopes to scene
Montenegro Table Tennis Association is working on the final preparations for the ETTU Europe U13 Challenge which will be held in Podgorica from 16 to 19 June. Montenegrin U13 team members is getting ready for the first competition under the national flag. “We are glad that Montenegro Table Tennis Associaiton will host such a big competition. Due to the pandemic which is now behind us our younger players were denied the opportunity to play on the international table tennis scene and apart from the ETTU camp last year they did not have the opportunity to compete with their peers. We will strive for our young players to achieve good results and show good play among the players of 21 European countries thus being the best ambassadors of Montenegro. It is too early to prejudge what success will be but we will do our best to ensure that a good result is not lacking. Also this is a new system of competition where a mixed team consisting of two boys and two girls will perform and that will be a great challenge for us as well as for the other participants” said Dijana ZONJIĆ girls’ coach. The boys’ coach Branko CUBOVIC followed with “We are glad to have the opportunity to host the best European players under 13 in our country. It is a great opportunity for our youngest players to feel the level of the game they are striving for and get motives for further progress. I am sure we will show a great game and achieve a good result.” We are certain that this event will be successful and that participants will enjoy their time in Montenegro.
Mixed Team Event at the 2022 European Under 13 Challenge in Podgorica
On its premiere next week 2022 European Under 13 Challenge in Podgorica will bring some novelty. This tournament will launch the champions in Mixed team event alongside the winners in both Boys and Girls events. In Mixed Team Event each team consist of two boys and two girls. In opening match the mixed doubles will from each team will clash. The duel between girls who were not involved in the opening match follows and third on schedule is the duel between two boys who did not play mixed doubles. The last two matches involves the girls and boys who already played the mixed doubles match. In stage one and two all five matches will be played. Result of the tam match could be 5:0 (5 points) 4:1 (4 points) 3:2 (3 points) 2:3 (2 points) 1:4 (1 point) 0:5 (0 point). There are 21 teams at the list. The top two teams from 6 groups will progress to Stage 2. The winners of the groups will play for the position 1 to 4. The matches starts on Thursday whilst the finals are scheduled Saturday. Singles events will be played during weekend. There are 42 players in each boys and girls event.
Borussia Düsseldorf wins the LIEBHERR TTBL final
Borussia Düsseldorf ended the season in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) with the 32nd German championship in the club’s history: In a battle of nerves in front of 2350 spectators the record champions prevailed 3-2 against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT on Saturday in the Ballsporthalle Frankfurt and thus took revenge for the defeat in the Cup final at the beginning of the year. In the meantime Timo BOLL summed it up perfectly: “We have to win everything now ” said the superstar from Borussia Düsseldorf after the third individual in the Liebherr TTBL final and then had to take a deep breath. At that point Boll’s team had their backs to the wall: Düsseldorf was already 2-1 down against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT but then hit back. In the end the record champions of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) scored a 3-2 win winning the 32nd German championship in the club’s history – and celebrating a few moments later on the center court. “The competition is getting tougher ” said BOLL after winning the title. “We have to fight brutally hard for every title.” Coach Danny HEISTER explained: “It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I’m very very happy that we won. It was a real team effort. I’m incredibly proud of my team.” Saarbrücken once again demanded everything from Düsseldorf: After Anton KÄLLBERG put Borussia ahead with a 3:1 (11:13 11:8 11:6 11:2) against Tomas POLANSKY FCS hit back. First Patrick FRANZISKA beat Dang QIU 3:2 (7:11 11:9 11:8 7:11 11:7) in the duel between the German internationals then Darko JORGIC triumphed after an outstanding performance against Timo Boll. Again and again the points of the Saarbrücken player literally tore the spectators from their seats with JORGIC’S 3:1 (14:12 11:6 8:11 11:4) success the championship was within reach for Saarbrücken. And at the same time a special triumph for Franziska: The FCS captain celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday and had previously announced with a wink that he wanted to drink the birthday champagne from the championship cup. Nothing came of it however as BOLL’S teammates followed the instructions of their leader and did not lose any more games. KÄLLBERG withstood the pressure in the top singles fended off FRANZISKA’S attack in the first set and equalized with his 3:1 (13:11 8:11 11:4 11:6). “Anton played very well ” acknowledged Franziska afterwards. “It’s a pity that I couldn’t steal the first set then it might have been tighter.” Borussia finally had everything under control in doubles – and experienced an emotional farewell: Kristian KARLSSON who will be leaving for the new season after six years in Düsseldorf switched to Hennebont came to his farewell game alongside QIU and made the decision in the title fight with the 3:0 (11:3 11:8 11:8) against POLANSKY/JORGIC. Anton KÄLLBERG who celebrated the TTBL season with a 31:2 individual record explained: “It’s always a fierce fight against Saarbrücken. I’m incredibly proud of the entire team for having pulled off this performance.”
Dimitrj OVCHAROV plays show matches in city center of Munich at Marienplatz
Soon the time will come and hundreds of thousands of people from different cultural backgrounds will travel to the European Championships 2022 in Munich (to be held 11th to 21st August). On 11th June European Championships 2022 Organisers will bring professional table tennis to the city center of Munich at Marienplatz. Table tennis star Dimitrj OVCHAROV will compete in several show matches against the Bavarian champion Daniel RINDERER to show the spectacular action of table tennis to the people of Munich. By hosting the European Championships Munich 2022 the Bavarian state capital will welcome the biggest sporting event since the 1972 Olympic Games. With the sports programme extended to nine Olympic sports the bar has been raised even higher for the second edition. From 11-21 August 2022 more than 4 700 elite athletes will fight for glory in Athletics Beach Volleyball Canoe Sprint Cycling Gymnastics Rowing Sport Climbing Table Tennis and Triathlon. Table tennis events starts on 13th August and it will last until the last day. The venue is Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle which will welcome 260 athletes in 5 medal events.
Timo Boll: I hope we can celebrate KARLSSON’s departure with the title
Borussia Düsseldorf meets 1. FC Saarbrücken TT in the Ballsporthalle Frankfurt on Saturday in the LIEBHERR TTBL final. Players from the record-holding club have set their sights on the 32nd German championship in the club’s history Timo BOLL (41) talked about the showdown in TTBL their challenger Saarbrücken and the farewell to Kristian KARLSSON. In table tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) and Cup Borussia Düsseldorf and 1. FC Saarbrücken TT meets for the third time in a row in a final. What makes the two teams so strong at the moment? “It is the high individual strength of all players. In addition the team spirit is right in both teams ” said BOLL. In the Liebherr Cup final in January BOLL could only watch the 3-1 draw against Saarbrücken due to injury. “I had hoped and also believed that my team would make it anyway. But Saarbrücken had a great day and deserved to win. In the end what counts is the form of the teams on the day with or without Timo BOLL.” Düsseldorf has only lost three of 33 games in all competitions so far – two of them against Saarbrücken. Is that a bad omen or a special incentive for the team? “The games against Saarbrücken are very motivating. You can feel in the preparation that everyone is a bit tenser; everyone is working hard on themselves because we need the best possible performance against them. We definitely feel the pressure they put on us. Not every team can do that. However we now have a very balanced team and very strong different doubles variants. This may be a tiny advantage but we cannot rely on it.” For Kristian KARLSSON the Liebherr TTBL final will be Borussia’s last game for the time being. After six years in Düsseldorf he is moving to Hennebont. What advice will you give him and how difficult will the loss be for the team? “It will definitely be a difficult farewell for both sides. Kristian enjoyed playing in Düsseldorf and we and especially I value him as a great teammate but above all as a wonderful person. We will miss him. I hope we can celebrate his departure with the title in the bag.”
One week until the Europe U13 Challenge starts in Podgorica
Podgorica is getting ready to host the first ever Europe U13 Challenge which will be organized as test event for a future European Under 13 Championships. Organizing team from the Montenegrin Table Tennis Association in close contact with ETTU representatives is working on the final details of the preparations for this tournament. The host association will be represented by promising young players – Anastasija VUJOVIĆ Mia ŽIVANOVIĆ Feđa TALJANOVIĆ and Milan VUČETIĆ who will be led by coaches Dijana ZONJIĆ and Branko CUBOVIĆ. Anastasija VUJOVIĆ and Feđa TALJANOVIĆ took part in last year’s ETTU Development Camp held in Podgorica and as best ranked Montenegrin players under 13 years of age made the choice easy for the national team coaches. The second place for both girls and boys was more challenging to choose as several players showed that they were good contenders for the place. All four players have no major international experience and this tournament will be a great opportunity for them to see where they stand with their European opponents and to play under the national flag of Montenegro for the first time. In just one week the national teams will arrive to Montenegro and we are looking forward to hosting them in sunny Podgorica!
Patrick FRANZISKA: “I plan to drink the birthday champagne from the Cup”
1. FC Saarbrücken TT has its sights set on the first double trophy in the club’s history: In the final of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) the Cup winner will meet Borussia Düsseldorf in the Ballsporthalle Frankfurt on June 11. Six top 20 players in the World rankings will be present on both clubs line ups. One of them will be Patrick FRANZISKA (29) who answered few questions about Saarbrücken’s strengths title prospects in the Liebherr TTBL final and further plans for his 30th birthday. Borussia Düsseldorf has won 30 games out of 33 in all competitions this season. How does it make you feel? “ Positive! After all they suffered two of the defeats against us. That can be repeated” said FRANZISKA. In the Bundesliga (TTBL) and Cup Borussia Düsseldorf and 1. FC Saarbrücken TT meets in a cross-competition final for the third time in a row. “Both clubs have a very high quality teams and also the team around them. In addition the consistency and the good team spirit are impressive on both sides. But the successes would not be possible without the hard work that is done by both Düsseldorf and Saarbrücken.” FCS won the Liebherr Cup final in January 3-1. Please give us three reasons why Saarbrücken could win again on June 11 and creates the first double in the club’s history… “The double we’re dying to win is reason one. The very good shape we showed in the semifinals next. And then of course that I want to celebrate my birthday for two reasons. I’m planning to drink the sparkling wine from the Cup… There will also be a small celebration with close friends and family.” What do you think will be the deciding factor in the Liebherr TTBL final? “The shape on the day will be decisive for these two strong teams – and ultimately also the doubles which is why the line-up is of great importance.” FRANZISKA have been playing for Saarbrücken since 2016; in the Liebherr TTBL final with FCS for the fourth time in a row and recently extended your contract until 2025. With Cedric NUYTINCK and Jin TAKUYA Saarbrücken has signed two more top players for the coming season. “We’ve already done a few training sessions together which showed me that we can achieve a lot. Both are real fighters and therefore fit very well into our team.”
Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki won the eighth title in Poland
Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki clinched the title in Polish Championships. The team from Mazovia defeated Bydgoszcz 3:1 in the LOTTO Superliga Grand Final in its own hall. The Grand Final started better for the winner of the LOTTO Superliga main round. Bydgoszcz thanks to Artur GRELA who has recently been at high disposal took the lead 1-0. Current Polish Youth Champion in first match defeated in three games Marek BADOWSKI who is the idol of the local audience. The defeat of BADOWSKI mobilized the Dartom Bogoria players who dominated the Bydgoszcz team in subsequent games. First SHIYU Sun beat Viacheslav BUROV 3-1 and then Pavel SIRUCEK won against Vladislav URSU 3-0. The triumph of the locals was sealed by the one who started the final battle. Marek BADOWSKI defeated Viacheslav BUROV 2-0 in the fourth match of the day. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki for the sixth time in history won the LOTTO Superliga and for the eighth time they won the gold medal in the Polish Team Championship. The silver medal of LOTTO Polski Cukier Gwiazda Bydgoszcz is the best result in the history of the club. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Lotto Polski Cukier Star Bydgoszcz 3: 1 Marek Badowski – Artur Grela 0: 3 (8:11 7:11 8:11) Shiyu Sun – Viacheslav Burov 3: 1 (8:11 11: 8 11: 8 11: 7) Pavel Sirucek – Vladislav Ursu 3: 0 (11: 5 13:11 11: 9) Marek Badowski – Viacheslav Burov 2: 0 (11:5 16:14)
