In the opening leg of the TAMANNEFTEGAS Champions League Women quarterfinals French TT Saint Quentinois will host Poland’s KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg on Wednesday January 12th. After 7 French PRO matches French representative were in the lead with Etival at the standings in national league but TT Saint Quentinois lost against Metz just before Christmas. “Now we are going to play two national matches: next Friday against French Champion Saint-Denis and next Sunday before the European Champions League quarter final we will meet Schiltigheim. Three matches in six days! We’d like to be in the Final Four at the end of the season “explained TT Saint-Quentinois Team manager Jean-Louis POLARD. The last encounter against the Polish club brings some memories. “We played once against KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg but it was some time ago. It was our first appearance in a European competition in 2012-2013. We lost twice 3/0 in the semifinals of the ETTU Cup against Tarnobrzeg in March 2013. At that time French player Aurore DESSAINT-Le MANSEC was on our side and Polish LI Qian and German Ying HAN were on the other side and they still compete for their clubs.” What do the players and coach expect from the match and what are the good and bad sides for the forthcoming clash? “Obviously the Polish team is a firm favorite for the title with several European Champions in their lineup. They missed last year’s ‘bubble’ competition in Linz for health reasons. Otherwise they should have been seeded N°1 or N°2. But our players will do their best to please their supporters. Unfortunately the spectators will not be present in large numbers as expected due to the health conditions.” Quarterfinal Opening leg Wednesday 12/01/2022 19.30 Saint Quentin: TT Saint Quentinois (FRA) – KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg (POL) Friday 14/01/2022 19.00 Lys Lez Lannoy: CP Lyssois Lille Métropole (FRA) – Metz TT (FRA) Sunday 16/01/2022 16.30 Linz: Linz AG Froschberg (AUT) – Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT (FRA) Tuesday 18/01/2022 18.00 Hodonin: SKST PLUS Hodonin (CZE) – TTC Berlin eastside (GER)
Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT faces Linz for a first time in Champions league
On January 16th Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT will travel to Austria to meet Linz AG Froschberg in the opening leg of the TAMANNEFTEGAS Champions League Women . SHAO Jieni Hana MATELOVA and Marie MIGOT await the duel in full strength and well prepared. “Players had a very full month of December with the French league with the strong four matches in 14 days. They are healthy and they were able to give their best during this first part of the season ” said coach Jerome HUMBERT. The club is doing fine in national championships. “Team is currently at the top of the standings in the Pro A. Players had a good beginning of championship. We are therefore satisfied with the current results but season will be very long and there is yet a lot to play.” Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT does not have a long history in Champions League. “This is only the second time of our history that we have been in the Champion’s League for our club. In addition we have never played against Linz. This will be a very big challenge for our team. They have a top class players very high quality team and long experience of play at this level of competition. We will give the best in forthcoming two matches against Austria’s adversaries. We hope that our spectators will be able to come to Etival to watch the second match on January 21.” Quarterfinal Opening leg Wednesday 12/01/2022 19.30 Saint Quentin: TT Saint Quentinois (FRA) – KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg (POL) Friday 14/01/2022 19.00 Lys Lez Lannoy: CP Lyssois Lille Métropole (FRA) – Metz TT (FRA) Sunday 16/01/2022 16.30 Linz: Linz AG Froschberg (AUT) – Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT (FRA) Tuesday 18/01/2022 18.00 Hodonin: SKST PLUS Hodonin (CZE) – TTC Berlin eastside (GER)
Three titles for URSU and KIRYAKOVA in Moldova
The newly crowned champions in Women’s and Men’s Singles event at the 27th individual Championship in Moldova are Alexandra KIRYAKOVA from Dubossary and Vladislav URSU from Chisinau. Both players won the titles in doubles and together in mixed doubles events. In the men’s singles final Vladislav URSU led by coach Vladimir SEMIPYADNY defeated Evgeniy KOSCHUG 4:0. In the women’s final Alexandra KIRYAKOVA who was present with the coach Valeriy GROSUL beat Valeria VIERU 4: 2. Men singles: 1.Vladislav URSU (Chisinau) 2.Eugene KOSCHUG (Chisinau) 3.Veniamin DUBROVIN (Balti) Women’s singles: 1.Alexandra KIRYAKOVA (Dubossary) 2.Valeria VIERU (Balti) 3.Ekaterina SHMYGANOVSKAYA (Dubossary) Men’s doubles: 1.Vladislav URSU Evgeniy KOSCHUG Women’s doubles: 1.Alexandra KIRYAKOVA Ekaterina SHMYGANOVSKAYA Mixed doubles: 1.Vladislav URSU Alexandra KIRYAKOVA
Season’s Greetings from ETTU President LEVITIN
Dear friends 2021 has been a year we will not forget. There have been so many unforgettable moments which have showcased the best of European table tennis. On the world’s biggest stages our athletes have demonstrated that they can go head-to-head with the best players from around the world. And our young stars have shown just how bright the future is for our continent and how much potential we have not yet realised. It is our mission to fulfil this potential and to elevate European table tennis to the level we all know it belongs. We made important steps on this journey this year. At the 2021 World Table Tennis Championships European athletes won 1 gold 1 silver and 2 bronze medals. At the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 it was 1 silver and 1 bronze. And at the ITTF World Youth Championships our future European stars won 3 gold 8 silver and 11 bronze medals. At all of these events we saw the results of the progress we are making away from the field of play. But we know we can do better and at the ETTU we are committed to the development of our sport throughout Europe. We are grateful that despite the challenges we all faced the competitions could go ahead as planned. Thanks to the hard work of the organisers our athletes were given the platform they deserved to shine and demonstrate what they are capable of. We believe strongly in the importance of hosting sports events safely during this time not just for our athletes but also for the fans and all those watching around the world. Table tennis has an immense power to inspire entertain and bring joy when it is needed most. It was for this reason we also worked hard within Europe to host as many events as safely as possible this year. We were treated to so many excellent European competitions in 2021. From the 2021 GAZPROM European Table Tennis Championships 2020 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships (individual) and 2021 POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 Cup at senior level through to the 2021 GAZPROM European Youth Championships. We must thank our sponsors for their support and ensuring we could finance all the necessary COVID-19 health protocols so we could deliver our event programme and also for giving us a chance to provide prize money on all our major events. Away from the field of play we continued to reform and improve our organisation. Our Executive Board met regularly throughout the year. We launched our new logo and visual identity to reflect the modern dynamic and forward-thinking organisation we have become. This new visual identity is now something we all recognise as it was used across our events this year and is more flexible and attractive for our commercial partners and audiences. There is no doubt 2021 has been a successful year and that working to overcome our common challenges we have grown closer together. But we must always set new targets and be ambitious about what we can achieve. As we look to 2022 we have another exciting year ahead and another year which will require all of us to contribute if we are to be successful. Events are still to be added to our schedule but there are already so many to look forward to. Our men’s and women’s Europe Cup and European Champions League will continue at full steam before we will again host the Europe Top 16 in February. We will also see table tennis make its debut at the European Championships in Munich in August. This prestigious event will provide a strong platform to elevate table tennis in Europe and attract even more people to our sport. At the ETTU we will continue to work with you all next year to enhance the development of our sport in Europe and build on the progress we have made to date. We will be increasing the number of staff within the ETTU to strengthen our operational capacity and allow us to provide more assistance to you the National Associations and LOCs. Under the new leadership of President Petra Sörling we will also maintain positive relations with the ITTF and ensure European interests are represented internationally. There is much to look forward to and working as one team united by our common goals I am confident 2022 can be one of our most successful years yet. I thank you all again for your dedication and support this year and wish you warmest season’s greetings. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sincerely yours Igor Levitin
ETTU Executive Board was held virtually on Tuesday 21st December under the leadership of President Levitin
On Tuesday 21st December a meeting of the ETTU Executive Board was held virtually under the leadership of President Igor Levitin. The President congratulated the new ITTF President Petra Sorling on her appointment. He also expressed his pleasure that many propositions and resolutions to the ITTF AGM and Board of Directors which had been discussed within the Executive Board prior to the Houston meetings had been supported and passed. The Executive Board received updates on the projected 2021 financial result and the detailed and revised 2022 budget. The President outlined the plans for new staff structure commencing in 2022. The Executive Board received reports from the Competitions Development and Marketing Managers on the 2021 activities together with their plans for 2022. The President thanked the Managers for completing a successful programme of events and development activities and for strengthening our marketing activity during a difficult year. As a result of the work done by the ETTU staff in 2021 it was agreed to proceed with paying bonuses to staff for 2021. An update on the European Ranking was received and discussion continued on its implementation. The Executive Board also thanked all ETTU sponsors for the support of our athletes and financing all anti-Covid measures at all our events that we delivered in 2021. President Levitin said that ETTU had fulfilled all its stated obligations to Associations and athletes within 2021 thanked members for their support during his first full year in office thanked members and staff for their contributions to the meeting and sent them Christmas greetings and closed the meeting.
The European Veteran Championships website is available also in Russian
After the versions in Italian English and German the the European Veteran Championships official website is availanle now also in Russian. The Chmpionships is scheduled from 25 June to 2 July 2022 at the Rimini Fair in Italy. People originating from that great country which has written very important pages in the history of many sports and is also a reference nation in table tennis will therefore be able to obtain all the contents relating to the continental event reserved for the Over 40s athletes now available in their language and follow more easily the approach to the competitions. The hope is that many will be able to sign up and decide to spend a period of fun and relaxation in Italy in the company of their families. The link to web site is here
BOLL in quarantine for Christmas FRANZISKA will have New Year’s wedding
Timo Boll who caught the corona virus shortly before the end of the year and his booster appointment probably experiences the saddest Christmas days. “I isolated myself from my wife and our daughter in quarantine ” said Houston’s World Championships bronze medalist. Dima OVTCHAROV does not fly in until Christmas Eve after commitments in the Russian League. The busiest pre-Christmas season is traditionally spent by Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. Because Christmas is not celebrated in Russia until January 7th the Olympic medalists from Tokyo will be working individually until Christmas Eve for his Russian club Fakel Gazprom Orenburg before going to Sweden to see his daughter Emma his wife Jenny and their family. Whether OVTCHAROV will be able to stand at the table again under full stress after his ankle operation at the end of October and the subsequent rehab will be decided at short notice. “Maybe I can already do one or two matches. But I am aiming for January ” said OVTCHAROV. Petrissa Solja is so looking forward to giving presents that it has happened in the past that she distributed presents before Christmas. The two-time European champion celebrates the new year differently than usual: “There is no big celebration on New Year’s Eve this year. I want to be fit for the wedding!” She says. Not for your own mind you. Her mixed partner Patrick FRANZISKA and the sister of World champion in doubles Kristian KARLSSON Frida have long been planning to give each other the church’s vows on January 1st. After all there are not many days in the tournament calendar when table tennis is reliably not played. Nina MITTELHAM European team champion Europe Top 16 winner German individual champion: “I spend the Christmas days at home almost every year since I have come of age. This year we’re celebrating with my parents. We celebrated at my place for the last two years. On the 24th I will go to my parents for dinner unwrapping presents and games where my siblings my friend Sascha and I will be. “ Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Olympic second team Olympic third individual winner of the WTT premiere tournament: “I landed in Russia on Sunday and will be here until the 24th. Then I’ll go back in time for Christmas Eve to Jenny Emma and Jenny’s family to Sweden. “
Titles for Simon GAUZY and JIA Nan Yuan at the 91st French Championships
The 91st edition of the 2021 French Senior Championships concluded last weekend in the Glaz Arena in Cesson-Sévigné with the coronations of Simon GAUZY for the men and JIA Nan Yuan for the women. Seeded n ° 1 the two winners respectively win their 3rd and 6th national crown in singles. Stéphanie LOEUILLETTE and JIA Nan Yuan in the semi finals. JIA Nan Yuan stood out for her experience. However. It was great result for Stéphanie LOEUILLETTE too because she left Cesson with three medals two gold and one bronze. The second semi-final brought two residents of Ile de France against each other Prithika PAVADE (Saint-Denis TT) and YU-Hua Liu (Paris 13 TT). It was a one-sided match – PRITHIKA left no chance for his opponent. A very high level match awaited the public at the Glaz Arena for the first men’s semi-final between Simon GAUZY and Alexis LEBRUN. Simon won his ticket for the final (4-2). Alexis LEBRUN climbed on the podium of the French Senior Championships as 18 years old. Romain RUIZ easily won second semi final against Damien PROVOST. Like LEBRUN it was PROVOST’s first medal rostrum but he is 37 years old. Favorite of this 91st edition JIA Nan Yuan has perfectly assumed her status by winning a sixth title of champion of France after her withdrawal last year. In the final she took over Prithika PAVADE after a very high level meeting. JIA Nan Yuan joins Claude BERGERET and Anne BOILEAU with 6 titles on the clock. A fine performance also from Prithika PAVADE who claimed a silver medal in the women’s singles for the first time in her career. Seeded n ° 1 Simon justified his status by winning the title for the second year in a row. He was able to raise his level of play over the matches and won without much in the final against Romain RUIZ. He becomes triple Champion of France.
Polcanova won Top 12 title in Austria Kopie
Jet lag time shifts corona alarms and more than 20 000 flight kilometers (Linz-USA-Linz – Singapore – Linz – Horn) could not prevent Sofia POLCANOVA’S top 12 victory. Tired but overjoyed Sofia Polcanova received the trophy after her hard-fought 3-0 win over Yuan Liu. “I was nervous and came into play better and better in a high-class match against a strong adversary ” said POLCANOVA. Sofia hopes that in the next few weeks she will find her way back to her top form before her almost two-year injury phase. Her Linz teammates hope that too as the first Champions League quarter final against France’s ETIVAL CLAIRFONTAINE is already on the program on January 16 in Linz. Simon Pfeffer delivered the big surprise at the Generali Austria Top 12 in Horn (Lower Austria). The Kapfenberger defeated the top seeded Robert GARDOS 3: 2 in the semifinals but then failed in his second final after 2019 against Daniel HABESOHN with 0: 3. For the Viennese it was the sixth success in this prestigious tournament.
Season closing in Romania’s Buzau
The last camp in 2021 4th ETTU Development Camp U-13 is running now in Buzau Romania. “we have superior accommodation and food in Hotel Sport B90 and excellent conditions in the renovated sports hall “Romeo Iamandi” with excellent young players and sparring partners from Romania ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. The camp is run by the same trio as in 2019: Anamaria SEBE MIRICA Alexandru GHEORGHE and Andrei NEF (fitness coach). “In total we have 24 players and 14 coaches ” added CEGNAR .
