The 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals commenced today with the matches in the Men’s and Women’s Singles Event. For the coming week Houston Texas will be the world capital of table tennis. The city will become the first-ever host of the event in the Americas. The opening stage Round of 128 already brought fierce dules for the Europeans.Netherlands’ Britt EERLAND seeded at the position no. 28 recovered from 3:1 in reverse to overcame no. 135 seed Serbia’s Sabina SURJAN (11:9 7:11 11:8 11:8 4:11 7:11 6:11). “I needed time to use to the venue the tournament and the match whilst Sabina adapted much easier. I was 3:1 down by pushing it too much. I got frustrated and I had to change the whole approach. I pushed myself ‘just one more point’ and then everything got smoother. I restored my confidence and I fought for my game. I am proud of myself that I fought my way out of being in such big reverse and it gave me extra confidence for the next round ” said EERLAND. Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy overcame Yadira SILVA of Mexico (11:8 3:11 11:5 6:11 9:11 5:11). The seed no. 33 Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania managed to play well after the injury. SAMARA overcame Anna WEGRZYN of Poland (6:11 9:11 4:11 8:11). “I am coming after back injury which requires time to recover and it takes time to reach my top shape but I am happy that after a month I can already play without pain. First match is always difficult but I was well prepared. I played against WEGRZYN in Polish League and I knew it what I have to do ” explained SAMARA. No 42 seed Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic justified her rankings and overcame Georgina POTA of Hungary no. 52 seed in four games but much closer than the result predicts (13:11 11:9 11:7 8:11 11:4). “I would say it was a great match from my side. It was very important that I won first and second game. They were very close. Here I just want to focus on game and to do my best ” said MATELOVA. In straight games YUAN Jia Nan of France overcame Cuba’s Daniela ORTEGA (8:11 5:11 4:11 8:11) whilst Natalia BAJOR of Poland prevailed against Belgium’s Nathalie MARCHETTI (5:11 11:7 7:11 8:11 11:9 8:11). The list of winner from Europe are extended with the name of Turkey’s Sibel ALTINKAYA who needed only four games to overcame Mabelyn ENRIQUEZ (5:11 2:11 7:11 5:11). Portugal’s Joao GERALDO overcame Bence MAJAROS of Hungary (7:11 13:11 12:14 11:5 11:7 11:8) whilst Swede Anton KALLBERG beat Lubomir JANCARIK of Czech Republic (11:6 11:4 11:2 11:5). Another Portugal’s representative no. 24 seed Marcos FREITAS overcame England’s Paul DRINKHALL (12:10 5:11 10:12 3:11 9:11). “ It was a very tough match. The opening encounter is always hard… It was very interesting to play at the main court; at the table number one. I am very happy with my victory and with my overall performance. DRINKHALL is a very good player he played very well in past few months. Now I just need to rest and to see who will come against me in the next round ” explained FREITAS. Paul is out but his teammate Samuel WALKER recorded opening round victory against Daniel GONZALES of Puerto Rico (11:8 11:4 11:8 8:11 11:4). “I feel happy to get through my first match. I thought I played a good enough match to do what I needed to but I need to improve on some things for the next one. The next match against Lebesson will be a hard match so I’m looking forward to a big fight and I’ll be ready for that!” promised WALKER. Adam SZUDI of Hungary overcame Khalid ASSAR of Egypt ins straight games (2:11 4:11 8:11 9:11). or Robert GARDOS of Austria had much closer encounter against Anders LIND of Denmark he was stretched to full distance (13:11 11:8 8:11 6:11 11:5 8:11 13:11). “I started very well I was calm and I was 2:0 up despite that he had 5:0 advantage in the opening game and he also had a better start of the second game. I was just calm and managed to produce better game in the finish. At 2:0 and 7:6 for me I lost my focus in some arguing and on the other side he started to play much better. LIND leveled at two all and forced me to change my game. I started to play much more aggressive faster and simple to win the fifth game before he raised his game once again. It was very good performance from both of us especially in the decisive game. LIND had a better start 4:2 but in very fast exchanges and few contra spins from my side I earned 8:4 lead then 9:7 before we reached 10:10 and in really close finish I won. It was very hard match and I am very tired ” said GARDOS. Adopting a revamped and expanded format for the first time the flagship event feature 128 players in singles (Men and Women) and 64 pairs in each of the doubles competitions (Men Doubles Women Doubles Mixed Doubles) competing in a straight knockout format.
Week of fierce fights and incredible challenges in Huston
The 2021 World Table Tennis Championships Finals commences tomorrow in the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston USA. The draw for the competition was held last night. Only two European players will be free in the opening Round of 128 players In Men’s Singles – Mattias FALCK of Sweden ranked at the position 10 at the World Rankings and one place below Worlds no. 11 Timo BOLL of Germany. In Women’s Singles for Europeans the fights commneces already tomorrow with the matches in in the first round. For all players there is a long and hard way. Finalist from the World Championships in 2019 FALCK has Chinese Taipei’s LIN Yun-Ju the no.4 seed in his part of the draw. They could meet in the quarters if previously FALCK potentionaly beat Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA the no.13 seed. In the same part is Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA the no.10 seed who could play against LIN in the same round. Four players from China are in the top half of the draw it means just one in the lower section ZHOU Qihao. He presents a most intriguing situation in the second round Germany’s Timo BOLL the no.8 seed awaits. Timo BOLL and ZHOU Qihao are listed in the same quarter of the draw as Korea Republic’s LEE Sangsu the no.16 seed and Japan’s Tomokazu HARIMOTO the no.2 seed. Nothing easier will be in the Doubles. Outstanding in Budapest in the Men’s doubles seeking to repeat their silver medal success the combination of Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU and Spain’s Alvaro ROBLES the no.4 seeds appear in the same half of the draw as two Chinese partnerships. LIN Gaoyuan and LIANG Jingkun the top seeds who could well meet Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA and João MONTEIRO in round two bronze medallists in Budapest appear in the same half of the draw as does the combination of FAN Zhendong and WANG Chuqin the no.9 seeds. They are potential third round adversaries for Ovidiu Ionescu and Alvaro Robles. The background for the classifications which do not always correctly reflect the balance of power in world of table tennis is the world ranking list which is not particularly meaningful due to the pandemic and which – together with current results in doubles – forms the basis for the rankings. Many nations only visited the few tournaments sporadically or not at all shifts in the World rankings were a consequence the consequences are obvious in the draw. DTTB sports director Richard PRAUSE explains: “The world rankings have been shaken up a bit by Corona. Players who have toured many tournaments are ranked a bit higher. Other players who are normally expected further up in the seeding are behind due to a lack of tournament participation. In doubles the current results were used as a basis. That’s okay too but it sometimes led to some surprising classifications. In singles and doubles this means that there are or may be early encounters between stronger athletes than would otherwise have been the case at a World Championships. As a result we are faced with some very challenging tasks very early on. But that doesn’t just affect us as the example of China in the men’s singles shows. In a non-Corona time with significantly more competitions the World rankings and thus the settings that make such constellations possible would probably have looked different.” All the European players in the Women’s Singles Event will start from Round one. Best seeded is Sofia POCANOVA of Austria at the position no. 13 followed by Petrisa SOLJA of Germany three positions below. In the fourth Round POLCANOVA could meet WANG Manyu no. 4 seed whilst European champion SOLJA will head to cleash against Mima ITO of Japan at the same stage. In Women’s Doubles CHEN Chien-An and CHUANG Chih-Yuan aiming to regain their title whilst SUN Yingsha and WANG Manyu the no.11 seeds aim to retain the title won in Budapest. On their way to the top they could meet Germany’s SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA the no.6 seeds and reigning European champions in round three.
The Greek federation is increasing the promotion of the sport with WEB TV
The Hellenic Table Tennis Federation enhances the promotion of the sport and at the same time gives new motivations to young athletes through television on the internet. With the aim of further developing the sport it significantly increased its material on its youtube channel (the link here ) in 2021 with live broadcasts and many many videos from all its championships both in the team as well as at the individual level. HTTV shows highlights from the contests and makes reports but also free subjects as a documentary. With its rich material it opens abroad as well as in the championship of the A1 national category stars of Europe and not only participate this year! In the men’s event Olympiacos has agreed with the Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia Alexandar SIBAEV of Russia Joao MONTEIRO of Portugal Panathinaikos with the Croatian Andrei GACINA Jakub DYJAS of Poland Jorge CAMPOS of Cuba Pera Athens the Thai Padasak TANVIRIYAVETSAKUL Ifitos Patras with the Serb Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC and Rethymno with the Frenchman Paul GAUZY. In the women Olympiakos shows the Sweden’s Li FEN Ukraine’s Margarita PESOTSKA Hungary’s Dora MANDARAS and renewed its cooperation with the Spain’s Galia DVORAK and the Swede Christina KALLBERG. Panathinaikos acquired Serbia’s Sabina SURJAN and Hungary’s Sandra PERGEL Poland’s Anna Katarzyna GRIBOVSKA and Slovenia’s Ana TOFANT while Florina’s Sarises kept France’s LIU Judith Marion BERTAU and add in the roster Paulina KRZYSIEK from Poland and Ekaterina GUSEVA from Russia. All these great athletes will go through the cameras of the Greek federation with their matches in the championship or in the Greek Cup.
ETTU Executive Board meeting – November 17th
On Wednesday November 17 ETTU Executive Board held a meeting under the leadership of the President Igor Levitin. The President greeted the Chairwoman of the Athletes’ Commission Polina Mikhailova at her first meeting. The President informed about the problems with visa processing and vaccination requirements for the 2021 ITTF World Championship in Houston USA as well as that active negotiations are underway with ITTF and LOC to eliminate all difficulties in preparation for the World Championships. The Executive Board discussed proposals and resolutions that will be discussed at the ITTF AGM on November 24. The President went on to express his frustration regarding the improper organisation of the last two ETTU events – Youth TOP-10 in Tours France and U21 European Championships in Spa Belgium. A large number of complaints were received from athletes and coaches who were dissatisfied with the level of organisation and the conditions for training and playing. The President pointed to a lack of oversight by ETTU staff responsible for ensuring that all conditions for the proper conduct of the competition are met. The President instructed to develop a package of requirements for bids for all tournaments under the auspices of ETTU with financial responsibility for non-compliance for LOC. Also the Executive Board discussed the organisation of the TOP-16 Europe Cup 2022. Executive Board members were informed that at the ITTF AGM on November 24 it is proposed to change the structure of the ITTF Executive Committee related to the inclusion of Continental Presidents. Due to the fact that not all the Continental Presidents are being candidates for Executive Vice-Presidents the President decided to withdraw his candidacy for the position of ITTF Executive Vice President to ensure equal conditions for all Continental Presidents and got the full approval from all ETTU Executive Board members. President Levitin thanked the participants for their contribution and closed the meeting.
The 2022 European Veteran Championships open to Paralympic athletes
The European Veteran Championships that will take place from 25 June to 2 July 2022 at the Rimini Fair in Italy is destined to become an unforgettable edition in the history of the event. In fact for the first time there will be competitions reserved also for Paralympic table tennis players at the next European Veteran Championships. The International Federation has decided however given the novelty of the initiative to limit participation only to over 40 athletes in possession of the ITTF classification and not to include the doubles competition. The age category will be only over 40. The competitive program for the over 40s will therefore also assign the following 4 titles: – class 1-5 male singles (for wheelchair users) – class 6-10 male singles (for standing athletes) – class 1-5 female singles (for wheelchair users) – class 6-10 female singles (for standing athletes) Registrations are open on this page: https://www.ttm.co.at/evc2022/shop/shops/wizard/people The cost of registration in the competition reserved for Italian Paralympic athletes members of the Italian Table Tennis Federation will be only € 100.00 instead of € 135.00 (as provided for everyone else). So even the Paralympic athletes and their families will therefore join the great European table tennis community which will live an experience destined to leave a mark in the famous town of the Romagna Riviera. For information on the complete participation regulations please consult this page
From Munich to Uganda – European Championships Munich 2022
The European Championships Munich 2022 is calling for the longest digital table tennis rally looking to create big impact with the help of team spirit. Count & Last is an initiative of the European Championships Munich 2022 contributing to the ecological social and economic sustainability of Munich 2022. In addition to specific measures within the organisation of the multi-sport event the initiative includes 12 challenges everyone – from young to old – can participate in and make a difference. The third project of Count & Last “From Munich to Uganda – Let’s play table tennis!” started on 1 November 2021. The aim is to achieve 1 000 digital table tennis ball hits from 1 to 20 November 2021. Our official table tennis supplier TIBHAR is supporting the project with a donation of €4 per shot to benefit the children from Slum Ping Pong. Slum Ping Pong is a project in Kampala Uganda which uses table tennis to provide children and young people living in slums of Kampala with more happiness and access to education. In order not only to reach the goal of 1 000 digital table tennis rallies but above all to fulfil the dream of the children in Kampala of having their own gym for training and also to enable slum ping pong to continue providing school fees health costs training camps tournaments etc. for the slum children we need your support! Because only with team spirit and a wide reach we can achieve the necessary attention and participation. You can supportthe project by sharing the videos with the tag @munich2022 and hashtags #Munich2022 and #BackToTheRoofs on your social media channels. Fantastic prizes can be won. All participants have the chance to win a €150 TIBHAR voucher and two tickets for the men’s and women’s singles table tennis finals at the European Championships 2022! Click at the following link for the official project website: From Munich to Uganda – European Championships Munich 2022
PIKA-program at Halmstad University- Professional Sports Career and Working Life
A unique opportunity for EU citizens – Professional Sports Career and Working Life (PIKA) at Halmstad University in the south of Sweden is a bachelor’s program in sports science. The program is designed for elite athletes to be able to combine their sporting career at the same time as they study relevant courses for a working life after their career. “For students to have good opportunities to train compete or coach alongside their studies we have chosen to spread three years of study over four years. We create an even more flexible approach by recording all lectures so that students can choose when they want to listen to a lecture ”said Urban Johnson Ph.D. Professor University of Halmstad.. In the program Professional Sports Career and Working Life students develop knowledge in sports-related areas such as sports psychology sports biomechanics and sports physiology. They apply the knowledge to their own sports and in that way give themselves the conditions for a long-term healthy and sustainable career. A lot of this sports-related knowledge can be transferred to other areas of working life for example from courses that deal with the development of individuals groups and organizations. They gain basic knowledge in economics law and strategic communication which they benefit from both in professional sports and in working life. There are advantageous prerequisities for international students to study in Sweden at University level when it comes to the economic situation. How to apply for international students – follow link. Read more: https://hh.se/pika
Record breaking 2021 GAZPROM Under 21 Championships
At the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa 32 medals has been won by 26 different players. That is a record for U21. Only one player won 3 medals and that is Mariia TAILKOVA. Russia’s player won silver in singles and bronze in Doubles and Mixed Doubles with Elizabeta ABRAAMIAN and Vladimir SIDORENKO. Greek player Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS is the first one to win the singles title two times in 2019 and in 2021. In Gondomar he overcame Gerrit ENGEMANN of Germany in the final whilst in Spa he prevailed against Maxim GREBNEV of Russia. Annett KAUFMANN is the youngest winner of an Europeanu Under 21 Championships. Annett is born on 23rd June 2006 and now is 15 years and 5 months 2 month younger than Pritikha PAVADE (2-8-2004) who won in March 2020. Ozge YILMAZ and Ece Harac join HU Melek as 2nd and 3rd Turkish women with a European title ever. Medals Table GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships 2021 Players Name Assoc Gold Silver Bronze Andrea Dragoman ROU 1 1 Adrien Rassenfosse BEL 1 Olav Kosolosky BEL 1 Annett Kaufmann GER 1 Rares Sipos ROU 1 Ozge Yilmaz TUR 1 Ece Harac TUR 1 Ioannis Sgouropoulos GRE 1 Mariia Tailakova RUS 1 2 Maksim Grebnev RUS 1 1 Ivor Ban CRO 1 Bastian Rembert FRA 1 Isa Cok FRA 1 Csaba Andras HUN 1 Sabina Surjan SRB 1 Tijana Jokic SRB 1 Irving Bertrand FRA 2 Lev Katsman RUS 2 Maciej Kolodzieczyk AUT 1 Leili Mostavavi FRA 1 Franziska Schreiner GER 1 Vladislav Ursu MDA 1 Vladimir Sidorenko RUS 1 Elisabet Abraamian RUS 1 Tatiana Kukulkova SVK 1 Ema Labosova SVK 1 Associations Gold Silver Bronze GER 1 1 ROU 1 1 BEL 1 TUR 1 GRE 1 RUS 1 4 FRA 1 2 CRO 1 HUN 1 SRB 1 AUT 1 MDA 1 SVK 1
Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS’s golden farewell from the Under 21 Category
In his last year in Under 21 category Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece clinched gold medal at the 2021 European Under 21 Championships in Spa. In the final he overcame Russia’s Maksim GREBNEV (11:6 7:11 12:10 13:15 11:9 10:12 11:7). Bronze medalists are Irvin BERTRAND of France and Lev KATSMAN of Russia. In the Group stage Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS already beat GREBNEV once but this time it was even harder. “It was really difficult to achieve that win especially now when is so much on stake. I was under stress and nervous ” said SGOUROPOULOS.”I am happy that I can leave this category with the gold.” Greek player was under severe pressure on this Championships. “Against ROSSI in Round of 16 it was 3:3 and I was 3:8 down than in semis…”reminded us SGOUROPOULOS. In the penultimate stage Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS recovered from 3:0 in reverse to overcame Lev KATSMAN of Russia (11:7 11:9 11:9 8:11 10:12 8:11 7:11). “I did not expect Lev will play the way he did. We are in the same club we train together and that what he had played surprised me. I was not ready for that. I felt incredible pressure and I was looking for the right tactics ” said SGOUROPOULOS. After 3:0 Greek played managed to find the right rhythm. “I played closer to-the table. At the beginning Lev kept me far from it and it made me feel uncomfortable ” explained SGOUROPOULOS. However Russia’s place in the final was secured by Maksim GREBNEV. He overcame Irvin BERTRAND of France in five games (11:2 11:8 11:6 10:12 11:8). “I played short-short to him and that is the play he is not comfortable with. In fourth game with “bananas” situation worsened for me but I made my way through. I lost one game but it did not put me out the rhythm very much ” said GREBNEV who could not hold himself of playing behind his back on match ball at 10:7.
Annett KAUFMANN came in the last minute and conquered Spa
European cadet singles champion from Varazdin this year Annett KAUFMANN of Germany clinched the title in the Women’s Singles Event at the 2021 GAZPROM European Under 21 Championships in Spa. In the final she overcame Russia’s Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia (11:13 11:6 9:11 8:11 11:7 8:11). Bronze medalists are Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania and Franziska SCHREINER of Germany. Annett KAUFMANN came to Spa with the wild card and in the final match she overcame the no. one seed. She is the youngest winner of an European Under 21 Championships. Annett (23-6-2006) is now 15 years and 5 months 2 month younger than Pritikha Pavade (2-8-2004) who won in March 2020. “I can not believe I did it. It was not planed that I will be here at all and now I am the winner. I am so happy. TAILAKOVA played fantastic matches during the tournament and I still do not believe I beat her. It was hard tournament for me mentally. I always want to win and being in such fierce competition it is sometimes difficult. I was overwhelmed with all what was happening here ” said Annett KAUFMANN. In the penultimate stage of the event Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia overcame silver medalist from last year’s edition of the U21 Championships in Varazdin Andreea DRAGOMAN of Romania in five games (6:11 11:5 11:9 11:5 18:16). “We played against each other long time ago and a lot things changed in time of Covid. We did not have a chance to meet recently so I did not know what to expect. That is why I had a slow start I had to see what to play against Andreea. Then I found the right tactics I attacked her from the first ball and took over the control. At the end I had a match point at 10:8 I wanted to finish quick but I rushed too much and that costed me few points. At the end it was 50/50 but I prevailed ” explained TAILAKOVA. In all-German clash Annett KAUFMANN overcame Franziska SCHREINER. “I am happy that I won this one but it was very hard. They tell us to be professional and to play without emotions but it is difficult. I faced my friend who is in my team we share the room together train together…It was not easy to act like it is any other match. On top of all Franziska played extremely good. I had to preform my top game in order to keep the game under control. It was amazing match ” explained KAUFMANN.
