For a fourth time in history UCAM Cartagena T.M. clinched the title in the Europe Cup Women. Spanish club beat French Grand Quevilly in the final of the competition. Maria XIAO won the opening match against LI Samoson by sudden death point. It was LI who had a better start and Maria was down 0:1 and 1:2 but managed to level and to reach the sixth point first in decisive game. Dora MADARASZ won opening two games against Pauline CHASSELIN but in third French player managed to settle into the better rhythm. It was 7:5 7:7 and at the end 11:7 in third game. By narrow margin in fourth game Pauline extended the match. Once again the match was resolved by sudden death point however this time the nerves – wrecking finish went to French account. Anais SALPIN beat Silvia EREDLYI to give her club advantage but Maria XIAO was at the top of the game once again against CHASSELIN. UCAM Cartagena T.M – Grand Quevilly 3:2 Maria XIAO – LI Samson 3:2 (5:11 11:6 7:11 11:8 6:5) Dora MADARASZ – Pauline CHASSELIN 2:3 (11:5 11:6 7:11 10:12 5:6) Silvia ERDELYI – Anais SALPIN 1:3 (6:11 10:12 11:9 8:11) Maria XIAO – Pauline CHASSELIN 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:7 15:13) Dora MADARASZ – LI Samson 3:0
KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg clinched the title in the Champions League
For a second time in history KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg clinched the title in the European Champions Legue Women. In the final they overcame defending champions TTC Berlin eastside in both legs. Both times in Poland week ago and in Germany tonight they prevailed in full distance thrillers. The opening match between Nina MITTELHAM and FU Yu concluded in straight games but there were few tense moments especially in the first game. Nina was 8:4 ahead but FU managed to level. However after that the control was constantly in MITTELHAM’s hands. SHAN Xiaona was also down 3:9 against YANG Xiaoxin before SHAN narrowed the gap. Eventually YANG won the opening game but SHAN had a better start in next before Monaco’s player recovered to win the second game. In third SHAN changed the course of the match. She won the third and in thrilling fourth pushed the match into decisive game. In final game YANG sealed the victory. Britt EERLAND struggled to find any chank in HAN Ying’s armor in the opening game. It was 0:10 before the game even heated up. At 1:4 in next HAN did not lose the steam so Britt called for the time out. At 8:4 after brilliant stroke from HAN EERLAND got injured but after another time – out she returned. HAN stayed on the same path and the match concluded in three games. Nina MITTELHAM was the main power in Berlin’s club. On her second exit to the table she beat YANG Xiaoxin and pushed the hosts into decisive match. SHAN fought hard but Portugal’s FU was stronger tonight. Final – second leg TTC Berlin eastside – KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg 2:3 Nina MITTELHAM – FU Yu 3:0 (11:8 11:7 11:5) SHAN Xiaona – YANG Xiaoxin 2:3 (7:11 5:11 11:9 12:10 3:6) Britt EERLAND – HAN Ying 0:3 (2:11 6:11 7:11) Nina MITTELHAM – YANG Xiaoxin 3:1 (14:12 5:11 11:9 11:9) SHAN Xiaona – FU Yu 1:3 (13:11 7:11 7:11 4:11) Opening leg KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg – TTC Berlin eastside 3:2 HAN Ying – SHAN Xiaona 3:2 (12:10 8:11 14:16 14:12 6:2) YANG Xiaoxin – Nina MITTELHAM 3:0 (11:3 11:8 11:9) Elizabeta SAMARA – Britt EERLAND 1:3 (11:7 6:11 9:11 10:12) HAN Ying – Nina MITTELHAM 2:3 (11:6 12:14 12:10 3:11 1:6) YANG Xiaoxin – SHAN Xiaona 3:1 (11:8 10:12 11:8 11:4)
Everything is open in Wien
The second leg of the Europe Cup Men will be played on Saturday in Austria. Previously Italy’s USD Apuania Carrara Tennistavolo lost after the long distance thriller against SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt 2:3. Last week’s host depended heavily on newly crowned champion of the WTT Star Contender Doha 2022 Andrej GACINA and he justified his role with two wins. Unfortunately it was insufficient because Frane KOJIC beat Lubomir PISTEJ and Tomas KONECNY overcame Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA and in the decisive duel Felix WETZEL beat PISTEJ. “We were unlucky. I was play good but MUTTI was positive for covid and he was not able to come and PISTEJ suffered by the back injury until the beginning of the match. Ten days before he got injury and he started not well recovered. His performance was not at the top level. The important math between Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA and Tomas KONECNY was decided with one point ” said GACINA. It was 3:2 so everything is possible. “It is very open match ahead of us. We have chances but we are not thinking of it; we only wants to give our best. After we will see and analyse.” Frane KOJIC is satisfied with the outcome of the opening leg. “In the first match whole team was at the level which allowed us to win. However with the 3:2 victory there is absolutely no advantage for return leg. Saturday is the new day we will play the new match in different venue and with different balls…”explained KOJIC. Only what is for certain for Croatian star is the faith in the team. “We will give our best and we will try to make our supporters happy on the home soil. We are aware they are favorites having GACINA playing in superb shape now but everything is open ” concluded Frane KOJIC.
Ultimate battle for the 2022 crown in Berlin
On home soil on Friday at 18.30 CET TTC Berlin eastside will clash with KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg in the second leg of the European Champions League Women’s final. They suffered by the hands of the Poland’s club players in the opening leg but narrow defeat provides them with a lot of space to change the course of the final in their advantage. Winners of the Champions league in 2019 KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg will have really tough task against defending champions TTC Berlin eastside. German club have been at the top of the medal rostrum five times already. In the opening duel HAN Ying and YANG Xiaoxin had a very good start against SHAN Xiaona and Nina MITTELHAM but then Britt EERLAND changed the course of the match against Elizabeta SAMARA. It is not sure that SAMARA will play in the return leg due the neck injury she suffered in opening leg. “I got injured in the second game but fortunately we have a strong team In Berlin it will be open match with the new system everything is possible so we expect again a top class duel ” said SAMARA who also confirmed that she is feeling better now regarding the injury.
Dora MADARASZ: I hope the spectators will give us support
Their away match against French ALCL TT Grand Quevilly Spanish UCAM Cartagena concluded with the straight matches win. The return leg of the final of the Europe Cup Women is scheduled for Friday 19 CET. In first match Maria XIAO beat Pauline CHASSELIN 3:1. LI Fen needed only three to overcome Anis SALPIN and Dora MADARASZ went full distance against LI Samson. “I think score does not really show how difficult match it was; especially my encounter against LI. However I am very happy that we could win 3-0 at the end especially as a guest team. Second leg will be more difficult because we know how close we are to trophy and that puts some extra pressure on us. In my case I will fight against the pressure by being focused on my match and always for the next ball. We are ready and cannot wait for the second leg at home and hope lot of spectators will come to cheer for us ” said Dora MADARASZ.
Eurotalents Development Camp U-15 / U-17 I in Vila Nova de Gaia
Eurotalents Development Camp Under 15 and Under17 I is running now in Portugal’s Vila Nova de Gaia (April 3rd – 10th 2022) “We have just finished the first day of our first Eurotalents Development Camp. We have excellent conditions at the FPTM National Center Pavilhao Municipal. On duty are three coaches who run the camp: Ricardo OLIVEIRA Francisco SANTOS and Joao NEVES who is fitness trainer ” reported ETTU Development Manager Neven Cegnar. The total of 36 players and 15 coaches from 13 national associations are present in Portugal. “We are pleased that on Wednesday all our young players and coaches will participate in the valuable ITTF project WTTD 2022 which is prepared and led by ETTU Special Projects Operations Manager Galia DVORAK ” announced CEGNAR.
YANG Xiaoxin led KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg to another victory
Winners of the Champions league in 2019 KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg won the opening leg of the Women’s final against defending champions TTC Berlin eastside. This week’s finalist of the WTT Star Contender Doha 2022 HAN Ying reached beat SHAN Xiaona in thrilling five games opening match. Teammates from German national team pushed each other to the limits but eventually HAN’s defensive skills prevailed. After the drama in the opening match duel between YANG Xiaoxin and Nina MITTELHAM was resolved in quick three games. Britt EERLAND brought Germany’s club back in game with the victory over Elizabeta SAMARA. Britt recovered after being down one game to null to win her match. On her second exit to the table HAN Ying was forced to go full five games once again but this time she lost. Nina MITTELHAM lost the opening game struggled in the second and third but in superb style won last two games. In decisive match YANG Xiaoxin added another win to her scoreboard. SHAN Xiaona did not manage to find the answer to her game. KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL Tarnobrzeg – TTC Berlin eastside 3:2 HAN Ying – SHAN Xiaona 3:2 (12:10 8:11 14:16 14:12 6:2) YANG Xiaoxin – Nina MITTELHAM 3:0 (11:3 11:8 11:9) Elizabeta SAMARA – Britt EERLAND 1:3 (11:7 6:11 9:11 10:12) HAN Ying – Nina MITTELHAM 2:3 (11:6 12:14 12:10 3:11 1:6) YANG Xiaoxin – SHAN Xiaona 3:1 (11:8 10:12 11:8 11:4)
The draw for the B Groups European Teams Championships is completed
After the weekend full of action in C Groups Stage 1 of the European Teams Championships six teams in each in Men’s and Women’s Event completed the draw for the B Groups. First three teams from the each group qualified for the B groups Stage 1. In sub Group A in C Groups at the tournament played in the Nicosia at Cyprus top three teams are Lithuania Armenia and Cyprus. Lithuania represented by Andrius PREIDZIUS Lukas RIMKUS Matas VILKAS and Kestutis ZEIMYS beat all five teams in the Group. Beside Armenia and host they met San Marino Scotland and Malta. Armenia represented by Varuzhan BAGHDASARYAN Davit GHOTANYAN and Harutyun HARUTYUNYAN suffered only one defeat whilst Cyprus with Marios YIANGOU Yiangos YIANGOU Iosif ELIA Sharpel ELIA Stylianos GEORGIOU Hristo HRISTONOV Christos SAVVA and Andreas TSISSIOS lost to top two teams. Lithuania is in B 1 Group with Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina Armenia is in the B3 Group with Turkey and Estonia and Cyprus is in the B5 Group with Hungary and Switzerland. In Bulgaria hosts booked top position in second Group of C Groups whilst Norway and Latvia follows. The lineup for hosts included the names of Teodor ALEXANDROV Eren BEKIR Denislav KODJABASHEV Radoslav KOTEV Petyo KRASTEV and they remained unbeaten after four matches. They did not lose even one individual match. In the Group also played Iceland and Kosovo. Norway with Borgar HAUG Lars RØNNEBERG and Finn VETVIK had one defeat whilst Latvia lost two matches. For Latvia played Arturs REINHOLDS Daniels KOGANS Aleksandrs MASKALONOKS Olegs KARTUZOVS. Bulgaria will play in Stage 1 B Groups in B6 against Luxembourg and Israel Norway is in B2 with Netherlands and Ireland and Latvia is in B4 with Finland and Montenegro. In Women’s Teams Switzerland Finland and Latvia clinched top three places in A Group. Switzerland played with Rachel MORET Fanny DOUTAZ Ludivine MAURER and Nina TULLII. Finland listed with Ramona Maarit BETZ Marina DONNER Anna KIRICHENKO and Aleksandra TITIEVSKAJA lost only to Switzerland and Latvia with Baiba BOGDANOVA Sabina MUSAJEVA and Margarita SMIRNOVA failed to beat the top two teams. In the Group also played Scotland and Malta. In other Group Israel clinched top position ahead of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Elinor DAVIDOV Sinai ITZHAKI and Vital KARLIN remained unbeaten after four matches. Montenegro with Dragana and Snezana CULAFIC Simona PEROVIC and Ivona PETRIC lost only to Israel. Dzana BIOGRADLIC Marija GNJATIC Ema LOVRIC Snezana MARKOVIC and Harisa MESETOVIC were on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s list. In the Group also played Kosovo and Cyprus. In Group B1 in Stage 1 will play Croatia Norway and Finland. In Group B2 will play Belgium Israel and Switzerland; in B3 will play England Estonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina; in B4 Greece Wales and Montenegro and in Group B5 Bulgaria Lithuania and Latvia. The final stage of the 2023 European Team Championships will be played in Malmo from 10th to 17th September 2023.
Ina Wiekart – Jager passed away
On Thursday March 31 2021 Ina WIEKART – JAGER passed away after a very short illness at the age of almost 75. Ina Member of Merit of the Dutch Table Tennis Association was a well-known national and international umpire. A role she fulfilled since 1978. Since 1978 she fulfilled the role of national umpire and in 1988 she became an International Umpire and in 2004 she passed the exam for a Blue Badge umpire. Ina was a frequently requested umpire/referee at tournaments in The Netherlands and also umpired at several international events including at World Championships European Championships European Youth Championships European Championship and World Championship for Veterans European Games European Cup competitions and Open Championships. She has officiated at more than 80 international events. She traveled frequently to represent her beloved sport of table tennis and was regularly asked to act as Umpire. The highest achievement of her career was the Paralympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. When fulfilling her role as an umpire/(deputy-)referee she is characterized as being resolute and clear. In The Netherlands she is considered one of the driving forces behind the expert group Training Arbitration as trainer and a coach of starting umpires and as an assessor of umpires. The Dutch Table Tennis Association appointed her as a member of the Awards Grant Committee. On 31 May 2008 Ina WIEKART – JAGER received the NTTB Insigne and on 12 May 2018 was appointed as Member of Merit of the Dutch Table Tennis Association. For Ina’s many national and international achievements she was appointed Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau in 2004. The table tennis world lost a very active and driven volunteer in Ina. We wish her husband friends and acquaintances a lot of strength in processing this loss.
UCAM Cartagena T.M
Spanish UCAM Cartagena showed no weak spots in the opening leg of the Europe Cup final. As guests in France they overcame ALCL TT Grand Quevilly in straight matches. Maria XIAO opened the winning row with the victory over Pauline CHASSELIN. She lost only one game. LI Fen needed only three to overcame Anis SALPIN. Dora MADARASZ was forced to go full distance before she overcame LI Samson. The second leg is scheduled for Friday.
