Dear friends The ETTU Executive Board met today to discuss further action needed to protect the integrity of our competitions and the wellbeing of our athletes. After careful deliberation the ETTU Executive Board decided that Russian clubs will not be permitted to compete in any European Club competitions for the 2021-2022 season. This includes Russian clubs due to compete in the semi-final and final of the Men’s Champions League. This decision is in line with the previous ETTU decision to not invite or allow Belarusian and Russian players and officials to participate in events hosted by ETTU until further notice and follows the recommendations set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ITTF. In addition no Belarusian or Russian national symbols flags or anthems will be displayed at ETTU events until further notice. The ETTU Executive Board also informs that both Vladimir Samsonov and Polina Mikhailova have self-suspended from their positions on the Executive Board immediately after Igor Levitin’s self-suspension from the Presidency until further notice. The ETTU Executive Board accepts their decision and will continue to operate as normal in full compliance with the ETTU Constitution in order to best serve European table tennis. As the ITTF has repeatedly stated Ping Pong Diplomacy has been at the heart of our sport for more than half a century and we join them in hoping that constructive dialogue can be the solution to any disputes. As a table tennis family we are united in our hope that peace will soon return to Europe. Yours sincerely ETTU Executive Board
Borussia Dusseldorf in the final of the Champions League
Borussia Dusseldorf won the all-German Champions League Men semifinal against 1.FC Saarbrucken TT. In the opening leg Borussia Dusseldorf succeeded in straight matches whilst in the return match at home soil they needed one match more. At the beginning Dang QIU gave hosts dream start by beating the winner of last week’s CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Darko JORGIC. QIU was under severe pressure in three games but in closing stages he left no space for JORGIC to try to come back. Last week’s semifinalists and compatriots Timo BOLL and Patrick FRANZISKA faced each other in second duel in the furious battle. Patrick took two opening games before Timo settle into the rhythm. Next two went on BOLL’s account but already in the closing stages of the fourth game FRANZUSKA started to recover. He took the fifth game by the storm. Anton KALLBERG pushed Borussia Dusseldorf into the lead again with straight games victory over Tomas POLANSKY. At that point it was all over and hosts secured semifinal victory. The next match could not change anything so Dang QIU and Patrick FRANZISKA’s duel was unstressed exhibition for joy of table tennis fans. Borussia Dusseldorf – 1.FC Saarbrucken TT 3:1 Dang QIU – Darko JORGIC 3:1 (14:12 12:10 7:11 11:2) Timo BOLL – Patrick FRANZISKA 2:3 (6:11 8:11 11:9 13:11 2:6) Anton KALLBERG – Tomas POLANSKY 3:1 (11:6 11:5 7:11 13:11) Dang QIU – Patrick FRANZISKA 3:1 (10:12 11:9 12:10 12:10) First leg 1.FC Saarbrucken TT – Borussia Dusseldorf 0:3 Patrick FRANZISKA – Dang QIU 2:3 (7:11 5:11 11:9 13:11 3:6) Darko JORGIC – Anton KALLBERG 1:3 (10:12 11:8 8:11 13:15) Tomas POLANSKY- Timo BOLL 0:3 (6:11 7:11 9:11)
ETTU Statement on Clubs Competitions
The ETTU Executive Board today decided that Russian clubs will not be permitted to compete in any European Club competitions for the 2021-2022 season. This includes Russian clubs due to compete in the semi-final and final of the Men’s Champions League. Today’s announcement is in line with the recommendations of the ITTF Group and follows on from the Executive Board’s decision to not invite or allow Belarusian and Russian players and officials to participate in events hosted by ETTU until further notice.
ETTU Executive Board decision
Due to the decision made during ITTF Executive Committee meeting on March 1st 2022 ETTU Executive Board agreed not to let Belarusian and Russian players and officials be invited or allowed in events hosted by ETTU and no Belarusian or Russian national symbols flags or anthems will be displayed until further notice.
New Statement
ETTU President Igor Levitin today informed the ETTU Executive Board of his decision to self-suspend himself from all functions related to his position as ETTU President until further notice. In his absence and as per the ETTU Constitution the ETTU Deputy President will serve as Acting President. Mr Levitin informed the Executive Board he had taken the decision in order to protect the integrity of the ETTU and its events as well as the wellbeing of its athletes.
Youth Table Tennis World Festival reloaded after 20 years
Hungarian Table Tennis Association had to wait almost 20 years until the idea of the 5th Youth Table Tennis World Festival emerged. As there is Junior World Championships every year HTTA came up with the idea of organising similar grand international event for the younger generations. These are going to be the U11 U13 U15 U17 and U19 categories at the World Festival in 2022. It will be held at the Olympic Sport Park of Győr which was built for the European Youth Olympic Festival of 2017. The competition will be held on 47 tables with an extra 22 tables available to use as warm up practice tables. An international coaching seminar and international training camp are also included in the program. The 3 most successful countries according to the points system and the 3 most successful Hungarian clubs shall be awarded with prize money. As the World Festival is not only open just for national teams but for clubs and regional teams as well organisers throughout the second half of 2021 have sent the invitation to all relevant teams clubs and players based on their available database. Registration is now open and Hungarian Table Tennis Association are waiting for all entries; the preliminary deadline for registration is the 25th of April 2022 and the final deadline for all entries is the 20th of May 2022. Official website (English): https://worldfestival2022.hu/en Registration link: http://worldfestival2022.hu/en/registration-form/
ETTU official Statement
The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) shares concerns about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and hopes for its fast resolution.ETTU is ready to help Ukrainian table tennis athletes and will be working hard to guarantee their participation at all future ETTU events. ETTU supports the latest announcement of International Table Tennis Federation and will follow its recommendation as ETTU did during our latest event Europe TOP-16 in Switzerland. ETTU believes in unity and mutual respect together with constructive dialogue as the solution to disputes. The ETTU Secretary General is to set the number of ETTU events and suggest the plan for implementation of the ITTF recommendation taking into account all possible travelling issues. Also ETTU would like to thank the Europe TOP-16 Local Organising Committee in Montreux for hosting a fantastic table tennis event.
SGOUROPOULOS and PARIDI clinched national titles for a first time
Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS and Konstantina PARIDI clinched titles at the Greek Championships at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Both of them won the most important national title for the first time in their careers. SGOUROPOULOS played again in the Hellenic National championship after three years. The four-time European champion on singles in the young categories combined his return with the gold medal after two lost finals in 2017 and 2019. In the final he defeated Dimitris PAPADIMITRIOU 4:1. PARIDI felt the joy of the gold medal in the women’s singles after four consecutive first places in the doubles. In the final she defeated 4-1 the last year’s winner and four-time title holder Katerina TOLIOU. At the club level SGOUROPOULOS plays in Germany PARIDI only in the Czech Republic and in the national individual championship they represented the colors of Olympiacos. In the men’s doubles the brothers Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS and Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of Panathinaikos are the winners for 5th time and in the women’s doubles Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIOU and Aliki KIOUFI from Telamonas SALAMINA and Olympiacos respectively captured the title. The results of the finals: Men’s singles: Ioannis Sgouropoulos-Dimitris Papadimitriou 4-1 (11-9 11-5 9-11 12-10 and 11-5) Women’s singles: Konstantina Paridi-Katerina Toliou 4-1 (7-11 13-11 11-6 11-8 13-11) Men’s doubles: George Konstantinopoulos/Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos-Dimitris Papadimitriou/Gerasimos Hatzilygeroudis 3-0 (11-2 11-7 11-7). Women’s doubles: Malamatenia Papadimitriou/Aliki Kioufi-Katerina Toliou/Konstantina Paridi 3-2 (8-11 9-11 11-7 13-11 11-6). Men’s Singles Ioannis Sgouropoulos (Olympiacos) Dimitris Papadimitriou (AO Tatavla) Anastasios Riniotis (Olympiacos) -. Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos (Panathinaikos) Women’s singles Konstantina Paridi (Olympiacos) Katerina Toliou (Panathinaikos) Aliki Kioufi (Olympiacos) -. Elisabeth Terpou (Panathinaikos) Men’s Doubles George Konstantinopoulos/Konstantinos Konstantinopoulos (Panathinaikos) Dimitris Papadimitriou/Gerasimos Chatzilygeroudis (AO Tatavla) Dimitris Kordoutis/Stratos Damianis (AS Pera Athens) -. Anastasios Riniotis/George Stamatouros (Olympiacos) Women’s Doubles Malamatenia Papadimitriou/Aliki Kioufi (Telamon Salamina/Olympiacos SFP) Katerina Toliou/Konstantina Paridi (Panathinaikos/Olympiacos) Elena Sofra/Kyriaki Kouliouri (YMCA Thessaloniki) -. Ioanna Gerasimatou/Thalia Kordouti (AEK/Aris 2006)
ETTU statement Champions league
The ETTU Executive Board has decided to postpone the Champions League Men second semi-final match Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg – TTSC UMMC initially scheduled for Friday 4th March to a date between the 8th and 10th April 2022. ETTU is considering an alternative location for the match.
Semifinals and finals CCB Europe Top-16 Cup in Montreux
After breathtaking finals Darko JORGIC of Slovenia and HAN Ying of Germany clinched the gold medals in their respective Men’s and Women’s Event at the 2022 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup. It was fantastic finish of two days battles in Montreux. Truls MOREGARDH – Darko JORGIC 3:4 (11:8 11:5 9:11 12:10 1:11 10:12 10:12) Darko JORGIC recovered from the 3:1 in reverse to win the final against Swede Truls MOREGARDH who beat Timo BOLL just few hours earlier. “I could not find the game for his service and first strokes. I struggled a lot before i managed to make my forehand deep and to push him ” said JORGIC. For Darko JORGIC (23) it his 3rd appearance and 2nd final (2020) whilst for MOREGARDH it is first. The 2021 World Championships finalist was a substitute player. oHe is nr.7 in Europe but had 2 Swedish countrymen ahead of him and only got his chance when Matias FALCK had to cancel. JORGIC is the first Slovenian to win this event. He won the youngest final in the history of the Top12/Top16 since the two players being together only 43 years. Truls Möregardh is one of the youngest finalists ever. The youngest finalist was also the youngest winner: Jan Ove WALDNER (18) in 1984. The second youngest winner was Jörgen PERSSON (19) in 1986 during this event acting as coach of Truls MOREHARDH. Polina MIKHAILOVA – HAN Ying 0:4 (8:11 12:14 11:13 7:11) In the final HAN Ying overcame Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA in straight games. “The win came far from easy. I was down in three games each time until the closing stages. I had to be very patient but I made mistakes by rushing and trying to finish the points quickly ” said HAN. HAN was the member of the team Germany that won gold at the European Games in Baku and Minsk and at European Championships in Schwechat Lisbon and n Yekaterinburg. In singles she got bronze. Here in Montreux HAN said she was under severe pressure in the final but yesterday’s duel against Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania was equally difficult. “SAMARA played so well against me and generally against the players with the defensive style ” said HAN. This is HAN’s second appearance at a Europe Top 16 Cup in 2019 she lost in quarterfinal. On the other side for Polina MIKHAILOVA it was 8th appearance (2015-2022) in Top 16 best result so far was place 9 (5 times) never reached the quarterfinal or beyond. Although both players are basically defenders both have strong attacks and are not afraid to use it. The final was never near the start of the expedite system. That is why the final was not as long as the previous 2 Top 12/Top16 finals between two defenders (2009 Li Qian – Li Jie and 1999 Qianhong Gotch – Jing Tian Zörner). HAN Ying is now the oldest winner of a Top 12/Top 16 in the history of the event. She won at 38 years and 10 months breaking LI Jiao’s record (38 and 1 month at her last victory in 2011). Bernadette SZOCS – HAN Ying 0:4 (5:11 5:11 2:11 6:11) HAN Ying faced no difficulties on her way to the ultimate stage against Bernadette SZOCS. “I think her style worked just fine for me today. She could not find the game for my spin ” said HAN. Sofia POLCANOVA – Polina MIKHAILOVA 2:4 (11:9 9:11 13:11 7:11 7:11 4:11) Polina MIKHAILOVA prevailed against top seed top reach the final in superb style. “In Hungarian League was different but on International scene it was 50:50. The main thing is that I felt the ball well from the beginning. I could easily attack and defend and that makes me dangerous for each adversary ” said Polina MIKHAILOVA. Darko JORGIC – Patrick FRANZISKA 4:1 (13:11 11:9 11:13 11:6 11:9) Reigning champion Patrick FRANZISKA is out of the tournament beaten by his club-mate Darko JORGIC. “This is the first time that I overcame him and I am very happy. It is so hard to do when you play against the players you know so well. In the beginning of three first games I was to passive I waited for his mistakes for long. As soon as I took initiative I regained control and I started to win ”said JORGIC. Semifinals Timo BOLL – Truls MOREGARDH 1:4 (7:11 8:11 12:14 11:7 6:11) World Championship’s semi finalists met again after few months and Truls MOREGARDH repeated the success even in more convincing manner. Last time they met in the semifinal of World Championships it was 4:3 for Truls MOREGARDH but in this semi final in Montreux he beat BOLL in five games. “I learned a lot about BOLL’s service game so I was able to respond more precise. I am aware that you can not let BOLL lead the game. If he start to control it it is the end. That is why I changed the tactics even when it was not much successful it worked just fine in order to keep BOLL out of his rhythm. I tried to confuse him. In addition his heavy spin game suits me well ” said Truls MOREGARDH.
