Brunetti Castel Goffredo won the fourth Italian Super Cup out of four editions of the event. In “Elia Mazzi” Table Tennis Hall they defeated 5-1 Polisportiva Bagnolese Panino LAB. At the best of five singles the local team led by the coaches Alfonso LAGHEZZA and Robert STAMENKOVSKI started in the best way thanks to the contribution of two international stars. Newcomer Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS beat 3-0 Tian JING and Spain’s Maria XIAO left the first game to Romania’s defender Alina ZAHARIA equalized the score in the second one and dominated in the last two. In the clash between compatriots SZOCS and ZAHARIA shared the first two sets and in the third the twice European team champion did not exploit four game points (10-6) and won in the fifth (11-10). In the fourth game SZOCS did not convert four game balls (10-7 and 11-10) and her adversary seized first opportunity occurred (11-12). In the final game she recovered from 3-0 down changed sides 5-4 and never let herself be reached. Russia’s Olga VOROBEVA accounted for Gaia MONFARDINI 3-1 and scored the first point for Bagnolese. Then she failed to confirm herself and XIAO prevailed in straight games. MONFARDINI saved seven game points in the second set and overcame Tian JING 3-2 allowing Castel Goffredo to celebrate the Super Cup. The players of Bagnolese trained by Laurentiu Capra and Cristina Semenza fought a lot but not enough. “I am happy because all the girls played well. It wasn’t easy but we wanted to win the fourth Super Cup. In the last match MONFARDINI had a great comeback showing her mental strength. The first match with our star SZOCS was very exciting for us and for our fans. She had to fight against her compatriot ZAHARIA they know each other very well and their challenge was spectacular. XIAO confirmed to be a champion. We are a good team and this year we will try to achieve great goals the first one was today ” said coach LAGHEZZA. Maria XIAO – Alina ZAHARIA 3-1 (9-11 11-9 11-6 11-5) Bernadette SZOCS – Tian JING 3-0 (11-9 11-6 11-7) Gaia MONFARDINI – Olga VOROBEVA 1-3 (8-11 11-5 3-11 9-11) Bernadette SZOCS – Alina ZAHARIA 3-2 (11-9 7-11 12-10 11-13 11-6) Maria XIAO – Olga VOROBEVA 3-0 (11-9 11-6 11-3) Gaia MONFARDINI – Tian JING 3-2 (9-11 13-11 6-11 11-6 11-7)
Apuania Carrara beat Top Spin Messina and won their first title in Italian Super Cup
Apuania Carrara won 2021 Italian Super Cup. In the Sports Hall of Carrara in the presence of the Italian Federation President Renato Di NAPOLI they beat the usual opponents of Top Spin Messina Fontalba 5-1 and raised the trophy for the first time in their history guided by the President Guglielmo BELLOTTI. The match was played on two tables best of nine matches. Russia’s Aleksander SHIBAEV and the Croatia’s Andrej GACINA was the main force in the local team led on the bench by the coach Claudio VOLPI and the manager Alessandro MERCIADRI. They gave a good start overcoming respectively Ukraine’s Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO in straight games and Portugal’s João MONTEIRO in four. After that GACINA achieved second win (3-0) over ZHMUDENKO and Marco RECH DALDOSSO accounted for Mihai BOBOCICA 3-1 the two following matches allowed Apuania Carrara to complete the job. BOBOCICA defeated MONTEIRO 3-1 with the last two games on the razor’s edge and then SHIBAEV recovered from 2-0 down against an excellent RECH DALDOSSO and came back again in the final and decisive game to cross the finish line with his hands up . Coach Wang Hong Liang’s side deserved an applause because despite the defeat they fought hard till the last point. “I am very happy ” comments Bobocica. “This is important victory because we got it against the one of the strongest team in the Italian league. It is never easy to play against them as they are very competitive and therefore we are very satisfied. The race for the title in the national championship will certainly be very exciting and we and Top Spin will play on equal terms as we did today”. Aleksander SHIBAEV – Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO 3-0 (11-9 11-9 11-9) Andrej GACINA – João MONTEIRO 3-1 (3-11 12-10 11-2 11-7) Mihai BOBOCICA – Marco RECH DALDOSSO 1-3 (8-11 12-10 7-11 11-13) Andrej GACINA – Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO 3-0 (11-8 12-10 11-5) Aleksander SHIBAEV – Marco RECH DALDOSSO 3-2 (10-12 7-11 11-8 11-5 11-8) Mihai BOBOCICA – João MONTEIRO 3-1 (6-11 11-5 13-11 12-10)
Polina MIKHAILOVA new Chair of the ETTU Athletes Commission
Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA is Galia DVORAK’s successor at the position of the ETTU Athletes Commission Chair. Russia’s player got support from her colleagues Chiara COLANTONI (ITA) Paul DRINKHALL (ENG) Jon PERSSON (SWE) and Jose RUIZ REYES (ESP) – Para TT. “ I play table tennis all my life and I love it. As a player off course I would like to improve and develop our sport that is why have I run for this position ” said Polina. What will be your main task in main future? “We will see what I can improve. I think it is too early to speak about this because I just entered the system. At this moment too it is urgent to launch new ranking system. We have many young players who are not able to enter senior tournaments according to their ranking. I think they deserve to have this chance ” stated MIKHAILOVA.
Czech national championships scheduled for this weekend
This year’s Czech national championships will take place unconventionally in atumn but as usual there are four categories – Men Women U21 Men and U21 Women. The venue is the National Training Centre in Havířov event starts on 9 October and ends on 11 October. Many players regularly practice in the new modern hall so they will have a slight advantage over other. That applies to for example Hana MATELOVÁ Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ or Lubomír JANČAŘÍK. The latter who plays in the German Bundesliga for TTC OE Bad Homburg is one of the main favourites for the title in men’s singles. He had a great year. At the World Singles Qualification in Doha he booked his ticket to the Olympics where he progressed to the second round. Before that JANČAŘÍK reached the men’s singles quarterfinals at the European Championships in Warsaw. And just a few days back he was a pillar of the national team at the European Team Championships in Cluj. On top of that there will be no Tomáš POLANSKÝ or Pavel ŠIRUČEK at the Czech nationals. POLANSKÝ was called-up for Saarbrucken’s match in the German Cup and Širuček is still injured. That paves the way for JANČAŘÍK to claim his first single’s title in his career. His biggest rivals will be Tomáš TREGLER and two really experienced players Dimitrij PROKOPCOV and Jiří VRÁBLÍK. The biggest favourite among women is Hana MATELOVÁ. She has six gold medals in her bag already and is unbeaten in the last four years at the Czech nationals. She won’t have to face runner up at last championships Karin GROFOVÁ (ADÁMKOVÁ) who’s pregnant so the biggest rivals will be Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ and Tamara TOMANOVÁ. The Champions of the Czech Republic 2020 Men’s singles: Tomáš POLANSKÝ Women’s singles: Hana MATELOVÁ Men’s doubles: Tomáš POLANSKÝ Pavel ŠIRUČEK Women’s doubles: Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ Aneta ŠIRUČKOVÁ Mixed doubles: David REITŠPIES Dana ČECHOVÁ U21 Men’s singles: Jiří MARTINKO U21 Women’s singles: Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ
Annual Coaching Conference held in Cluj
The European Table Tennis Union in cooperation with the Romanian Table Tennis Association (FRTM) organised the ETTU Annual Coaching Conference in Cluj Napoca after the GAZPROM European Team Championships. “We had a well-organized Annual Coaching Conference by FRTM and we would like to thank the hosts for their efforts. A total of 31 coaches from 12 National Federations participated during the three days and three topics from three experts were presented ” said Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. Alina Paula APOSTU (ROU) presented: “The Role of Social Media on Sponsorship Activation” CHEN Zhibin (CHN) presented: “Comparison of The Asian and European Approaches to Technical Training” LIU Yanjun (AUT) has presented: “How to Improve Footwork Using Body Power.
ETTU Eurotalents Scholarships 2021 / 2022
ETTU is very pleased to announce the following young players (the best evaluated young players from ETTU Eurotalents project in last 2 years U-13 / U-15) to receive one-year ETTU Scholarships in total amount of 3 600 € / player for the period October 2021 / October 2022. The ETTU Scholarships will be used for: 1. Additional international training camps (not included in any ETTU Development Program Camps or National Association program) 2. Additional international competitions (up to € 1800) 3. Engaging work with a sports psychologist or fitness coach 4. Supplementary nutrition / vitaminization. U-13 1. Faustyna STEFANSKA (GER) 2. Gaetane BLED (FRA) 3. Andreea BAIASU (ROU) 4. Tiago ABIODUN (POR) 5. Damian FLORO (SVK) 6. Julian RZIHAUSCHEK (AUT) U-15 1. Anna HURSEY (WAL) 2. Bianca MEI ROSU (ROU) 3. Sophie EARLEY (IRL) 4. Iulian CHIRITA (ROU) 5. David SZANTOSI (HUN) 6. Stepan BRHEL (CZE) All other information and details related to the financial realization of the above mentioned scholarships will follow soon.
DVORAK:” Listening to athletes is crucial for sport”
In the past four years Galia DVORAK has led the ETTU Athletes Commission. During the Congress in Cluj on the occasion of the GAZPROM European Team Championships Galia gave a farewell speech which touched the hearts of many but also highlighted a few very important improvements that will be the legacy of DVORAK’s great work. “My four year term has ended and it has been a tremendous pleasure for me but I decided to not run for another term: a new commission has been appointed and soon they will nominate a new chair ” stated Galia. Starting a new term together will be Chiara COLANTONI (ITA) Paul DRINKHALL (ENG) Polina MIKHAILOVA (RUS) Jon PERSSON (SWE) and Jose RUIZ REYES (ESP) – Para TT. “It took many of my colleagues by surprise that I decided to not run for the next term and among many other reasons the most important of them was the fact that when I was elected four years ago I was just an athlete with no experience in Federations and the vision and insights that I could bring to the table were only from the point of view of an athlete what I think it is very positive in this position. Now four years later even though I am still an athlete and plan to be one at least to some extent until the day I die I learnt a lot and I feel that my perspective changed on many things and I don’t look at them with the eyes of an athlete anymore. Because of this reason I think it is better this position is filled by a new face with a fresh voice.” GALIA brought athletes’ voice to the highest ETTU body. “Also I think that in these four years the Commission achieved some very important things. Maybe the most important of them was the voting rights in the Executive Board for the Athletes’ Chair which was actually a suggestion of my colleague and chair of the ITTF Athlete’s Commission Zoran PRIMORAC. But I would like to say that besides the fact of actually having a vote it has been very pleasant to see how my voice and opinions were really heard and taken into account. If you let me share the story I remember coming home after my first meeting and my parents both from the table tennis world asked me how did it go. I answered them “you know? they are actually listening to me!” which took me a bit by surprise. Because of this I would really like to thank the ETTU staff my colleagues of the previous Executive Board the current Executive Board and the President for involving me from the very beginning in all the decision-making process and letting me learn so much from them. And finally I would like to encourage you to continue doing so: listening to the athletes in your organizations is crucial for sport. Thank you.”
Khalil Al MOHANNADI elected President of Asian Table Tennis Union
Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) president Khalil Al MOHANNADI was elected as the president of the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) unopposed during the continental body’s General Assembly meeting in Doha on Sunday. The European Table Tennis Union President Igor LEVITIN and the Executive Board warmly congratulates Khalil Al-MOHANNADI on his appointment as the 6th President of the Asian Table Tennis Union and looks forward to close cooperation and dialogue with him on current matters of interest and future projects to enhance the progress of table tennis. Al- MOHANNADI dons several hats in the sport as he is also the Deputy President of the International Table Tennis Federation a member of the recently formed World Table Tennis Board. Al MOHANNADI follows in the footsteps of Japan’s Rizo KAWAKAMI (1972-1974) Hisao kido (1974-1976) and Atsushi Goto (1976-2001). They were succeeded by China’s li Furong (2001-2009) and Cai Zhenhua (2009–2021).The Qatari official was elected unopposed as President of the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) at the Biennial General Meeting staged in Doha on Sunday 3rd October. Alongside Khalil Al MOHANNADI the entire Executive Committee of the Asian Table Tennis Union was elected unopposed: President: Khalil Al MOHANNADI (QAT) Deputy Presidents: KIM Taeksoo (KOR) XU Xin (CHN) Secretary-General: Afshin BADIEE (IRI) Treasurer: Mohamed Baqir SAJAD (OMA)
Germany at the top of the Europe again
Germany clinched 10th title in Men’s Teams Event at the GAZPROM European Championships in Cluj. In breathtaking final they overcame Russia. Despite losing the final Russia rewrites the history books twice. They played with the youngest ever team in the final of the European Championships – average age of three players is 19 7; by doing so they achieved best result ever for Russia. Until now Russia has been at the medal rostrum only once and then they were third. Denmark and Sweden won bronze. Drama was the main genre on the ultimate day of the fights at the GAZPROM European Team Championships in Cluj. In the final Maksim GREBNEV recovered from the 0:2 in reverse to overcame Benedikt DUDA in the opening match (3:11 4:11 11:7 11:8 12:10). Patrick FRANZISKA needed full five games to overcame Lev KATSMAN (11:7 4:11 13:11 6:11 6:11). Lev had a lead 2:1 but Patrick managed to settle into his rhythm and to won the match. In third match Vladimir SIDORENKO had a good start but failed to produce the win against Dang QIU (11:9 6:11 10:12 8:11). “It was a very big fight not only my match but every match. It was so close. My duel could also went easily to the 5th set but I managed to win it in only four. I’m very happy that we win this somehow that we have such a strong team. FRANZISKA could lose 2 points today against such strong players. I mean they are young they have a great future. I’m just really happy that we won ” said Dang In the match against GREBNEV FRANZISKA played like he is on fire but from 0:3 in the third game magic went to the other side. Grebnev made 7 points in the row in the big style before he pushed the match into the fourth game. In fourth FRANZISKA won only three points and once again decisive game was on the menu. Drama continued in the decisive game which finished by the narrow margin (11:13 5:11 11:9 11:3 15:13). “The Russian team played an amazing tournament. Their players are so young and they have so much potential. We knew that we will have to play at our best today. Congratulations to Russia! Definitely the bright future lays ahead of the . Now we are very happy that we won. We were a little bit of favorites. I thing it was a great final with a better hand for us. Against GREBNEV I was leading 2:0 and 3- 0 in points but I started to played too safe and comfortable. At a certain moment of the game he came out like a tornado. He became extremely aggressive and I was taken by surprise. In the end I think that no-one should lose this match. May be there was a little bit more experience by my side but it could go definitely the other way. He played at his best. Absolutely fantastic player ” said FRANZISKA This was Germany’s 15th final. Only Sweden (19) has more. In addition. This is the first time Germany is in the final without Timo BOLL or Dimitrij OVTCHAROV since 1990. The last time Germany was not in the final was in 2005.
Germany’s rejuvenated team clinched gold in Cluj
In the battle of the epic proportion Germany clinched the gold medal in the Women’s Team Event at the GAZPROM European Team Championships in Cluj. In the fantastic final they overcame Romania. Portugal and France won bronze medals. It is the sixth title for Germany in Women’s Team Event at the Continental championships (they already won in 2015 2014 2013 1998 and 1996. West-Germany won it twice 1968 and 1962). On the other side Romania was halted on their way to rewrites the history books with the third consecutive gold (previously they won it in 2019 2017 2005 2002 1992.). The winner of the recently held POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 Cup Nina MITTELHAM overcame Bernadette SZOCS in the opening match of the final. World’s no. 31 MITTELHAM was extended the full 5 games distance by World’s no. 24 SZOCS (8:11 11:7 9:11 11:9 10:12) but in nerves wrecking finish Germany secured the lead. In the decisive game Bernadette had advantage 9:5 before Nina recovered to win the match. Nina also beat Elizabeta SAMARA in the fourth match of the encounter (10:12 11:8 9:11 11:9 7:11). “I did not expect I will play against SZOCS at the beginning. She is very dangerous player and I personaly finds difficult to play against her style of play. She won the opening game but I recovered and generally I think that the mental strength was the key to success. I remember being 5:9 down in the decisive game against SZOCS but I can not tell how I managed to win. I just kept on playing point after point ” said NINA. Bernadette SZOCS (1995) and Nina MITTELHAM (1996) had a number of big matches in youth championships in particular in EYC 2013 when Mittelham beat SZOCS in 2 semifinals (singles and doubles) and SZOCS won the doubles. Sabine WINTER overcame Elizabeta SAMARA in straight games (6:11 9:11 10:12). Her match was remarkable. She managed to put almost every ball on the table. “I played against her three months ago at the European Championship in Warsaw in the quarterfinals so I knew what I was going to expect I prepared well and I’m happy that I managed to play very well keep calm and won the match in the end.” Did you felt prepared for another game if Nina lost the last one? “I was prepared. Somehow yesterday I was really nervous when Nina played the 2nd match. I didn’t want to play again. But today I was pretty relaxed I would have been ready and I was just enjoying to play in front of this crowd even tho they would cheering against us. The atmosphere was good and it was a lot of fun to play this final ”added Sabina. In close five games match Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN created the chance for Romania. She brought back her team in game again with the win over the Under 21 European champion Chantal MANTZ (7:11 11:7 11:8 5:11 7:11) but it did not last for long. “It is so hard to speak now. We have silver in front of home crowd we delivered a good final but it hurt so much that we could not crowned such performance with gold. We wanted to give that joy to our supporters…” said SAMARA. Young team of Germany played first ever Championships in this composition. But despite the fact that Germany’s no. 1 2 and 3 SOLJA HAN and SHAN are not in this team these players also have good records. Nina won the Top 16 last week Sabine has 2 European women’s doubles titles Chantal won the EC U21 in 2017 and Annett won 3 titles in the U15 EYC 2021. “This whole tournament was so challenging because just two days before the start our first player Petrissa SOLJA got sick and we couldn’t count oh her. I was strongly believing in our young player that they are in top shape having a good team spirit being able to beat anyone. To be honest I was not dreaming that we could win the gold. We went step by step; our first goal was to pass the group and then we want a medal against Poland. The final against Romania was the hardest match. The girls played unbelievable good. Sabine in her match against Samara won 3 – 0. It was for the very first time when she won against her. I am so happy that I don’t have words to describe my feelings” said coach Tamara BOROS. Romania played in 12 finals in total they were in 6 of the last 7 they only missed 2014 (Germany played against Austria). SAMARA SZOCS and DODEAN played in all their 6 last finals.
