Table tennis action at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games gets underway tomorrow and all eyes will be on the curtain-raiser Mixed Doubles competition which is making its debut at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. It has been 33 years since table tennis first made its introduction at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and five highly coveted gold medals including one for the Mixed Doubles event will be given out. The Mixed Doubles will commence from the round of 16 on a knock-out tournament basis with the host nation’s Japan’s Mima Ito and Jun Mizutani drawn to meet the Austrian duo of Sofia Polcanova and Stefan Fegerl on table two at 1115 (local time). A semi-final clash between Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching may be on the cards if the Japanese play true to form and the Chinese Taipei pair overcome the Indian pairing of Kamal Achanta and Manika Batrain in the Mixed Doubles event which is contested on a best-of-seven structure. Meanwhile top seeds Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen of China open their campaign against Canada’s Eugene Wang and Mo Zhang in session one which is scheduled to start at 1200 (local time). A potential semi-final bout with Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem awaits with the Hong Kong China combination being the only pair to ever beat the top seeds on the international stage. It will be a battle of youth versus experience in the Women’s Singles preliminary round when 12-year-old Hend Zaza of Syria takes on Austria’s Liu Jia a 39-year-old almost thrice her age. As the youngest-ever table tennis athlete in the Olympic Games history (as of qualification on 24th February 2020 in Amman Jordan) Zaza is also the fifth-youngest known Olympian in history and the youngest since Romanian figure skater Beatrice Hustiu in 1968. The rising new generation of table tennis talents will be on full display this Saturday as French teenager Prithika Pavade gets her first taste of Olympics action when she meets Russian Olympic Committee’s Yana Noskova in their opening encounter at 1415. Like Zaza and Pavade Singapore’s Clarence Chew will also be making his Olympics debut in the Men’s Singles after he clinched his ticket to Tokyo at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament earlier this year. Chew’s maiden Olympics clash will be against Senegal’s Ibrahima Diaw. Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov who won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Games will not be in action until the third round on Tuesday July 27 where he will take on Japan’s Koki Niwa. But the seventh seed is already looking forward to what promises to be an exceptional week. “It has been a long wait for the Olympics. It’s different from usual. Everyone’s wearing a mask keeping their distance and you cannot see their facial expression. But considering the times we are living in and how the whole world has now come to Tokyo for the Games it’s exceptional the organisers have been able to host it. We have worked so hard for this and we are really very happy we can be here to compete ” said Ovtcharov. China’s Fan Zendong and Ma Long who are seeded first and second respectively echoed Ovtcharov’s sentiments. “We are living in a different time now especially with the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many strict protocols to follow at the games and we just have to abide and make our own adjustments. But I’m simply delighted to have the opportunity to be here as it’s the Olympics. The organisation has been excellent so far and it’s time for us to perform now ” said Ma a three-time Olympic gold medallist. Fan will take on Portugal’s Marcos Freitas while Ma goes head-to-head with France’s Simon Gauzy on in the third round. “Competing in the Olympics is the dream of every athlete and I’m no exception. Despite the pandemic we are all coping very well and making the best of not only the playing but also living conditions. But it has been great so far and we are just looking forward to the start of the games ” said Fan.
Timo BOLL: Enjoy every moment of your career it can end sooner than you expect
Former world no. 1 currently placed at no. 9 Timo BOLL flag bearer for Germany at Rio 2016 will play at his sixth Olympic Games in Japan. BOLL was a member of the team that reached the final in 2008 and has a bronze from 2016 and 2012. At the European Games in 2019 he won silver in both singles and teams event. Injury kept him away from tournaments for a while. “Before I won the title at the European Championships in Poland I just played the Europe Top 16 which I have won and the German Open. After that I had a long lasting back injury. At the end of the year I just had a highlight with the title of the European Champions League ” explained BOLL. “I’m improving from week to week and my physical shape is again much better.” You have already prepared so many times and I wonder how the preparations during the pandemic are different compared to your previous preparations? “I believe it’s was good for me to had a European Championship close before the Olympics. In the past we never had a tournament directly before the Olympic Games which wasn’t really good for me to reach my best shape.” You have been to five Olympics can you remember your feelings before the first one? “Yes the moment in Patras in Greece at the Qualification tournament I will never forget. A highlight in every sports career.” Please can you choose one of your most vivid memories from each of the Olympics you attended? A moment that will always remind you of Sydney Athens Beijing London Rio? “In Sydney it will be the win against KIM Taek Soo. Athens it was the loss to Jan-Ove WALDNER in the quarterfinal which was maybe the toughest loss in my career. In Beijing it was my first Olympic medal with team a silver. At London it was bronze with the team and at Rio 2016 it was when I was flag bearer and won bronze again Being flag bearer in 2016 you reached another milestone what was going through your mind when you carried the flag at the stadium? “I was very proud to be elected from the athletes of the German team and the German public.” What will be your advice to young players? “Just enjoy every moment of your sports career it’s ending sooner than you expect. Unfortunately time flies away.” Looking back on so many Olympics when you had to withstand all kinds of pressure live all that pride joy sacrifice pain what changed the most inside of you? How would you describe the man you are now shaped by the events most of us have never experienced? “I’m more relaxed overall but still hungry. I think I have a good balance.” What is the goal for team Germany and what is your goal in the singles? “I would love to win two medals.” Is there any other sport beside TT you would like to watch at the Olympics at least on TV? “I love every sport.” What come first to your mind when you think about the greatest Olympic achievement of any other athlete? “Hard to say RYU Seung Min was maybe one of the biggest surprises but well deserved!”
Final standings of the Under 19 Teams Event at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships
The Under 19 Teams event concluded yesterday and today the best teams were awarded with the medals. The awards were presented by Vice Preesident of the European Table Tennis Union Sonja GREFBERG and Head of the administritative depatment for sport in City of Varazdin Drazen CESAR. Best teams in Under 19 Boys category is Poland France clinched silver and Romania and Spain won bronze medals. In Under 19 Girls category Romania clinched gold Russia won silver and France and Turkey won bronze.In Boys Event Switzerland relegated to lower level whilst Ukraine moved up. in Girls Under 19 Croatia will be in second level next year whilst Moldova moved to first level. Final Result Team Event GAZPROM EYC JBT JGT Level 1 1 Poland 1 Romania 2 France 2 Russia 3 Romania 3 France 4 Spain 4 Turkey 5 Croatia 5 Germany 5 Italy 5 Hungary 7 Sweden 7 Italy 6 Germany 7 Poland 9 Russia 9 Ukraine 9 Belgium 9 Lithuania 11 Czech Republic 11 Czech Republic 11 Portugal 11 Sweden 13 Hungary 13 Spain 13 Norway 13 Norway 15 Slovakia 15 Slovakia 16 Switzerland 16 Croatia Level 2 17 Ukraine 17 Moldova 18 Belarus 18 Portugal 19 Serbia 19 Greece 19 Bulgaria 19 Belgium 21 Netherlands 21 Belarus 21 Denmark 21 Serbia 23 Estonia 23 Bosnia and Herzegovina 23 Finland 23 Netherlands 25 Turkey
Kay STUMPER justified his status in Varazdin
The Under 19 Boys Singles Event at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships reached the Round of 32 without major casualties among the top players. Top seeded Kay STUMPER of Germany accounted for Borna PETEK of Croatia (5 -9 11 6 7) and Adrien RASSENFOSSE of Belgium prevailed against Tommaso GIOVANNETTI by same margin (10 -8 9 7 8). Thibault PORET of France continued with the good performance after the Team’s event and halted the progress of seed no. 14 Nicolas DEGROS of Belgium in superb finish (-5 -9 -7 7 7 4 7) after the less convincing start. Another seven game thriller has been seen between Kas VAN OOST of Netherlands and Marco CAPUCCIO of Italy. Dutch player was stretched to full distance but he prevailed (9 7 -5 -7 10 -7 9). Hannes HOERMANN of Germany also fought hard but Ondrej KVENTON of Czech Republic was better in that duel (6 -4 6 8 -12 -6 13). No. 9 seed Darius MOVILEANU of Romania was under pressure in the match against Miguel PANTOJA of Spain (6 -11 3 -4 15 -9 12) before he ended the match in his favor by narrowest margin. No. 3 and 4 seeds Ivor BAN of Croatia and Samuel KULCZYCKI of Poland progressed in the next round after straight games victories over Daniel RINDERER of Germany and Benjamin FRUCHART of France.
Lucie MOBAREK upset the odds to reach the Round of 32
Top 10 seeds at the Under 19 Girls Singles Event at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships successfully prevailed in the third round. The highest ranked player on duty in Varazdin who failed to book the place in Round of 32 was Hungarian’s Helga DARI who suffered by the hands of Lucie MOBAREK of France after five games thriller (5 11 -4 -10 -8 10 9). No. one seed Elena ZAHRIA of Romania overcame Yagmur Sevval KARACA of Turkey (4 7 9 8) to underline her status in straight games. No. two seed Isa COK of France followed her path and overcame Nicole ARLIA of Italy but in much closer encounter. COK was starched to full seven games (6 6 -5 7 -11 -10 5). ARILA’s teammate Jamila LAURENTI beat Iolanta YEVTODII of Ukraine (13 11 2 -11 2) and Elizabet ABRAMIAN keeps her head high. After she lost only one match at the whole Team’s event Russia’s player booked her place among top 32 with the victory over Ulyana ALKHOUSKAYA in straight games (8 8 14 4). Turkey’s both representatives and number 5 and 6 at the seedings proceeded to the next round. Ozge YILMAZ whitstood Leonie BERGER’s spirited comeback after being 3:0 up (7 5 6 -9 -10 -6 4). Ece HARAC beat Natalia BRINZA of Moldova in much easier way (8 4 -16 3 11). Sophia KLEE showed no mercy against Nela HANAKOVA od Czech Republic (3 4 3 9). Watch the action live at YouTube ETTU Official
Hellenic Table Tennis Federation awarded hosting rights to 2021 Europe Top 16 Cup
The European Table Tennis Union Executive Board is pleased to award the hosting rights of the 2021 Europe Top 16 Cup to the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation with the competition to be played on 18-19 September 2021 in the city of Thessaloniki GRE. The ETTU Secretary General will invite – no later than 7 weeks before the start of the competition – the eligible and reserve players for each event based on the last available European Ranking List. In each event the following players shall be invited: a) the current European Champion b) the top 14 players from the last available European Ranking List excluding the current European Champion or top 15 players if a host Association player qualifies. c) if no players qualify from the host Association then the host Association shall nominate one host Association player. There shall be no more than 2 players from an Association in each event. The first reserve man and woman player may be asked to be present. The draw will take place the day before the start of the tournament. Trophies for the winners of the men’s and women’s events were donated in memory of World Champions Richard Bergmann and Trude Pritzi respectively.
Poland at the top of the Europe in Under 19 Boys Teams Event
Poland clinched the title in the Under 19 Boys Team’s Event at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships in Varazdin. In the final they overcame France after thrilling five matches. Romania is third; they overcame Spain. Poland was stretched to full distance in the duel against France. Samuel KULCZYCKI gave Poland a dream start against Thibault PORET but he lost the fourth match against Alexis LEBRUN. It was 2:2 and I was 3:0 up when I lost my focus. My thoughts just wondered. It is good that KUBIK was at the top of the game ” said KULCZYCKI.”I do not have high hopes for singles. I do not play very well here. Maciej KUBIK lost to LEBRUN and beat PORET in the decisive match. “France made us struggling a lot. My mind in the first match was out of the game but I forced myself to forget it immediately after the defeat. The decisive match was fantastic. PORET played at the top level. It was so close and very good ” said KUBIK. In the match for the third position Romania beat Spain in four matches. Darius MOVILEANU was the back-bone of Romania’s success with two wins against Miguel NUNEZ and Miguel PANTOJA. “From the opening point in the match Spain showed they will not let us win anything easily. They fought for each ball so we did the same. We were severely challenged in Varazdin but we beat Portugal and Italy. That was our hardest encounter. It was 3:1 at the end but so close ” said MOVILEANU. “We are not going to stop here. We aim for medals in singles doubles and mixed doubles.” Andrei Teodor ISTRATE added third point to the score list after victory against Marc MIRO. Romania came to the medal rostrum from the second division. “We have two wonderful wins here. First was the win over Italy when we reached the semis. It was 1:1 and I was losing that match. At the end we succeeded and booked the medal. Then this match for third position. It is good feeling when you won close battle. Spain was worthy adversary ” said ISTRATE. Under 19 Boys Team’s Event Final Poland – France 3;2 Samuel KULCZYCKI – Thibault PORET 3:1 (11:7 13:11 7:11 11:9) Maciej KUBIK – Alexis LEBRUN 0:3 (7:11 12:14 8:11) Milosz REDZIMSKI – Alexis KOURAICHI 3:1 (11:6 12:14 12:10 13:11) Samuel KULCZYCKI – Alexis LEBRUN 2:3 (5:11 10:12 11:7 11:7 6:11) Maciej KUBIK – Thibault PORET 3:2 (11:7 9:11 6:11 11:6 11:5) Third place match Spain – Romania 1:3 Miguel PANTOJA – Eduard IONESCU 3:2 (5:11 12:10 10:12 11:7 13:11) Miguel NUNEZ – Darius MOVILEANU 0:3 (10:12 8:11 9:11) Marc MIRO – Andrei Teodor ISTRATE 0:3 (7:11 5:11 6:11) Miguel PANTOJA – Darius MOVILEANU 2:3 (7:11 11:7 3:11 11:2 6:11) Third place match Turkey – France 0:3 Ozge YILMAZ – Isa COK 0:3 (8:11 7:11 Ece HARAC – Camille LUTZ 0:3 (5:11 5:11 7:11) Yagmur Sevval KARACA – Charlotte LUTZ 0:3 (5:11 4:11 8:11)
Romania clinched gold in the Under 19 Girls Team’s Event
Newly crowned champion in the Under 19 Girls Event at the GAZPROM European Youth Championships is team Romania. In Varazdin in the final they overcame Russia in straight matches. In the duel for third position France overcame Turkey. In the final opening duel between Elizabet ABRAAMIAN and Ioana SINGEORZAN ended in favor of Romania’s player and it very much set the course of the match. “Our second player beat Russia’s no. one so it took away any doubts. That was crucial moment of the match. After Ioana SINGEORZAN overcame Elizabet ABRAAMIAN we were 100 percent sure we will win ” said Elizabeta ZAHARIA. “I think we were severely tested only in the duel against Hungary here. Then we lost one individual match; all other concluded wit 3:0 margin.” Foprmer Champion in cadet’s category ZAHARIA has very high goals in singles. “I am here to win the gold. I know it sound bold but I am very confident ” announced ZAHARIA. ZAHARIA beat Liubov TENTSER in second match and in third Luciana MITROFAN succeeded against Natalia MALININA. “I got so much support from my teammates that I could not lose. It was beautiful atmosphere and beautiful match. We came here expecting to win gold; we knew the biggest obstacle will come from team Russia but still it feels so good when we made it” said MITROFAN. The duel between France and Turkey for the third position ended in favor of Isa COK Camille LUTZ and Charlotte LUTZ. On the other side of the net Ozge YILMAZ Ece HARAC and Yagmur Sevval KARACA failed to create pressure and post single win. “It was so important for us to win this. In previous two editions we lost our third place matches in both occasions and I am happy we finally made it. Also it was difficult to came back from yesterday’s defeat against Russia. I lost decisive match in decisive game against TENSTER and it was so difficult to recover after that but at the end it gave us more strength and stronger motive to win today ” said Isa COK. Camille LUTZ was relieved. “This is my last year at the Youth Championships and I am happy to end it with the win. It was hard to play against Turkey twice at the same Championships. It is always dangerous ground. In addition I am happy that the combination of two older players and young Charlotte worked. We all play very important part of the victory ” said Camille LUTZ. Under 19 Girls Team’s Event Final Russia – Romania 0:3 Elizabet ABRAAMIAN – Ioana SINGEORZAN 1:3 (10:12 9:11 11:6 9:11) Liubov TENTSER – Elena ZAHARIA 0:3 (6:11 6:11 7:11) Natalia MALININA – Luciana MITROFAN 0:3 (5:11 5:11 8:11) Match for third position Turkey – France 0:3 Ozge YILMAZ – Isa COK 0:3 (8:11 7:11 Ece HARAC – Camille LUTZ 0:3 (5:11 5:11 7:11) Yagmur Sevval KARACA – Charlotte LUTZ 0:3 (5:11 4:11 8:11)
Possible clashes FAN Zhendong vs. LEBESSON and SOLJA vs. CHEN Meng
The draw for the Olympic table tennis tournament in Japan was conducted today. In the Round one of the Men’s and Women’s Singles event will play 32 players seeded below 32nd place at the seedings. In Round two the winners will meet players seeded from position 17 to 32; from Round three Top 16 players will enter the game. Top seeded player in Round one Andrej GACINA of Croatia will meet Togo’s Kokou Dodji FANNY and the winner will play against no 27 seed Emmanuel LEBESSON of France in Round two. In the third Round the winner will meet top seeded player at the tournament World’s no. one FAN Zhendong of China. The better from the duel Ibrahim DIAW of Senegal vs. CHEW Zhe Yu Clarence of Singapore will meet no. 32 seed Daniel HABESOHN of Austria in Round two and the winner will play against seed no. 16 Marcos FREITAS of Portugal. Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece will meet Zolt PETE of Serbia in the same part of the draw where Ahmet SALEH of Egypt (seed no. 31) and JEOUNG Youngsik of Korea (seed no. 10) are. Lubomir JANCARIK of Czech Republic will play against Ali ALKHADRAWI of Saudi Arabia and the winner moves forward to the duel with Kirill GERASSIMENKO of Kazahstan. Better of that match will meet no. 8 seed Timo BOLL of Germany. In the Round one Ovidiu IONESCU of Romania will meet YAN Xin of Australia in the same part of draw with Gustavo TSUBOI of Brazil and Quadri ARUNA of Nigeria. Alvaro ROBLES of Spain starts with the match of Gaston ALTO of Argentina before the better from that match meets Darko JORGIC of Slovenia (seed no. 18) and the winner moves to meet Liam PITCHFORD of England (seed no. 11). Slovenia’s Bojan TOKIC will meet Jeremy HAZIN of Canada before the winner meets Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia (seed no. 23). The better in second duel will meet Hugo CALDERANO of Brazil. In the part of the draw where is no. 7 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany are JHA Kanak of USA who awaits winners of the duel between Kirill SKACHKOV from Russia’s Olympic Committee and Dimitrije LEVAJAC of Serbia. Best ranked European player Mattias FALCK of Sweden starts from the Round 3 as no. 6 seed. In his part are Omar ASSAR of Egypt and the KOU Lei of Ukraine and Adam HMAM of Tunisia who will meet in Round one. Simon GAUZY of France will be free two rounds and he waits for the better of the duel Bence MAJAROS of Hungary vs. Larbi BOURIAH of Algeria who will meet Jonathan GROTH of Denmark. In the Women’s Singles Event Yana NOSKOVA of Russia Olympic Committee is the highest ranked player on duty in Round one. She will meet Prithika PAVADE of France in the opening Round. The winner will play against ZHANG Mo of Canada (no 21 seed) and the better will meet Petrissa SOLJA of Germany in Round three. In the Round of 16 we could possible see the clas between SOLJA and top seeded CHEN Meng of China. Best ranked European player at the tournament Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria no. 10 seed is in the same part of the draw with Margaryta PESOTSKA of Ukraine (no. 20 seed). PESOTSKA will meet Manika BATRA of India or Tin Tin HO of Great Britain in the second round. Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS no 14 seed is in the same part of the draw with Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia (seed no. 31) and Galia DVORAK of Spain. DVORAK still waits for the outcome of the matches in the Preliminary rounds. Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania is free in two opening rounds as no. 15 seed. In her part of the draw are Suthasini SAWETTABUT of Thailand (no. 22 seed) and Chile’s Maria VEGA. Full details of the draw can be viewed here.
SAMARA:In London I was so happy I did not recognize Bill GATES
Having competed at Beijing 2008 London 2012 and Rio 2016 Romania’s star Elizabeta SAMARA will be on duty once again at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in July. SAMARA was European champion in Singles in 2015 in Doubles in 2009 and 2012 in Mixed Doubles in 2011 and 2012 and in Team’s Event in 2005 and 2017 with Bernadette SZOCS and Daniela MONTEIRO DODEAN. Speaking about her current shape SAMARA said: “Unfortunately due to Covid 19 I could not participate in any tournaments last year. My first tournament took place this year in March at WTT contender and WTT Star Contender in Doha. I reached the semifinal in WTT Star Contender where I won against a player better ranked than I was. I had the Polish League immediately after Doha where I played some good matches and these matches helped me keep my focus. Even if I played few matches it gave me a lot of confidence in my perspective for Tokyo.” Where you were in the last month before the start of the Olympics? “My preparation went well. My team and I were already in training camp before the European Championships in June in Poland. In July we had train for 2 weeks in a bubble at the Romanian Olympic Center in Izvorani before flying to Tokyo. I’m feeling good pushing myself to practice harder and work on every single detail.” What is the goal for the team of Romania and what is your goal? “The Romanian Team is always aiming for a medal. Our way of thinking is to fight for a medal. We know it will be very hard but we are stronger and we feel this is our moment. My goal is a medal in the team event but I also keep in mind to reach in singles as far as I can and to get a good draw as well.” You have already prepared so many times and I wonder how the preparations during the pandemic are different compared to previous experience? “During the pandemic circumstances I focused more on physical training and playing with my Amicus Prime robot until the restrictions went off and I could return in my training hall.” You have been to three Olympics can you remember your feelings before the first one? “I still remember my first Olympic Games in 2008. I needed to go through European Qualifications as I was low ranked. There were two difficult days with a lot of matches. That moment I will never forget is winning against the Italian Tan Monfardini Wenling. I had so many emotions before and after the match. I was a child who had a dream – to be an Olympic Player!” Please can you choose one of your most vivid memories from each of the Olympics you attended? A moment that will always remind you of Beijing London and Rio? “2008 Beijing I think it was the best Olympic Games ever for me. To be out there on the stadium to see the best players in the world from all the sports it was amazing. Than it came the group match against Germany where we were the outsiders as they were much higher ranked than us. We beat them 3-0 and I will never forget that moment. 2012 London there I qualified with my ranking. I won against Tie Yana from Hong Kong she was in the top 10 in the world. Near to my table playing was Lily Zhang and in the tribune Bill Gates was supporting her. Her match finished and my match was the last remaining one. I remember after the match I was with our table tennis president Mr. Romanescu and Bill Gates came to congratulate me. I was still so emotional after my match that I didn’t realize it was him!Mr. Romanescu asked me if I knew who the man was who congratulated me. When I realized I was so happy! 2016 Rio I had the opportunity to play against the Ding Ning who was no. 1 in the world ranking at that moment winner of the World Cup and World Championships. Even if it was such a difficult draw I played against the World Cup World Championships and Olympic Games champion.” How you will describe the woman you are now shaped by the events most of us have never experienced? “I became more aware of myself I learned how to pay attention to small details that could make the difference in my game or in life.” The players will not be allowed to watch other events due the safety reasons but is there any other sport beside TT you would like to watch at Olympics at least at TV? “Unfortunately by the safety rules I cannot go to watch tennis court its one of my favorite sport to watch.” What comes first to your mind when you think about t he greatest Olympic achievement of any other athlete? “Working hard to be one of them myself.”
