Top ranked European player on the world list Sofia POLCANOVA will lead Austria’s team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer. She was forced to make a break during the pandemic but Sofia is recovering with optimism as Japan awaits. “In past year I have played in the bubble events at the China World Cup and Grand Finals. Also I have played the Champions League bubble Event in Linz in December. There were not many competitions last year. But now the preparations are going well. I have started to practice in the middle of May after my knee surgery ” said POLCANOVA. How are preparations under the new circumstances going? “So far not so much has changed because we have some privileges as athletes and we can practice normally. For that I am very grateful. Of course the situation is still not like it was before and I have to be careful.”     Five years after Rio is a long period how different are you now privately and concerning your career? “I got married last year. I am very happy that we could make the wedding because of coronavirus although unfortunately my family could not come to Austria from Moldova. My career has changed a lot since Rio. I did not like my results in singles in Rio so I’ve worked to improve. I had great results on the European stage like three medals at the Europeans in 2018 or bronze medal at Europe Top-16. Also I became number 1 in Europe in the world rankings.” What is the goal for the Austrian team and your personal goal in the singles? “Of course for every player it is a dream to get a medal. We have a great team now. Personally I just want to see how it will go from match to match and enjoy my game again.” How did you feel playing in Rio since it was your first time what is your most vivid memory from Brazil? “I was very impressed by the Christ the Redeemer statue; it looks even more impressive than the pictures show. The culture is different from European. It was exiting to learn about it.” Which sport would you like to see in Tokyo? “I would like to watch artistic gymnastics.” What come first to your mind when you think about the greatest Olympic achievements? “When I think about table tennis I always think about Jan- Ove WALDNER’S big results at the Olympics. Simone BILES is an icon in artistic gymnastics and she had truly great achievements at the Olympics.”

Speaking of greats beside table tennis what or who would you like to see at the Olympics? “I know it will not be possible to watch from the tribunes in Tokyo this year due the COVID measures but I love tennis and basketball ” added JORGIC. How are your preparations going? “We cannot speak about specific preparations for the Olympics. Everything we did and what we will do after the qualifications has only one goal – to be ready for Tokyo. In the Bundesliga I am playing for the title in addition I played at the Qatar Contender and at the Star Contender where I reached third position. Now when the tournaments started there is no time for specific Olympic trainings. The final of Bundesliga as well as the LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships offered a perfect warm up for Tokyo ” added JORGIC. Slovenia will play in the Team’s Event for a first time at the Olympics but still the aims are high. “Our aim is to present our country in the best possible light. In singles I think I will be in part of the draw between 17th and 32nd position. I hope I will be able to go one step above it and I could reach the Round of 16 at the end.” JORGIC’s teammate Bojan TOKIC who has already competed at three Olympic Games in Beijing London and Rio is providing useful experience for JORGIC. “It is always good to have someone with experience near you; someone who already been there and knows all procedures. For me everything will be new in Tokyo ” stated TOKIC.   Last January at the Olympic Team’s Qualifications in Portugal Slovenia’s table tennis team set another milestone: for the first time in history the team qualified for an Olympic Games. Darko JORGIC Bojan TOKIC and Deni KOZUL will represent their country at the greatest of all sports events in Tokyo this summer. The ETTU spoke with JORGIC to get his thoughts on competing at Tokyo 2020. “The feeling when we qualified was incredible. It was my dream come true ” said JORGIC. “To make it even greater I was the part of the success that launched the team at Olympics for a first time in history. It also opened the door for me in singles. It is hard to describe that feeling.” The Olympic Games is something special in the life of any athlete. “They happen only once every four years. It is the crown of the career for every top athlete but not only that…being in the presence of so many greats from other sports gives you a once in a lifetime experience. That is my first thought when I think of Olympics – all the best sport can offer in the same place ” JORGIC added.  

At age of 11 Natalia PARTYKA of Poland played at her first Paralympic Games in Sydney becoming the youngest ever Paralympian. This year she will play at her fourth Olympic Games and her sixth Paralympics Games in Tokyo. She will travel to Japan after the great challenge of playing on home soil at the LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. The long brake forced by the pandemic took its toll on PARTYKA but now with competitions returning things are improving. “Last year I played just few league matches and few in the Champions league ” said PARTYKA. “And that was all so I would say that during the year it seemed like almost nothing happened. I did not play well and did not feel comfortable during the matches. I felt like I was not in bad shape but could not show that in the match. Now step by step things are going better so I am really looking forward for Tokyo.” How are your preparation for the Olympics is going? What is the plan for the last month before the Games start? “I played at the European Championships and that was the biggest test before Tokyo. I am glad that finally we have a chance to play on the international stage. Right after Europeans until leaving for Tokyo I will be in my hometown preparing for the Olympics. The most important is to stay healthy before departure.” You have already prepared so many times and I wonder how the preparations during the pandemic changed the previous strategies? What is different compared to you previous experience? “You know during the pandemic year we cancelled almost all tournaments and training camps we didn’t travel or meet with other teams and players. So everything looked different. I spent almost all the time in my hometown and practiced with the guys from training centre in Gdańsk.” You have been to three Olympics and five Paralympics can you remember your feelings before the first one? “I don’t remember well my feelings from my first Paralympics because I was just 11! But I remember that before going to Beijing I was extremely happy and excited that I was going to represent my country at an Olympic Games. It was like a dream come true.” Does the experience of playing at the Paralympics give you possibility to ease the pressure from the Olympics? “Playing at the Paralympics is different for me then playing at the Olympics because at Para I am one of the best and everyone expects me to win easily so it’s huge pressure. At the Olympics there are a lot of better players then me so the pressure is low. Anyway I am already an experienced player and I know how to deal with everything.” Please can you choose one of your most vivid memories from each of the Paralympics and Olympics you attended? A moment that will always remind you of Sydney Athens Beijing London Rio? “From all Paralympic Games the best memory is winning each gold medal in single event. I can’t choose one because all of them are awesome. At the Olympics I think one of the best was playing in China. Every day the venue was full. Chinese people loves table tennis so it was really great experience to be a part of Olympic tournament.” What is the goal for the Poland team for you personally? “Everything depends on the draw. We know we are strong as a team and capable to play really well. So the goal is to play the best we can and try our best in team and single events as well.” With so much experience what is your advice to the young players? “I would say that the most important thing every day is hard work and dedication. So my advice is: work hard and dream big.” You had to withstand all kinds of pressure live all that pride joy sacrifice pain what has changed the most inside of you? How would you describe the women you are now shaped by the events most of us never experienced? “I had to work really hard to be able to compete with able bodied players. At the beginning it seemed even impossible to reach that high level. But I didn’t give up every day I tried my best and that sacrifice proved to me that impossible is nothing and I can do anything. Table tennis made me who I am today.” The players will not be allowed to watch other events for safety reasons but is there any other sport beside table tennis you would like to watch during the Olympics at least on TV? “That is a pity that we cannot watch other sports… But for sure I will support all polish athletes. I would love to see volleyball or tennis.” What come first to your mind when you think about the greatest Olympic achievement of any other athlete? “On my mind is Usain Bolt Michael Phelps or all Chinese table tennis team. I think they are some of the greatest Olympians.”

In Beijing Croatia reached the quarterfinal of the Team’s Event. Young Andrej GACINA played alongside the legendary Zoran PRIMORAC and TAN Ruiwu. 12 years later GACINA led a new generation who booked their place at the Olympics once again. At Portugal’s qualifications the team composed of Andrej GACINA Tomislav PUCAR and Frane KOJIC secured their position in Tokyo. The long break caused by the pandemic took its toll on GACINA and on his first appearance at the WTT Contender and WTT Star Contender in Qatar in March this year. “The results are far from satisfying. In addition I was struggling with a few injuries. However I had a very good run in the Polish league and that brightened my mood for sure. We won the title and I am happy that bad period is behind me. It is the first title for Dekorglass Działdowo in history and it was special moment for all of us ” explained GACINA. After the season began there was no time for special preparations. “I got in shape for the final of the Polish league and then the European Championships in Warsaw knocked on the door. There is no much time in between Europeans and Olympics for something special. We have to be ready for both tournaments. There will be only 10 days left for the training camp for Olympic games before Tokyo.” GACINA played in Beijing at his first Olympics. “Like everyone the strongest memories are from the first Olympics. You are together with so many athletes from different sports and yet they are all focused only on one thing. I was together with so many greats of sport like Rafael NADAL Roger FEDERER Novak DJOKOVIC Usian BOLT Asafa POWELL and it is fantastic feeling. On top of all it it was my most successful Olympics. We reached the quarterfinals and it made those memories even greater. My saddest memories are from Rio. One hour before the match I got injured and the pain in my back prevented me from performing at the top level.” GACINA hopes there will be spectators allowed in Japan. “I doubt they will allow people from other countries to be at the tribunes in the venues but I hope there will be some spectators. Everything is different when you have real people watching. Speaking about other aspects of the pandemic I think it affected all of us similarly. We all suffered from the lack of tournaments. But GACINA does not think there is pressure on his team. “Our only goal is to play the best table tennis we can. If we achieve that we will be happy. It is the same for teams performances and for my play in the singles. I just wish that we all have an injury free tournament.” PUCAR and KOJIC will play at their first Olympics. “It is their premiere at the Olympics but they have been present at the top scene for years and they have already been in lots of big matches. I am sure they will be up to the task in Tokyo.” GACINA told us that he would like to have a chance to watch basketball and handball at the Olympics but also added: “I have never watched gymnastics at the Olympics. I would really like to have a chance to go and to see their competition.” What is the first thought when you think about the Olympics? “Positive vibe and good atmosphere in the Olympic Village.”  

Hungary has a rich history of success and is one of the founding members of the International Table Tennis Federation from 1926 but until recently the Hungarians had never secure a place in the team event at an Olympic Games. On the evening of Thursday 23 January at the 2020 World Team Qualification Tournament in Gondomar Hungary set the record straight. Team Hungary will play for a first time at the Team’s Event at the Olympics in Japan and they qualified without the help of their great star Georgina POTA. “We qualified in January in 2020 at the Team Qualification Tournament and that is the one of our best results in our history. We beat Portugal without POTA it was one of the best days of my life ” explained Dora MADARASZ. “When the draw came out it was one of the worst draws – Portugal. We tried our best and after the doubles I felt a little bit better we were leading. It was like a miracle I could not believe it. We won that qualification without POTA and thanks to her we were seeded number seven. In the last match in the second game I was up 8-3 or something and I lost my concentration I tried to focus on my return. I didn’t want to think about the Olympics I just wanted to win and I did it! In the last game 10-7 I thought ok this is the match ball for the Olympics.” After the pandemic everything was put on hold for a while. “I played the Qatar Open after my injury but my performance was quite well. In the season I played Champions league in Linz and Europe Cup in Novi Sad with my team where we reached third position. But I played quite good in the French league so it is promising for the future. I have small injuries here and there but I will be ready for the Olympic Games!” What is the goal for team Hungary? “Our goal is to enjoy the atmosphere there. Of course we want to achieve a great result in team and we proved in the past that we can do it. Everybody will fight for every ball I am sure about it. In single I hope I can play my game and I hope I will feel comfortable at the table to secure as many matches as possible.” Speaking about her greatest Olympic memories MADARASZ said: “I watched when BATORFI-TOTH played for the bronze medal in Sydney. Of course I was very young at this time but I already really loved this sport. In addition I really love tennis so after we qualified last year I realized maybe I will have a chance to go and watch tennis. Maybe I will have an opportunity to see my favourite player Rafael Nadal.” What is the greatest Olympic achievement you can remember? “For me Michael Phelps’s results in the Olympics are incredible he is a genius.” Dora was not present at the LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships two weeks ago. “I was struggling with the injury and I was not fully recovered before the start of the European Championships. In light of forthcoming Olympic tournament my coach and I decided that it is better not to go to Warsaw and recovered fully for Japan. I am getting stronger every day and I am looking forward Olympics ” said Dora MADARASZ.   You can follow us at YouTube