Petra Sörling who is nominated by the Swedish Table Tennis as a candidate for the ITTF Presidency has been elected to serve on the Swedish Olympic Committee (Swedish NOC) executive board. Her candidature received overwhelming support (full support 42/42) from the other Olympic sports and it is the first time ever for Table Tennis to be represented at the board level of an often winter sport dominated NOC. Petra Sörling will bring extensive experience from the international world of sports to the Swedish NOC and there is no doubt that the many years serving as the Vice President of finance for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) made a difference in the election. Playing an active role on the lobbying team to bring the Winter Olympics to Sweden back in 2019 also helped the cause as did attending the Olympic Academy educational programme at Olympia Greece back in 2002. “All in all it was a fantastic experience to touch the grounds the very birthplace of the Olympic movement. I wish that all people involved in sports could get such an educational opportunity. I often think back to those sessions with a great deal of joy ” said Petra Sörling. Petra Sörling was first elected on the Swedish Table Tennis executive committee in 2003 and took over as the STTA President in 2013. Time is now to come closer to the Olympic Movement for Sörling who is looking forward to serving her term for the Swedish NOC. “I am very honored and especially happy that our sport – table tennis can play an active part in strengthening the Olympic Values here in Sweden. We both kind of got a vote of confidence my sport and myself ” Petra said and added “I really like how the Olympic Movement values centers around the respect for each individual and the friendship within that so efficiently has the ability to cross borders and touch all nationalities.” The appointment of Petra to the Swedish NOC is of course applauded by the whole Table Tennis community in Sweden and by the STTA: “It is important for Swedish table tennis to be an active player on the scene where decisions are being made both from a national as well as international perspective. As Petra Sörling now enters the Swedish NOC executive board it clearly shows that table tennis is a major player in Swedish sports. At the same time it also shows that her competence built from a variety of positions from both the business and sports side is sought after. Her long and vast experience and sound values makes her a perfect match for the Swedish NOC executive board and she will be most valuable asset in the future work ” said Thomas Buza Secretary General Swedish Table Tennis Association.
Developing Female Table Tennis the main goal for NETU and Sweden
Many countries in Europe share a common ambition in wishing to increase the number of female athletes and coaches in our sport. The Swedish Table Tennis Association together with the North European Table Tennis Union (NETU) comprising Denmark Finland Norway Estonia Latvia Lithuania Iceland Faroe Islands Greenland and Sweden will try to address this issue with a newly created event The NETU SUPERWEEK scheduled for Halmstad Sweden in August. An eventful week awaits the participants with three events built into one concept fully designed to address gender equality and how to grow the number of female athletes and coaches in table tennis. The week in Halmstad will feature one invitation tournament for the top players in the region the Sweden Pro Series broadcasted live in Sweden followed by a three day long training camp. During the final weekend an educational conference for officials runs neck to neck with two NETU Top 16 events for top female players and the U 15 (cadet ) category. “In Sweden as in many other European nations we struggle to grow the number of females in our sport and now we really wanted to show that we will take this issue seriously. In NETU we have had several ongoing discussions about our regular common events and the added value of conferences and training camps to the regular formula of “tournament only” is a way to address several issues that we all share. I am a firm believer that none of us is as strong as all of us and I know that there is so much competence in our table tennis family so why not try to gather cooperate and exchange knowledge and learn from each other. We all share a responsibility to develop table tennis in every aspect and this is an excellent way of working in a proactive way with two topics that really lie close to my heart – sustainability and equality between genders ” said Petra Sörling President of the Swedish Table Tennis Association. Dates are set to 16-22 August and the event is open for the NETU countries and designed to host 32 female only players for the top 16 event – all of them will receive the invitational call for the three day preparation camp as part of the package. The coaches and officials are also involved in the educational conference over the weekend. “We believe in the format to combine training camps conferences and tournaments especially since we all more or less share the same challenges when it comes to female table tennis. Of course not all the players and coaches in such an event will be on the same level – but we will put the focus on learning from each other to create the best possible outcomes for all the participating countries. This is only the beginning of fruitful cooperation and I am also happy that the ETTU Development Program is onboard with support. We hope to impress with this event concept and who knows maybe we can expand the circles of invitations to cover more countries next time around ” said Swedish Table Tennis Association High Performance Director Mikael Andersson. The prospectus has been circulated to the member associations. The Swedish Table Tennis Association is of course fully aware of the current pandemic situation but our hopes are tied to a strong belief that things will be much more stable in August and that we will all finally be able to meet again.
GIONIS IONESCU and SIRUCEK on their way to Tokyo
Greek star Panagiotis GIONIS will play at his fifth Olympic Games this year in Tokyo Ovidiu IONESCU of Romania will play his second and Pavel SIRUCEK of Czech Republic will play his first Olympics. That is the outcome of the final day at the European Olympic Singles Qualification Tournament in Guimarães. Day earlier Alvaro ROBLES of Spain and KOU Lei of Ukraine already booked their places in Japan. In the semi final of the Stage 3 GIONIS overcame Pavel SIRUCEK of Czech Republic (-6 10 8 4 7). “It was not difficult match only because I had to face very good adversary it was difficult for the reason we are very good friends and teammate for two years now. We know each other well. The tension was very big ” said GIONIS. Panagiotis seeded no. three in Portugal faced early exit in the Second stage. “I lost to Alvaro ROBLES who is very strong opponent. I know him very well and he has very good answer to my game. Also he was already in good rhythm after three matches in Group Stage whilst it was first match for me at the tournament. I needed some time to find the rhythm. Despite the defeat I felt good I was satisfied with my shape and I took time to prepare for a second part of the tournament ” explained GIONIS. In the second round GIONIS met Lubomir PISTEJ and prevailed in seven games. “That was the player I wanted to “avoid” the most. For me it was very tough draw so I had to fight very hard. Later I had a very good match against Rares SIPOS. RARES is in splendid form but he had difficulties playing against defender.” Ovidiu IONESCU beat Paul DRINKHALL of Great Britain in second semi final to book his place at the Olympics (3 6 5 -10 8). “I had a very tough draw and I had to play against the players who I know very well. I lived in the same flat with DRINKHALL for two years I played so many times against him before. This is my first win over him in career. I am sorry that he got injured here and that he was not in the top shape against me ” said IONESCU. Ovidiu played against teammate in the quarterfinal. “I had a bed start of the match against Daniel HABESOHN. I struggled against him I had difficulties with my service game but when I came down I managed to win ” added IONESCU. The match for the fifth qualifier between Pavel SIRUCEK and Paul DRINKHALL In the quarter final Rares SIPOS of Romania lost to Panagiotis GIONIS (7 8 10 5) Paul DRINKHALL overcame Eric GLOD of Luxembourg (8 10 8 6) and Pavel SIRUCEK prevailed against Mihai BOBOCICA of Italy (7 5 -7 -8 5 10) Ovidiu IONESCU beat Daniel HABESOHN of Austria in most dramatic encounter of the quarterfinal (-3 -8 10 8 -9 1 7). DRINKHALL and SIRUCEK were on duty in the final match of the tournament – the duel for the fifth place at the Olympics. SIRUCEK won (3 3 -6 -8 7 7). “After I had won two opening games I got scared. It was too easy. At that moment Paul start to play fantastic game ” explained Pavel. You can see pictures on FLICKR https://www.flickr.com/photos/ettu_official/albums Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ettu_official/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ETTUofficial/
Yana NOSKOVA and Maria XIAO secured last two remaining places for Tokyo
The last two places at the Women’s Singles Event at the European Olympic Singles Qualification Tournament in Guimarães are booked by Yana NOSKOVA of Russia and Maria XIAO of Spain. They joined the French duo of Prithika PAVADE and YUAN Jia Nan who secured the tickets for Japan day earlier. In the first semi final of the day Yana NOSKOVA beat Polina TRIFONOVA of Bulgaria (4 10 -9 -9 6 9). NOSKOVA was halted in the semi final of the second stage and she had to go all the way through once again but this time she completed her mission successfully. Previously TRIFONOVA was halted in the second round of Stage 2 in the match against SHAO Jeni of Portugal. Against TRIFONOVA NOSKOVA had very good start. “I was two games up but after 9:9 in third game I lost my focus. Everything went so quickly. TRIFONOVA is very dangerous player it was only SHAO Jieni who beat her here. However comparing to PAVADE I felt much more comfortable with her game. She would not hit me with the bomb from the first stroke like PAVADE. I was able to keep the ball on the table against Polina much easier ” explained Yana. Yana explained what happened day earlier. “Against PAVADE I was not ready. At this moment French player is the best player in Europe in her age category and she was also ready for me. We played recently against each other and she was well prepared ” said YANA and added.”I waited 9 years for this since London. I am so happy now.” In the tense close match for the last remaining place at the Olympics from the qualifications Maria XIAO needed full seven games to overcame Barbara BALAZOVA of Slovakia (9 -6 7 9 -4 -5 6). “I never managed to beat BALAZOVA in our four previous encounters but for sure I know her game very well. It was a full distance match but I was not under great stress. I got 3:1 lead and it gave me confidence even when Barbora recovered to level. At 3:3 I just knew that she could not continue to play at the same level as she did in the fifth and sixth game. I just stayed calm and waited for my moment ” said Maria. In the Stage 2 XIAO lost to Yuan Jia Nan of France. ‘I did not stood the chance against her YUAN is much better player ” added XIAO. In the opening round of the ultimate day Yana NOSKOVA overcame Sibel ALTINKAYA of Turkey (9 10 -7 11 6) Polina TRIFONOVA beat Sarah de NUTTE of Luxembourg (9 -10 8 7 8) Barbora BALAZOVA prevailed against SHAO Jieni of Portugal (4 8 8 -10 10) and Maria XIAO proved too strong for Christina KALLBERG of Sweden (3 3 7 -10 -7 9). You can see pictures on FLICKR https://www.flickr.com/photos/ettu_official/albums Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ettu_official/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ETTUofficial/
Executive Board meeting April 24 2021
On Saturday April 24 a meeting of the ETTU Executive Board was held in Guimaraes under the leadership of President Igor LEVITIN.Neven CEGNAR (Development Manager) reported on the development plan for this year. The plan was agreed by the Board and incorporated into the current budget.Beatrice ROMANESCU (Marketing Manager) has updated ETTU’s Executive Board on rebranding content creation television rights and sponsorships. Storage and archiving of online materials and content was discussed. The ETTU Executive Board has also agreed on a budget for future marketing projects.The Executive Board instructed ETTU Vice-President Ina JOZEPSON together with Competition Manager Alen IVANCIN to develop requirements for the preparation and conduct of the competition and build coordinated work with the Marketing Manager as well as monitor compliance with all requirements in the preparation and organisation of the competition.Vice President Miguel VICENS reported on the progress made in planning the European ranking in collaboration with ETTU Ranking Committee Chairman Igor HELLER.The Executive Board approved the dates for the 2021-2022 Champions League for men and women from 15 to 17 September 2021 – stage 1 from 3 to 7 November 2021 – stage 2.President LEVITIN thanked the Executive Board members for their contributions expressed gratitude to the ETTU Deputy President Pedro MOURA for organizing the competition and meeting in Guimaraes and closed the meeting.
ROBLES and KOU booked their tickets for Tokyo
After stage two of the European Olympic Singles Qualification Tournament in Guimarães Alvaro ROBLES of Spain and KOU Lei of Ukraine winners of the semi final duels in the Men’s Singles Event secured their places at the Olympic tournament in Japan. KOU Lei the number four seed overcame Rares SIPOS in the semi final (9 7 8 -4 -5 6). “I could not play backhand to backhand game against Rares. I had to use different tactics. I had to risk because it will be the only way to create some chances to win. I played more on forehand adjust the receive and it proved successful ” said KOU. KOU had a very big pressure from two previous unsuccessful attempts. “I was already halted one step too early at the European Games in Belarus and at the World Qualification in Doha. This was my last chance ” added KOU who played already two times at the Olympics.”I am not getting any younger ;I am 34. In all three occasions I had to go through qualifications but this tournament was the toughest. However my experience helped me to reduce the pressure.” For Alvaro ROBLES this will be the first Olympics. In the semi final he overcame Vladimir SIDORENKO (-9 10 12 -8 -9 3 15). “It was extremely difficult victory .I did not have a feeling I am winning at all. Contrary I was struggling all the time. He had control and I was fighting to survive. I played so many matches at this tournament but this was first left hander I met here. It caused me a great problem. After 3:2 for him I managed to find some rhythm in the sixth game; service was better. I stopped playing in his backhand ” said Alvaro. SIDORENKO had four match balls in seventh game ROBLES also missed two and took advantage of third. “I could not sleep properly at this tournament. I was reading a books until 2-3 AM every night just to avoid any thinking about what will happened. In past years I was living just one dream to play at the Olympics and it was so difficult now when I came so close ” added Alvaro. You can see live streaming on https://www.ettu.tv/en-int/partner-player/ettu/ettu.tv You can see pictures on FLICKR https://www.flickr.com/photos/ettu_official/albums Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ettu_official/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ETTUofficial/
Double joy for France as YUAN and PAVADE booked their places at the Olympics
After three days of intense action in Portugal the names of two players to emerge successful in the Women’s Event at the European Olympic Singles Qualification Tournament in Guimarães were known. At the end of the first part of the qualification France has a reason for a double joy. Prithika PAVADE and YUAN Jia Nan secured their place at the Tokyo Olympics. After all the drama of the quarterfinals day earlier the first semi final of the Women’s Singles event was a comparatively quiet affair. Despite very brave efforts from Yana NOSKOVA to halt Prithika PAVADE’S progress French youngster will play at her first ever Olympics (5 7 12 -9 6) in Tokyo. The master of disguise PAVADE controlled the game by giving no option for her adversary to see where the next stroke will go. She played very aggressive from the very beginning. “NOSKOVA is very aggressive player. I played against her two or three times in French League and she was always better but here is the different atmosphere. My previous experience helped me to prepare well. She tried to slow down the game and succeeded with that in the fourth game but I knew how to regain the control ” said PAVADE. Prithika is only 16 years old and in Tokyo she will play at her first Olympics. “I never thought I will be at the Olympic tournament in Japan. I hoped it will happen in Paris 2024. Honestly I did not dare to dream I will be at this qualifications at first place. I am so grateful that my Federation gave me the chance to compete here. I thought some senior player will be on duty in Guimaraes but here I am ” said PAVADE. For YUAN Tokyo will also be the first Olympic tournament. She represents France from 2019 and now she made a chance to do it at the Olympics in Tokyo. In the semi final she beat the host nation ace SHAO Jeni (-7 8 -7 5 5 8). “Until the very last point I did not think I will qualify. I did not dare. SHAO is very dangerous. There was not a moment in the match when I realised I can win. In all seven matches I have played here I was only thinking about the next point ” explained YUAN who admitted she will celebrate the great win with a glass of champagne. The tournament continues in the afternoon with six matches in Round of 32 and another round later tonight in Round 16. You can see live streaming on https://www.ettu.tv/en-int/partner-player/ettu/ettu.tv You can see pictures on FLICKR https://www.flickr.com/photos/ettu_official/albums Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ettu_official/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ETTUofficial/
Players are pushing each other to the limits as we approaching final stages
In the semi final of the Men’s Singles Event at the European Olympic Qualification one step away from the ticket for Japan Rares SIPOS of Romania will meet KOU Lei of Ukraine and Alvaro ROBLES of Spain will meet Vladimir SIDORENKO of Russia. In Women’s Singles semi final Yana NOSKOVA of Russia will play against Prithika PAVADE of France and her compatriot YUAN Jia Nan will meet SHAO Jieni of Portugal. In the quarterfinal Rares SIPOS overcame Tobias RASMUSSEN of Denmark (4 11 7 6). Straight games win underlined his determination but it was not an easy task. “I am happy how I started the game but after the easy opening game the tiredness from playing six matches in three days showed up. I had a strange feeling I lost my focus and I felt blocked. I was screaming within myself to push my legs to stretch my body to lift myself…I made it. I was back in track to win the second game and eventually the match without upsets ” explained SIPOS. KOU Lei overcame Samuel KULCZYCKI of Poland in another straight games match (9 5 5 13). “I needed some time to read his game but after the opening set it was relatively easy. The problems begun in the fourth game. I was not able to see what he will play next and he was 8:2 in the lead very quickly. I could only play point by point and to be patient ” said KOU. Alvaro ROBLES overcame Paul DRINKHALL of Great Britain (7 9 -7 9 5) whilst Vladimir SIDORENKO beat Pavel SIRUCEK of Czech Republic (-6 9 6 3 9). Seeded no. three Yana NOSKOVA who had 3:1 lead withstood a spirited comeback from Christina KALLBERG of Sweden to book her place in the semi final (7 -12 6 3 -6 -8 4). “Making drama is story of my life ” said Yana laughing.” I started very well; in fourth game I was 9:0 in the lead and then I lost my focus. Christina felt it she changed the pace. KALLBERG is very dangerous when she create the position to attack. She took the control over the match before I realise how critical it is. Fortunately in the seventh game I was in charge.” In the semis NOSKOVA will meet Prithika PAVADE of France who continued to dominate. On her way to the semis French player overcame Ukraine’s Solomiya BRATEYKO (5 7 -4 5 7). YUAN Jia Nan of France beat Maria XIAO of Spain in straight games to book her place in the next round (14 6 7 4). After the big drama; fantastic come back from 1:3 to 3:3 for Charlotte CAREY it was SHAI Jieni who reach the semi final (6 -10 5 10 -9 -7 11). In fantastic game CAREY had five match points but host nation representative recovered to win the match by he narrowest of margins. You can see live streaming on https://www.ettu.tv/en-int/partner-player/ettu/ettu.tv You can see pictures on FLICKR https://www.flickr.com/photos/ettu_official/albums Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ettu_official/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ETTUofficial/
Top seeded players suffered defeats on their first exit to the tables in Guimaraes
On the third day of the play at the European Olympic Singles Qualification tournament in Portugal’s city of Guimaraes top four seeds in each Men’s and Women’s Event felt the heat for a first time at the tournament. After the Round of 16 only four reached the quarterfinal. In Men’s Singles Event top seeded player Daniel HABESOHN of Austria will have to go for the second chance tomorrow. Today it was Rares SIPOS of Romania who beat the odds and prevailed in five games (-11 9 8 6 8). “Daniel had a much better start. He had the control at the beginning with his service game. It took time before I managed to find the game for him. I needed to calm down and to try to ease the pressure ” said SIPOS. Another favorite no. three seed Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece followed HABESOHN’s fate. Contrary to expectations Alvaro ROBLES of Spain moved to quarters after seven games thriller (-2 9 -7 9 -9 10 6). “GIONIS is amazing player. Fantastic defender…I thought I was well prepared for his play but he managed to surprise me. His style is so unique it is difficult to find the tactics against the player with so many variations in his game. I kept on fighting and I think at the end it was my stamina and endurance that pushed me to the next round ” said ROBLES. No. two seed Pavel SIRUCEK of Czech Republic was at the top of his game in the duel against Eric GLOD of Luxembourg (13 5 6 -6 10) as well as KOU Lei of Slovakia who overcame Cedric NUYTNICK of Belgium in straight games (12 8 8 12). In Women’s Singles Event Prithika PAVADE of France still shines. 16-years old player showed no fear in the duel against top seeded Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic (-7 5 10 7 -7 9). “I am not afraid of experienced players. It is my tactics that is only mater. I only play my game and I think only how to put the ball on the table ” said PAVADE who is listed at the position no. 34 at the list of seedings. Another French player proved too strong for the favorite. No. two seed Barbora BALAZOVA of Slovakia could not halted progress of YUAN Jia Nan of France (16 -10 8 9 -7 9). Yana NOSKOVA of Russia is safely through the quarterfinal after victory over Daria TRIGOLOS (8 7 7 6). You can see live streaming on https://www.ettu.tv/en-int/partner-player/ettu/ettu.tv You can see pictures on FLICKR https://www.flickr.com/photos/ettu_official/albums Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ettu_official/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ETTUofficial/
Prithika PAVADE keeps the French flag high in Guimaraes
The opening round of the main draw at the European Olympic Singles Qualification in the Women’s Event showed that few European youngsters are coming up. Among them most certainly is16-years old Prithika PAVADE of France who managed to reach the Round of 16 after very mature performance against Mie SKOV of Denmark. 19 years older adversary from Denmark put PAVADE on serious test with her service game but French player prevailed (11:7 10:12 11:8 11:4 9:11 11:4). “She is very experienced player and whatever I did I was struggling to finish the points. She never gave up. I had a problem with the return of the service and when that part improved I managed to slow down the game. SKOV is playing with great speed and I needed to slow her down in order to win ” said PAVADE. PAVADE will play against the top seeded player in the Event Hana MATELOVA of Czech Republic for the place in the Round of 8. Giorgia PICCOLIN of Italy also faced 19 years older Ruta PASKAUSKIENE. The experience went on Ruta’s account but the difference in rankings works in favor of younger player so as the result at the end 4:0 (11:7 11:7 11:9 11:8). “Ruta is well known player and her experience made my job very difficult. I constantly changed the pace of the game I was searching for the best tactics ” said PICCOLIN. The match between Swede Christina KALLBERG and Sabina SURJAN of Serbia after a lot of ups and downs ended in favor of KALLBERG (11:7 5:11 7:11 11:8 11:5 11:7). “I was 2:1 in reverse when I realised I had to change something. I started to play much more aggressive and took the control of the match. My forehand worked quite well and it helped a lot ” said KALLBERG. Daria TRIGOLOS of Belarus overcame Galia DVORAK of Spain (11:9 12:10 9:11 11:7 9:11 11:8). “I struggled to keep the focus. At some point I was playing very well but then I stated to think about the result and I felt the pressure. It was difficult to keep the pace ” explained Daria. In the Men’s Singles Event the opening round of the main draw brought thrilling duel between Lubomir PISTEJ of Slovakia and Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU. No. six seed IONESCU forced no.9 at the tournament PISTEJ to go full distance but failed to secure the win (11:8 5:11 10;12 4:11 11:6 11:8 11:8). You can see live streaming on https://www.ettu.tv/en-int/partner-player/ettu/ettu.tv You can see pictures on FLICKR https://www.flickr.com/photos/ettu_official/albums Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ettu_official/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ETTUofficial/
