The 2021 GAZPROM European Team Championships commenced today in BT Arena in Cluj. Follow the action live on ettu.tv and live score here see the pictures here  and on all social media platforms. Opening Round Group stage Czech Republic – Italy 3:0 Even in absence of Czech Republic’s best ranked player Pavel SIRUCEK the team managed to record straight matches win against Italy. SIRUCEK stayed at home due the shoulder injury but his teammates stood the pressure. Lubomir JANCARIK was stretched to full distance against Niagol STOYANOV (6:11 11:9 9:11 13:11 11:5). “STOYANOV is a very smart player and has an unpleasant style of play. He fight hard can place balls alternates between short service and long service. That’s how he wins. It is important to find the right rhythm and take control somehow. I didn’t quite succeed but I saved three match balls and then I improved the game ” said JANCARIK. Tomas POLANSKY needed one game less to beat Mihai BOBOCICA (10:12 11:7 11:9 11:5). “Until 10: 5 in the first game I felt that I was better and I have no idea what happened at the end. I ruined two balls then he caught up and won the game. BOBOCICA also plays very technically and it is not easy to force his style . I’m glad that I eventually managed to turn the game around and win ” explained POLANSKI. Jiri MARTENKO was forced to play another marathon against Leonardo MUTTI (11:6 4:11 11:4 6:11 11:7). “I was glad that I started the first match in the men’s national team at the European Championships at 2: 0. That reassured me that if I lost the boys would have another chance to end the match. I really wanted to win because the first match is very important for the confidence for the whole team. This is completely different from youth tournaments. But I tried not to think about it I focused on my performance and I think it was very good. It wasn’t easy because I don’t like left-handers very much. I’m glad I succeeded. “ Croatia – Hungary 3:0 Andrej GACINA gave Croatia perfect start with the win over Adam SZUDI 11:6 11:6 11:4). Control was the name of the game. Tomislav PUCAR just left one game to Bence MAJOROS (5;11 11:3 11:9 11:4) and at the end Frane KOJIC sealed the encounter with more then convincing 3:0 against Nandor ECSEKI (11:9 11:6 l1:4). “This match gave us good start for what is coming. Opening round win is good for confidence especially after all three of us played at the such high level ” stated KOJIC. KOJIC pointed at good preparation and analyze with the coach as a crucial for persuasive performance. “In addition it helped a lot that we had matches against each others in recent past. Against ECSEKI I played very recently in Austria so I was aware from where the danger is coming. I had to awoid his forehand. Also GACINA played against Adam SZUD in the Champions League and he already succeeded then so it was easier for him now. “ Italy and Czech Republic are in the same Group. “Czech Republic is without SIRUCEK so that will make our task little bit easier but still it is very leveled group. It will depend a lot of small things. We are here to win the Group and to reach the medal rostrum so we have to beat them all ” concluded KOJIC. Opening Round Women’s Event Greece – Luxembourg 1:3 With two wins Sarah DE NUTTE led to opening round success. Match commenced with very fast victory of NI Xia Lian over Aikaterini TOLIOU (11:7 11:1 11:7) and then Sarah was under pressure against Konstantina PARIDI (12:10 11:3 11:6 14:12) before Elisavet TERPOU brought first point for Greece. Tessy GONDERINGER lost in four games (11:9 14:16 11:4 11:7). DE NUTTE beat TOLIOU on his second exit to the table (11:9 11:7 11:4). “I’m very happy that we won this match with Greece. We were favorites but it’s the opening one so you never know. I had confidence in my team that we can make it and happy that I could win 2 matches.The first one was more difficult because I was struggling a little bit. In the first game I was leading 10-7 than I lost and than I won two games easy and then the last one I won the very close. PARIDI had some game balls and at 2-2 you never know. I was happy that I could finish. In the second one I was feeling more comfortable.” Didn’t you feel some pressure in the duel against TOLIOU. “I was thinking “doesn’t matter how that match will be if Xia Lian plays the next one she will win” so I had confidence in her and because of that I was a little bit more relaxed more okay. Also I already played against Aikaterin a few times and I was feeling comfortable explained Sarah” What do you expect in the match against Russia in the next Round. “It will be a tough match really difficult but I think we have a chance. We need to be in a good shape all of us so that we can beat them. In the team from Russia is my team-mate from the club so it will be really funny.” France – Turkey 3:0 Led by young Prithika PAVADE recorded opening round win against Turkey. 17 years old PAVADE overcame Sibel ALTINKAYA in the opening match (6:11 8:11 11:9 6:11). Simay KULAKCEKEN suffered by the hands of YUAN Jia Nan (2:11 9:11 11:8 14:16) and Pauline CHASSELIN was starched to full distance before she overcame Ece HARAC (6:11 11:7 9:11 11:3 4:11). PAVADE won two gold medals in Cluj in cadet doubles and team’s in 2018. “I was here three years ago at the European Youth Championships and it is great place to play – everything looks so good. I feel good because I am

Romanian Women’s and Men’s Team held a press conference today in the eve of the start of the 2021 GAZPROM European Table Tennis Team Championships. In BT Arena Cluj Napoca reigning champions Women’s team Romania had the honor to be first to address to the media today. Title holders Romania is represented by their best players led by top stars Bernadette SZOCS (World’s no 24) Elizabeta SAMARA (World’s no. 29) Adina DIACONU Daniela Dodean MONTEIRO and Andreea DRAGOMAN with the coach and the second coach Viorel FILIMON and Elena SEBE. Viorel FILIMON is very optimistic about this championship. “I hope to fulfill our goal and the goal of every table tennis fan here to win the 3rd consecutive title in women’s team.” said FILIMON. Eliza SAMARA is very happy that she finally can play at home. “We will have very difficult matches but like I said before if each of us will play on our top level we will win. We hope for the best outcome – the gold.” said SAMARA. Bernadette SZOCS is confident about this European championship and very grateful for such perfect conditions provided by Romania’s Federation. Asked about the competition which is always fierce coach stated: “From the past experiences we know that every team is the world-class with medals achieved at European Championship and also from World’s. Good for us is that this time Germany didn’t come with the strongest line up but they still have fearsome players. Also Portugal the last year finalist France Russia Hungary and Sweden will be tough to beat. Even with this teams if our girls remain focused on this championship and forget about everything we can succeed. Men’s team is seeded at the position no. 9 and in their group is Luxembourg Slovenia and Finland. Coach Andrei FILIMON set the bar high and revealed that the team’s aim is to reach the semi final. “So many people waited with excitement and impatience the start of the 2021 GAZPROM European Team Championships. We are also excited to get into the competition. In the first mach with Luxembourg it looks that we are favorites. We hope that we will not have problems. The most important mach is with Slovenia but we do not underestimate the team of Finland.” said coach Andrei FILIMON. World’s no. 55 Ovidiu IONESCU is the leader of the team composed of Hunor SZOCS Rares SIPOS Darius MOVILEANU and Eduard IONESCU. “I am so proud to compete at such important event in my own country. This championships is organised at a very high level. The conditions are comparable to the Tokyo Olympic Games. I believe in our strength; as a team we are like one and I hope that we will have reasons to celebrate at the end of the competition ” said Ovidiu IONESCU. Rares SIPOS will play in his home town and it is always special moment for every player. Last time he had that opportunity at the European Youth Championships in the same venue. “ I am so glad to play again after three years in my home city. For the whole team it is such a joy to play in Cluj and especially for me because Cluj Napoca is my native city. I was born in Cluj and it was here when I touched a table tennis racket for a first time.We have a very young team but a quite experienced team. I am looking eagerly forward. I trust the team and the trainers that will demonstrate an excellent performance ” said SIPOS. It is true that the team is very young and is is also confirmed that the players are adjusted to success. Eduard IONESCU and Darius MOVILEANU were the members of the team at the EYC this summer in Varazdin. They created top rated upset by reaching the medal rostrum straight from the level two of the Championships. “I am so glad to be a member of this team. In the last week we worked so hard to be in our best shape. We are so glad that we are playing in our country and we will do our best in order to get an excellent result ” said Eduard.  

In two days the best teams from Europe will fight for the title at the 2021 GAZPROM European Team Championships in Cluj. The Russian team is led by the world number 53 Kirill SKACHKOV and is also composed of Alexander SHIBAEV Vladimir SIDORENKO Lev KATSMAN and Maksim GREBNEV. “I am little bit tired since I played at Hungarian Open and in Doha. In addition I had a problem with the flight so I arrived in Cluj a day later than I was planed. I did not have much time to rest at all after the Olympic Games in Japan ” said SKACHKOV. Russia is in a Group with France and Netherlands. “We have to be very cautious. It is a tough group. France is at the top and with Simon GAUZY who is no. 19 in the World and Emmanuel LEBESSON no. 38 they are one of the biggest favorites for the medal rostrum. We will fight hard against them but first we have to beat Netherlands. We have to go step by step. Due to the very busy schedule we did not have time to practice together much. We had only three days for that but we will do our best in Cluj ” said SKACHKOV. The tournament commences on Tuesday with the Group stage. In the Men’s Teams Event Group A is made up of Germany Belarus and Ukraine; Group B is Sweden Belgium and Greece; Group C is England Slovakia and Serbia; Group D is Austria Poland and Spain; Group E is Portugal Denmark and Turkey; Group F is France Russia and the Netherlands. In the last two remaining groups there are four teams. In Group G there is Croatia Czech Republic Italy and Hungary; Group H comprises Slovenia Romania Luxembourg and Finland. Each group will play a complete round robin and group winners will proceed to the quarter-finals. From the quarter-finals a knockout system will be used. Top seeds in the Women’s Teams Event in final stage groups draw Germany will face Spain and Slovakia whilst the host in Group B will meet Italy and Belgium. In Group C Austria will have to play against Belarus and Serbia whilst in Group D Ukraine will meet Czech Republic and Slovenia. In Group D are Hungary Portugal and Croatia; Group F comprises Poland Sweden and England; Group G is Russia Luxembourg and Greece and in Group H it is the Netherlands France and Turkey.  

We are only days away from the 2021 GAZPROM European Table Tennis Championships to be held from 28 September until 3 October in Cluj Napoca. The reigning champions in the Women’s Team Event – Romania – will play on home soil. “It always feels great to play at home we enjoy having our own fans who gives us energy and motivation to succeed. It feels like we fight together we win together with the public. I have played table tennis for more than 25 years and it will be great to play this tournament at home. The conditions for this tournament will be extraordinary so it will be a great event to attend ” said SAMARA. How do you manage pressure and motivation that it brings to get the best of you? “We are fully aware of this pressure considering the fact that we won the previous two titles. Usually I’m used to playing under pressure my way to manage the pressure is to keep focusing on every ball to pay attention to every single detail.” You have played at the POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 Cup in Thessaloniki what do you think about your shape? “Yes I have been there. It wasn’t a good tournament for me but I turned it into a useful experience I learned everything I could of it. I am in good shape it wasn’t a matter of me not being in a good shape I will do my best in Cluj to help my team to succeed.” You are in Group B with Italy and Belgium. Can you put a “scanner” of the top challengers for the medal rostrum in Cluj? “Every team comes to Cluj determined to have a very good result. We respect every opponent and we take every single match seriously.” Three months ago we had the LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships and you have won bronze medal. What is the difference for you when you play team competition comparing individual? “When you play team events and when you win its an amazing feeling. You play for your country you count on your teammates on the bench It’s a different energy and vibe and I simply love it.” What was the greatest moment of friendship during the championships you experienced? “Try to imagine us winning the title in Luxembourg in 2017. No restaurant was open at that hour I went with Dana DODEAN MONTEIRO and we bought food for everyone and it was a very special moment for all of us “remembered SAMARA. What was the craziest thing that happened when you were with your teammates? “The craziest moment during a competition was at the World Cup in London. The fire alarm went off twice during the night and we had to go out on our pyjamas confused it was absolutely crazy ” laughed SAMARA.  

The 2021 GAZPROM European Table Tennis Team Championships matches that will take place in Cluj Napoca between 28 September and 3rd October will be played on 2 TIBHAR show tables with innovative and modern design. The project initiated and produced exclusively by the Romanian Table Tennis Federation supported by ETTU was approved this week by ITTF.Stay tuned to ettu.tv for the hottest information about 2021 GAZPROM European Team Table Tennis Championships!