The 2021 POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 Cup in Thessaloniki on 18 and 19 September will bring few new names like FU Yu SHAO JIENI Ganna GAPONOVA and Aikaterini TOLIOU but Polina MIKHAILOVA from Russia will be seven appearances far from her premiere. Seeded at the position no. seven Polina played at her first Top 16 in Baku 2015. “Top 16 is a very nice interesting and well organised tournament. Unfortunately my strongest memories from the event is the one from 2016 in Portugal’s Gondomar. I failed to pass the group just by points ratio. Once I was seeded no. 8 and got NI Xia Lian in the opening round. That is the worst option for me ” explained Polina. After three events in Montreux 2021 POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 Cup will be played for a first time in Greece. “We will see how it is going to work for me. It is first time that we are playing in Greece and actually it is the first time that I am visiting Greece. Maybe this change will bring luck to my side ” said MIKHAILOVA laughing. Polina played at the Tokyo Olympics this summer. “I am disappointed with my result because I lost my first match at the tournament. However I can say that LIU Jia played a really good. She managed to recover from 0-2 in reverse to win the match.” The vacation time Polina spent in Russia at the sea shore. “It was just a short week. Now we are at the camp in the mountains for 12 days and then we will have about two weeks to prepare for Top 16 ” explained Polina MIKHAILOVA. In the women’s event the other athletes who will participate are: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) YU Fu (Portugal) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) SHAO Jieni (Portugal) Dora MADARASZ (Hungary) Ganna GAPONOVA (Ukraine) Aikaterini TOLIOU (Greece).
CTT Borges unbeaten in Romania’s Odorheiu Secuiesc
With three wins out of the three matches in the opening round of the Group stage of the Table Tennis Champions League Men Spanish CTT Borges secured the top position in the Group A. Despite the absence of Quentin ROBINOT in today’s last round French AS Pontoise Cergy is second in Romania. Tomorrow 6 more matches are scheduled in three remaining Groups. In Group B in Austria’s Wels will play TTC Neu-Ulm vs PTE PEAC Kalo-Meh and TTC Sokah Hoboken vs. SPG FELBERMAYR Wels. In Group C in Verkhnaya Pyshma in Russia will play Top Spin Messina Fontalba vs. TTC Ostrava 2016 and TTSC UMMC-ELEM vs. K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo. In Group C in Croatia’s Varazdin SF SKK El Nino Praha will meet Leka Enea Marpex and STK Starr Croatia will meet SolexConsult TTC Wiener Neustadt. Third Round Group A AS Pontoise Cergy – GDCS Juncal 3:2 Emmanuel LEBESSON – Konstantin CHERNOV 3:1 (11:7 10:12 11:3 11:1) Adrien MATTENET- Kirill SHVETC 0:3 (10:12 7:11 9:11) Quentin ROBINOT- Nuno GONZAGA 0:3 Emmanuel LEBESSON – Kirill SHVETC 3:0 (11:4 11:6 11:7) Adrien MATTENET- Konstantin CHERNOV 3:2 (6:11 9:11 11:5 12:10 6:1) CTT Borges – CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc 3:0 Alberto LILLO – Lucian MUNTEANU 3:0 (13:11 11:7 11:9) Joan MASIP – Szilard GYORGY 3:2 (11:7 11:7 3:11 9:11 6:3) Marc DURAN – Sebastian LOSO 3:1 (9:11 20:18 11:9 11:8) Second Round CTT Borges – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 3:2 Alberto LILLO – Quentin ROBINOT 3:0 (11:6 11:0 11:0) Viktor BRODD – Emmanuel LEBESSON 0:3 (9:11 3:11 7:11) Joan MASIP – Adrien MATTENET 3:2 (16:14 11:8 5:11 4:11 6:3) Marc DURAN – Emmanuel LEBESSON 0:3 (8:11 9:11 7:11) Viktor BRODD – Quentin ROBINOT 3:0 CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – GDCS Juncal 1:3 Sebastian LOSO – Konstantin CHERNOV 1:3 (4:11 3:11 11:6 8:11) Szilard GYORGY – Kirill SHVETC 0:3 (5:11 5:11 7:11) Lucian MUNTEANU – Nuno GONZAGA 3:0 (11:8 11:6 11:9) Sebastian LOSO – Kirill SHVETC 0:3 (9:11 2:11 7:11) First Round CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 0:3 Sebastian LOSO – Quentin ROBINOT 0:3 (2:11 2:11 7:11) Gyorgy SZILARD – Emmanuel LEBESSON 0:3 (2:11 8:11 12:14) Krisztian CSERVIK – Adrien MATTENET 0:3 (5:11 8:11 6:11) GDCS Juncal – CTT Borges 1:3 Kirill SHUETS – Marc DURAN 3:1 (10:12 11:9 11:7 11:6) Nuno GONZAGA – Viktor BRODD 0:3 (8:11 6:11 2:11) Konstantin CHERNOV – Joan MASIP 2:3 (7:11 13:11 8:11 12:10 3:6) Kirill SHUETS – Viktor BRODD 2:3 (11:9 11:7 3:11 8:11 4:6)
Dora MADARASZ had silver start to the season
Dora MADARASZ of Hungary is among the participants of the 2021 POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 Cup this weekend in Thessaloniki Greece. This will be her second appearance at the tournament having overcome her nerves in her debut appearance at the event last year. “I really enjoyed my first TOP 16 last year and I really hope I can play every year in the future. I played against PESOTSKA and that was the opening match. I lost but I was satisfied with my game and it was a good encounter ” said MADARASZ. Dora played at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 this summer. Much like every athlete MADARASZ is never satisfied with her performance. She was the key player of Hungary’s fantastic run in qualifications in Portugal but her performance in Japan did not meet her expectations. “I am not satisfied with how I played at the Olympics; it was a big disappointment for me but I learnt a lot from it. I did not have a problem with the measures there I got used to it quite easily. It was my performance that made me uncomfortable.” It has been a busy summer for Dora. “I haven’t had a break because right after the Games we played the WTT Contender in Budapest. I am happy that Nandor ECSEKI and I clinched the silver medal in the mixed double event in front of a home crowd. It was a good start to the next season.” When asked if she is ready for the challenge MADARASZ answered: “I suffered from some injuries and I had to make some changes to my preparations. But I’m now getting closer and closer to my goals.”
STAMATOUROS is the new Greek champion in men’s singles 4th title for TOLIOU in the Women’s
George STAMATOUROS and Katerina TOLIOU are the Greek champions for the 2020-2021 season. The 22-year-old player of Olympiacos won his first national title in this event and reached the new milestone in his career. In the spectacular final he beat Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of Panathinaikos 4-3 after he recovered from the 1-3 back. The 26-year-old girl of Panathinaikos justified her status as the 1st favorite and reached the first place for the 4th time (2015 2018 2019 the previous ones). In the final TOLIOU overcame her teammate in Panathinaikos Elisabeth TERPOU with games. The winners in singles left the table tennis hall of the Peace and Friendship Stadium with two titles. STAMATOUROS also won the men’s doubles with his Olympic teammate Tasos RINIOTIS. TOLIOU and Konstantina PARIDI of Olympiakos kept the scepter which they have in the women’s doubles since 2019. In the men’s singles the doubles in the final created interest on its own as the right-hander George STAMATOUROS reached this point for the first time and the left-hander George KONSTANTINOPOULOS second (after 2015). The player of Panathinaikos passed his game initially and managed with 3-1 sets to lay the foundations for the victory. STAMATOUROS however did not lose positive thinking and self-concentration he increased his performance and created the big upset. He added this title in the men’s singles Under 21 two years before (7-11 10-12 11-7 7-11 11-8 11-6 and 11-7). In the women’s singles Katerina TOLIOU (number 1 on the table) and Elisabeth TERPOU (No. 3) met for the first time in a final. Close and spectacular match inspired TOLIOU to use good tactics in the critical points; champion prevailed in six games and clinched the title again after two years. The match lasted almost an hour and had a forced stop at the end of the 5th set. TERPOU felt discomfort in her left leg took the medical timeout and returned after 7-8 minutes with a bandage. She was able to make a new big effort in the 6th game but she missed some critical rally nails (8-11 11-9 11-9 7-11 11-8 and 11-7). MEN’S SINGLES George STAMATOUROS (Olympiakos SFP) George KONSTANTINOPOULOS (Panathinaikos AO) Nikos ANTONIADIS (OA Chania) -. Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS (Panathinaikos AO) WOMEN’S SINGLES Katerina TOLIOU (Panathinaikos AO) Elisabeth TERPOU (Panathinaikos AO) Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIOU (GAO Piraeus) -. Konstantina PARIDI (Olympiakos SFP) MEN’S DOUBLES: Tassos RINIOTIS / George STAMATOUROS (Olympiakos SFP) Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS / George KONSTANTINOPOULOS (Panathinaikos AO) Dimitris KORDOUTIS / Stratos DAMIANIS (AS Pera Athens) -. Dimitris PAPADIMITRIOU / Nikos ANTONIADIS (AO Tatavla / OA Chania) WOMEN’S DOUBLES: Katerina TOLIOU / Konstantina PARIDI (Panathinaikos AO / Olympiakos SFP) Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIOU / Aliki KIOUFI (GAO Piraeus / Olympiakos SFP) Elisavet TERPOU / Ioanna GERASIMATOU (Panathinaikos AO) -. Olga GEORGOPOULOU / Dimitra TSEKOURA (AS Pera Athens)
Carlos CABALLERO And Sofía ZHANG Champions Of The 36th International VIC Open
Carlos CABALLERO from Cajasur Priego de Córdoba and Sofía ZHANG from Girbau Vic TT are the crowned champions at the 36 International Open of Vic – Grand Prix Diputación de Barcelona de Table Tennis. Ferran PAREDES from TT Lluïsos de Gracia won the title in the – Adapted XVII event. In the men’s final Carlos CABALLERO beat Miguel Ángel VÍLCHEZ from Visit Pontevedra 3-0 but in close game (6 11 10) and in the women’s Sofía ZHANG beat the champion of the last edition the Welsh also from Girbau Vic TT Charlotte CAREY 3-1 (11 -5 4 6). In the semifinals CABALLERO beat José Carlos GUILLOT of Valencia’s Alzira TT 3-1 while Vílchez beat Portuguese of CTT Olot Diogo PINHO 3-2 in a spectacular match. Already in the 1/4 final Pinho recovered from a 0-2 against against the Nigerian David ADEOSUN. In Women in the semifinals Sofía ZHANG had to come back after a 1-2 in reverse against the revelation of the tournament the young Balearic player Eugenia SASTRE of Son Cladera. CAREY in the semifinals beat Aneta SIRUCKOVA from MSK Breclav of the Czech Republic 3-1.
CTT Borges secured second win in Romania
On the second day of the play in TT European Champions League Men in Group A in Romania French AS Pontoise Cergy suffered big blow. In the match against Spanish CTT Borges Quentin ROBINOT suffered from the leg injury. Spanish club is unbeaten in the group after they overcame GDCS Juncal day earlier. In the match against the host CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc GDCS Juncal secured the first win. Second Round CTT Borges – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 3:2 Alberto LILLO – Quentin ROBINOT 3:0 (11:6 11:0 11:0) Viktor BRODD – Emmanuel LEBESSON 0:3 (9:11 3:11 7:11) Joan MASIP – Adrien MATTENET 3:2 (16:14 11:8 5:11 4:11 6:3) Marc DURAN – Emmanuel LEBESSON 0:3 (8:11 9:11 7:11) Viktor BRODD – Quentin ROBINOT 3:0 CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – GDCS Juncal 1:3 Sebastian LOSO – Konstantin CHERNOV 1:3 (4:11 3:11 11:6 8:11) Szilard GYORGY – Kirill SHVETC 0:3 (5:11 5:11 7:11) Lucian MUNTEANU – Nuno GONZAGA 3:0 (11:8 11:6 11:9) Sebastian LOSO – Kirill SHVETC 0:3 (9:11 2:11 7:11) First Round CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 0:3 Sebastian LOSO – Quentin ROBINOT 0:3 (2:11 2:11 7:11) Gyorgy SZILARD – Emmanuel LEBESSON 0:3 (2:11 8:11 12:14) Krisztian CSERVIK – Adrien MATTENET 0:3 (5:11 8:11 6:11) GDCS Juncal – CTT Borges 1:3 Kirill SHUETS – Marc DURAN 3:1 (10:12 11:9 11:7 11:6) Nuno GONZAGA – Viktor BRODD 0:3 (8:11 6:11 2:11) Konstantin CHERNOV – Joan MASIP 2:3 (7:11 13:11 8:11 12:10 3:6) Kirill SHUETS – Viktor BRODD 2:3 (11:9 11:7 3:11 8:11 4:6)
Aikaterini TOLIOU comes to Thessaloniki on back of success in Belgrade
For the first time the 2021 POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 Cup will be played in Greece. As a host representative Aikaterini TOLIOU will face the challenge and meet the best in Europe. Aikaterini TOLIOU admits that her participation in the POMEGRANATE Europe Top 16 marks a special moment in her career and emphasizes that she feels very lucky to be among the best athletes on the Continent. The Greek player wants to enjoy the experience and is preparing with a very good psychology a few days after the success of the Greek national team in Belgrade to qualify for the European Championship in Cluj Napoca. Also the leading Greek athlete of the world ranking notes that it is very important for her country to organize such a big tournament again after many years. “It is the most prestige event in Europe at the individual level as it brings together 16 top athletes. It is a great honor for me to play with the best. I have not met most of them I have played with some I will try my best. I know that I am the last from the World rankings on the list however I will look to be competitive and I hope to qualify one round although this will also depend on the draw. I would like if it could be as before to have a stage with groups in order to play more matches. Now I will go straight to the… fire and maybe I will not find a rhythm ” said TOLIOU. Aikaterini TOLIOU explained further: “I feel like it is already success only to participate in the Top 16. I feel very lucky. It will be a great moment and a great experience for me. I am preparing for the games in the best mood after the qualification of our national women’s team in the European Team Championship of Romania. Personally I do not have to lose anything in the Top 16 just to win so I will try to play well and enjoy it “. In Thessaloniki on 18 and 19 September 2021 the following male athletes will compete: Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Patrick FRANZISKA (Germany) Simona GAUZY (France) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) Robert GARDOS (Austria) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Tomislav PUCAR (Croatia) Yang WANG (Slovakia) Ruwen FILUS (Germany) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Andrej GACINA (Croatia) Panagiotis GIONIS (Greece). The Women’s Event comprises: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) YU Fu (Portugal) Yana NOSKOVA (Russia) SHAO Jieni (Portugal) Dora MADARASZ (Hungary) Ganna GAPONOVA (Ukraine) Aikaterini TOLIOU (Greece).
ETTU Hopes Selection camp 2021 in Havirov
The ETTU Hopes Selection camp 2021 in Havirov commenced on Saturday. From the camp in Czech Republic two more boys and two more girls will be selected for the ITTF Hopes Week & Challenge (Amman JOR December 2021). “ We’ve just started our ETTU Hopes Selection Camp in NTC Havirov. Accommodation for all delegations is in the nearby Hotel Rudolf and the training is led by Czech coaches Renata STRBIKOVA Petr NEDOMA and fitness trainer Patrik KAIZAR. The evaluation will be conducted by Domique PLATTNER Sasa DRAGAS Renata STRBIKOVA and me. We have a total of 28 players from 14 European countries and 15 coaches. The camp lasts until September 17th ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR.
CTT Borges and AS Pontoise Cergy TT secured victories in the opening round of the TTCLM
Romania is the host of the Group A of the TT Champions Legue Men. In the opening round Portugal’s GDCS Juncal lost to Spanish CTT Borges whilst hosts CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc suffered by the hands of French AS Pontoise Cergy TT. Tomorrow AS Pontoise Cergy TT will play against CTT Borges and CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc will meet GDCS Juncal. On Tuesday on schedule are AS Pontoise Cergy TT vs. DCS Juncal and CTT Borges vs. CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc. Group A -First Round CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – AS Pontoise Cergy TT 0:3 Sebastian LOSO – Quentin ROBINOT 0:3 (2:11 2:11 7:11) Gyorgy SZILARD – Emmanuel LEBESSON 0:3 (2:11 8:11 12:14) Krisztian CSERVIK – Adrien MATTENET 0:3 (5:11 8:11 6:11) GDCS Juncal – CTT Borges 1:3 Kirill SHUETS – Marc DURAN 3:1 (10:12 11:9 11:7 11:6) Nuno GONZAGA – Viktor BRODD 0:3 (8:11 6:11 2:11) Konstantin CHERNOV – Joan MASIP 2:3 (7:11 13:11 8:11 12:10 3:6) Kirill SHUETS – Viktor BRODD 2:3 (11:9 11:7 3:11 8:11 4:6)
Sandijs VASILJEVS and Baiba BOGDANOVA crowned Latvian Champions
Sandijs VASILJEVS clinched gold in Men’s Singles at the Latvian National Championships 2021 and Baiba BOGDANOVA is the crowned champion in women’s Singles Event. More pics here Videos here More information see here: www.lgtf.lv and www.galdateniss.lv Men’s Singles 1st place – Sandijs VASILJEVS 2nd place – Aleksandrs MASKALONOKS 3rd place – Daniels KOGANS 3rd place – Olegs KARTUZOVS Women’s Singles 1st place – Baiba BOGDANOVA 2nd place – Sabina MUSAJEVA 3rd place – Ina JOZEPSONE 3rd place – Diana AFANASJEVA Men’s Doubles 1st place – Olegs KARTUZOVS Rihards MENCIS 2nd place – Sandijs VASILJEVS Reinis BURGIS 3rd place – Andrejs CEMIRTANS Aleksandrs MASKALONOKS 3rd place – DanieLs KOGANS Deniss VASILJEVS Women’s Doubles 1st place – Sabina MUSAJEVA Ina JOZEPSONE 2nd place – Margarita SMIRNOVA Aldona HOMICA 3rd place – Viktorija MAJOROVA Diana AFANASJEVA 3rd place – Baiba BOGDANOVA Ilva BALTUTE Mixed Doubles 1st place – DanieLs KOGANS Baiba BOGDANOVA 2nd place – Andrejs CEMIRTANS Viktorija MAJOROVA 3rd place – Deniss VASILJEVS Diana AFANASJEVA 3rd place – Olegs KARTUZOVS Sabina MUSAJEVA
