Ivica HATALOVA secretary general of Slovak Table Tennis Association underlined that the current situation is very complicated during restrictions caused by COVID-19.   “In Slovak Republic we have very strict restrictions imposed by Government. No one can practice officially. Coaches used online video systems and coaching their players via the internet – exercises for balance improve in fitness. Now is time for lot of things which were neglected – video analysis etc. We really hope that in about two weeks we will start with the normal table tennis life in our centers. We also hope that the best players will start to practice.”   Secretariat of Slovak Table Tennis Association stayed at “home office” and communicated only during emails and phones.   “Executive Committee of STTA had for first time video conference – it is very good idea for the future since the meetings can be more often. Our best women player – Barbora BALAZOVA is in Germany and she had problems with practice because in German can practice only players in national teams whilst best men player – YANG Wang traveled to China and he had to stay in quarantine for 14 days. Now he has normal table tennis life with everyday practice.”   Lubomir PISTEJ played his last tournament in March.   „From Oman we headed straight for the mandatory quarantine. I didn’t leave the apartment for 15 days I mainly watched TV rested as the season was really demanding and for the last 2-3 years we only had a few options for a short rest. After a few days however I started exercising and at least tried to keep up. After quarantine I also pulled a bicycle out of the garage which I really enjoy at the moment and I ride it as often as time allows which is enough but I try to dedicate it especially to my children and family ” explained PISTEJ.   Lubomir stated that have no need for extra motivation.   “I know the situation will calm down. Now there is nothing left but to wait and believe that they will soon allow us to train at the table. I really miss that very much. Those two weeks without table tennis are probably really the maximum for me. I also played a few times in the pub where there is still less space to increase the level than would be required. It is already drawing me to National Table Tennis Center in Bratislava I am convinced that we will not have to wait long and we will be able to fully prepare again.“    

Finding positives and opportunities in difficult situations is common practice in sport and that is what is happening in English table tennis during the Covid-19 lockdown.   Individual athletes have had to adapt as they try to stay fit and healthy ready for when they can play again.   And Table Tennis England has been trying to find creative solutions and using technology to help clubs coaches and players during recent weeks.   For the two leading male players in England Liam PITCHFORD and Paul DRINKHALL the stop in activity was at a bad time after landmark performances at the Qatar Open in early March. In Doha they became the first pair English pair to reach a World Tour doubles final and PITCHFORD reached his first singles final – beating XU Xin in the semi-finals before losing to Fan Zhendong in the final.   With the Olympic Qualifying Tournament originally scheduled to happen in April both players were in good shape at a good time. Now they are at home in England and have different challenges to meet.   PITCHFORD said: “It (lockdown) came at a bad time for me but it’s also given me time to reflect on what I’ve been doing right and how to do that better for the next tournaments.   “At first I was only doing physical work because I did not have a table at home. But Victas sent me a table and sorted out a robot from Bribar and I’m really grateful. Although it’s not ideal I can do some specific things that I couldn’t do before and that can help me take the next step.   “You lose some specific muscles when you don’t play so it’s good to get those firing again. I’ve still got my physical programme too – I was doing two sessions a day but now I’m generally doing one table tennis and one physical session with sometimes two physical because there’s only so much you can do with a robot.”   For DRINKHALL the opportunity to practise does not exist because he has no table at home. But he is enjoying spending time with his family – his wife Jo son Douggie and daughter Bonnie.   DRINKHALL said: “On the training front it’s hard because I’ve got zero access to a table tennis table – I’m going to have to find my bat after this has finished!   “I’m keeping on top of things physically. I think I was in very good shape ready for the Olympic qualifiers but we’ll eventually get our time again and we’ll have to be in shape then.   “The problem at hand and people’s health is a lot more important. The positive that we can take is spending a lot more quality time with the family that we would never have had.   “It’s been six weeks every day being at home. That’s never happened before and won’t for a long time – and hopefully never again in these circumstances.   “We’ve got two fairly young kids so there’s not too much stress with school work – it would have been a challenge having to be a teacher as well but Douggie’s enjoying the work when we do it with him and Bonnie’s only in nursery.”   For Table Tennis England technology has been important to keep in touch with thousands of members and also to reach new players who are starting to play the sport at home – because table tennis is easy to play at home sales of equipment have soared and many businesses have sold out.   Table Tennis England has created a special section on its website to provide information and videos about basic skills for new players.   For those already involved in the sport many things are happening to help them:   A series of webinars has been arranged so coaches can extend their own knowledge by hearing from the best coaches in the country.   There have been a lot of webinars for clubs also so important information and knowledge can be shared to help them come through the difficult time.   England Technical Director Alan COOKE (former world No 27 player who played in the Olympics in 1988 and 1992) recorded a video exercise programme to help club players to remain fit and active while they are staying home.   TT Kidz the programme for new players aged 7-11 is running a weekly live session on Zoom. Last week England No 2 woman Maria TSAPTSINOS joined with that.   The players in the England youth squads have been given programmes to carry out at home and are talking to their coaches regularly on Zoom. In addition the leading England players including PITCHFORD and DRINKHALL have been taking part in Zoom sessions with the young players to share their experiences.   Table Tennis England Chief Executive Sara SUTCLIFFE said: “It has been a challenging time for everyone around the world and our main objectives have been to keep communicating with our clubs coaches and members to provide as much information and support as possible to them and to embrace technology to help everyone remain active and ready for when we can play again.   “What is most important is that everyone stays well. We are continuing to plan for next season although we understand of course that it will take a long time for things to return to normal. It is our job to make sure we are in the best condition to help everyone involved in the sport at all levels on that journey back to normality.”    

The ITTF’s top officials are fully committed to working together to ensure the best outcome for the sport as confirmed during an ITTF Executive Committee meeting on Saturday 9th May 2020.  Following recent reports of differences in opinion among ITTF Executive Committee members the situation today is a far more positive picture of an organisation pulling in the same direction with table tennis at the forefront of all actions and decisions.  The COVID-19 public health crisis has led to an unprecedented ever-changing landscape for all industries and sports and as such the ITTF Executive Committee has held regular meetings during this period in an effort to find the best solutions required during the pandemic.  Saturday’s meeting also saw the following outcomes: The EC noted the progress made by Senior Management for budget adjustments due to COVID-19 including necessary reductions to salaries and honorariums. The EC confirmed the plans for the settlement meeting on the appeal through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) of the former president Mr Adham Sharara. The EC requested that the staff organise an information session for the members online regarding World Table Tennis. More information will come soon.   The ITTF Executive Committee will meet again on 2nd June 2020 and the ITTF will continue to provide further updates on all upcoming decisions in view of COVID-19.

https://www.ettu.org Croatian table tennis players decided to move away from the routine of classic training for one day. And to move out from the gym and organized team building. What would the boys choose but gunfire – therefore an expanded senior team backed by former teammates and today coaches and fitness coaches and physiotherapists gathered for paintball.   At this time our national team was supposed to be in China and with thoughts of the Olympics. However destiny wanted them to chase on the outskirts of Zagreb instead of Tokyo. The place of action was Savska Opatovina on the grounds of the Guerilla club. The originator of the idea is the national team member Filip ZELJKO and it didn’t take long to persuade the others.   “We haven’t seen each other for a long time now was a perfect opportunity because we are all free. They just allowed the gathering so we used it for socializing together ” ZELJKO explained.   On one side were Andrej GAĆINA Matej MAMUT Filip ZELJKO and Goran KRUŠELJ on the other Kristijan BLAŽEVIĆ Tomislav Frane KOJIĆ Filip ČIPIN and Tomislav KOLAREK. The victory was taken by the former 5:3 or 6:4 have not yet been agreed and GAĆINA and KRUŠELJ proved to be among the best in the winning team.   “At the beginning I went too far forward so I was ambushed several times. Later I came to my senses ha-ha ” said ZELJKO.   GAĆINA added: “It was great even though we’re all torn. After I got home I was in a cold shower for five minutes. There was nothing missing falling kneeling squats lying down sprints and all that charged with adrenaline. I have a few scars from the “war” but it was great fun.”   Kolarek and Blažević showed the best “military” experience among the defeated.   “Towards the end I felt tired. Ugh it’s not easy there’s no position I haven’t been in. However I was mostly shot. I couldn’t wait I often stormed in and no one covered me so I got my portion. Attacked all the time everything I don’t do in table tennis ha-ha. We later changed tactics so someone followed me. But I still feel the consequences in my legs. Useful time it was great for everyone and it should be repeated ” concluded KOJIĆ highlighting one situation. “I was surrounded by three rivals GAĆINA held me at gunpoint from behind but they had compassion. They allowed me an honorable surrender instead of shooting me mercilessly. I didn’t hesitate for long ha-ha.”  

In Belgium all the athletes who are still in the run for a qualification for the Olympic Games were allowed to practice after a decision of the Ministry of Sports.   “Under strict conditions our players are able to practice one time per day only 2 players at the same time. When arriving on site a control of temperature is done. They have to clean everything before and after practice. Concerning the balls they have to be marked with colors so that each player is collecting his own balls” explained Belgium TTA Vice-President Jacques Denys   Federation is waiting for more information and communication about the calendar in the coming months.   “We would like to organize training’s camps before the important events. When we will get information we can contact our Ministry of Sports to try to reinstall more players in the same hall. Depending on the evolution of the pandemic we hope to be able to restart bigger group to practice together during June.”   Big event with a lot of people is not possible in Belgium until end of August.   “At the moment we have to prepare for European Championships and World Championships in September but it will be difficult if we haven’t other competitions in preparation before those big events. The situation is different country by country. For now we just take care of the safety of our players and coaches.”    

It was a special day which Dieter STEFFEN celebrated together with his wife Gudrun and their son Bela in a quietly small circle. Without contact restrictions in Corona times however the space in the house would hardly be enough for the crowd of congratulators on May 8th : the former vice president of the DTTB turns 80.   The birthday boy regrets that important companions cannot be by his side today.   “I had planned many guests from sport and politics ” Dieter Steffen reveals his original plans in an interview with his home newspaper NW (Neue Westfälische). The TTC Mennighüffen of which Dieter STEFFEN is honorary chairman ensures that friends and companions are still close to him on his 80th birthday. “His club” organised greetings via video to surprise him in which among others the World Doubles Champions of 1989 Jörg ROßKOPF and Steffen FETZNER congratulated him.   The retired headmaster of the Mennighüfen-Ost primary school was chairman of “his” TTC Mennighüffen for a remarkable 56 years until 2019. He was head of the local table tennis district Herford for 49 years and also assumed responsibility in the highest committees of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB). From 1986 to 2010 Dieter Steffen also represented the DTTB on the ETTU Youth Committee including as Vice-Chairman from 1991 to 2003 and then as Chairman until 2010. Without the support of his wife Gudrun a commitment in this scale would not have been possible as Dieter Steffen points out: “She has always supported me although it has certainly not always been easy for her.”   He is responsible for the success of many DTTB youth players. Among other things he was driving the development of the national boarding schools in Duisburg and Heidelberg the forerunners of Germany’s national table tennis centre DTTZ in Düsseldorf. For his work he received The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as the highest award of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia “the sports badge”. Dieter STEFFEN is also the holder of the golden pin of honor of the German Table Tennis Association and a DTTB Honorary member as well as a ETTU Honorary member.   But those who thinks that at the age of 80 Dieter STEFFEN would now spend his time with passion mainly in his tranquil home are wrong. Steffen not only plays actively in the fifth team of his club he also still conducts the primary school’s table tennis afternoon program which he founded 16 years ago. Currently Steffen is also chairman of the local sports district “Kreissportbund Herford” whose commemorative publication for the 75th anniversary he is currently preparing. People who congratulate him on his 80th birthday should not be surprised when they ask about the condition of the jubilee when Dieter STEFFEN also answers today: “I am busy working.”

Charlotte CAREY Team Wales’ Women’s Table Tennis No. 1 talked to us about her life in the lockdown.   “My season was going well; we were in the semi finals in Sweden and top of the league in Spain. We could see the Coronavirus spreading in Asia but I didn’t think it could actually happen to us. I was in Dublin for a tournament unfortunately it was cancelled and everything was shutting down so my team mate and I had to fly home quickly as the borders were closing ” explained CAREY.   The lockdown is not over yet.   “I’ve been home for 8 weeks now and it’s really strange as I haven’t been home for this long since I was 16! It’s quite frustrating as my training centre in Halmstad in Sweden is still training as normal. At home I’ve been walking and running every day trying to keep my fitness levels up and enjoy the beautiful scenery where I live.”   CAREY introduced some novelties into her training routine.   “We’ve been lucky to have good weather for this lockdown period and we’ve been making the most of it! As well as running I’ve been changing up my training a little bit. My Dad played rugby at a good level and he’s been helping me with some reaction training with rugby drills.”   Inspiration came not only from rugby…   “I’ve also been boxing and doing high intensity fitness training too! Thankfully my friend had a table tennis table and she kindly let me borrow it and my sponsor tees sport and TT Wales have provided me with a robot. It’s great that I can play in my garden now the weather is nice so I can try to keep sharp and keep the feeling there.”   But nothing like the “real thing”.   “I’m really missing table tennis and I’m looking forward to getting back to training full time however at this time I know I have to do what I can to keep myself and everyone else safe by following the guidelines!”   Charlotte has been instrumental in not only sorting her lockdown programme but also mentoring and guiding others in Wales. She is a role model to them.   “Charlotte has also been chipping in with our social media posts and videos which have helped greatly at this time. Wales will be back and ready when we can ” announced Ryan JENKINS Director of Coaching.      

Just like in other countries in Europe activities in the Czech Republic were halted in the middle of March. No competitions have taken place since and it has not been possible to have trainings inside. Players have been preparing individually and their trainings can officially start on May 11 from when the inside trainings are to be allowed under strict health conditions.   On April 21 2020 the management of the Czech Table Tennis Association decided to end all league competitions.   “It was one of the most difficult decisions ever since I have been working in the Association management. We knew that any option that we would choose would be wrong. Never before we had to interfere so much in the functioning of the Association including all regional associations and all sport clubs. But the situation demanded it. After many many years we will not have the champion of the Republic in the team competition ” explained Petr BOHUMSKÝ a member of the Czech Table Tennis Association Executive Committee and an experienced international umpare.   Two past months were supposed to be crucial for a dream come true for Pavel ŠIRUČEK. He worked hard to play at his first Olympics but the pandemic changed everything.   “I work to be at the Olympics and at the moment I have it within reach it is unfortunately postponed. Now I have no idea how the qualification will continues.“   Just like other athletes he experienced the exact opposite of a nomadic life for a few weeks. He stayed in Poland where he played for Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki in the last season.   “It is unusual I have been on the road all my life and practically I am not much at home. On the other hand I have to say I have more time for myself and I have been happy at home. But I am looking forward to be training again. I believe it will be soon.“   The best Czech female player Hana MATELOVÁ travelled to Düsseldorf Germany on Wednesday (May 6) where she lives and trains.   “I count with the fact that I need to be in quarantine for two weeks but I better do it now than in a few weeks. The league competition in France is cancelled and we know it will not start sooner than in October. So I will be waiting for the inside trainings to be allowed again and will start then. It is very hard to say when the tournaments will start and I am not thinking about that now.”   The manager of the Czech national team Petr NEDOMA believes that all players who currently live in the Czech Republic will start with their trainings in a few days.   “Regional and youth sport centers will open on Monday May 11. New representation centre in Havířov will open in summer.   “We have many of our players outside the Czech Republic at the moment. MATELOVÁ POLANSKÝ MARTINKO are in Germany ŠIRUČEK in Poland but in summer months we all could have trainings together in the new modern centre. And if all goes according to the plan in June we would like to hold national control tournaments for selected players of all age categories -all in accordance with any other regulations of the Government of the Czech Republic. And we are of course waiting for the final decision of ITTF and of the Government of the Czech Republic regarding the organisation of the ITTF World Tour Czech Open tournament in August this year.”