Russian National Championships: Anna TIKHOMIROVA and Lev KATSMAN are the crowned champions   Anna TIKHOMIROVA and Lev KATSMAN are the crowned champions of Russia at the championships concluded last Sunday in Moscow. They beat in the finals Margarita FETYUKHINA and Alexander TYUTRYUMOV respectively. Sadi ISMAILOV and Taras MERZLIKIN are the bronze medalist in the Men’s Singles event while Anna RYAZANOVA and Valeriya KOTSYUR completed podium in the Women’s Singles.   Three-time champion of Russia Anna TIKHOMIROVA told ttfr.ru how after a long break she was preparing for the singles competitions of the country’s championship in Moscow and how she relates to her husband’s advice during the game.   – You have not played in the personal competitions of the Russian Championship for two years you have returned and immediately won the gold. How did you prepare in a special way?   – I didn’t prepare specifically for singles: training according to plan training in the Moscow team. Nothing new. And it so happened that in team competitions she had too few meetings to feel game confidence. Therefore she considered participation in singles as preparation for games in the FNTR team championship which starts in a week (TIKHOMIROVA stands for Sparta & K club from the city of Vidnoe near Moscow – approx. Ed.).   – The match for gold was a repeat of the recent final of the Moscow championship where you beat MargaritaFETYUKHINA – 4: 3. Was there any thought that this time there was a great chance of victory? – No I only felt that my strength was running out and that a very difficult match was ahead.   – Outwardly it was not noticeable. Sometimes it seems like you don’t have any nerves at all. – This is not so at all (smiles). Of course there is excitement inside.   – In singles your husband Igor RUBTSOV was your coach (RUBTSOV was a well-known Russian tennis player in the past and now he is the coach of the Moscow men’s team. – Ed.). Did this help soothe? – If you prompted me well it was calming but if I thought that I prompted me wrongly it’s quite the opposite (laughs).

Portugal National Championships   Diogo CHEN (Metz TT France) and Olga CHRAMKO (ADC Ponta do Pargo) are the new individual national champions in Portugal after the competition held at the Municipal Pavilion in Lagos. Crowned youth champions are Tiago ABIODUN (Sporting CP) and Joana PINTO (CTM Mirandela).   Diogo CHEN won his second title defeating José MAGALHÃES from Ala Nun’Álvares Gondomar in the final. Antoine DOYEN member of the French club Chartres and Sporting’s player Bode ABIODUN have completed the podium in the Men’s Singles event.   Olga CHRAMKO regained the national title which she lost last season defeating Raquel MARTINS (Ala Nun’Álvares Gondomar). Raquel ANDRADE and Leila OLIVEIRA from GDCS Juncal reached third place on the podium.   Last year’s champions have been upset early: Marta SANTOS (Ala Nun’Álvares Gondomar) didn’t pass group stage and Diogo CARVALHO (Sporting CP) was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Antoine DOYEN.   “I came here focused on my goal and now I am happy to win the national senior title again after four years. I think I played entire game very well. All the games were very close but I managed to recover between each of them. At the last clash I really felt very tired but managed to recover and give the most of my remaining strength” stated Diogo CHEN.   Olga CHRAMKO 43-year old Women’s Singles champion explained:  “I am happy to be able to play at this age but sport for me is an escape from the daily routine. I work in another area I have a family I have small children and I am semi-professional player. So when I come to play I’m really happy and enjoy in each moment of the game.”

National Championships of Slovakia   Last weekend the Slovak National Championships in Senior and Under 21 categories have taken place at the National Table Tennis Centre in Bratislava. Almost 200 players from local and clubs from abroad have participated at the tournament that has lasted for three days.   From the Slovak top players the tournament was missed out only by Barbora BALÁŽOVÁ due to her ongoing ankle injury and also by Slovak number one in men category WANG Yang. Albeit he arrived to Bratislava just before the start of the event he got ill and he has been lying down in bed in his hotel room for three days.   Most of the matches played were very close and almost 300 spectators must have been satisfied with the performance and effort of the players. Ľubomír PIŠTEJ won his 8th title of the National Champion. He played a very tough and exciting game in the finals against Peter ŠEREDA.   The final match was full of comebacks from both sides and PIŠTEJ had to turn away several match points of his opponent. ŠEREDA has already retired from the Slovak national team and currently he is also active as the assistant coach of the women ‘s national team. Nevertheless as a player he still keeps his game and he remains number three in Slovak ranking.   In singles in women category the gold medal went to Eva JURKOVÁ although the final was a very tight against very talented young player Ema LABOŠOVÁ. The biggest upset was the loss of the Slovak number two Tatiana KUKUĽKOVÁ. She unexpectedly lost to Simona HORVÁTHOVÁ in quarterfinals by 4:2. In Singles in Under 21 categories the national titles went to Jakub ZELINKA and to another surprise of the tournament Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVÁ.    Men Singles Semifinals: PIŠTEJ – GUMÁŇ 4:3 ŠEREDA – KALUŽNÝ 4:3 Finals: PIŠTEJ – ŠEREDA 4:3   Women Singles Semifinals: LABOŠOVÁ – HORVÁTHOVÁ 4:2 JURKOVÁ – PUCHOVANOVÁ 4:2 Finals: JURKOVÁ – LABOŠOVÁ 4:3   Men Doubles winner: GUMÁŇ /ZELINKA Women Doubles winner: PUCHOVANOVÁ / KUKUĽKOVÁ Mixed Doubles winner: PIŠTEJ / KUKUĽKOVÁ Men Singles U21 winner: ZELINKA Women Singles U21 winner: PUCHOVANOVÁ  

Spanish National Championships   Endika DIEZ and Claudia CAYMEL won singles titles at the 2020 Spanish Championships held in Granada. In Men’s Singles DIEZ clinched the title after victory over the 11-time champion Carlos MACHADO 4-3 (11-6 11-8 14-12 7-11 4-11 4-11 13-11). Moises ÁLVAREZ and Carlos CABALLERO won the bronze medal.   In the Women’s Singles final Claudia CAYMEL secured the trophy for the first time. She overcame Ana GARCÍA (11-6 11-7 12-10 12-10) to take the crown. Angela RODRÍGUEZ and Alba FERNÁNDEZ won the bronze medal.   In the Men’s Doubles tournament Carlos FRANCO and Miguel Ángel VILCHEZ defeated Burgos’s pair AUSIN-CABALLERO in the final by 12-10 12-10 and 12-10. In Women´s Doubles Marina ÑIGUEZ y Alba FERNÁNDEZ won the title after defeated BARBA-CAYMEL in the final.   In Men´s Teams Real Cajasur Priego TM has won seven titles in the history of Kings Cup after their winning against CERL Escala 3-0 in Granada. It is their winning as ‘Real’ naming that few teams have after many years in high level competition.   Carlos MACHADO won the first point against Asian player CHIH-Wei Yeh (3-2). Diogo CARVALHO brings victory to his team winning Iker GONZÁLEZ (3-0). Finally Daniel KOSIBA gave the title to Real Cajasur Priego TM after his victory against Norbert TAULER. CERL Escala was finalist of this edition a very impressive result because his team has two young national players (GONZÁLEZ and TAULER).   In Women’s Teams UCAM Cartagena TM returned to the top of Queens Cup Iberdrola winning their sixteenth against ASSSA Alicante TM in the final. Local player Ana GARCÍA won the decisive point of final against Kim VERMAAS (11-6 12-10 11-4). LI Fen got first point against LI Jiao (3-2). And LIU Xin beat Marina ÑIGUEZ 3-2.

Czech National Championships   After two years Czech National Champions don’t have same men’s and women’s singles winners: Hana MATELOVÁ continues on the top while Pavel SIRUCEK was replaced by Tomas POLANSKY at the event held in the city of Plzeň.   Men’s Singles final brought exciting clash between young challenger and the reigning champion. SIRUCEK led 3:2 but POLANSKY managed to turn the game in his favour. Moreover champion had a set point to lift up his lead at 3:0 but Saarbrucken’s player stayed focused in the crucial moment.   “I played great at the set point in the third game. I felt like he was getting a second wave of energy in the next game while I was passive. Then I had to change my tactics trying to play more forehand where I was a little better and everything ended up in the seventh set. There I played some good balls at the beginning what helped me in the final moments…” stated Tomas POLANSKY who won another gold in the Men’s Doubles event teamed up with Pavel SIRUCEK.   Women’s Singles final Hana MATELOVÁ (ASRTT Etival) – Karin ADÁMKOVÁ (MSK Břeclav) 4:3 (-9 2 7 -8 -8 10 9)   Men’s Singles final: Tomáš POLANSKÝ (1.FC Saarbrücken-TT) – Pavel ŠIRUČEK (DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk) 4:3 (6 4 -10 -2 -6 7 5)   Women’s Doubles final Zdena BLAŠKOVÁ Aneta ŠIRUČKOVÁ (SK Dobré) – Kristýna MIKULCOVÁ Simona ŠLEHOBROVÁ (CDU Sport-ST Ostrava) 3:2 (-10 -11 4 6 3).   Men’s Doubles final Tomáš POLANSKÝ (1.FC Saarbrücken-TT) Pavel ŠIRUČEK (DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk) – Tomáš KONEČNÝ (SC TTC Wiener Neustadt) Tomáš TREGLER (SKST Cheb) 3:1 (-8 14 5 7).

Austrian National Championships   Daniel HABESOHN and Sofia POLCANOVA are the winners of the 90th Austrian National Championships held in Tyrol. HABESOHN beat his former club’s teammate Stefan FEGERL in the Men’s Singles final while the best ranked European women’s player prevailed against defending champion LIU Yuan. FEGERL eliminated 2019 men’s winner Robert GARDOS in the semi-final clash.   It was fourth title for HABESOHN and third one for POLCANOVA. Muhlhausen’s player won crucial third game against FEGERL in spite of missing three set points to win 4:2 (10 -6 13 7 -4 9). Unlike him POLCANOVA lost the opener but responded by four games in a row.   “I am happy. It is always an honour to be the national champion. Playing against LIU Yuan is always difficult. She is extremely experienced player and fights for every ball. I think that spectators enjoyed watching some good rallies” stressed Sofia POLCANOVA after her win against LIU Yuan.   Men’s Singles final Daniel HABESOHN – Stefan FEGERL 4:2 (10 -6 13 7 -4 9)   Men’s Singles semi-final Stefan FEGERL – Robert GARDOS 4:1 (7 5 5 -9 5) Daniel HABESOHN – Simon PFEFFER 4:1 (5 8 -7 7 9)   Women’s singles final Sofia POLCANOVA – LIU Yuan 4:1 (-9 5 6 9 5)   Women’s singles semi-final LIU Yuan – Karoline MISCHEK 4:0 (10 7 7 7) Sofia POLCANOVA – Amelie SOLJA 4:0 (8 6 0 4)   Men’s Doubles final Mathas HABESOHN/Dominik HABESOHN – Simon PFEFFER/Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK 3:1 (-5 10 4 9)   Women’s Doubles final Ines DIENDORFER/Karoline MISCHEK – Anna PFEFFER/Melanie WELKHAMMER 3:0 (3 5 10)   Mixed Doubles final Thomas GRININGER/Karoline MISCHEK – Stefan LEITGEB/Amelie SOLJA 3:1 (-9 9 6 6)   The 2019 winners   Men Singles: Robert GARDOS Women Singles: LIU Yuan Men Doubles: Christoph SIMONER/David VORCNIK Women Doubles: Selina LEITNER/Teresa OPPELZ Mixed Doubles: Thomas GRININGER/Karoline MISCHEK

The 21 years old Anders LIND became tripple danish champion at the Danish championships. For the third time he became champion in singles . In the final he beat the 30 years older Allan BENTSEN who was in the final for the 14th time .   In womens singles Stefanie CHRISTENSEN won the title for the fourth time in a row. In the final she beat the champion from 14 and 16 Pernille Refstrup AGERHOLM.   In mens double Anders LIND and 19 year old Thor B. CHRISTENSEN got revenge from last years final against Allan BENSTEN og Finn TUGWELL.   In womens double the world champion in veterans double Pia TOELHØJ won together with Sophie WALLØE the title. It was the fifth title for Pia in womens double. The first four were in the 90th.   Anders LIND and Sophie WALLØE won for the fourth time in a row mix double.   Men´s single   Semifinals Anders Lind Brønshøj Bordtennis- Thor B. Christensen Herlev IF Bordtennis BTK 61 11-9 11-5 9-11 11-5 12-10 Allan Bentsen Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61- Tobias Rasmussen Københavns BTK 12-10 13-11 8- 11 12-10 4-11 11-7   Final:   Anders Lind Brønshøj-Allan Bentsen Roskilde 11-5 11-8  6-11 10-12 11-7   Women´s single semifinals Stefanie H. Christensen Skensved IF-Izabell Nørlem Amager  15-13 11-5 11-9 11-8 Pernille Refstrup Agerholm BTK Viby – Mie Binnerup Jacobsen Sisu/MBK 11-8 16-14 11-5 11-8   Finale: Stefanie Christensen Skensved- Pernille Refstrup Agerholm BTK Viby 12-10 14-12 11-5 15-13   Men’s Doubles semifinals Finn Peter Tugwell Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 6/Allan Bentsen Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61-Tobias Rasmussen Københavns BTK/Martin Buch Andersen Virum Sorgenfri BTK 9-11 11-4 11-8 12-10 Peter Svenningsen B 75/Daniel Simonsen Hillerød GI- Thor B. Christensen Herlev IF/Anders Lind Brønshøj Bordtennis 8-11 7-11 7-11   Final: Thor B. Christensen Herlev IF/Anders Lind Brønshøj Bordtennis -Finn Peter Tugwell Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 6/Allan Bentsen Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 11-9 5-11 11-5 11-8   Women’s Doubles semifinals Izabell Nørlem Amager BTK/Anne Cathrine Bomann Amager BTK- Trine Grauholm OB Bordtennis Odense/Janne M. Jensen Ballerup BTK  3-11 11-6 11-7 11-9 Sophie Walløe Hillerød GI/Pia Toelhøj Hillerød GI- Louise Andersen Ribe BTK/Line Tækker Tarbensen Esbjerg BTK 11-6 11-8 11-4   Final : Sophie Walløe Hillerød GI/Pia Toelhøj Hillerød GI -Izabell Nørlem Amager BTK/Anne Cathrine Bomann Amager BTK 13-11 11-6 12-10   Mixed doubles semifinals Sophie Walløe Hillerød GI/Anders Lind Brønshøj Bordtennis- Jocefina Daoya Haagensen Hvidovre Bordtennis/Noah Tolstrup Hvid OB Bordtennis Odense 11-3 11-6 10-12 11-7 Pia Toelhøj Hillerød GI/Peter Svenningsen B 75- Izabell Nørlem Amager BTK/Carsten Egeholt Brønshøj Bordtennis 11-9 6-11 11-5 9-11 12-10 efter 5-10.   Final: Sophie Walløe Hillerød GI/Anders Lind Brønshøj Bordtennis- Pia Toelhøj Hillerød GI/Peter Svenningsen B 75 13-11 11-6 11-6    

On the first day of March the champions of the Republic of Belarus in table tennis were determined. Daria TRIGOLOS became the absolute champion! At the 2020 National Belarus Championships she is a champion in 3 events. In addition Daria confirmed her last year’s title she is a 2-time champion in singles.   About the final with Anna PATSEYEVA she said: “I was determined to show my best game all that I can do with any score. Having won the set I began to feel more confident and in general in the match I felt comfortable psychologically and a lot was achieved. I’m glad that the final was so successful.” In the match for third place Ekaterina BARAVOK had good tactics for Darya KISEL defensive style. In the men’s singles event Pavel PLATONOV became the nineth-time champion! This is a record and benchmark for growing Hopes. In the decisive matches of this championship Pavel did not look for easy ways but rather created difficulties for himself then heroically overcame them. So it was in the semifinals with Uladzislau RUKLIATSAU and Platonov won almost the same strong-willed victory in the main match against the current champion Aleksandr KHANIN.   After this final match PLATONOV stated:“The beginning was difficult yielding I realized that I need to play against Aleksandr more aggressively otherwise he will not miss his own. I had to change my tactics a bit. The key point is the 4th set when losing 7:10 I managed to win it and level the match. Then I managed to realize my chances and win in an equal game”.   Andrey MILOVANOV who defeated Gleb SHAMRUK 4: 1 became the bronze medalist. This is the first medal of the senior championship of Belarus for Andrey. In the men’s doubles final match KHANIN and RUKLIATSOU only in the opening game experienced difficulties against the PLATONOV and BARBOLIN but having won it they played more confidently eventually making the championship 3:0.   Match for 3rd place turned out to be much more equal and tense. The confrontation between the pairs SHAMRUK and TSIAROKHIN and MILOVANOV and DOVNAROVICH continued with a constantly rolling advantage and took the maximum possible number of games. The SHAMRUK TSIAROKHIN pairings were more focused and had more strength in the decisive set (11-3) so 3:2 in the match and bronze medals.   In the women’s doubles final match TRIGOLOS and BARAVOK defeated NIKITCHANKA and PATSEYEVA and became the champions in this category.   After this match:“We perfectly understood that the rivals are a very strong and played pair so we tuned in for a serious duel tried not to make simple mistakes fight for every ball and enjoy the game”.   KISEL and ALKHOUSKAYA won bronze medals quite confidently defeating the CHAKAVAYA ZALESSKAYa pair – 3: 1.