2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open Portugal’s qualifier Marcos FREITAS lost to no. 1 seed Tomokazu HARIMOTO in the semi-finals of the 2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte. Japanese won in straight games ending winning streak of FREITAS who played six matches in previous five days. Men’s Singles champion will be decided between HRIMOTO and China’s ZHAO Zihao actual world no. 110 who overcame Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA in five sets. It will be ZHAO’s very first ITTF World Tour singles final. HE Zhuojia of China eliminated her compatriot WU Yang in the Women’s Singles semi-finals to set up all-Chinese final against CHEN Xingtong who prevailed against Japan’s Mima ITO after full seven games. More informartion: here
Bulgaria Open: FREITAS sets up semis against HARIMOTO
2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open Portugal’s qualifier Marcos FREITAS extended his winning run at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte as he beat no.15 seed CHUANG Chih-Yuan 4:3 (3:11 11:2 11:3 11:13 4:11 11:5 11:9) to set up the semi-final clash against no. 1 seed Tomokazu HARIMOTO of Japan. It was six consecutive victory of FREITAS in last five days. Champion two years ago German star Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (no. 2 seed) lost to 22-year-old ZHAO Zihao after six games. China’s player occupies 110th place on the actual ITTF World Ranking List. Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA recorded third consecutive win in seven sets prevailing against former Asian champion Jun MIZUTANI. He will face ZHAO in the semi-finals. The 2017 winner and actual no. 1 seed Kasumi ISHIKAWA of Japan suffered at the hands of China’s HE Zhuojia in straight games. Semi-final pairs in the Women’s Singles event are following: HE Zhuojia (China) vs. WU Yang (China) CHEN Xingtong (China) vs. Mima ITO (Japan). JEOUNG Youngsik and LEE Sangsu of Korea beat Japan’s Yukiya UDA and Kazuhiro YOSHIMURA to clinch the gold in the Men’s Doubles event. China’s GU Yuting and MU Zi are the winners of the Women’s Doubles event as they prevailed against Japan’s Miu HIRANO and Saki SHIBATA.
The EOSQ date confirmed – Wednesday 8th to Sunday 12th April 2020
European Olympic Singles Qualification in Moscow The date for the European Olympic Singles Qualification in Moscow is confirmed. The start of the tournament that will lead to the Olympic Games in Japan is scheduled for the Wednesday 8th and it will last until Sunday 12th April 2020. The qualifying tournament on the eve of Tokyo 2020 will be held in Luzhniki where the 1980 Olympics games were held. It will be one of the events which will serve as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Olympic Games held in Russia. The Russian Olympic Committee first Vice President Head of the Board of Trustees of the TTFR Igor LEVITIN invited all the players and guests to come to Moscow. “We will see the best table tennis players in Europe ” said LEVITIN who was was present at the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Championship when the Event was awarded to Russia.
First tournament under ITTF authority in Skopje
Skopje between 8th and 12th October will be the host of the ITTF World junior circuit. After hosting the best Balkan cadet and junior players during 27th Youth Balkan Table Tennis Championships in the course June with the record high number of countries 12 Skopje and North Macedonia Table Tennis Association are preparing for the organization of the first tournament under authority of ITTF North Macedonia Cadet and Junior open. Approximately 200 participants from the young global table tennis community are expected to arrive in Skopje and to “fight” for the titles as well as for the monetary and non-monetary awards (4000USD prize money and four Samsung S10) secured by the organizers and sponsors of the Tournament. Arrival of high officials ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT and ETTU President Ronald KRAMER as well as other officials and professionals in Skopje should further provide impetus for the development of Table Tennis in NORTH Macedonia.
Bulgaria Open: Two semi-finals for Bernadette SZOCS
2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open Champion of the 2017 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open German star Dimitrij OVTCHAROV secured his place into the quarter-finals of the 2019 edition of this tournament in Panagyurishte as he beat his compatriot Ruwen FILUS in straight games. Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS progressed among the best eight without fight after withdrawal of Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR. The 2015 European Championships runner-up FREITAS will face Chinese Tapiei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan who eliminated England’s Liam PITCHFORD after full seven games. Actual world no. 12 PITCHFORD created biggest upset in the 2018 edition as he overcame Olympic and World champion MA Long in the opening round. This time Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA beat the odds as he prevailed against Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting after seven sets to set the quarter-final clash with former Asian champion Jun MIZUTANI of Japan. MIZUTANI’s compatriot Tomokazu HARIMOTO no. 1 seed beat Chinese Tapiei’s CHEN Chien-An in six games. Slovenian rising star Darko JORGIC demonstrate his talent against China’s ZHAO Zihao but lost in six games. “ZHAO Zihao was better today. I will try to beat him next time and make it to the quarter-finals. This is my best result on the World Tour. I’ve been playing really well in the last few events beaten some good players in Australia. I think I’m really starting to play well on the World Tour next is the Czech Open. I will try to do well to qualify and do better ” stated Darko JORGIC for ITTF website. There won’t be European players in the Women’s Singles Round of 16 as Bernadete SZOCS of Romania lost to top seeded Kasumi ISHIKAWA in five games. But SZOCS had successful tournament in doubles event as she reached two semi-finals playing alongside Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA (Women’s Doubles) and Ovidiu IONESCU (Mixed Doubles). In both occasions China’s pairs halted her way to the final. More information: here
Bulgaria Open: Marcos FREITAS beats Koki NIWA
2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open The 2015 European Championships runner-up Marcos FREITAS of Portugal actual world no. 24 beat world’s Top 10 player Koki NIWA of Japan 4:0 (13:11 11:6 11:1 11:9) to reach Round of 16 at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte (August 13-18). Two German players won their matches in straight games to set the clash between them: Ruwen FILUS overcame host Teodor ALEXANDROV while 2017 Bulgaria Open winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV prevailed against Japan’s Masataka MORIZONO. Last year sensational winner over Olympic and World champion MA Long in the opening round of Bulgaria Open England’s Liam PITCHFORD prevailed today against Ukraine’s KOU Lei in six games. Two European rising stars have continued their winning run after succesfull qualifications: Darko JORGIC (world no. 38 Slovenia) beat LEE Sangsu (no. 18 Korea) after full seven games while Tomislav PUCAR (no. 34 Croatia) overcame Jonathan GROTH (no. 21 Denmark) in six games. Romania’s Bernadette SZOCS beat Chinese Taipei’s CHENG Hsien-Tzu in six games and set Women’s Singles Round of 16 clash against 2017 winner and current no. 1 seed Kasumi ISHIKAWA of Japan who overcame Portugal’s SHAO Jeni in straight sets. Chinese players halted the progress of three Europeans: MU Zi vs. Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) 4:0 WU Yang vs. Georgina POTA (Hungary) 4:1 FAN Siqi vs. Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) 4:3. The 2015 individual European champion SAMARA managed to tie the score at 3:3 in spite of being two games down but her opponent won decisive set 11:4. The 18-year-old Yuta TANAKA upset Belarus legend Vladimir SAMSONOV after five games. More information: here
The last opportunity for players to book their place for the final Eurotalents Selection Camp
Eurotalents pre-selection camp in Kiskunfelegyhaza HUN (August 13th – 20th 2019) The record breaking number of participants will gather in Kiskunfelegyhaza for the Eurotalents pre-selection camp from August 13th to 20th. It is the last chance for the best rated players to secure their nominations for the final Eurotalents Selection Camp in Slovenia’s Otocec (from October 6thto 13th). In Hungary head coaches are Ferenc KARSAI and Attila HALMAI. They will work with eight assistants. “There will be seven hours of work on daily basis with 27 coaches on each training session ” explained ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. There will be 57 players from 16 countries (23 girls and 34 boys) and together with 18 sparing partners from Hungary it makes 75 players under same roof.
Bulgaria Open: Two rising stars reach main draw
2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open: Darko JORGIC beat Andrej GACINA Tomislav PUCAR overcame Stefan FEGERL Two European rising stars 21-year-old Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC (actual world no. 38) and 23-year-old Croatia’s Tomislav PUCAR (no. 34) have reached the main draw at the 2019 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open as they beat two well experienced players Andrej GACINA (Croatia) and Stefan FEGERL (Austria) respectively playing Men’s Singles – Preliminary Round 4. Both encounters have been decided after six games: JORGIC vs. GACINA 4:2 (11:5 9:11 11:7 11:6 6:11 11:7) PUCAR vs. FEGERL 4:2 (11:8 11:6 7:11 8:11 11:4 11:7). Men’s Singles Preliminary Round 4 was also successful for Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Ruwen FILUS (Germany) and KOU Lei (Ukraine) while just two European players won their ultimate rounds at the Women’s Singles: SHAO Jieni (Portugal) overcame Karin ADAMKOVA (Czech Republic) and HAN Ying (Germany) prevailed against Filippa BERGAND (Sweden) both times in straight sets. SHAO is going to play against no. 1 seed and 2017 champion Kasumi ISHIKAWA of Japan. Masataka MORIZONO (Japan) surpassed two strong obstacles on his way to the main draw: first he eliminated Rares SIPOS of Romania after full seven games then he eliminated France’s Irvin BERTRAND in six games. Japanese faces 2017 winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) no. 2 seed in the Round of 32 while his compatriot Koki NIWA will play against Marcos FREITAS. England’s Paul DRINKHALL extended China’s ZHENG Peifeng (China) to full distance as Ganna GAPONOVA (Ukraine) and Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) did against CHEN Szu-Yu (Chinese Taipei) and KIM Byeolnim (Korea) respectively in their Women’s Singles Preliminary Round 3. More information: here
ETTU and ITTF Europe Marketing Workshop in Nantes on Thursday 5th September
The latest ETTU and ITTF Europe Marketing Workshop will beheld in Nantes on Thursday 5th September morning. ‘Working Together to Deliver High Level Quality European Events’ will be of interest to all Associations planning to host and organise a future international Table Tennis event whether senior junior veteran open invitation ETTU or ITTF or regional. We hope you will join us for the workshop. Please register as soon as possible at registration@ettu.org Any questions please contact Jonny Cowan (jcowan@ittf.com) or Richard Scruton (rcsettu@pt.lu). See the document here See you in Nantes.
Para Table Tennis to feature at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games!
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has announced today that Para Table Tennis is included in the programme of events at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Para Table Tennis is set to shine at the Commonwealth Games after the sport was confirmed to feature at Birmingham 2022 alongside Women’s T20 Cricket and Beach Volleyball. This will be the biggest ever Para sport programme at a Commonwealth Games with eight Para disciplines now confirmed for the multi-sport competition helping to further the diversity of the Games while continuing to raise the profile of Para Table Tennis around the world. The sport has enjoyed a dramatic growth in participation numbers in recent times with over 2000 athletes currently active globally representing more than 100 different countries. Moreover Para Table Tennis boasts a proud history as one of the founder Paralympic Games disciplines having been included among eight sports at the first ever event held in Rome in 1960 and its rich tradition with the Games will be further strengthened at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 events. Now inclusion at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games – which take place from 27 July to 7 August 2022 – will ensure that the sport features among the world’s most prestigious events further increasing its exposure and appeal in key growth territories. “The ITTF is delighted to learn that the Commonwealth Games Federation has accepted the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee’s recommendation for the inclusion of Para Table Tennis. We wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Table Tennis England in preparing the submission. This will hopefully provide us with an opportunity to build upon the successes of the Gold Coast Games to further the development of our Para athletes across the Commonwealth and provide an impetus for activity on the local and national scene in England. The inclusion of Para Table Tennis in multisport competitions that are not exclusively “Para events” is also a clear proof of how popular Table Tennis is and how viable it is for local organising committees to stage our sport.” Thomas Weikert ITTF President “Today is an historic day for the Commonwealth Games and I am delighted that we can now confirm Birmingham 2022 will have the largest ever female and para-sport programme in history. I would like to congratulate and formally welcome Women’s T20 Cricket Beach Volleyball and Para Table Tennis to the official sports programme for Birmingham 2022 and I know they will all help enhance what will be a spectacular and vibrant multi-sport event.” Dame Louise Martin CGF President Since the ITTF took over the governance of Para Table Tennis in what was a pioneer move in 2007 plenty of work has been done to improve many areas of the game such as educating coaches officials and developing the players themselves. From a technical perspective Para Table Tennis makes an extremely strong case for being regarded as the most inclusive sport for people with disabilities using the same equipment as able-bodied athletes the same rules and the same field of play helping to provide equal opportunities and experiences to all.
