The 2019 STAG European Youth Championships, 7-16 Jul, Ostrava , National Team of France will defend five gold medals at the 2019 STAG European Youth Championships to be held in the Czech city of Ostrava, 7-16 Jul. Strong French team includes four-time medalist in Cluj Napoca (Romania), Prithika PAVADE, and triple medalist Myshaal SABHI. The 2018 STAG European Youth Championships saw France as the most successful country with 13 medals in total (5 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze), followed by Russia 13 (3, 5, 5) and Romania 11 (2, 2, 7). That championships broke the record in term of number of players – 573, while 556 participants is expected for the 2019 edition to be held in RT TORAX ARENA in Ostrava. Team events are scheduled for Sunday 7th – Thursday 11th July. France, defending Junior Boys champion, will play in Group B against 2017 winner Germany, Slovakia and Romania. Last year’s runner-up and 2017 champion, Russia, shares Group A with Italy, Switzerland and Azerbaijan. Juniors Girls event will see actual runner-up Russia, 2014 winner France, Serbia and Belarus in the Group A. Romania, six-time winner in last ten years, is going to play in Group D, against Italy, Croatia and Spain. Reigning Cadet Boys champion, France, shares Group C with 2013 champion Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey, while last year’s silver medalist Belgium will play in Group D, against eight-time cadet teams gold medalist Germany, Poland and Ukraine. Defending Cadet Girls champion and nine-time winner in this event, Romania is drawn in Group A, beside Portugal, Hungary and Italy. Last year’s silver medalist, Russia will play in Group B, against Ukraine, Portugal and Turkey. More information: here
European Youth Championships returns to Ostrava after 6 years
The 2019 STAG European Youth Championships, 7-16 July, Ostrava , European Youth Championship returns to the Czech Republic after six years, again in Ostrava, the host of the 2013 EYCH. Team events will start this Sunday, July 7th, in the RT Torax Arena. Six years ago, host player Tomas POLANSKY and Romania’s Adina DIACONU stole the show by winning three gold medals in cadet events, while now host nation hopes that Simon BELIK could follow in POLANSKY’s footsteps. Czech players had many successes on their soil in the past, including 1999 EYCH in Frýdek-Místek (only 18 km from Ostrava) when Iveta VACENOVSKA took silver in Cadet Girls Singles. „We believe that a lot of children and parents will come to see the top youth table tennis, they will find their favourites and cheer for them. We would like to thank in this way to the Moravian-Silesian Region and to the Statutory City of Ostrava for their support of this Championship. There was a European Championship of adults held in Ostrava in 2010 and three years later a Junior Championship and both of them were ranked very highly by all the attendees when it comes to the organization. I believe that everybody will be satisfied this year as well and battles for the medals will offer a great show, “stated few weeks ago director of the Championship and the Vice-Chairman of the Czech Table Tennis Association Nikolas ENDAL. Two French boy’s teams won gold ten years ago in Prague, Romania clinched Junior Girls title, while Germany was the best Cadet Girls team in 2009. That championship launched some new rising stars, like Simon GAUZY (Cadet Boy winner) and Petrissa SOLJA (Cadet Girl winner). Czech capital hosted European Youth Championships three times in the past (first one in 1965), with memorable 2005 edition, when Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Junior Boys), Daniela DODEAN (Junior Girls) and Paul DRINKHAL (England) won gold, while four different countries climbed at the highest spot on the podium: France (JBT), Spain (JGT), England (CBT) and Russia (CGT). Two compatriots faced one another three times in the gold medal contest: OVTCHAROV vs. BAUM (Germany – they met once again in senior 2011 European Championships final), DODEAN vs. SAMARA (Romania) and DRINKHALL vs. KNIGHT (England). Czech city of Frýdek-Místek hosted European talents twice in four years: 1996 and 1999. Denmark’s legend Michael MAZE was the singles winner in both occasions, in 1996 Cadet Boys and 1999 Junior Boys. Magnus MOLIN from Sweden beat Germany’s Timo BOLL in the 1996 Junior Boys final. More information: here
2 months to go to European Team Championships in Nantes
, With some incredible results and performances in Minsk at the recent European Games, Europe’s top table tennis players will now look to win more medals when they land in Nantes (France) for the Liebherr ITTF-European Table Tennis Championships. This year’s championships will be for teams, with Germany winning the Men’s and Romania the Women’s last time round in Luxembourg in 2017. And with 2 months to go, we have gone live with a teaser video – check it out on YouTube here https://youtu.be/rsOYo1q3z5o More information can be found at: – ETTU web site – Offical event’s site And the 24 qualified teams And of course, don’t forget to buy your tickets before the event is sold out – TICKETS
2020 Table Tennis World Veteran Championship will be held in Bordeaux
, The 2020 Table Tennis World Veteran Championship will be held in Bordeaux, France, from June 8 to 14, 2020. During that week, about 4600 players, all over 40 years old, are expected in France for the largest table tennis event in the world. Registration began on March 1st. So far, more than 2500 players have already registered. The remaining spots are filling up quickly. Don’t wait to register if you want to participate in this event, which promises to be an exceptional experience. Bordeaux is a unique city in France, with a character that is both modern and historic. The city is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with an 18th century urban and architectural complex. In addition to being the world capital of wine and its temperate climate in summer, its historical side combined with the dynamic qualities of the city and the very romantic Garonne riverside, have made it the first French city for Quality of Life.All this, in addition to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, the various castles and vineyards that surround the city, guarantee everyone an unforgettable time in Bordeaux. Useful informations The wvc2020 website available in English, German, Spanish and French Entry fees for players : 175 € Access fee for accompanying persons : 65€ Until 31 December 2019. After 1 January 2020, the entry fee for player will be €210 until 15 March 2020.
Europe Top 16 Cup continues in the city of Montreux until 2023
, We are pleased to inform you the ETTU Executive Board has awarded the 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the Europe Top 16 Cup, to be held in the city of Montreux, to Swiss Table Tennis. President Ronald KRAMER is delighted to be witness of what may in future years become the birth of a great European table tennis tradition. He congratulates our Swiss table tennis friends with their enduring willingness since the 2018 edition to build an ever better event year by year. Of course, first for the players, but also for the enthusiastic audience the ‘CCB Montreux Top-16’ is attracting and for the viewers from all over the world. “We are definitely looking forward to what will be ETTU’s most prestigious and amazing events in 2021 to 2023”, KRAMER concludes. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership to deliver a prestigious title event. “Thank you very much for your confidence, we will try our best to improve this event year by year,” said Georg SILBERSCHMIDT Chef Leistungssport Swiss Table Tennis.
Table tennis sport for all, for life
European Veterans Championships, The 13th European Veteran Table Tennis Championships attracts the table tennis’ veteran elite players. Many of the world’s biggest names are on display including World Champions Béla FRANK, Sándor VARGA, Betty BIRD, Kai MERIMAA. According to the participants, the atmosphere is incredible, the halls are full of life. “We are really enjoying the matches. Old friends come together, and play together.” – said Mr. Tibor SZARKA. Age divisions ranged from over 40 to over 90 and players come from around the world. But table tennis can be enjoyed by everyone of all ages. On these championships, the oldest player, Margit SCHIEDER is 94 years old, but it does not look like it. The weather conditions are as usual in July, sunny and hot, but the organizers try to do their best to provide as good playing conditions as possible. Can I buy tickets on the spot? Yes! Tickets are available – you can either grab a daily ticket or why not treat yourself to a weekly pass? Buy your tickets for the 13th European Veteran Table Tennis Championships 2019: – 10 EUR/day – 75 EUR/week ,
Host team preparations in full swing for Ostrava
The 2019 STAG European Youth Championships, 7-16 July, Ostrava , The 2019 STAG European Youth Championships, 7-16 July, Ostrava, commences this Sunday, July 7th, in RT Torax Arena, by the team events. Host nation Czech Republic has gathered all its national selections in the training camp in Havirov, providing excellent conditions for the preparation. Manager of the Czech National Team Petr NEDOMY explained for the CTTA website that several foreign players arrived in the camp: “There are three juniors and three cadets from England with us, three junior boys and girls from Moldova and one Lithuanian junior. It is a welcomed change for our players and we believe that the training will be based on the ideas of the national coaches. We move to the main venue this Thursday and we should train in the main hall on Friday.” Both Czech junior teams arrived in Havirov only two days after return from the training camp in the Poland’s city of Gransk. “This was a very successful preparation, as the Poland belongs to the European top of table tennis. We had excellent conditions and I would like to thank them for being good host. I do not remember when we had such a good sparring two weeks before the championship,” said Josef BRAUN, coach of Czech Republic Junior Boys team. Czech national teams Junior Boys: Tomas MARTINKO, Frantisek ONDERKA, Radim BAKO, Radek SKALA, Michal BLINKA. Coach Josef BRAUN. Junior Girls: Zdena BLASHKOVA, Gabriela STEPANOVA, Linda ZAREDOVA, Klara HRABICOVA, Anna KLEMPEROVA. Coach Tomas VRNAK. Cadet Boys: Simon BELIK, Ondrej KVETON, Vit KADLEC, Matyas LEBEDA. Coach Tomas DEMEK. Cadet Girls: Helena SOMMEROVA, Tereza BARTOVA, Nela HANAKOVA, Katerina PISAROVA. Coach Martin PYTLIK. More information: here
3270 players gathered in Budapest
European Veterans Table Tennis Championships 2019, The European Veterans Table Tennis Championships attracted the table tennis fans’ attention to Budapest this week. The event commenced today and it will last until 6th July. At this moment Hungarian capitol city hosts 3270 players from 42 countries. Three halls with 130 tables serve the participants needs. This means, that HTTA have the great honour to organize the 3rd table tennis event in this year. Budapest was the home for the LIEBHERR 2019 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships but the 2019 European Veteran Championships is the biggest challenge to date. The Hungarian Traditional Gala Dinner will be organised on Wednesday 3rd July and the incredible awarding ceremony on the 6th of July. During the opening ceremony, the participants got acquainted with the Hungarian Traditional Folkdance by Corvinus Flokdance Team followed by a Jumprope performance, celebration of the former Hungarian Wold Champions and for closing they had the possibility to view an incredible Tissue aerial acrobatic
Men’s Final in Minsk
European Games 2019 Minsk In the match for bronze the winners of the 2015 edition of European Games team of Portugal overcame Denmark 3-1. Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO overcame Tobias RASMUSSEN and Anders LIND in straight games (11-6 11-5 11-4). “Most important thing was to come prepared to the venue after yesterday’s defeat against Germany. It was tough blow and we needed to re-built our confidence. We were confident and focused from the first ball and throughout the game we proved as a better team. We have gold from the European Games already but it is important for us to keep bringing the medals home every time ” said Tiago APOLONIA. Jonathan GROTH had another brilliant performance in Minsk. This time he accounted for Marcos FREITAS (9-11 13-11 7-11 7-11); Joao MONTEIRO overcame Anders LIND (6-11 11-8 11-8 11-4) and in the last match Marcos FREITAS overcame Tobias RASMUSSEN (11-4 9-11 11-7 12-10). “GROTH played perfectly in Minsk. He has not lost any match in the Team’s Event. I started bad against him. Lost the opening game after being 9-4 in advance. After that I was upset I lost my focus and he won. I managed to put it behind in match against Tobbias ” said FREITAS. MONTEIRO had a shaky start against LIND but he recovered. “I was even behind in the second game but I started to be more aggressive to attack on long balls ” explained MONTEIRO. Germany clinched gold in the Men’s Teams Event at the European Games 2019 in Minsk. Like women’s team few hours earlier they also booked their place at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. In the final Germany overcame Sweden 3-0. Portugal overcame Denmark in the match for the bronze medal 3-1. Timo BOLL and Patrick FRANZISKA had perfect start in doubles to set the pace of the match. They overcame Kristian KARLSSON Jon PERSSON (11-9 11-7 7-11 11-8). Powerful rallies marked the duel between Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Mattias FALCK but in the end it was OVTCHAROV who celebrated (11-9 10-12 11-5 11-7). “When you start after the doubles already won the opening point for team it took a lot of pressure off. Still it was very difficult match. I had a game point at 10-6 in the second game and I lost it. However I kept on trying and I was confident ” said OVTCHAROV. FRANZISKA and PERSSON faced each other again in the singles (12-14 11-3 11-7 9-11 11-9) and it was very close duel. “I knew it is going to be hard one since we played 3-2 last time we meet in singles. He is so quick and aggressive but we had 2-0 already as team and I saw Timo warming up so I was not under pressure ” said FRANZISKA laughing. Timo BOLL summarize the event:” The system worked in our favor and we took the best of it. Starting with the doubles was easier option for me and it was good for the team to start the singles with advantage. It was very good tournament we seized the first and the easiest opportunity to book the place at the Olympic Games. Also our game was at the top level.” Kristian KARLSSON praised the Germany’s success: ”Every game was very close it is far from what result 3-0 predicts. We gave our best our game was at very high level but Germany was better team today.”
Women’sfinal
European Games 2019 Minsk In a long five matches duel Poland secured bronze. They overcame Hungary 3-2. Szandra PERGEL and Dora MADARASZ were stretched to full distance in the match against Natalia BAJOR and Natalia PARTYKA (8-11 11-5 11-3 5-11 11-9). “They are playing together for a long time. It was very difficult to overcame them ” said Natalia PARTYKA. Georgina POTA put the pressure on LI Qian but European champion prevailed (11-5 3-11 11-8 13-11). In the fourth game the Expedite Rule was enforced the game having lasted 10 minutes. It meant that the service was alternate with the receiver of service winning the point if making an effective 13th return. LI responded better and leveled the match. In five games thriller Natalia PARTYKA overcame Dora MADARASZ (13-11 4-11 3-11 11-1 8-11) to give Poland the lead; POTA pushed Hungary into the decisive match after the victory over BAJOR (8-11 11-9 8-11 5-11). At the end PERGEL suffered by the hands of LI Qian (11-3 10-12 11-1 11-9). “For me both matches were difficult. I lost yesterday against Nina MITTELHAM match I should have won. It shook my confidence. Coming back from that defeat was not easy. By looking the record books I was favorite today but when you are burnt by such experience you can take nothing for granted. I was afraid ” admitted LI Qian. LI won the European crown in Alicante last year in singles. “I had hard time after that. I played in Europe a lot of tournaments Champions league and I played in Chines league. I was under severe pressure to the point I been totally burnt down. I could not move I was sick. Now I am coming back slowly and I am so happy I could play this tournament at high level ” said LI. Germany beat Romania in the final of the Women’s Teams Event at the European Games in Minsk and booked their place at the Olympic Games in Japan 2020. Bronze medal went to team of Poland. In the final Nina MITTELHAM and SHAN Xiaona gave Germany the dream start with the victory over Elizabeta SAMARA Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO (9-11 11-4 11-6 9-11 11-6) in doubles. “That gave the match the course we wanted. It was difficult match but after victory in doubles it took the course that worked in our favor and allowed us to be more relaxed with few options more. Defeat will really have narrowed our opportunities. In addition the win made me feel more confident and in case of need for my singles I would have more confidence ” said MITTELHAM. Silver medalists from the singles event in Minsk HAN Ying only faced pressure in the opening game of the singles against Bernadette SZOCS (9-11 11-5 11-3 11-2). “She beat me in the European Championships. Now I was ready for her. I had avenged my defeat ” said HAN who also booked her place at the Olympics in singles. ”Now I have year and half to prepare for Japan. It is great. Now we are not under pressure.” SHAN Xiaona overcame Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO in four games (11-9 11-9 10-12 11-7). Silver Team’s medalists were disappointed. “Our goal here was gold and Olympic Games ticket. Silver is only consolation. It is hard to talk after the defeat ” said Elizabeta SAMARA. ”We had a chance in doubles. That was the crucial match today and they were better pairings. SZOCS added:”I could not feel HAN’s game and she read my very fast. I could not find the answer.”
