2019 BUTTERFLY European U21 Championships Gondomar Portugal 7-10 March – Women’s Singles Preview Two Russian players Valeria SHCHERBATYKH and Maria TAILAKOVA are listed as no. 1 and no. 3 respectively at the Women’s Singles seeding list of the 2019 BUTTERFLY European U21 Championships. They fought in the gold medal contest of the 2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships as TAILAKOVA won gold in straight games. The 2019 championships commences tomorrow March 7th in the Portugal city of Gondomar European City of Sports in 2017 the host of the 2016 European Top 16 Cup. Regarding Women’s Singles participants 56 players in total will compete in at the place where Portugal’s national champions have been crowned last weekend. Top 8 seeded players will go directly to Stage 2 and they are following: 1 Valeria SHCHERBATYKH (RUS) 2 Lisa LUNG (BEL) 3 Maria TAILAKOVA (RUS) 4 Audrey ZARIF (FRA) 5 Marie MIGOT (FRA) 6 Daria TRIGOLOS (BLR) 7 ZHANG Xuan (ESP) and 8 Tatiana KUKULKOVA (SVK). Reigning European U21 champion TAILAKOVA had several successes at the international stage since their cadet gold medal at the 2015 European Youth Championships. Russian talent and Lisa LUNG were semi-finalists at the 2017 STAG European U21 Championships Sochi Russia. Current no. 2 seed in Gondomar Lisa LUNG of Belgium was 2014 EYCH runner-up of the Cadet Girls event the success that has been reserved before (twice – 2012 2013) for the actual no. 5 seed in Gondomar Marie MIGOT of France. Beside Top 8 names there are several rising stars who proved their talent on the international stage. Like no. 15 seed Adina DIACONU (ROU) multiple gold medallist from European Youth Championships and two her teammates from Romanian National Team no.18 Andreea DRAGOMAN (ROU) and no. 53 Tania PLAINAN (ROU) the runner-up of the 2018 European Youth Championships. DRAGOMAN and PLANIAN finished second and third respectively at the 2018 European Youth Top 10 in the Portugal city of Vila Real. Two years ago at the inaugural 2017 STAG European U21 Championships Sochi Russia Chantal MANTZ clinched the crown in Women’s Singles Event as she overcame team-mate and club-mate WAN Yuan in six games. Lisa LUNG of Belgium and Maria TAILAKOVA of Russia were semi-finalists. Last year’s 2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships saw Maria TAILAKOVA’s victory against her compatriot Valeria SHCHERBATYKH in straight games of the gold medal contest. Natalia BAJOR (POL) and Anastasia KOLISH (RUS) were semi-finalists.
Gondomar hosts rising stars: LEVENKO tops seeding list
2019 BUTTERFLY European U21 Championships Gondomar Portugal 7-10 March – Men’s Singles Preview Portugal city of Gondomar – European City of Sports in 2017 – already established itself as the excellent host of one huge table tennis event like it was during the 2016 European Top 16 Cup (Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and SHEN Yanfei won gold) while now it will see the 2019 BUTTERFLY European U21 Championships to be held on March 7-10th. Regarding Men’s Singles Seeding List 53 players in total will compete in at the place where Portugal’s national champions have been crowned last weekend. Top 8 seeded players will go directly to Stage 2 and they are following: 1 Andreas LEVENKO (AUT) 2 Darko JORGIC (SLO) 3 Cristian PLETEA (ROU) 4 Rares SIPOS (ROU) 5 Aliaksandr KHANIN (BLR) 6 Tobias HIPPLER (GER) 7 Florian CNUDDE (BEL) and 8 Jiri MARTINKO (CZE). The 2016 European Youth Championships Junior Boy runner-up Andreas LEVENKO of Austria tops seeding list followed by three who finished at the podium of 2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 CH in Minsk Belarus the runner-up Cristian PLETEA (2015 EYCH Cadet gold 2017 EYCH Junior silver) and bronze medallists Darko JORGIC (repeated his success from the inaugural 2017 STAG European U21 Championships Sochi Russia) and Rares SIPOS. Defending U21 European Men’ Singles champion Tomas POLANSKY of Czech Republic commences the upcoming championships as no. 25 seed. In dramatic closure of the 2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships he overcame Cristian PLETEA of Romania after full seven games 4:3 (11:6 5:11 12:10 11:5 5:11 7:11 12:10) to clinch the title in the final of the Men’s Singles Event. In the semi-final encounters PLETEA was extended to full distance by Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC while POLANSKY defeated Rares SIPOS of Romania in five games. Two years ago at the inaugural 2017 STAG European U21 Championships Sochi Russia Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia was crowned champion as he beat Germany’s QIU Dang 4:1 (11:6 11:2 9:11 14:12 11:9). Semi-finalists were Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC and Deni KOZUL. Beside Top 8 players at the seeding list of the 2019 BUTTERFLY European U21 Championships there are some familiar names from the podiums of the European Youth Championships like Vladimir SIDORENKO (RUS no. 12 seed) twice in a row EYCH Cadet Boy gold medallist (2016 and 2017) Maciej KUBIK (POL no. 32) the 2018 Cadet Boy EYCH winner Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS (GRE no. 33) actual European Junior champion who won his first out of two titles in Portugal (2017 EYCH Guimaraes)…
Reigning TTCLM champion ready for clash against UMMC
TTCLM semi-finals Leg 1 UMMC – Borussia (March 7th 15:00 CET). Manager of German club Andreas PREUSS: “These are the duels one is dreaming of”. Team manager of UMMC Dmitry BALACHENKOV: “I’m sure our players will do their best in front of their fans and prove their level.” Reigning TTCLM champion Borussia Dusseldorf travels to Russia in a good shape to play first semi-final game against 2012 TTCLM runner-up UMMC this Thursday March 7th. Three members of the most successful European club (11-time TTCLM winner) won medals at the national championships held last weekend: Timo BOLL reached his 13th gold in Germany while Kristian KARLSSON and Anton KALLBERG finished second and third respectively in Sweden. “Bogoria was the strongest opponent we could get in quarter finals UMMC is the strongest one in semis. Since years UMMC is one of the best clubs in Europe. We do have a lot of respect. GACINA GROTH FABG SHIBAEV – all of them are world class players. I think my team is hot we want to defend the TTCL title” stated coach Danny HEISTER. Manager Andreas PREUSS believes that his side is capable to secure good result before the second leg in Germany: “We are happy to play against one of the best teams. These are the duels one is dreaming of. These are the interesting matches matches at eye level. We had a big event in Bundesliga against Ochsenhausen which took place in Munich with 4.500 spectators. This was our goal in the last weeks now we are going to focus us on TTCL semifinals. We had two good games against Bogoria UMMC had to fight hard against Mühlhausen and just won by points. But this has happened in the past. The duel against UMMC will start with 0:0 and I am sure it will be tough.” Team manager of UMMC Dmitry BALACHENKOV stated: “Borussia is the winner of the Champions League of the last season and we know that matches against them will be tough. But our team also made it to the semi-finals for the first time in five years for a reason. Now we have a very good composition. I’m sure our players will do their best to show their best play in front of their fans and prove their level. Coach of Russian club the 2012 runner-up Tatyana KUTERGINA is sure that his side has capacity to beat TTCLM record holder: “Borussia team is a very serious contender they have the highest level tennis players. Player number 1 is of course Timo Boll. It seems to me that today this athlete is playing even better than a couple of years ago. The UMMC club this season has tennis players on the roster who I am sure will be serious competitors for both Boll and Kristian Carlsson. In face-to-face meetings with Borussia we still have fewer victories than defeats and we want to change these figures in favor of victories.” 2018/19 TTCLM semi-finals Leg 1 UMMC – Borussia Dusseldorf (Thursday March 7th 15:00 CET) Vaillante Sports Angers – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (Friday March 8th 19:00 CET)
RILISKYTE for the first and Alfredas UDRA for the fifth time champions in Lithuania
89th Lithuanian championship took place in the capital of Lithuania Vilnius. Kornelija RILISKYTE for the first and Alfredas UDRA for the fifth time won Lithuanian National Championships. In the final game Kornelija RILISKYTE 4:1 (11:9 9:11 11:7 11:4 11:3) won against Auguste MELAIKAITE. 3rd place winners are Ugne BASKUTYTE and Emilija RILISKYTE. The winner of men’s singles event is Alfredas UDRA. He won final game against last year champion Medardas STANKEVICIUS 4:1 (11:9 11:6 11:8 6:11 11:6). 3rd place winners are Valdas MARTINKUS and Matas VILKAS. Egle JANKAUSKIENE and Vitalija VENCKUTE won the champions title in women’s doubles event after they beat Auguste MELAIKAITE and Andzelika PETRAUSKIENE. 3rd place winners: Ugne BASKUTYTE and Aukse RASIMAVICIENE; Emilija and Kornelija RILISKYTE’s. The gold medallists in men’s doubles event became Alfredas and Manfredas UDRA’s. Silver medal winners are Agnius KACERAUSKAS and Medardas STANKEVICIUS. 3rd place winners: Arnoldas and Tonetas DOMEIKA’s; Rimas LESIV and Kestutis ZEIMYS. The mixed doubles champions Kornelija RILISKYTE and Alfredas UDRA won against Emilija RILISKYTE and Matas SKUCAS in the finals. 3rd place winners: Vitalija Venckute and Matas VILKAS; Ugne BASKUTYTE and Medardas Stankevicius. “Championships was full of beautiful matches and emotions. We want to thank for all participant and atmosphere that they gave and also to everyone who worked to have this championships in such high level” said Egle KAZYTE.
Andrei PUTUNTICA and Olga BLIZNET won the trophies in Moldova
In The final of the Men’s Singles Andrei PUTUNTICA went full distance against the last-year’s champion his teammate Vladislav URSU to became a new champion of Moldova. At third place is Denis TERNA from Dubossary. In Women’s Singles the victory went to player from Dubossary Olga BLIZNET. The team-mate of the new champion Alexandra KIRYAKOVA became the silver medalists. In third place is Ekaterina ZHIBRIK from Chisinau. In the Men’s Doubles Event champions are Andrei PUTUNTICA and Vladislav URSU. In the women’s doubles victory went to Olga BLIZNETS and Alexandra KIRYAKOVA. In the mixed doubles Andrei PUTUNTICA and Ekaterina ZHIBRIK took the first place.
Truls MÖREGÅRDH and Linda BERGSTRÖM booked their place at World Championships
Sweden’s National Championships Truls MÖREGÅRDH and Linda BERGSTRÖM clinched the titles at the Swedish National Championships. Since Linda was already in the national team as winner Truls booked his tiket for Hungary. As a winner of Men’s Singles Event he will join the team of Sweden at the World Championships at the end of April. Men’s Singles 1. Truls Möregårdh Eslövs AI BTK2. Kristian Karlsson Halmstad BTK3. Mattias Falck Halmstad BTK3. Anton Källberg Söderhamns UIF Womens’ Singles1. Linda Bergström Ängby SK2. Matilda Ekholm Boo KFUM IA3. Christina Källberg Köpings BTK3. Filippa Bergand Eslövs AI BTKMedaljörerna i mixeddubbel. Mixed Doubles1. Mattias Falck/Matilda Ekholm Halmstad BTK/Boo KFUM IA2. Truls Möregårdh/Filippa Bergand Eslövs AI BTK3. Fabian Åkerström/Erika Fronth Halmstad BTK3. Harald Andersson/Tilda Johansson Halmstad BTKMen’s Doubles 1. Truls Möregårdh/Jon Persson Eslövs AI BTK/Söderhamns UIF2. Simon Berglund/Malte Möregårdh Spårvägens BTK/BTK Rekord3. Viktor Brodd/Hampus Nordberg Söderhamns UIF3. Anders Eriksson/Anton Källberg Söderhamns UIFMedaljörerna i damdubbel. Women’s Doubles 1. Michaela Karlsson/Christina Källberg Köpings BTK2. Rebecca Tviet Muskantor/Caroline Tanska LinnePartille PK/Eslövs AI BTK3. Linda Bergström/Jennifer Jonsson Ängby SK/Norrtulls SK3. Erika Fronth/Tilda Johansson Halmstad BTKMedaljörer U20 damer Under 20 Women1. Stina Källberg Köpings BTK2. Filippa Bergand Eslövs AI BTK3. Jennie Edvinsson Halmstad BTK3. Erika Fronth Halmstad BTKMedaljörer U20 herrar Under 20 Men1. Per Sandström Söderhamns UIF2. Anton Hjort Söderhamns UIF3. Jonatan McDonald Norrtulls SK3. Martin Friis Spårvägens BTKMedaljörer stående dubbel klass 6-10 Classes 6-101. Emil Andersson/Linus Karlsson Västers BTK2. Daniel Gustafsson/Henrik Sandbladh Västers BTK3. Michael Azulay/Nicklas Westerberg Askims BTK/Idrottsföreningen För Alla Eskilstuna3. Einar Sahle/Jonas Hansson LinnePartille PKMedaljörer rullstolsdubbel klass 1-5 Classes 1-51. Isak Nyholm/David Olsson IK Juno/Eslövs AI BTK2. Magnus Nordgren/Anna-Carin Ahlquist Docksta BTK/IFK Österåkers BTK3. Philip Brooks/Kaj Andersson FIFH/LinnePartille PK3. Frida Dämhagen/Frida Lund FIFHMedaljörer herrar lag para. Men para1. Emil Andersson/Linus Karlsson Västers BTK2. Daniel Gustafsson/Henrik Sandbladh Västers BTK3. Jonas Hansson/Einar Sahle LinnePartille PK3. Michael Azulay/Albin Hedlund Askims BTKVictor Sjöqvist. Classes 2-31. Anna-Carin Ahlquist IFK Österåkers BTK2. Victor Sjöqvist KFUM Jönköpings IAMedaljörer rullstol klass 4-5. Classes 4-51. Magnus Nordgren Docksta BTK2. David Olsson Eslövs AI BTKMedaljörer stående klass 7. Classes 61. Michael Azulay Askims BTK2. Peter Molander FIFH3. Fredik Wätterklint Linköpings Parasportförening3. Christoffer Petersson IFAHMedaljörer i stående klass 7. Classes 71. Nicklas Westerberg Idrottsföreningen För Alla Eskilstuna2. Jonas Hansson LinnePartille PK3. Noah Olsson BTK Frej3. Viktor Söderlund FIFHMedaljörer i stående klass 8. Classes 81. Emil Andersson Västers BTK2. Fabian Rignell Lindome BTK3. Tobias Andersson KFUM Kristianstad BTF3. Linus Karlsson Västers BTKStående klass 9-10. Classes 9-101. Daniel Gustafsson Västers BTK2. Henrik Sandbladh Västers BTK3. Rasmus Björling Karlsborgs BTK3. David Schultze Horreds BTKMedaljörer utvecklingsnedsättning klass 11. Classes 111. Erik Prusaakiewicz Boo KFUM IA2. William Lerup Malmö IF3. Joakim Lyktberg Idrottsföreningen För Alla Eskilstuna3. Oskar Tuvesson Västers BTK Classes 6-101. Anja Händén Östra Stadsgränsen TK2. Jeanette Björndal Rudalens IFMedaljörer herrar veteraner 40 para Veterans 40 para1. Henrik Sandbladh Västers BTK2. Magnus Nordgren Docksta BTK3. Mats Persson Linköpings Parasportförening3. Victor Sjöqvist KFUM Jönköpings IA
GADIEV and KREKINA Russia’s champions
Vildan GADIEV beat Saadi ISMAILOV in the Men’s Singles final to clinch the crown at the Russia’s National Championships. He won silver last year. Svetlana KREKINA created big upset by reaching the highest step at the medal rostrum. At age of 37 she won gold in Women’s Doubles as well. Alexander SHIBAEV (champion in 2018) has been injured and exited after his first match. All best players took participation in this championships. Pair GREBNEV and KATSMAN beat Alexey LIVENTSOV and Mikhail PAIKOV in semifinal and pair Kirill SKACHKOV – Saadi ISMAILOV in final. Men Singles 1. Vildan GADIEV2. Saadi ISMAILOV3. Mikhail PAYKOV and Maxim CHAPLYGIN Women Singles1. Svetlana KREKINA2. Yulia PROKHOROVA3. Polina MIKHAILOVA and Olga VOROBIEVA Team Events. Men and Women Teams – Moscow 1-st place Mens Doubles1. Maxim GREBNEV and Lev KATSMANWomen Doubles1. Svetlana KREKINA and Anna BIKBAEVAMixed Doubles1. Andrey BAIBULDIN and Anna BIKBAEVA.
Finnish table tennis can thank the world for its globalization
Finnish championships gave for the first time for years really new and surprising champions. Even so surprising that most of the attendees had never seen all the masters ever before! However not all the masters are surprising as Benedek OLÁH took his his eighth Men’s Singles title after an overwhelming show. The finalist was the same as a year ago 17-year-old Alex NAUMI who suffered a 1-4 defeat. OLÁH had no real difficulties at any point during the competition. OLÁH playing his second season in France’s main league may be in the best shape of his career and definitely wants to join the Tokyo Olympic tables. OLÁH also took the men’s doubles victory together with NAUM. A new champion was crowned in Women’s Singles when favourite Anastasiia BURKOVA was beating Marina DONNER 4-2. Still on Saturday in group matches DONNER was better. The best match of the whole competition was seen in Women’s Singles semi-final when BURKOVA defeated Anna KIRICHENKO in 4-3 and 17-15 in the seventh set. Like OLÁH BURKOVA became a double champion as she won Women’s Doubles with Sofie ERIKSSON. The most surprising title in the tournament was the victory in Men’s Doubles won by Marina DONNER and Johan PETTERSSON from Åland. The players live on the island and play in Sweden and for most Finns they were completely new acquaintances. PETTERSSON is a left-handed player born in Sweden. He has been playing in Spårvägen. DONNER moved to Sweden from Sotshi area 20 years ago and studied there as a doctor. He married a Finnish man and the twin moved to Åland. At least the 36-year-old will not end up in fitness as she is also one of Finland’s top performers in triathlon! So the Finnish champion was a couple one of whom was from Russia and the other was Sweden. The winner of Women’s Singles is Russian and the parents of Men’s Singles winner moved to Finland from Hungary. Anna KIRICHENKO’S parents moved to Finland from Russia. Father of Men’s Doubles gold medalist Miikka 0´CONNOR’S father moved to Finland from England. It is also noted that the mother tongue of Women’s Doubles winner Sofie ERIKSSON is Swedish. Indeed Finnish table tennis can thank the world for its globalization. And we like to do it! Finnish Championships Tampere MS 1) Benedek Oláh 2) Alex Naum 13-11 11-9 11-8 7-11 11-8 3) Miikka O’Connor and Samuli Soine WS 1) Anastasiia Burkova 2) Marina Donner 5-11 8-11 11-4 11-9 11-4 11-7 15-13 3) Anna Kirichenko and Sofie Eriksson MD 1) Benedek Oláh/Alex Naumi 2) Otto Tennilä/Miikka O’Connor 11-2 11-13 10-12 11-9 11-7 3) Pasi Valasti/Mika Räsänen and Toni Soine/Samuli Soine WD (group) 1) Anastasiia Burkova/Sofie Eriksson 2) Anna Kirichenko/Elli Rissanen 3) Jannika Oksanen/Marina Donner Mixed 1) Johan Pettersson/Marina Donner 2) Matias Ojala/Sofie Eriksson 11-8 8-11 11-7 14-12 3) Pasi Valasti/Jannika Oksanen and Miikka O´Connor/Pihla Eriksson More detailed results (only in Finnish): Kilpailun tulokset
Carey & Evans Retain Their Titles
Charlotte CAREY & Callum EVANS retained their National women and men titles respectively yesterday at the Aspire 2Be National Championships held in Cardiff. CAREY who won a 5th title (4 in a row) and EVANS who won his third in a row are both representing Wales at the World Championships in Budapest this April. In the women’s final Charlotte raced to a 3/0 lead versus Anna HURSEY. The Cardiff player did get a set back winning the 4th 11/9 but the Ebbw Vale player took the final set to win 4/1. In the men’s final Callum beat Dean CUNDY in straight sets 11/2 11/8 11/5 11/9 to clinch the title. Well done to semi finalists Chris GRIFFITHS Benedict WATSON Danielle KELLY & Lara WHITTON Other winners on the day were: Vets 40 Singles – Neil Wright (R/up – Lee Thomas) U21 Men – Josh Stacey (R/up – Callum Evans) U21 Women – Anna Hursey (R/up Beth Richards) Men’s Doubles – Callum Evans/Louie Evans (R/up – Ryan Owen/Benedict Watson) Women Doubles – Charlotte Carey/Lauren Stacey (R/up – Anna Hursey/Beth Richards) Mixed Doubles – Charlotte Carey/Callum Evans (R/up Louie Evans/Beth Richards) Vets 60 singles – Ray Goulding (R/up – Dennis Bromage) U11 Boys – Winner Harri Palfrey (R/up Toby Harwood) U11 Girls – Winner Sophie Barcsai (R/up Seren Jones) U13 Boys – Rhys Hetherton (R/up Evan Williams) U13 Girls – Sophie Barcsai (R/up Ruby Elliott) Vets 40 Doubles – Winners Neil Wright/Steve Hall (R/up Lee Thomas/Mark Farrow)
Titles defended by Pavel ŠIRUČEK and Hana MATELOVÁ
Pavel ŠIRUČEK and Hana MATELOVÁ dominated at the Czech National Championships in Men’s and Women’s Singles held in Teplice last weekend. Both of them defended the last year’s crowns clinched in Prague. Pavel ŠIRUČEK after semifinal’s victory over Tomáš KONEČNÝ faced the same opponent as last year. Lubomír JANČAŘÍK kept pace with his teammate from the national team but at decisive moments ŠIRUČEK was more fortunate and powerful. “In the finals only small details decided. However my adversary was in very good shape and he was a better player in certain stages. But he did not take advantage of the lead in the second game. I managed better the fifth set which was probably decisive ” described ŠIRUČEK the final duel. Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ and Hana MATELOVÁ met in the finals of women’s singles. The experienced ŠTRBÍKOVÁ played relaxed and at 2:2 she was in the lead 9:6. But in the end it worked out better for her opponent. “It was definitely the key moment of the final. I am very happy how I played both Sunday’s matches because I really wanted to win the third title in a row ” said Hana MATELOVÁ after the medal ceremony. In Doubles’ finals favourites dominated– Hana MATELOVÁ and Kateřina TOMANOVSKÁ won the women’s competition Pavel ŠIRUČEK and Tomáš POLANSKÝ became winners of men’s competition when they defeated Tomáš TREGLER and Tomáš KONEČNÝ 3:0. In the mixed doubles new pair Martin KOBLÍŽEK and Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ celebrated the victory over Patrik KLOS and Tamara TOMANOVÁ.
