Veterans table tennis is on the rise with enormous potential for future growth an argument heavily supported by the recently published GSI Event Study by Sportcal Global Communications Ltd. around the 19th World Veteran Table Tennis Championships. The event which attracted almost 4 000 players in the veterans age bracket of between 40 and 90+ years old was held between 18-24 June 2018 in Las Vegas United States. Off the back of the event’s resounding success as highlighted in this report the ITTF is providing more and more competitions to the ever-growing global veterans table tennis community through the inaugural 2019 ITTF World Veterans Tour the first ever professionally organised marketed and operated event series for veteran table tennis players worldwide. It was calculated that the direct economic impact on Las Vegas from hosting the World Veteran Championships amounted to $10.57 million based on a tourism spend of $10.16 million in the city and an organisational surplus expenditure of $0.41 million. The majority of tourism spend in Las Vegas was generated by players and accompanying persons who accounted for 71.8% and 21.6% respectively of all attendees. Additionally overseas participants spent $3.90 million in the USA outside of Las Vegas as part of their trip to attend the event. This marked a solid increase on the tourism spend of $8.08 million registered during the 18th World Veteran Championships held two years previously in the Spanish cities of Alicante and Elche. The 3 964 players at the event represented 90 nations across six continents improving on the previous all-time high of 82 countries represented in Spain. Indeed 84.7% of all participants at the 19th World Veteran Championships came from overseas while a further 12.7% were visiting from outside Las Vegas and 55% of survey respondents were first-time visitors to the city. The diversity of participants was by no means restricted to nationality either: 11 different age categories ensured that players aged between 40 and 90+ years old were taking part while 1 030 of total participants were women (26%). Whilst the attraction of visiting Las Vegas played a significant role in turnout – 45% of survey respondents stated it as a reason for attending the World Veteran Championships – the main reason with 76% of the vote was that of competing in an international event. This reinforces the view that the World Veteran Championships can continue to grow in any number of international cities in the future. Further encouragement is provided by the fact that more than 76% of survey respondents indicated that they were likely to attend the next edition of the World Veterans Championships in 2020 in Bordeaux France. Additionally a similar proportion indicated their preference for more veterans-specific events to be held more frequently at least once per year. The increased demands are being met by increased opportunities starting with the six events set to take place across the globe during the upcoming 2019 ITTF World Veterans Tour. Indeed for the global veteran table tennis community there has never been a more exciting time to get involved! “The ITTF has promoted table tennis more than ever before over the last two years shaping our events to enable cities around the world to attribute economic value to their local governmental and business cases. In addition the ITTF is creating its own data strategy a key part of which is to understand the motivations of our players and fans for interacting in specific ways with our sport. This report has covered both of these aspects and will help us with decision-making on future event structure and location.” Matt Pound ITTF Marketing Director “We would like to thank the ITTF and USA Table Tennis for their trust and support in producing this GSI Event Study. The study shows the significant economic impact that the 19th World Veteran Table Tennis Championships generated with a record number of overseas participants contributing significantly to the total tourism spend in Las Vegas. The study also identified imperative participant-focused insight surrounding factors and motives for future participation in international veterans events which has provided the ITTF with invaluable findings to prepare for the delivery of the inaugural World Veterans Tour this year and beyond.” Tim Rollason Analyst of Sportcal and the GSI Project
FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis beat Dekorglass Dzialdowo to reach final
Men’s ETTU Cup FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis beat K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo by narow margin 3:2 and after scored 20:19 overall in two legs progressed to the final of the Men’s ETTU Cup. All three players Tomas POLANSKY Patrick FRANZISKA and Darko JORGIC scored tonight. In Polish club only Chun Ting WONG managed to overcame his adversaries. K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis 2:3 Chun Ting WONG – Tomas POLANSKY 3:0 (11:9 12:10 11:7) Jiri VRABLIK – Patrick FRANZISKA 1:3 (8:11 13:11 7:11 8:11) Yang WANG – Darko JORGIC 0:3 (10:12 8:11 12:14) Chun Ting WONG – Patrick FRANZISKA 3:2 (4:11 11:9 7:11 11:3 11:9) Jiri VRABLIK – Tomas POLANSKY 1:3 (10:12 7:11 11:7 9:11)
ECLW semi-finals: Everything is open after first leg
This Friday (Mar 22) and Sunday (Mar 24) second leg to be held: Tarnobrzeg – Linz (3:1) Dr. CASL – Berlin (2:3). PALINA (Berlin): “Maybe we can advance…”. HAN (Tarnobrzeg): “I believe we can do it”. POLCANOVA (Linz): “We can be dangerous…” Second games of the ECLW semi-finals will be held this Friday and Sunday March 22-24 as two-times runner up KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg faces former double winner Linz AG Froschberg (1st leg 3:1) while actual ECLW champion Dr. CASL hosts four-time winner TTC Berlin Eastside (1st leg 2:3). “In our opinion Linz AG is still very good and dangerous team because of world top player as number one in Europe Sofia POLCANOVA as well as SOO Wai Yam Minnie bronze medallist of WTCC. Besides Linda BERGSTROM is in top shape now. Nothing is decided yet match will be very difficult but I hope it will be also great show for spectators” stated Zbigniew NECEK coach of Poland’s club. Tarnobrzeg’s leading player for years HAN Ying expects hard clash against Austrian club: “I am good prepared for the match will do everything to win every single point and support my team. Of course we have great chance to qualify to the final our club is strong but opponent’s too. Anyway I believe we can do it”. Sofia POLCANOVA lost her game against Elizabeta SAMARA playing as no. 3 in the line-up. Actual world no. 17 promises big fight in Poland: “If we are fit ready and have a good day we can win also 3:0 we can be dangerous for Tarnobrzeg also no opponent is absolutely safe against our team and if we start good the pressure for the home team will rise and rise…” Linda BERGSTROM (won unique point for Linz in leg 1) has added: “I`m well prepared I hope I can bring again my peak performance on the table to support my team with as much points as possible.” Linz president Günther RENNER reminds that the ECLW history is full of close results and upsets: “The team was very much down after the first game but got back the mental set up already. Ok 1:3 is heavy but we know return matches brought many surprises in the recent years although it would be a big surprise if LINZ AG Froschberg gets up to the finals this year.” Reigning ECLW champion Dr. CASL gained new confidence after successful performance in the Croatian Cup. TTC Berlin Eastside Irina PALINA stressed that she didn’t expect victory in the first leg: “Before the first semi-final match I didn’t really believe that it is possible. The girls were more optimistic. Now I think: maybe it’s somehow can happen! It would be very nice!” ECWL semi-finals leg 2 KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg – Linz AG Froschberg (March 22nd 18:00) leg 1 3:1 Dr. CASL – TTC Berlin Eastside (March 24th 19:00) leg 1 2:3
UMMC expects fierce clash in Dusseldorf
Coach of Russian team Zoran PRIMORAC speaks before the upcoming TTCLM semi-finals leg 2 The 2011/12 TTCLM runner-up UMMC from Russia will play this Thursday March 21st in Germany to repeat its biggest achievement in this prestigious competition. Verkhnaya Pyshma’s side won first semi-final leg against reigning champion Borussia Dusseldorf 3:1 (10:6) two weeks ago but coach Zoran PRIMORAC suggests it will not have any importance if his players are not able to prove it in the second leg… “ We played matches of the Russian Club Championship and I had chance to see the condition of our athletes the tour has became a rehearsal before the very important match in Dusseldorf. Borussia plays very well at home it won’t be easy for us because the score 3:1 does not give us confidence in victory. But I know for sure that the team will fight and we will make every effort for the desired result ” stated Zoran PRIMORAC. UMMC won five out of six matches at the one out of four tournaments within Russian Club Championship. Head coach Tatiana KUTERGINA can count on each out of all four top players of the club. FANG Bo Jonathan GROTH and Andrej GACINA have been preparing in Germany for the last couple of days while Alexander SHIBAEV will join them tomorrow. TTCLM semi-finals leg 2 Borussia Dusseldorf – TTSC UMMC (March 21st 19:00 CET) leg 1 1:3 TTC Fakel Gazprom – Vaillante Sports Angers (March 22nd 19:00 CET) leg 1 3:2
Borussia’s pursuit of perfection against UMMC
Reigning TTCLM champion hosts Russian team in the second leg of the semi-finals (leg 1 3:1 for UMMC) this Thursday March 21st. Coach Danny HEISTER and manager Andreas PREUSS are very aware of the situation. Reigning TTCLM champion Borussia Dusseldorf still believe they can continue its way to the 12th title in spite of losing first semi-final leg 3:1 (10:6) in Russia from UMMC two weeks ago. It was one of those rare days when Timo BOLL lost both his encounters. First he was defeated by Jonathan GROTH then she suffered at the hands of former world Top 10 player FANG Bo from China. “Kristian (KARLSSON) played very well against SHIBAEV. Timo (BOLL) had chances to win both matches in Russia but lost both. Anton (KALLBERG) didn´t play good against FANG Bo. Our chance is five percent to reach the final and we know that everything must fit perfect at Thursday to win. Our opponent has got a very very strong player with FANG Bo and three very good players with GROTH SHIBAEV and GACINA. It´s a team which can win the title. But if Kristian could repeat his success and Timo Anton Omar or Kamal will be more successful than in first round we will have a chance to beat UMMC ” stated coach of German team Danny HEISTER. Manager Andreas PREUSS reminds that his side was successful in the similar situation in the past: “In the first match in Yekaterinburg we played well but we had no fortune. If you want to win in the Champions League semis it´s necessary to have fortune too. We lost 1:3 with 6:10 sets in Russia although we had good chances for a better result. It will be very difficult now to reach the finals in this season. But we will fight for it. We play in Düsseldorf and we had similar situations in the past which ended successful. Our spectators will help us too. So we still hope to win the duel.”
European champion from 1984 Ulf BENGTSSON passes away
It is with great sadness that the death of Ulf BENGTSSON is announced. Ulf BENGTSSON was born on 26 January 1960 and he passes away on Sunday morning 17 March following a period of illness. BENGTSSON had a long and very successful career and to a great extent he has contributed to what is usually called “the Swedish ping wonder”. From 1983 to 1988 he won several medals in singles doubles and team events at the European Championships two silver medals with the Swedish team in the World Table Tennis Championships he also achieved the third place at the Table Tennis World Cup in 1984 At the European Championship in Moscow in 1984 BENGTSSON created a sensational upset in the final where he was opposed to Poland’s great star Andrzej GRUBBA (1958-2005). GRUBBA was a clear favorite beforehand but BENGTSSON played brilliantly and also showed the nerves of steal by managing to beat a wildly struggling and increasingly frustrated Grubba. The table tennis classic concluded by 21-19 in the fifth and crucial game. Although he was a European champion Ulf Bengtsson never managed to win gold in Sweden’s National Championships which says very much about the incredible competition that prevailed in Swedish table tennis at that time. However BENGTSSON at home was considered as a very strong and good team player.
Who will host 2021 and 2022 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals
This year’s World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest Hungary may only be little over one month away but anticipation is already rising fast for the 2021 and 2022 editions thanks to five countries providing the strongest ever competition to host table tennis’ greatest annual event. Historic scenes are in store for 2021 when for the first time in 82 years the World Championships Finals are guaranteed to be held outside of Asia and Europe thus opening up doors for the sport to enter an exciting new market and providing confirmation of the very real globalisation of the game – one of the key goals behind the changes to the format approved in Halmstad last year. Morocco (Agadir) and United States (Houston) have been shortlisted for the 2021 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in which the greatest players on the planet will compete for the sport’s major individual prizes on unchartered territory. The only previous occasion that neither Asia nor Europe staged the World Championships was back in 1939 when Cairo Egypt was the host city. Crucially the 2021 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals will be the first edition under the expanded format to ensure maximum participation of ITTF member National Associations adding further to the unprecedented global appeal of what is shaping up to be an amazing event. Completing the quintet of very strong bids China (Chengdu) Japan (Kitakyushu) and Portugal (Lisbon) are vying to host the 2022 event which will have the best 32 teams on the planet vying for the World Table Tennis Teams Championships title. Now is a crucial time in the final evaluation process as the ITTF has concluded site inspections in all five countries remaining in the hunt to host the final stage of the sport’s biggest event of the respective calendar years. Steve Dainton ITTF CEO stated: “The quality of the final bids for 2021 and 2022 are extremely exciting and it’s with great pride that in 2021 the World Championships Finals will be taking in a brand new market for the ITTF.” “This can only be fantastic news for table tennis globally. Last week I was in Houston which is an amazing sports city and I have reports from colleagues that Morocco is also very excited to have the chance to host our biggest event so what an intriguing race this will be for staging the 2021 World Championships Finals! The ITTF should and must be proud that it took some brave decisions last year in Halmstad which has therefore allowed us to have these bids.” “Then for 2022 we have Japan and China two Asian power houses bidding alongside an emerging European table tennis nation in Portugal. In my time at the ITTF I have never remembered 3 bids for the WTTC and again it proves our changes are bearing fruit.” “The site inspections in Kitakyushu Chengdu and Lisbon were very positive and it will be interesting to see which of the three candidates will win the vote of trust at the AGM taking place this April in Budapest.” All five remaining candidates are invited to deliver their final bid presentation and all 226 National Associations for voting at the ITTF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Budapest Hungary where a final decision on the hosts for the 2021 and 2022 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals will be made in April 2019.
CP Lyssois Lille Métropole in the final for a third time
Second leg of the Women’s ETTU Cup After 2014 and 2016 CP Lyssois Lille Métropole booked their place in the final of the ETTU Cup for a third time. French club overcame ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly in the second leg of the semi final and repeated the succes from the previous leg. Like a week before they needed four matches to confierm their supermacy. ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly – CP Lyssois Lille Métropole 1:3 SUN Tinyu – Tamolwan KHETKHUAN 3:2 (8:11 10:12 11:3 11:7 11:9) Galia DVORAK – YANG Xiho Xin 0:3 (5:11 7:11 6:11) TIAN Yuan – Agnes LE LANIC 1:3 (11:4 7:11 8:11 9:11) SUN Tinyu – YANG Xiho Xin 1:3 (2:11 12:10 10:12 5:11)
New trophy boosts Dr. CASL confidence
Actual ECLW champion awaits semi-final leg 2 against Berlin after success in Croatian Cup Actual ECLW champion Dr. CASL has continued its dominancy in Croatian table tennis as they defended the title of Croatian Cup in superb style winning all matches in straight games. Zagreb’s side beat Tis in the semi-finals and Varazdin in the finals as FU Yu NI Xia Lian and Mirela DURAK overcame all their opponents in straight sets. It was for sure good preparation for the upcoming second leg of 2018/19 ECLW semi-finals against four-time champion TTC Berlin Eastside. German team won first home game 3:2 while second one will be held on March 24th 19:00. Dr. CASL rewrote the history book last season by winning first “Triple Crown” in Croatian table tennis: ECLW plus national Super League and Cup. It was their third consecutive Croatian Cup crown since their president Martin-Tino CASL took the club ten years ago. The club also has 10 national titles (5 men`s and women`s each).
ITTF Executive Committee statement on former President Mr Adham Sharara
The International Table Tennis Federation [ITTF] Executive Committee today confirms the suspension of Mr Adham Sharara former President and current Honorary President of the ITTF from all activity within or in connection with the ITTF for four years. The suspension which commences immediately follows ITTF proceedings that found Mr Sharara had breached his fiduciary duties during his terms of office. The decision to suspend Mr Sharara for inappropriate misconduct was reached following a comprehensive investigation and the Executive Committee conducted the process in full accordance with ITTF’s regulations. The Executive Committee reached this decision with a heavy heart after reviewing evidence reports financial records and recommendations including legal advice prepared by external legal counsel Withers KhattarWong and a report by professional services firm BDO. Actions that have led to this decision include: Conflict of interest during the process of ITTF buying-back its commercial and marketing contracts from TMS International; Interference on the bidding process on a major ITTF equipment contract; Inappropriate use of ITTF funds. The Executive Committee concluded that the ITTF suffered damage as a result of Mr Sharara’s actions. It has therefore taken this difficult decision in order to protect the integrity of the ITTF and the sport of table tennis. Mr Sharara was informed of charges made against him and was presented with the relevant evidence. He and his legal team rejected various invitations from the Executive Committee to attend hearings to answer their questions put forward his defence or attempt to resolve the matter in good faith. The ITTF Executive Committee’s decision to suspend Mr Sharara has been declared final and it considers the matter concluded.
