BUTTERFLY will be the title sponsor for the 2019 European U21 Championships. For a third time young players from ther Old Continent will gather in Portugal’s Gondomar from 7th to 10th March to fight for the titles in the Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles events. “An important aspect of Butterfly’s corporate philosophy is the support of the table tennis sport and its community. We have always been glad to especially support aspiring young players. As such Butterfly is proud to support and supply the ETTU U21 European Championships 2019 in Gondomar ” said Hajo NOLTEN Butterfly Europe CFO. The organisers is Portuguese Table Tennis Federation (FPTM) under the authority of the European Table Tennis Union. “We are very happy that Butterfly has joined Portuguese Table Tennis Association in the organization of U21 European Table Tennis Championships giving it’s prestigious name to join the title of this important youth event. Butetrfly has been very active to support young players and it a very important partner of FPTM ” said President of the FPTM and member of ETTU Executive Board Pedro Miguel MOURA. In the venue of Multiusos de Gondomar we will see again in action the winner of the Men’s Singles title in 2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships Tomas POLANSKI of Czech Republic. Last year’s runner up Cristian PLETA of Romania bronze medalists at the World Championships is also on the list currently placed at the position no. 6. At the top of the rankings is Darko JORGIC of Slovenia last year’s semifinalist. No. two at the list is Anders LIND of Denmark followed by another semifinalist Rares SIPOS of Romania. Belgium’s Lisa LUNG head the Women’s European Under 21 list. No. two is reining champion Mariia TAILAKOVA of Russia followed by her compatriot and last year’s runner up Valeria SHCHERBATYKH. The list of invited players goes on with two French players Audrey ZARIF and Marie MIGOT. In singles events 8 seeded players will be directly placed in stage Two. The remaining 48 players will play in a qualification in 12 groups. The winner and the runner-up from each group will qualify for stage Two. In Stage Two the 24 qualifiers from stage 1 and the 8 seeded players will be drawn into 8 groups. The winner and the runner-up from each group will qualify for stage Three. The winners of the groups 1 to 8 in Stage 1 shall be drawn on position 2 in these groups the winners and runners-up of the groups 9 to 12 shall be drawn on position 3 and the runners-up of the groups 1 to 8 on position 4. The Draw for singles and doubles events will take place on Wednesday 6th March 2019 at 18.00 at the venue. Full list of the invited players you can see here
PITCHFORD: It will be difficult playing in Montreux
CCB Europe Top 16 Cup Liam PITCHFORD of England secured his position at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux (2nd and 3rd February). On his premiere he is seeded at the position no. four at the prestige tournament in Switzerland Liam’s seeding position predicts good chances for the place at the medal rostrum. He already proved himself as a giant’s killer. Would this be another good opportunity? “ It’s my first top 16 so it’s a fun opportunity for me I try not to think about where I’m seeded I’ll just take it one match at a time because I know all the opponents are very good players ” said PITCHFORD. Since this is your début what do you feel before the start? “Yes it’s my first time I was first reserve one year and went there to watch and practice so I kind of know what to expect but it will be different going out on to the table and playing. However it’s something I’m very much looking forward to.” Can you put your adversaries on “scanner” regarding their current shape results and your previous encounters? “ I’m just focusing on myself and my preparation at the moment when I know who I’m playing then I can look closer at my opponents.” Liam already had a busy start of the year. “Hungarian open is my first tournament in the new year I have been in Copenhagen preparing with the top 16 in mind so I hope to be playing good table tennis there. “ Regarding last year Liam’s feelings are mixed. “It’s been a very good year for me with mostly a lot of highs…quarter final of the world Championships semi final Austrian open and Czech open reaching 16 on World ranking beating MA Long OVTCHAROV and BOLL former World no.1s but also there were some lows I wasn’t satisfied with how I played at Commonwealth Games which I was disappointed with. What is the major goal for 2019? “A big goal is of course to win European games and get a ticket for Tokyo but also just to keep enjoying my game and playing well. “ Do you have the Olympic Games in Japan 2020 in sight already? “Kind of yes I think it’s at the back of most players minds right now it would be nice to be qualified as early as possible but we will see what happens ” stated Liam PITCHFORD.???? In men’s singles at the CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux will play: Timo BOLL (Germany) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Vladimir SAMSONOV (Belarus) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Simon GAUZY (France) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal) KOU Lei (Ukraine) Oividiu IONESCU (Romania) Panagiotis GIONIS (Greece) Lionel WEBER (Switzerland). Women’s Event: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) LI Jie (Netherlands) Petrissa SOLJA (Germany) Matilda EKHOLM (Sweden) LI Qian (Poland) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Natalia PARTYKA (Poland) Hana MATELOVA ( Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Rachel MORET (Switzerland). Tickets are available here.
Sporting expects two difficult games against Tarnobrzeg
Coach of Portugal’s club Marco RODRIGUES speaks about the upcoming ECLW quarter-finals Women’s team of Sporting Clube de Portugal repeated last year’s feat of its Men’ side reaching knockout phase in the strongest club competition in Europe in their debut season. Men’s team have continued to the semi-final of the 2017/18 Table Tennis Champions League Men while the Women’ squad has one more obstacle to complite the same acomplishment as they need to play 2018/19 European Champions League Women quarter-finals against no. 2 seed KTS Enea Siarka Tarnobrzeg. “As is well known this is our debut year at ECLW and therefore in the eighth final of this edition of the competition so we are looking forward to playing this round. We expect two very difficult games but in which the objective will be to be able to win to keep us in the test. For 2019 we want to continue to compete in the ETTU events demonstrating the eclectic project of Sporting Clube de Portugal” stated Sporting’s coach Marco RODRIGUES. Sporting finished second in the Group C with a 2-2 win-loss record after dramatic away win over TT Saint Quentinois 3:2 in the ultimate group stage round. It was real team work as each player contributed with one point: Daniela MONTEIRO-DODEAN vs. Polina MIKHAILOVA Zhenqi BARTHEL APOLONIA vs. Aurore LE MANSEC and LI Fen vs. Polina MIKHAILOVA. Polish champion is the Group D winner with 3-1 score. First leg will be held in Lisbon on January 26th and second one is scheduled for February 11th.
Kristian KARLSSON targets podium spot in Montreux
CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux Sweden’s Kristian KARLSSON is looking forward to the 2019 CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux Switzerland (on 2nd and 3rd February) what will be his fifth appearance in this event. The 2016 semi-finalist from Gondomar Portugal is seeded at the position no. 8 at the upcoming tournament. Men’s Singles bronze medallist at the LIEBHERR 2018 ITTF-European Championships in Alicante Spain is determined to keep his place at the podiums of big events. He is actual both TTCLM and Bundesliga winner with Borussia Dusseldorf playing alongside no.1 seed and defending Europe Top 16 champion Timo BOLL. How would you describe your play at 2018 Euro Top 16 It seemed that you expected more than 3-4 against V. SAMSONOV in the opening round? “Of course I expected more against SAMSONOV as I was 3-1 up in sets. But he played a solid tournament and was the better player and managed to come out of my grasp.” What was the crucial for your 4th spot at the 2016 Europe Top 16. Dou you believe that you are able to surpass it in 2019? “I believe I have all the potential to take a podium spot this year. I played a really good tournament back in 2016 and I took a bronze medal at the Europeans in 2018 so I know that I can compete with the top level of European players.” Are you satisfied with your current shape? “I feel like the end of 2018 I was in good shape so I wish to take that with me in the beginning of 2019.” How do you see the list of 2019 favorites at Europe Top 16? “Timo BOLL and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV are clear favourites to take the gold medal. I feel they have the experience and the level to do so but it is a close field so I think almost anybody on a good day can beat anybody”. In men’s singles will play: Timo BOLL (Germany) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Vladimir SAMSONOV (Belarus) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Simon GAUZY (France) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal) KOU Lei (Ukraine) Ovidiu IONESCU (Romania) Panagiotis GIONIS (Greece) Lionel WEBER (Switzerland). Women’s Event: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) LI Jie (Netherlands) Petrissa SOLJA (Germany) Matilda EKHOLM (Sweden) LI Qian (Poland) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Natalia PARTYKA (Poland) Hana MATELOVA (Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Rachel MORET (Switzerland). Tickets are available here.
England hosted a top-level delegation from the Swedish Table Tennis Association
Table Tennis England hosted a top-level delegation from the Swedish Table Tennis Association to discuss a host of common interests. The two associations have forged a closer relationship in recent years and the respective leadership teams felt that they could benefit from sharing experiences challenges and ideas. The Swedish delegation was headed by Administrative Manager Mikael PETERSON alongside Patrik Björs STRAND (Operations and Youth Developer) Ebba WENGSTRÖM (Compound Developer) and Eskil TYRBERG (Compound Developer). Table Tennis England were represented by Sara SUTCLIFFE (CEO) Simon MILLS (Director of Sport) Greg YARNALL (Head of Development and Volunteering) Keely ARMITT (Head of Mass Participation) and Neil ROGERS (Head of Competitions and Events). Discussions covered topics including among others: Coach education Hosting major events Youth development and schools Social participation programmes Marketing and PR Sara SUTCLIFFE said: “I’d like to thank Mikael and his colleagues for coming to London. It was a very enjoyable and insightful day discussing many common challenges and experiences across a number of areas and cementing our relationships. “I’m sure we will continue to discuss and share information and assistance in coming months and years with a mutual aim of growing and improving table tennis in both our countries.” Mikael PETERSON added: “We had warm and fruitful discussions about several subjects for the future. We look forward to continuing our dialogue.”
Ovidiu IONESCU: Everything is possible
CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU’s fantastic 2018 has been crowned with his first ever CCB Europe Top 16 Cup in Montreux (on 2nd and 3rd February). European vice champion is seeded at the position no. 14 at the forthcomming tournament. Down to earth personality always polite IONESCU addmited he is excite and he is pleased that he has an opportunity to be part of the European elite competition. “I am very glad to be part of it. This was my personal goal last year and I am looking forward to play against best players in the Europe at this moment ” said OVIDIU. Do you feel the pressure or pleasure? “I am sure I will feel more a mix of both. Hopefully towards the start of the tournament I will feel more pleasure than being under pressure.” All the participants are well known to Romania’s player. Giant like Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus Swede Kristian KARLSSON and Frenchman Emmanuel LEBESSON already suffered by his hands at the European Championships last summer in Spanish Alicante. Only Timo BOLL halted his progress to the title in the final. “After my success at the European Championships I do believe everything is possible. Everybody at the list of participants deserves to be there and have a chance to win the tournament. I have played all of the players everybody will be 100%” ready is difficult to predict who will win. Are you in good shape now? “After Continental Championships I have struggled a bit it was a big achievement and I had to learn how to put my life under the control again. I took a longer holiday after the last match in the League and I am practicing at high capacity again.” You caused major upset by reaching the final. Almost 6 months latter how you feel about the achieved succes? “It was like a dream come true. I need a few weeks after to realize what I have achieved. I am very proud of myself and it gives me a lot of power and confidence for the future.” How you were welcomed in Romania after Spain did your success change something? “It was quite big for România. A lot of media’s focus was on me. I was invited to TV shows and hopefully this will help our sport to attract more people.” There is a chance you will meet BOLL again will it be something special now when you played against each other in Spain? “I have learned to control my feelings and it will be just another match. We played a few times I have big respect for him I know is very difficult to defeat him but I believe in my strengths.” What is your major goal for 2019? “This year we have many big events. I hope for a medal in doubles at World Championships and a medal at European Games in Minsk this summer ” stated Ovidiu IONESCU. In men’s singles will play: Timo BOLL (Germany) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) Mattias FALCK (Sweden) Liam PITCHFORD (England) Vladimir SAMSONOV (Belarus) Jonathan GROTH (Denmark) Simon GAUZY (France) Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden) Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Emmanuel LEBESSON (France) Daniel HABESOHN (Austria) Tiago APOLONIA (Portugal) KOU Lei (Ukraine) Oividiu IONESCU (Romania) Panagiotis GIONIS (Greece) Lionel WEBER (Switzerland). Women’s Event: Sofia POLCANOVA (Austria) Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Elizabeta SAMARA (Romania) LI Jie (Netherlands) Petrissa SOLJA (Germany) Matilda EKHOLM (Sweden) LI Qian (Poland) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Britt EERLAND (Netherlands) Polina MIKHAILOVA (Russia) NI Xia Lian (Luxembourg) Nina MITTELHAM (Germany) Natalia PARTYKA (Poland) Hana MATELOVA ( Czech Republic) Barbora BALAZOVA (Slovakia) Rachel MORET (Switzerland). Tickets are available here.
Camp season starts from March
ETTU Eurotalents Development Camp I U-13 ETTU invited 22 players to ETTU Eurotalents Development Camp I U-13 in Czechs Ostrava from 3rd to 10th March. Coaches are five times Olympian Petr KORBEL Tomas DEMEK Head Coach of TTC Ostrava 2016 and ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. ETTU invited players selected from Pre-Selection / Selection Camps in 2017/2018: CHIRITA Iulian (ROU) BUJUR Dragos (ROU) UGURCAN Dursun (TUR) EARLEY Sophie (IRL) TANACS Nora (HUN) BJORKRYD David (SWE) BERZOSA Daniel (ESP) HURSEY Anna (WAL) KIZAKISZ Nikolaosz (HUN) SISANOVAS Ignas (LTU) SZANTOSI David (HUN) STORTZ Jele (GER) MEI Rosu Bianca (ROU) BRHEL Stepan (CZE) BAINASU Ioana (ROU) OPREA Luca (ROU) ALEGRANZA Giacomo (ITA) GRIESEL Mia (GER) CLOSSET Tom (BEL) CALARCO Giuseppe (ITA) PALUSEK Samuel (SVK) ALFREDSSON Isak (SWE) Entries must be sent not later than 17th February 2019 to Petr Korbel / Petr Belik TTC Ostrava 2016 října 1727/108 CZ-702 00 Ostrava Czech Republic E-mail: info@ttc-ostrava.cz with cc to Zita PIDL ETTU Project Co-ordinator (zpidl.ettu@gmail.com) (Out of office 12-31 January 2019)
Table Tennis provides the platform for the Korean peninsula to unite in 2018 and beyond
Make no doubt about it. 2018 will go down as a landmark year for relations between North and South Korea. Two summits between their political leaders in April and September concluded with them committing to an ‘era of no war’ as historic divisions between the two nations begin to fade away – no faster than on Table Tennis courts. The ITTF raised attentions to the sporting world by launching a Unified Korean team at the 2018 World Table Tennis Championships formed of players from both sides of the border. The strong sense of harmony between North and South was obvious from the start and an extremely heart-warming sight to behold. That marked just the start of a new Ping Pong Diplomacy initiative led and funded by the ITTF Foundation as North and South Korea joined forces again at July’s Korea Open where JANG Woojin (KOR) and CHA Hyo Sim (PRK) claimed the Mixed Doubles title in front of a proud home crowd in Daejeon. That pride continued to shine throughout the calendar year as Unified Korea ultimately claimed Silver at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in the Korean city of Incheon: yet another show of unity which promises for further bridges to be built in the new year and beyond. Table Tennis as a tool for rebuilding international relations is a longstanding aspiration of the ITTF which originally came to the fore in 1971 when an American delegation was invited to play a series of friendship matches in the People’s Republic of China thus giving birth to the world-renowned term ‘Ping Pong Diplomacy.’ Then in 1991 in a move strongly backed by the ITTF North and South Koreans joined for the very first time at the 41stWorld Championships in Chiba Japan. They ultimately defeated China in a landmark moment which saw Korea standing proudly on top of the world. “The ITTF Foundation is very proud of the Unified Korean team. The players are the visible part of a process that exceeds the limits of Table Tennis and the limits of sport ” said ITTF President Thomas Weikert. ITTF CEO Steve Dainton: “This is another small step in the ITTF’s history of helping countries make peace and providing international diplomatic support.” Olympic Champion from South Korea & IOC Member Ryu Seung Min added: “This is not a show but a reality. We need to promote more relations between North and South Korea not just as a one-off but sustainably. That’s the most important thing.”
Mühlhausen truly believes in its chances against UMMC
Two players of German club Steffen MENGEL and Ovidiu IONESCU speak about the upcoming TTCLM quarter-finals German club Post SV Mühlhausen has managed to reach knockout phase in its debut season in the TTCLM as they finished second in Group D last December but their players believe that they are able to go further and win quarter-finals against 2012 TTCLM runner-up TTSC UMMC. “It’s a big success for us to reach the quarter finals. UMMC is the favorite but we did good so far in TTCLM and believe in our chances to cause a surprise ” stated Mühlhausen’s player Steffen MENGEL. His teammate Oividiu IONESCU is aware how Russian team is strong but emphasizes: “I truly believe in our chances in the quarter finals. UMMC is a very strong team but I know the quality of our team and we showed we are able to challenge the best teams of Europe.” UMMC enters knockout stage as Group B winner having 5-1 win-loss record while Post SV Mühlhausen had 3-3 in Group D as the second placed team behind four-time champion Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg. First leg will be held in Germany on January 25th while the second one comes on February 8thin Orenburg.
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen won the German Cup
In Ulm in front of 4.000 spectators TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen beat SV Werder Bremen 3-1 in the ultimate stage of the Germany’s LIEBHERR Cup Final 2018/19. ASV Grünwettersbach and TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau suffered defeats in the Final four semi finals. For the first time in six years the German Table Tennis Cup has a new owner. Long dominance of Borussia Dusseldorf came to an end. This is the first title since 2004 for Ochsenhausen. On the way to the title MAZUNOV’S team beat TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau. Simon GAUZY who became a father for the first time last Thursday gave Ochsenhausen the lead against Mihai BOBOCICA while Hugo Calderano widened the gap to 2-0 in a duel with Kirill GERASSIMENKO. South Korean JANG Woojin has his premiere in the TTF jersey. “We saw in training that Jang is in good shape and decided to use him in the semifinals ” MAZUNOV said. The World’s no.eleven thanked his coach with a smooth three-goal win against Anders LIND In the final TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and SV Werder Bremen produced thrilling and close game. JANG Woojin lost against Bastian STEGER in full five games whilst Gustavo TSUBOI streched Simon GAUZY to full distance before French player succeeded. At the press conference Nico STEHLE Managing Director of the organizing Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) had reason to celebrate: “We produced the world-class table tennis and a great atmosphere and that’s exactly what was offered to viewers today. I would like to thank all the partners and sponsors who help us to provide the best possible framework year after year. Ochsenhausen is a deserved cup winner who has delivered a top team performance. “ SEMI FINAL SV Werder Bremen – ASV Grünwettersbach 3:1 Bastian Steger – Dang Qiu 3:2 (8:11 11:8 4:11 11:6 12:10) Gustavo Tsuboi – Ricardo Walther 3:2 (12:10 15:13 4:11 5:11 11:8) Hunor Szöcs – Bojan Tokic 2:3 (7:11 6:11 12:10 11:6 9:11) Bastian Steger – Ricardo Walther 3:0 (11:6 11:9 11:5) TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 0:3 Mihai Bobocica – Simon Gauzy 1:3 (11:6 11:13 9:11 10:12) Kirill Gerassimenko – Hugo Calderano 1:3 (6:11 6:11 12:10 9:11) Anders Lind – Jang Woojin 0:3 (9:11 5:11 10:12) FINAL TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – SV Werder Bremen 3:1 Hugo Calderano – Hunor Szöcs 3:1 (9:11 11:5 11:6 11:6) Jang Woojin – Bastian Steger 2:3 (11:7 3:11 5:11 11:6 9:11) Simon Gauzy – Gustavo Tsuboi 3:2 (10:12 11:9 9:11 11:9 11:4) Hugo Calderano – Bastian Steger 3:0 (13:11 11:8 11:3)
