“My biggest wish for 2019 is to have five healthy players” stated Borussia Dusseldorf manager Andreas PREUSS TTCLM record holder 11 time-winner Borussia Dusseldorf will face Polish club Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki in the quarter-finals (1st leg January 23-25th 2nd February 6-8th). Actual no. 1 seed in the ongoing 2018/19 season enters knockout stage as the Group A winner with its 5-1 win-loss record. “We are happy that we won our group in TTCL 2018/19 and that we can play against a second placed team in the first knockout round. Unluckily Bogoria is the strongest club we could get in quarter finals. But that´s the draw and we are looking forward to interesting matches. We are glad to meet our previous player Panos GIONIS. He is still loved in Düsseldorf” stated Borussia’s coach Danny HEISTER. These two teams met in the groups stages few times in last couple of years and Bogoria was better than German side in one occasion. That’s why Borussia’s take very seriously the upcoming games. Manager Andreas PREUSS explains: “We know Bogoria very well. We played several times against each other in the past and had always a good atmosphere between both clubs. We are happy to see Panos (GIONIS) again in Düsseldorf. We want to win the Cup in Champions League again. To reach this goal we have to think step by step. So our focus is at the moment on Bogoria.” Regarding wishes for 2019 PREUSS added: “My biggest wish for 2019 is to have five healthy players. If our players are healthy and if they are playing on their best level we are able to fight for the title in German Bundesliga and Champions League.”
ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly reached quarters by narrow margin
All winners of the ETTU Cup 4th round are known. In Men’s ETTU Cup after two legs overall winners are French Chartres ASTT Belgium’s TTC Sokah Hoboken Ukraine’s Fortune Kyiv and Spain’s Cajasur Priego TM. The winners will be drawn against the four clubs finished at the position no. three in TTCLM: Sporting Club de Portugal (POR) Dekorglas Dzialdowo (POL) Saarbrücken (GER) and Hennebont (FRA). The last match in Women’s ETTU Cup between ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly and Tecnigen Linares concluded with the win of Spanish club but overall Grand Quevily beats Linares on points: matches 4-4 games 16-16 points 288-284. French Grand Quevily joined Russia’s TTC Kazan and TMK-TAGMET Taganrog and another French representative CP Lyssois Lille Métropole. They will be drawn against the four nrs.3 from ECLW: Budaörsi (HUN) Cartagena (ESP) St.Quentinois (FRA) and LZ Linz Froschberg (AUT).
TTC Sokah Hoboken booked quarterfinal after fierce battle
Men’s ETTU Cup In the remaining matches of the fourth round of the Men’s ETTU Cup all three favorites prevailed and booked their place in the quarterfinal. Chartres ASTT Fortune Kyiv and TTC Sokah Hoboken recorded victories on the home soil in return leg to justified previous successes. Chartres ASTT beat Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa in straight matches. Vitor ISHIY Romain LORENTZ and Vincent PICARD overcame Daniel KOSIBA Hampus SODERLUND and Endika DIEZ. In Ukraine Fortune Kyiv prevailed against DeBoer Taverzo. Grigori VLASOV Yevgeny PRYSHCHEPA and Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO beat Jakub FOLWARSKI Padasak TANVIRIYAVECHAKUL and David MCBEATH in straight matches. Only TTC Sokah Hoboken was forced to go full distance against Logis Auderghem TT tonight. Jeremy PETIOT beat Jasper MERCKX but lost against Ludovic BIERNY. Ludovic also prevailed against Laurens DEVOS. Olav KOSOLOSKY beat Alex Van DONGEN and in the decisive match DEVOS overcame Jasper MERCKX.
HARIMOTO becomes the youngest ever Men’s Singles champion of an ITTF World Tour Grand Finals event
15 years and 172 days. Nobody at that age had ever won a major Table Tennis tournament before. Today that all changed as sporting wonderkid Tomokazu HARIMOTO rewrote the history books. The youngest ever Men’s Singles champion at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals with a breath-taking victory over China’s LIN Gaoyuan (11-4 13-15 11-9 11-9 11-9) Harimoto has sent shockwaves throughout the world of Table Tennis and the world of sport. One suspects it will take many many years for today’s record to ever be broken. Moreover the stunning result finally broke China’s stranglehold on the trophy that their players have held since Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) won in 2014. On the evidence of today’s outstanding achievement however Harimoto is a very real force to be reckoned with by China and the world over. This is a player who has all the potential to change the landscape of the sport for the foreseeable future. This is a life-changing moment in the life of the teenager Tomokazu who will earn a mouthwatering sum of USD $ 100 000 off the back of today’s victory – the highest amount of prize money that Table Tennis has to offer. Not bad for a 15-year-old! “I’ll be putting the money straight into a saving’s account!” admitted Harimoto with a grin on his face. A sensible answer from a sensible young boy who has not led the typical life of school friends parties etc. that many of his contemporaries have but that does not bother him one bit. For Harimoto it is family that matters most. Jumping into his father’s arms at full-time with his mother also present to watch his first ever match from the stands it was plain to see what an enormous part his parents have played in this remarkable success story. “This is a family effort ” underlined Harimoto with both parents standing proudly by his side. So will Harimoto be the star on home soil at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics? Today’s victory inevitably makes him a leading candidate to win the tournament 18 months from now. In the more immediate term he rises from 5th to 3rd in the World Ranking. “I’m determined to keep improving next year ” was his reply to whether he would make it all the way to Number 1 in 2019. For two years in a row CHEN Meng is the Women’s Singles Champion at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals after the Chinese star defeated compatriot HE Zhuojia 4-1 in the final (9-11 11-5 11-8 12-10 11-7). Despite the scoreline CHEN was made to battle hard to retain the crown she first claimed in 2017 in Astana Kazakhstan with HE edging a tight opening game. That put the 20-year-old in line for what would have been a glorious debut appearance at the World Tour Grand Finals. However from that point onwards CHEN’s added experience would ultimately shine through. Far superior in the second game the 6th seed overpowered her opponent with a series of fierce forehands to level the scores and build a solid platform in the match from which she never looked back. With HE firmly on the backfoot CHEN kept turning the screw in the following three games and the sustained pressure ultimately paid off as she crossed the line to ensure her name is etched on the 2018 title. There was plenty of cause to celebrate for the Korean faithful on the final day in Incheon as their boys JANG Woojin and LIM Jonghoon put in an exceptional performance to secure the Men’s Doubles title with a 3-2 victory (10-12 13-11 11-8 10-12 11-8). That was at the expense of Hong Kong pair HO Kwan Kit and WONG Chun Ting the latter having played in Saturday’s Mixed Doubles defeat of the Unified Korea team featuring JANG Woojin. The fact their paths crossed once more with another trophy at stake raised the intensity around this contest further still the home crowd understandably desperate to see their athletes rise from the previous day’s disappointment. “Having lost yesterday’s match I had to prepare more than ever for today’s contest ” admitted JANG. “I approached this final full of energy and enthusiasm.” A hearty display is what was needed and that is precisely what they got as JANG and LIM fought back from a losing position to get their hands on a trophy that meant so much. Sunday would ultimately be a special day for Japan’s teenage stars: straight after 15-year-old Harimoto won the Men’s Singles title it was the turn of 18-year-olds Mima ITO and Hina HAYATA to enjoy some of the spotlight. The pair who hold the record as the youngest ever champions at the World Tour Grand Finals – by virtue of their success back in 2014’s Women’s Doubles competition – always looked on course to repeat that triumph here in Incheon winning in straight games against competitive Chinese opponents CHEN Xingtong and SUN Yingsha (11-9 13-11 12-10). The result provides Ito with more than a consolation after the Women’s Singles 4th seed was eliminated early in the Round of 16 on Thursday having been tipped as one of the tournament favourites. Like Harimoto Ito – who maintains a highly impressive recent record against Chinese opponents – remains one of Japan’s big hopes to start winning the sport’s big trophies in the build-up to Tokyo 2020. Photos Flash Quotes
Draw for the Stage 2 on Wednesday 19th December
ITTF European Team Championships ITTF European Team Championships Stage 2 is scheduled for 18th and 19th May 2019 and the draw for the Stage 2 takes place on Wednesday 19th December at ETTU office in Luxembourg commencing at 1200 CET. The draw will be live streamed on ettu.tv and on ETTU Facebook. Men A 3rds Romania Denmark Ukraine Hungary Turkey Luxembourg (in ranking order) B 1sts Czech Republic Italy Netherlands Serbia Lithuania Switzerland (in ranking order) B 2nds England Israel Finland Bulgaria Ireland Estonia (in ranking order) Women A 3rds Russia Spain Italy Switzerland Slovenia Azerbaijan (in ranking order) B 1sts Slovakia Serbia England Turkey Lithuania (in ranking order) B 2nds Belgium Estonia Greece Bulgaria Israel (in ranking order) The draw ITTF European Team Championships Stage 2 Men: 6 teams 3rd from the A-groups (A3s) 6 winners from the B-groups (B1s) and 6 runners-up from the B-groups (B2s) will be drawn into 5 groups: 3 – 3 – 4 – 4 – 4 Seeding: first the A3s in order of the December 2018 World Team Ranking then the B1s in order of December 2018 World Team Ranking and last the B2s in order of December 2018 World Team Ranking Draw: simple snake the 5 highest ranked A3s in ranking order to position 1 of groups 1 to 5 the 6th A3 to position 2 in Group 5 the 4 highest ranked B1s in ranking order to position 2 of groups 4 3 2 and 1 the 2 lowest ranked B1s in ranking order to position 3 of groups 1 and 2 the 3 highest ranked B2s in ranking order to position 3 of groups 3 4 and 5 but not drawn with the B1 they played in Stage 1 the 3 remaining B2s in ranking order to position 4 of groups 3 4 and 5 but not with the B1 they played in Stage 1 Stage 2 Women: 6 teams 3rd from the A-groups (A3s) 5 winners from the B-groups (B1s) and 5 runners-up from the B-groups (B2s) To be drawn into 5 groups: 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 4 Seeding: first the A3s in order of the December 2018 World Team Ranking then the B1s in order of December 2018 World Team Ranking and last the B2s in order of December 2018 World Team Ranking Draw: simple snake: the 5 highest ranked A3s in ranking order to position 1 of groups 1 to 5 the 6th A3 to position 2 in Group 5 the 4 highest ranked B1s in ranking order to position 2 of groups 4 3 2 and 1 the lowest ranked B1 to position 3 of group 1 the 4 highest ranked B2s in ranking order to position 3 of groups 2 3 4 and 5 but not with the B1 they played in Stage 1 the lowest ranked B2 to position 4 of group 5 ETTU Social Media: Twitter Facebook Instagram
28 teams already booked their places at Nantes
ITTF-European Championships Teams The first phase of the ITTF-European Championships Teams reached the conclusion. 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams have reached the final stage of the European Team Championships at Nantes in September 2019 together with the hosts France and the holders men Germany and women Romania. Beside France and Germany in Men’s Event 12 teams placed at the positions one and two in their respective A Groups secured their places in the final stage at Nantes. In May 2019 10 teams from Stage 2 will join them. In A1 Group the winner is Austria and the runner up is Portugal. Both teams has two wins and two defeats but Austria upset the rankings and overcame top seeded Portugal in both their matches. Hungary will seek for their chance in the Stage 2. In A2 Slovenia is undefeated Belgium accounted for Romania and with two wins booked their place in the final stage. In A3 Sweden lost only one match against Spain. Both teams progressed to final whilst Denmark has to play Stage 2. In A4 Poland is at the top. They also upset the ranking order and overcame Croatia. Croatia lost against Turkey one match as well but managed to stay at the runners up position. In A5 Belarus made from the bottom of the Group to the top. Slovakia is second and top seeded Ukraine will have to play in Stage 2. Greece and Russia justified their ranking positions and concluded the First phase at the position no. one and two. Luxembourg is third. In Women’s Event host France and title holder Romania are already in the Final Stage. In superb style Germany the winner of the A1 Group joined them. Luxembourg also progressed leaving Azerbaijan to play in the Stage 2. In A2 Netherlands is unbeaten followed by Croatia. Italy is at the position no. 3. In A3 Sweden is at the top Belarus is second; they both left top seeded Russia at the bottom of the Group. Unlike previous Group Hungary and Czech Republic justified their rankings. Spain is third. In A5 the winner is Portugal and the top seeded Austria had to move one position below- they are runners up. Switzerland is at the position no. 3. Ukraine also swap the positions with Poland but both tams booked their tickets for Nantes. Slovenia will go to Stage 2. Qualifying for the European Team Championships Final Stage Nantes September 2019 Men (host: France holder Germany) A1 winner Austria runner up Portugal A2 Slovenia Belgium A3 Sweden Spain A4 Poland Croatia A5 Belarus Slovakia A6 Greece Russia and 10 teams from Stage 2 (May 2019) Women (host France holder Romania) A1 winner Germany runner up Luxembourg A2 Netherland Croatia A3 Sweden Belarus A4 Hungary Czech Republic A5 Portugal Austria A6 Ukraine Poland and 10 teams from Stage 2 (May 2019)
Russia’s TTC Kazan booked their place in the quarterfinal
Women’s ETTU Cup After TMK-TAGMET Taganrog and CP Lyssois Lille Métropole Russia’s TTC Kazan also booked their place in the quarterfinal of the Women’s ETTU Cup. They overcame TT Moravsky Krumlov in straight matches in the return leg. In previous encounter Russia’s club won 3:1. Antonina SAVELYEVA overcame Kristyna MIKULCOVA Anna BLAZHKO prevailed against Mitsuki YOSHIDA and Ekaterina OKHOTNIKOVA beat Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA. In the last match in Round Four tomorrow ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly will meet Tecnigen Linares. In Men’s ETTU Cup tomorrow Chartres ASTT will play against Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa Fortune Kyiv will meet DeBoer Taverzo and TTC Sokah Hoboken will meet Logis Auderghem TT.
Close call for Cajasur Priego TM
Men’s and Women’s ETTU Cup In the return leg of the fourth Round of the Women’s ETTU Cup TMK-TAGMET Taganrog and CP Lyssois Lille Métropole justified their previous victories in the opening leg and secured their place in the quarterfinal. In Men’s ETTU Cup Cajasur Priego TM beat Istres Tennis de Table and overcame the deficit from the previous leg. Arteal Tenis de Mesa suffered at home soil against TMK-TAGMET Taganrog. Tatiana SANTOS beat Valentina SABITOVA in the opening match and that was the only point for the hosts. Margarita FETIUKHINA overcame Roxana IAMANDI Yulia PROKHOROVA prevailed against Raquel BONILLA and SANTOS failed to stop FETIUKHINA. In the opening leg TAGMET won in straight matches. CP Lyssois Lille Métropole concluded the Fourth Round with two 3:0 victories over TTV Lybrae Heerlen. Tamolwan KHETKHUAN Sanja KORAK and Agnès LE LANNIC prevailed against Rachel GERARTS Shuohan MEN and Elena TIMINA. In France in Men’s ETTU Cup Andre SILVA and Carlos MACHADO both overcame WU Zhang Jiaji whilst HAN Qiyao secured another point for Cajasur Priego TM by beating Paul GAUZY. Samuel WALKER prevailed against Carlos MACHADO to win only point for Istres Tennis de Table. Both teams won by 3:1 margin but the results in games was 17:14 for Priego in overall score.
Belgium beat Romania in the last match in Groups A
ITTF-European Championships Teams Still fresh from the 2018 World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Bendigo Australia bronze medalist Cristian PLETEA failed to help Romania to beat Belgium in the last match in Group A in the first phase of the ITTF-European Championships Teams. In the Romanian National TV Studio in Bucharest guests prevailed in four matches. Florent LAMBIET gave Belgium a dream start with the victory over Cristian PLETEA whilst Cedric NUYTINCK widened the gap after the victory over Ovidiu IONESCU. Hunor SZOCS beat Robin DEVOS to keep the hosts hopes alive but for short. NUYTINCK overcame PLETEA in the last duel. Belgium beat Romania in May in straight matches. Slovenia also scored in both their matches.
Zoran PRIMORAC elected Chair of the ITTF Athletes Commission
In Incheon Korea Republic ahead of the 2018 ITTF Star Awards and Seamaster ITTF World Tour Grand Finals ten of the ITTF Athletes Commission members joined by interim Chair and IOC member RYU Seungmin had the task of electing their new chair and deputy chair positions for the next four years. Zoran PRIMORAC (Croatia) and Jean-Michel SAIVE (Belgium) delivered their candidate presentations. After the voting procedure ended it was PRIMORAC who succeeded as the elected Chair of the Commission. Chairwoman of the ETTU Athletes Commission Galia DVORAK (Spain) and Dana ČEHOVÁ (Czech Republic) both are elected Deputy Chair. It was decided by the Commission to appeal the gender balance rule on account of a lack of male candidates and allow two female Deputy Chairs. In his program PRIMORAC highlighted the importance of strengthening the Athletes’ Commission in order to better perform its duties. “My first obligation would be in collaboration with all of Athletes Commission members to improve operational capacity of AC by: defining our objectives and tasks for the next 4 years; developing and secure resources needed to achieve our objectives and tasks and setting-up a clear division of rolls and responsibilities inside of Athletes Commission ” stated PRIMORAC. Legendary player who is active for 30 years in Professional table tennis Olympic medalist who was member of the Olympic team at seven Games; winner of 8 World Championships medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games the Croatian flag bearer is the right person to represent the players. “ I want to represent viewpoint and protect the rights of the table-tennis players both conventional and para players in decision-making bodies. Our representation should be reflected through: proactive communication with the key stakeholders strong involvement in ITTF’s decisions control of ITTF Tournament Directives full implementation encouragement of National Federations to establish national ACs strengthening collaboration with ITTF-Foundation and be more active in charitable and humanitarian activities.” One of the key Athletes Commission tasks is to support table-tennis players to succeed in their sporting and non-sporting career. As Zoran received the accolade of Master of International Relations and Diplomacy at the Libertas International University in Zagreb he is successful in both social spheres. “In order to give the players the best possible support we need to increase awareness of the athletes’ viewpoint on issues and challenges. We would be able to do that by conducting surveys amongst players and follow up on their outcomes also we will try to establish direct two-way communication channel to the players. We will also try to offer strong promotion of dual carrier concept by pursuing development of tailor made educational platform for TT players.” PRIMORAC is also Sport Manager and Coach in UMMC in Russia and Executive Board Member of Croatian Table Tennis Association.
