Round 5 to be held this Thursday and Friday Nov 29-30 The Round 5 of the 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men will be held this Thursday and Friday November 29-30th as all four group leaders are scheduled to play away: Borussia Dusseldorf in Lisbon UMMC in La Romagne Saarbrucken in Angers and Fakel Gazprom in Muhlhausen. One of “high stakes” matches is one between Angers and Saarbrucken. Host team needs win in order to keep its chances for the knockout stage while guests are determined to finish as No.1 in Group C. “If we want to continue in Champions League we have no choice but to beat Saarbrücken out of the first leg we lost 3:0 … Saarbrücken is obviously favourite and it will take a feat in front of our public to beat them. If not we will continue in ETTU Cup like usual” stated Angers’ President Gérard SARAZIN. German side won first game on its soil 3:0. Their Manager Erwin BERG hopes that his team is able to beat twice French club: “We could manage to beat Angers at home but there were some very close results. We want to repeat our good performances in the TTCLM so far. All our players are healthy and we want to reach first place in our group!” ECLW Round 5 GROUP A AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Ostrava 2016 (Nov 29 19:30 CET) Sporting Clube De Portugal – Borussia Düsseldorf (Nov 30 20:00 CET) GROUP B SPG Walter Wels – K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo (Nov 29 19:00 CET) Stella Sport La Romagne – TTSC UMMC (Nov 30 19:00 CET) GROUP C K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 (Nov 30 18:00 CET) Vaillante Sports Angers TT – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis (Nov 30 19:30 CET) GROUP D G.V. Hennebont T.T. – Eslovs Ai Bordtennis (Nov 29 20:00 CET) Post SV Mühlhausen – TTC Fakel Gazprom (Nov 30 18:30 CET)
Taverzo looking forward next phase and duel vs. Fortune Kiev
ETTU Cup Men The 2-3 victory in Prague launched table tennis players of Taverzo to the last 8 in the ETTU Cup. After the previous 3-1 victory last weekend in Zoetermeer the club can look forward to a home and away match against. Two victories against the strong SF SKK El Nino Prague is something that players staff and supporters can be proud of. “We realize that reaching 4th round was a close call” says coach Ruud van Graafeiland. Team manager Theo Levert explains: “The players of Prague showed their best game and with a 2-1 in reverse Jeongwoo PARK had to play against Jakub KLEPRLIK. In the first 2 games Jeongwoo was clearly the strongest adversary. After that however the Czech had found the answer to the game of our Korean player. Eventually it became 9-9 in the deciding game and it was clear that the winner of this match would go on to the 4th round. Jeongwoo remained calm and showed that with his 21 years he is a great talented player.” The Czech public went back home massively after this decisive win of Taverzo. With a 2-2 score nothing to win for the Czech home team. The victory in the final match of Dorian NICOLLE was loudly applauded by the loyal supporters from Zoetermeer. Especially because both players showed fantastic rallies one after the other. With the final 2-3 victory Taverzo can look back with satisfaction on a successful 3rd round. Opponent in the fourth round Fortune Kiev is no stranger. Last season both teams met in the group stage and the team from Zoetermeer was too strong. This season the Ukrainian team is significantly strengthened with the strong Russian VLASOV and experienced ZHMUDENKO. It is expected that the home game will take place on Saturday December 8 at 15:00 in Zoetermeer.
ITTF and Deloitte work together to create 2021 Commercial Rights Tender
The International Table Tennis Federation will work with the Sports Business Group of Deloitte for the distribution of the ITTF’s commercial rights in 2021. Deloitte was selected from a large number of interested parties to assist the ITTF in going to market with all of its commercial rights in 2021 for the most important rights cycle in the ITTF’s history. “We have a unique opportunity to be going to market with all of our commercial rights simultaneously. This allows the ITTF to market its rights in a flexible and innovative way to ensure that we find the right partners to take table tennis to the next commercial level from 2021 onwards and also for the ITTF to gain market value for its commercial rights which has not been in the case in the past. We are looking forward to working with Deloitte to make this happen.” ITTF CEO Steve Dainton The ITTF started to work with Deloitte back in 2016 to take a closer look at the ITTF’s most valuable products the World Table Tennis Championships and the World Tour to see what changes could be made to raise the commercial value of both properties and ensure that they are serving the sport of table tennis in the best possible way. This study resulted in a momentous expansion of the World Table Tennis Championships approved by the ITTF Board of Directors in 2017 and a shift in philosophy of how the ITTF runs its World Tour. Both changes will come into effect in 2021 and will have a significant impact on the commercial value of both properties going forwards. “The Sports Business Group at Deloitte has worked with the ITTF for more than two years advising on major reforms already introduced to the ITTF’s competitions and in preparation for the first ITTF Strategic Plan which sets a clear and ambitious vision for table tennis. The 2021 commercial rights tender represents a crucial next step in achieving this vision. By continuing to workwith the ITTF to secure the right partner(s) to substantially grow revenue we can help develop table tennis globally.” Dan Jones Partner of Sports Business Group at Deloitte “Since all of our commercial contracts are up for renewal in 2021 we have been in the privileged position to take a step back and review every one of our products to ensure they are all contributing to a maximum commercial return in our next rights cycle in 2021. We are confident that what we are going to market with in 2021 is a significantly more attractive proposition than in the past and we look forward to working with Deloitte to present these new and improved commercial rights to the market.” Matt Pound ITTF Marketing Director The ITTF plans to release the tender for the ITTF’s commercial rights towards the end of Q1 in 2019 with a partner or group of partners selected by Q3. All enquires regarding the ITTF’s 2021 Commercial Rights Tender should be directed to ITTF Marketing Director Matt Pound.
Reigning TTCLM champion targets fifth win in a row
Borussia Dusseldorf faces Sporting in the TTCLM Round 5 this Friday November 30th Reigning TTCLM champion and 11-time winner Borussia Dusseldorf travels to Portugal with an aim to secure its fifth consecutive win in Group A playing against Sporting Club de Portugal last season’s semi-finalist. German club already booked its place in the quarter-final stage but they are determined to reach knockout phase as the Group A winner. “In the last round we didn´t play our best table tennis. But we won against Ostrava and we are already qualified for the quarter finals. Our aim is to win in Sporting too to keep the lead in our group A. The first match against Sporting we won 3:0 but the team has shown in Pontoise that it is better than the results has been before. We don´t know our line-up today if Timo (BOLL) and Omar (ASSAR) are able to play. But I hope that both are ready to be part of us in Portugal ” stated Borussia’s coach Danny HEISTER. German side beat Sporting 3:0 in the opening round held on September 27th. Anton KALLBERG reminds on that clash: “In the game against Sporting I won my match against Bode ABIODUN and in Ostrava the match at 2:2. If I could help my team on Friday too I would be very happy. It´s the first time for Borussia to play in Portugal so we don´t know the hall and the conditions. We are looking forward to a tough duel which we are willing to win.”
30 Game Changers selected for the EOC New Leaders Programme
More than 50 highly qualified and motivated sports professionals applied to the New Leaders Sport Leadership Education Programme. All corners of Europe were represented with applications from 28 countries. All together 30 game changers from 26 countries have been selected and the names were announced at the recent European Olympic Committees General Assembly in Marbella. The EOC Gender Equality Commission accepted the participants. The European Table Tennis Union is pleased to announce that Galia DVORAK member of ITTF Athletes Commission and chair of ETTU Athletes Commission and Pierre KASS ETTU Deputy Secretary General have been selected as game changers. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER said that he was delighted when hearing that the two candidates from European table tennis passed the selection. He had immediately congratulated the two table tennis ‘Game Changers’ when he was informed. “On one hand it reflects the ambition of ETTU to invest in the professional quality of our people by initiating support for their eagerness to learn. On the other hand it is a recognition of the quality of the applicants and of their leadership skills and ambitions. I wish Galia and Pierre a lot of pleasure success and good luck in this unique learning experience ” President KRAMER stated. Motivation to enhance personal leadership skills and enthusiasm to have a wider impact on the sport movement were at the heart of the applications. The call to implement the IOC Gender Equality Recommendations into action was warmly welcomed and the participants are eager to start the work in their own organisations. “I feel honoured to be accepted in the programme and am striving to create change. Improving leadership skills is of major value and I focus on achieving gender equality in our sport ” said ETTU Deputy Secretary General KASS. Chair of ETTU Athletes Commission share the same feeling. “I felt very happy and honored when I found out that I was accepted in the programme. I think it will be a good oportunity to learn and to improve my leadership skills always having in mind to apply this knowledge in our sport and helping the athletes ” said Galia DVORAK. Mentoring Champions sharing their wisdom One of the goals in the New Leaders programme is that no new leader is left without a support from an experienced mentor. Ms Daina GUDZINEVIČIŪTĖ newly awarded IOC Women and Sport World Trophy winner IOC Member Lithuania NOC President and EOC Executive Board member expressed her passion to become a mentor. “I am sure that the New Leaders Programme will help the participants to acquire knowledge develop skills and enhance self-confidence. I am very happy to join this project and as a mentor I will support participants and share my experience.” New Leaders is a legacy project of Ms Birgitta Kervinen 2017 IOC Women and Sport World Trophy Winner. The educational programme is a joint effort coordinated by the NOC of Finland together with the IOC EOC NOC of Lithuania NOC of Ireland and NOC of Azerbaijan. The programme encourages people to dream speak up and act as game changers shaping the future of sport. Topics of strategic leadership communications public speaking lobbying and conflict management will be viewed through the lenses of equality sustainability human rights and ethics. Participants will design concrete action plans on a personal and organisational level implementing the IOC Gender Equality Recommendations into action.
ETTU hopes warming up for World Championships in Melbourne
In the eve of the 2018 World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Bendigo Australia all teams players and coaches well arrived to Melbourne. They will be the part of the ETTU WJC Preparation Camp (Melbourne 25th of November – 1st of December). “In total we have 29 players 16 from our Eurotalents U-17 project and 13 coaches. Three coaches are responsible for implementing the ETTU WJC Preparation Camp: Davit SARGSYAN Madalin IONASCU and me ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. “ The rest of coaches are from France Romania Russia and Poland. Daily practice program is already in full swing in five sessions: Morning 2 sessions (8 30-13 15) Afternoon 2 sessions (14 30-19 15) Evening 1 session (20 30-21 30) “Here are also teams from USA Canada and Australia sharing the practice time with us. Everything is fine and we have great support from Loops Table Tennis Academy Simon GERADA and his staff ” stated CEGNAR.
TTC Sokah Hoboken in Round four
In Women’s ETTU Cup Tecnigen Linares beat Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa in full distance match to secure the place in the Fourth Round. TTC Kazan also repeated the result from the opening leg and overcame Hotel-Museo Patria Chica Priego TM in straight matches. ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly joined them after 3:0 victory over DT Roodt – Syre. Roxana Ana Maria ISTRATE Orawan PARANANG and Paula BUENO played for the winning Tecnigen Linares whilst Anna BLAZHKO Daria SHADRINA and Antonina SAVELYEVA represented Kazan in Spain. Galia DVORAK SUN Jiayi and TIAN Yuan led ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly to the next phase. In Men’s ETTU Cup Logis Auderghem TT suffered in Croatia against STK Starr Varaždin 2:3 but they won the opening leg 1:3 so they are safely through. Ludovic BIERNY beat Sorosh AMIRI NIA and Leon ŠANTEK. For three points for guests Leon ŠANTEK beat Niels VELDEKENS Ronald REĐEP overcame Jasper MERCKX and Sorosh defeated Niels VELDEKENS in the decisive match. Once again SK Vydrany lost against TTC Sokah Hoboken. Rajko GOMERS won both his encounters against Samuel NOVOTA and against Zoltan LELKES. Stefan PEKO beat Jeremy PETIOT and that was the only win for hosts. Laurens DEVOS overcame LELEKAS.
ECLW Round 5: First win for Saint Quentinois
French club caused upset against two-time ECLW champion: Linz AG Froschberg – Saint Quentinois 0:3 TT Saint Quentinois caused upset in the 2018/19 ECLW Round 5 as they beat away former two-time ECLW champion Linz AG Froschberg 3:0. It was very first win for French club in Group C but however they need to play their decisive match in the upcoming Round 6 against Sporting Clube de Portugal. Polina MIKHAILOVA has recorded her first victory for Saint Quentinois but very important one. Russian player beat Karoline MISCHEK in straight games of the opener. Next two matches had two unexpected winners: Aurore LE MANSEC prevailed against Hong Kong’s SOO Wai Yam Minnie while promising Audrey ZARIF overcame upset Linda BERGSTROM. Both sides have played without their best ranked players: Sofia POLCANOVA (Linz actual world no. 15) and ZHANG Mo (Saint Quentinois world no. 23). Former Linz’s member ZHANG is currently playing at the 2018 Pan America Championships in Santiago Chile. ECLW Round 5 GROUP C Linz AG Froschberg – TT Saint Quentinois 0:3 Karoline MISCHEK – Polina MIKHAILOVA 0:3 (7:11 5:11 5:11) SOO Wai Yam Minnie – Aurore LE MANSEC 1:3 (10:12 9:11 11:8 5:11) Linda BERGSTROM – Audrey ZARIF 1:3 (16:14 9:11 4:11 7:11)
Coin flip for TV Lybrae Heerlen
For probably the first time in ETTU Cup history a match has been tied by individual matches games and points and therefore according to the ETTU’s regulations has been decided by lot the flip of a disc. Everyone at the match in Netherlands witnessed remarkable and unique event. ETTU Cup women Round 3 match (home and away) between TV Lybrae Heerlen and Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu concluded with leveled result 4-4 games 15-15 points 280-280! The referee Jos van de BERG was forced to do the coin flip to decide the winner: green for Lybrae Heerlen red for Fenerbahce Istanbul. Coin ended on green. So Lybrae Heerlen won coin flip. TTV Lybrae Heerlen lost against Fenerbahce Spor Kulubu 3:1 in the return leg. MEN Shuohan suffered in the opening game against Nadezhda BOGDANOVA. However after Rachel GERARDS faced same faith against Sibel ALTINKAYA and it was only experienced Elena TIMINA who scored for the hosts against Gulpembe OZKAYA “I play table tennis for more than 40 years but I never had to deal with a decision made by a draw. After almost five hours of playing in Istanbul and Heerlen there is no difference between both teams. I feel sorry for this unsatisfactory defeat for Istanbul but I am very happy to reach the 4th round in ETTU Cup. I returned to the Netherlands and I knew that LYBRAE Heerlen who are the champions of organizing events would be the best choice. It will be more and more difficult from now and Lille will be the big favorite team in the 4th Round. But we surprised in the 1st 2nd and 3rd Round so let’s see what we can do now ” said Timina.
Istres Tennis de Table and Fortune Kyiv justified their dominancy
In the return leg of the Round three of the Men’s ETTU Cup Fortune Kyiv and Istres Tennis de Table justified their supremacy in the opening leg and booked their places in the next phase in straight matches. Fortune Kyiv beat Turk Telekom Ankara Sport Club in Turkey. Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO Viktor YEFIMOV and Grigory VLASOV showed no mercy against Stanislav GOLOVANOV Irfan TAVUKÇUOĞLU and Mustafa Fahrettin EKMEKCI. Spanish Borges Vall also failed to post the victory in this round against Istres Tennis de Table. Paul GAUZY Samuel WALKER and Laurens TROMER lost only two games against Marc DURAN Oriol MONZO and Joan MASIP. By same margin like two weeks ago Cajasur Priego TM overcame Fenerbahce Sport Club. Mohamed EL BEIALI beat Alejandro CALVO and that was the only point for guests. HAN Qiyao overcame Afsin GÜL Carlos MACHADO beat Mesud FARAHMAND and HAN Quyao succeeded against EL BEIALI. Chartres ASTT overcame ASD Marcozzi Cagliari 3:1. They succeeded in opening leg as well. Romain LORENTZ Alexandre ROBINOT and Vincent PACARD overcame Makansuola KAZEEM John OYEBODE and Gabriele PICULIN. In Women’s Cup Moravsky Krumlov overcame Aquaestil Duga Resa. They lost their first encounter in Croatia 3:1 but today’s straight matches win launched them to next phase. Ekaterina CHERNYAVSKAYA Mitsuki YOSHIDA and Kristýna MIKULCOVÁ overcame Marta VUKELIĆ Ana STEPINAC and Lana STEPINAĆ.
