Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open in Bremen Germany Table Tennis legends MA Long (CHN) and Timo BOLL (GER) aims for fifth German Open title to make history at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open from today 23 March till 25 March 2018 at the ÖVB Arena in Bremen Germany. After three days of intense action in the qualification rounds the 16 men & women qualifiers has been determined to join the top seeds as main draw action begin. Reigning World & Olympic Champion MA who was in dominant form to help China win Gold at the 2018 Team World Cup in London in February will be looking at claiming his fifth German Open and 25th overall ITTF World Tour Open titles to edge closer to the record 27 titles by Belarussian evergreen Vladimir SAMSONOV. MA will face 2017 Mixed Doubles World Champion Maharu YOSHIMURA (JPN) in his opening round encounter. Recently rolling the years to reclaim the top spot on the ITTF World Ranking as the oldest ever world number one at 36 years 11 months and 21 days on 1 March local hero BOLL will be hoping to take a fifth German Open title in front of the home crowd starting his journey against Korea Republic’s AN Jaehyun. Top seed and former world number one Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) who faces compatriot Patrick FRANZISKA in his opening match will join BOLL’s quest to keep the Gold from leaving German soil and looks to reach the Men’s Singles final in order to surpass Qatar Open Champion FAN Zhendong’s current world ranking points to become the world number one next month. FAN had pulled out from the tournament due to injury. Women’s top seed Singapore’s FENG Tianwei will meet 13-year-old Satsuki ODO (JPN) who has shocked reigning European Cup Champion Bernadette SZOCS (ROU) and Pan American Champion Adriana DIAZ (PUR) to make her way to the main draw. China’s WU Yang and WEN Jia together with Japan’s Mima ITO will all have their eyes on the prize to become the first female player to win the German Open twice. All eyes will be on local stars HAN Ying (GER) and Sabine WINTER (GER) to keep German hopes for the title alive. The duo will be facing Canada’s ZHANG Mo and Korea Republic’s JEON Jihee respectively in the first round of the main draw. China’s top women’s stars including DING Ning LIU Shiwen and world number one ZHU Yuling are missing out from the action in Bremen due to preparations for the upcoming Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships to be held in Halmstad from 29 April to 6 May. The Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open is the second of six ITTF World Tour Platinum events in 2018 which is the top tier of the ITTF World Tour with the most prize money and world ranking points. Together with the six regular ITTF World Tour events players compete to earn World Tour Standings points to be one of top 16 to qualify for the one-million-dollar World Tour Grand Finals in December.
Opatija Milenij Open invites players in Croatia
Croatian Table Tennis Association together with Table Tennis Club Opatija 08 invits to the 3rd Opatija Milenij Open that will be held from 6 until 8 April 2018 at the beautiful Croatian coastal City of Opatija. A total amount of $6.550 00 in prize money will be distributed among the most successful individuals in men’s and women’s categories. Cadet and junior categories will be played according to the ITTF ranking system. The City of Opatija is situated 150km from Zagreb (approx. 45 minutes from Zagreb) and transportation can be arranged for players who will participate at the 2018 ITTF Challenge Croatia (Zagreb) Open. All information can be found at milenijopen.com and for additional information contact is tabletennis.opatija@gmail.com
New news
ETTU Development Camp I U-13 (March 18th-25th) The first ETTU Development Camp in 2018 started in Slovenia’s Otocec. Excellent conditions are provided to 17 players and 11 coaches from Slovakia Belgium Greece Belarus Ireland Portugal Slovenia Croatia Czech Republic Lithuania and Netherlands. Head coaches are Joze URH and Alekesey YEFREMOV whilst Mate LEJO is in charge for fitness trainings. “ We are very happy with the conditions. Our hotel Sport is very good and the venue is only 100 meters from the hall ” reported ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. Simon BELIK (CZE) Hana ARAPOVIC (CRO) Sophie EARLEY (IRL) Ignas SISANOVAS (LTU) Gabrielius CAMARA (NED) Luiz MACIEL (POR) Rafael KONG (POR) Alessi MASSART (BEL) Julie Van HAUWAERT (BEL) Veranika VARABYOVA (BLR) Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIOU (GRE) Nikolaousz KIZAKISZ (HUN) Jakub GOLDIR (SVK) Anna HURSEY (WAL) Evelin UNGVARI (HUN) Daniel BERZOSA (ESP) Miriam CARNOVALE (POR)
Bursa targets Seamaster ECLW title after ETTU Cup crown
“We have seen so far that our team is capable of taking a bigger step winning Seamaster ECLW” stressed Bursa`s Coach Mehmet ASLAN after semi-final 3:0 win against TTC Berlin Eastside Actual ETTU Cup Women winner Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor is one step closer to the 2017/18 Seamaster European Champions League Women final after 3:0 home win against reigning ECLW champion TTC Berlin Eastside in the first semi-final leg. Second game will be held on April 6th. “As a ETTU Cup winner in last year we have managed to set a “table tennis culture” for our club. We always aim high both in Turkish Super League and European club competitions. ETTU Cup meant a lot to us in 2017 and we have seen so far that our team is capable of taking a bigger step winning Seamaster European Champions League Women” explained Bursa`s Coach Mehmet ASLAN. Berlin won four ECLW titles in last six editions but Georgina POTA is unique member of their winning line-up who is on disposal of Coach Irina PALINA for matches against Bursa. “Berlin Eastside has always been a highly-respected club for all European TT community. We have tried to welcome our guest at our best and really felt proud to play with this team in semi-finals. Getting a 3-0 win against the best team of Germany was even better that our expectations. We have secured serious advantage and it is time to use it in second round and qualify to the final” stated ASLAN. Berlin is considered as the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey with near 200 000 Turks hence MEHMET explains that “Bursa may call second game as a home match too”! “Bursa is getting prepared to take a bigger step and get a bigger success with Seamaster European Champions League Women. We will need our spectators’ support and give our 100 % for all rounds. The team is rising up concentration for the second match and when you have such top-quality players in squad you are closer to the victory.”
Lithuania recorded second win at the ITTF European Team Championships 2018/19
Stage one – second round ITTF European Team Championships Stage 1 continued next week with the second round matches. However first match was played already in National Badminton Centre in Lisburn – Ireland suffered by the hands of Lithuania 0:3. It is Lithuania’s second win in the Event after they overcame Azerbaijan whilst in previous round at the end of February Ireland beat San Marino. Ireland – Lithuania 0:3 ROBINSON – UDRA 0:3 (4:11 2:11 7:11) CATCHART – STANKEVICIUS 0:3 (4:11 9:11 8:11) Mc CREERY – MIKUTIS 0:3 (6:11 5:11 8:11) In the second round of the ITTF European Team Championships Stage 1 will play Women’s A Groups Luxembourg – Germany 27.03.2018 19:30 Mondorf-les-Bains Croatia – Netherlands 27.03.2018 18:00 Pula Sweden – Russia 27.03.2018 18:30 Stockholm Czech Republic – Hungary 18.04.2018 17:00 Havirov Portugal – Austria 27.03.2018 17:00 Vila Nova de Gaia Ukraine – Poland 27.03.2018 16:00 Chernigiv Men’s Groups A Austria – Portugal 27.03.2018 20:15 Fulpmes Romania – Slovenia 27.03.2018 16:00 Bucharest Spain – Sweden 27.03.2018 17:00 Huelva Poland – Croatia 27.03.2018 18:00 Jarosław Slovakia – Ukraine 27.03.2018 18:00 Bratislava Russia – Greece 27.03.2018 16:00 Moscow Women’s Groups B Bulgaria – Serbia 27.03.2018 18:00 Panagiurishte Denmark- Turkey 27.03.2018 19:00 Hirtshals Greece – England 24 04.2018 18:00 Athens Israel – Lithuania 27.03.2018 17:00 Tel Aviv Island – Finland 27.03.2018 Slovakia – Belgium 27.03.2018 18:00 Bratislava Men’s B Groups Bulgaria – Czech Republic 27.03.2018 18:00 Panagiurishte Island – Cyprus 27.03.2018 Israel – Italy 27.03.2018 18:00 17:00 Tel Aviv Estonia – Netherlands 27.03.2018 17:30 Tallin Ireland – Lithuania 0:3 San Marino – Azerbaijan 27.03.2018 19:00 Serravalle Serbia – England 07.05.2018 Switzerland- Finland 27.03.2018 19:00 Geneva
Olympiacos won both titles in Greece
Olympiacos dominated the team’s championships in Greece for the 2017-2018 season. The club won the title in A1 in both men’s and women’s Championships. That happened for the first time since 2005 and for fourth in the history of the 1st division. The men’s and women’s team suffered only one defeat but they secured the title last weekend at the end of the Championships. The men’s team of Piraeus had two big matches against Tatavla and Panathinaikos who also claimed the 1st place. Olympiacos’ players displayed a very good shape defeated Tatavla 4-1 and Panathinaikos 4-0 to keep the trophy for the third consecutive year. It was also the 14th title in her history. The coach of Olympiacos Giorgos Christoforakis relied on Swedish Simon ARVINSON and Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS Tasos RINIOTIS and Giorgos STAMATOUROS. Olympiacos’s women’s team was not a clear favorite before the last games. The odds were against them for a possible tie with the champion of the previous two years D.A.O. Taurus who also had only one defeat at the time. However Olympiacos proceeded victoriously and on Saturday girls took the advantage of the unexpected defeat of DAOT by Phoenix Piraeus 4-3. So the club regain the title after 9 years and celebrated the 19th championship in their history. Giorgos CHRISTOFORAKIS coached the team composed of Alex GALIC (Slovenia) Annie-Tilda JOHANSSON (Sweden) Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and used also junior Elsa TERPOU and mini cadet Evaggelia MERAMVELLIOTAKI. FINAL RANK IN THE A1 MEN Olympiacos 31 Α.Ο. Tatavla 30 Panathinaikos A.O. 29 Α.S. Pera Athens 26 O.A. Chania 24 Aris Nikaias 20 Α.Ο. Ellinikou 19 (6-5) ————————————————– — Filia Orestiadas 19 (5-6) Α.Ο. Pefki 18 FINAL RANK IN THE A1 WOMEN Olympiacos 23 D.Α.Ο. Taurus 22 Phoenix Piraeus 20 Sarises Florinas 19 Α.Ο. Tatavla 15 (6-5) ————————————————– – Α.Σ. Pera Athens 15 22-39 (5-6) YMCA Thessaloniki 12 6-48 The last two teams from the two leagues go to extra matches with teams from A2 to claim their stay in the category.
World Table Tennis Day getting closer and closer.
The 2018 World Table Tennis Day is closer and closer. What is the World Table Tennis Day (WTTD)? It is a celebration of the joy to play Table Tennis for fun bringing people together where the focus is less on the competition and more on participation and fun. What is the purpose of the WTTD? To gather Table Tennis enthusiasts attract people who usually don’t play table tennis promote the love for our sport and ideally engage new players to the practice in the long term. When is the WTTD? WTTD will fall on APRIL 6 because that day was established by the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. The next WTTD will be on 6 APRIL 2018! On https://www.tt4all.com/ you can find all the information about the World Table Tennis Day.
Australia Dominates ITTF-Oceania Championships in Gold Coast 2018 Lead-up
Team Australia dominated 2018 ITTF-Oceania Championships sweeping 12 out of 14 Gold on offer. Team Australia has dominated the 2018 ITTF-Oceania Championships winning gold in 12 of the 14 events on offer. Gold Coast Australia hosted the tournament as the region’s best athletes came together to compete from the 15-19March 2018. Australia’s Xin YAN claimed the Men’s Singles and teammate Jian Fang LAY won gold in the Women’s event. For LAY it was her third straight title while YAN succeeded in going back to back in the Men’s Singles after taking out the event in 2016. YAN was simply irrepressible during the Championships. The Olympian and Commonwealth Games representative won in every event on offer coming away with four gold medals (Men’s Singles Men’s Doubles Mixed Doubles & Men’s Team). Meanwhile Gold Coast local Danni-Elle TOWNSEND starred in the Under 21 Women’s Events. The 14-year-old took home the Singles Doubles and Mixed Doubles titles. Impressively the Australian didn’t drop a game in any of her final encounters. Australia also laid claim to the Men’s Women’s and Under 21 Women’s Team Events. New Zealand managed to stop the host nation making a clean sweep taking two titles in the Under 21 Men’s category. The Kiwis were able to upset the odds and win gold in the Under 21 Men’s Team while Nathan XU won the Under 21 Men’s Singles to take another gold medal back across the Tasman for Team New Zealand. The tournament was seen as a perfect warmup for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Two days of competition were held at Oxenford Studios the venue for table tennis events during Gold Coast 2018. Oceania athletes capitalised on the opportunity to be the first to play in the venue. After his strong performance this week on the Gold Coast Xin YAN said he is looking forward to returning to compete in two weeks’ time. “It’s a privilege to play in front a home crowd and I hope I can make a strong performance once again when I’m back on the Gold Coast ” said YAN. Results: Men’s Singles – Xin YAN (AUS) Women’s Singles – Jian Fang LAY (AUS) Men’s Doubles – Heming HU (AUS) / Xin YAN (AUS) Women’s Doubles – Melissa TAPPER (AUS) / Michelle BROMLEY (AUS) Mixed Doubles – Jian Fang LAY (AUS) / Xin YAN (AUS) U21 Men’s Singles – Nathan XU (NZL) U21 Women’s Singles – Danni-Elle TOWNSEND (AUS) U21 Men’s Doubles – Xavier DIXON (AUS) / Luke COSGRIFF (AUS) U21 Women’s Doubles – Parleen KAUR (AUS) / Danni-Elle TOWNSEND (AUS) U21 Mixed Doubles – Xavier DIXON (AUS) / Danni-Elle TOWNSEND (AUS) Men’s Team – Australia Women’s Team – Australia U21 Men’s Team – New Zealand U21 Women’s Team – Australia
Warming up for the European Youth Championships in Cluj-Napoca
Umpires’ training in Romania On 10th and 11th of March an umpires’ training has been held in Buzau to prepare them for the next European Youth Championships (to be played in Cluj-Napoca in July) and to prepare many of them to the International Umpire exam. 50 umpires from all parts of Romania took part actively in this training in Hotel Sport B90. They all attended the course in a motivated active and friendly atmosphere. Ionas COLCERU the responsible for umpires in Romania and Adriana ZAMFIR former player coach and involved now in the Romanian Association were assisting me by translating when necessary. “I thank Beatrice ROMANESCU for the perfect preparation and conditions all in the same place. Good accommodation and food and a big place with projector flipchart table tennis table scoreboard …All participants were very happy with what they have learned and I hope that it will be a good start for more future improvements. See you in Cluj-Napoca to note the practical results! » said Isabelle BEUMIER
Bursa beat reigning champion in straight games
First semi-final leg of Seamaster ECLW: Bursa – Berlin 3:0 Actual ETTU Cup Women winner Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor beat reigning Seamaster ECLW champion TTC Berlin Eastside 3:0 in the first semi-final leg of 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW held in Turkey. Returning clash is scheduled for April 6th. Hong Kong`s player LEE Ho Ching actual World no. 13 defeated Berlin`s player-coach Irina PALINA in straight games. Actual individual European champion HU Melek prevailed against Georgina POTA after full five games what was crucial for the final outcome. Yana NOSKOVA has confirmed Bursa`s win by beating Japan`s Shiho MATSUDAIRA in four sets. After this result Bursa has open way to the ECLW final. The 2015 ECLW winner Fenerbahce is unique Turkish club in ECLW final so far. Four-time ECLW champion Berlin had many difficulties during the season as being not able to play with its strongest line-ups Georgina POTA SHAN Xiaona Petrissa SOLJA. Seamaster ECLW semi-final first game Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor – TTC Berlin Eastside 3:0 LEE Ho Ching – Irina PALINA 3:0 (11:9 11:6 11:9) HU Melek – Georgina POTA 3:2 (11:8 11:6 8:11 10:12 11:8) Yana NOSKOVA – Shiho MATSUDAIRA 3:1 (11:9 11:8 6:11 11:9)
