2018 Hang Seng Hong Kong Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Golden Series Junior Circuit (1-5 August) Two German players MENG Fanbo and Kay STUMPER and one from France Dorian ZHENG have reached Junior Boys`Team semi-finals at the 2018 Hang Seng Hong Kong Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Golden Series Junior Circuit (1-5 August) playing as Germany/France team. They beat Thailand 3:0 in the quarter-finals but lost to Japan/Chinese Taipei 3:1 in their attempt to provide gold medal contest. Tomorrow August 3rd individual events will start. Kay STUMPER plays in Junior Singles Group 6 while MENG Fanbo and Dorian ZHENG will share Group 7. Junior Boys` Team quarter-finals Thailand – Germany/France 0:3 Yanapong PANAGITGUN – Dorian ZHENG 2:3 (11:7 11:8 8:11 8:11 11:13) Supakron PANKHAOYOY – MENG Fanbo 0:3 (9:11 7:11 7:11) Tananan TANTAKOOL – Kay STUMPER 2:3 (11:6 6:11 11:6 8:11 7:11) Hong Kong A – China 0:3 Singapore – Chinese Taipei 0:3 Japan/Chinese Taipei – Japan 3:0 Junior Boys` semi-finals Germany/France – Japan/Chinese Taipei 1:3 MENG Fanbo – Aoto ASAZU 3:2 (11:5 6:11 11:6 7:11 11:4) Dorian ZHENG – Takeru KASHIWA 1:3 (12:14 14:12 7:11 7:11) Kay STUMPER – HUANG Yu-Jen0:3 (9:11 11:13 7:11) MENG Fanbo – Takeru KASHIWA 1:3 (4:11 9:11 14:12 5:11) Chinese Taipei – China 0:3
Different line-up but same goal for Borussia
The most decorated European club presented its poster for the 2018/19 season Two months before the beginning of 2018/19 Table Tennis Champions League Men defending champion and top seed Borussia Dusseldorf from Germany presented its official poster. The picture depicts Coach Danny HEISTER surrounded by four players in the action: Timo BOLL (actual world No. 2) Kristian KARLSSON (No. 22) Anton KALLBERG (No. 74) and Omar ASSAR (No. 21). Egyptian player Omar ASSAR current world no. 21 is unique real newcomer bearing in mind that Indian Sharath Kamal ACHANTA spent four seasons (2013-17) in Borussia`s jersey before. Two-times ITTF Africa Championships winner (2015 2016) continues his career in Bundesliga as he was Werder Bremen`s member in the last season. The most decorated European club opens the upcoming TTCLM season on September 27th playing home game against last season`s semi-finalist Sporting Clube de Portugal. It will be a chance for the 2016 ITTF Africa Championships final reprise between Omar ASSAR from Egypt and Quadri ARUNA from Nigeria.
Great showdown in Nantong
Asia – Europe Challenge The Asia – Europe Challenge will once again see tops stars from both Continents go head to head on 4th and 5th August in Nantong China. At the showcase event that started in 2009 in Istanbul as the Asia-Europe All Stars Series the impressive line-ups include three players in the world top 10 lining up for Asia. The event has been played eight times so far with Europe’s legendary player and three times European Champion Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus appearing seven times. Vladimir will once again line up in Nantong as will Europe’s team leader Marcos FREITAS of Portugal Jonathan GROTH of Denmark Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden and Bastian STEGER of Germany. Players were invited according to May’s World Rankings. WONG Chun Ting of Hong Kong ranked at number 7 in the world leads the line-up for Team Asia. LEE Sangsu of Korea Japan’s Koki NIWA CHUANG Chih-Yuan of Chinese Taipei and former World and Olympic Champion ZHANG Jike of China make up a very strong Asia Team. “Our European players are looking forward to going head-to-head with the best in Asia. Of course it will be a tough challenge but the event is not only a table tennis spectacle where the audience in Asia enjoy watching their heroes taking on our very own but the event is a positive symbol of Europe’s relationship with Asia something the ETTU is fully committed to ” explained ETTU President Ronald KRAMER. EUROPE ASIA 1 Marcos Freitas (POR) WR15 1 WONG Chun Ting (HKG) WR7 2 Kristian Karlsson (SWE) WR18 2 LEE Sangsu (KOR) WR8 3 Jonathan Groth (DEN) WR19 3 NIWA Koki (JPN) WR9 4 Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) WR24 4 CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) WR16 5 Bastian Steger (GER) WR26 5 ZHANG Jike (CHN) WR168 (Selection was made acc. to WR of May) Europe made history in 2015 in Zhangjiagang when they beat Asia for the only time. In the last encounter in Dongguan in 2016 Asia won the My Hills International Trade Center Asia-Europe All Stars Challenge having fielded another strong team of China’s FAN Zhendong Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting Singapore’s GAO Ning and Korea’s JOO Saehyuk who won 6:4 (4:1 and 2:3). On that occasion Team Europe was represented by Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal Andrej GACINA of Croatia Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia and CHEN Weixing of Austria. The event takes place over two days. The five-player teams face off in singles with each player playing once match each day. The overall winners are crowned based on the aggregate score over both days. “We are looking forward to representing Europe in Nantong in what is a great event. It will be a tough test for us given the world rankings and of course Asia is fielding the former World and Olympic Champion ZHANG Jike who has come back onto the World Tour. But we are ready and will look to get off to a positive start which will put the pressure on the Asia team with the audience in China ” said Ulf “Tickan” CARLSSON. Richard Scruton ETTU Secretary General will also be in attendance in Nantong as Team Manager. The exciting line-up will be as follows: Euro – Asia Challenge Series 2018 4thand 5thAugust Nantong Day 1: NIWA Koki (JPN) Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) Jonathan Groth (DEN) WONG Chun Ting (HKG) Kristian Karlsson (SWE) LEE Sangsu (KOR) Marcos Freitas (POR) ZHANG Jike (CHN) Bastian Steger (GER) Day 2: NIWA Koki (JPN) Bastian Steger (GER) ZHANG Jike (CHN) Jonathan Groth (DEN) LEE Sangsu (KOR) Kristian Karlsson (SWE) WONG Chun Ting (HKG) Marcos Freitas (POR) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) ETTU on Facebook ETTU On Instagram ETTU on Twitter
Liu Shiwen & Xu Xin Clinch Australian Open Titles Down Under
China’s LIU Shiwen’s global renaissance has continued by defeating her arch nemesis and teammate DING Ning to win the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Australian Open today 29 July 2018 in Geelong Australia. The World Tour Platinum title was the former world number one’s third singles title of 2018 after a disappointing last two years on the international stage and the fact it came against Olympic Champion DING Ning whom she lost the 2015 World Championships final to makes it even sweeter. LIU Shiwen who came back from 3-2 down to win a seven-game epic match 11-5 11 7 3-11 5-11 6-11 11-5 11-6 to thrill the sold-out crowd stated: “This is my first time here in Australia and playing the Australian open. The road to the title was very tough but I am so happy that I finally won.” “Both of us made some slight changes to our tactics during the match to try and overtake each other in the match. Ding Ning is a very strong opponent even though I took the victory today there’s still a lot of little details that I need to review and learn from this match.” Like LIU Shiwen XU Xin (CHN) also has had very mixed results over the past few months losing to international players at the past couple of World Tour events which put the Olympic Team Champion under immense pressure in the Chinese team. The pen-holder was able to silence his critics by defeating 2015 World Junior Champion 20-year-old LIU Dingshuo (CHN) to win the men’s singles title 12-10 4-11 12-10 15-13 11-6. The 28-year-old who was extremely relieved to be back in the winner’s circle stated: “It was an all-Chinese match so we are familiar with each other. I didn’t play as good as yesterday but I’m more experienced than my opponent when it came to the crucial points in the match. Maybe it’s the experience that makes the difference younger players still tend to be impatient when it comes to the crucial moments I’m bolder when it comes to handling the crucial points once your attacks work during the crucial moments the impact on the opponent is very deadly.” “I didn’t manage to play well in the recent 2 World Tour events so there was pressure on me. There are still many flaws in my game that I need to fix and solve ASAP. Winning this Platinum event title will bring a boost to my confidence because I’m dissatisfied with my performance in the past two World Tour so I wanted to win a title to prove myself. I used to feel more relaxed on the World Tour and I didn’t lose any match to a non-Chinese for 5 years and was able to at least make it to the semifinals so I am glad I am back!.” Hina HAYATA & Mima ITO won an all Japanese affair in the women’s doubles final being victorious 11-8 11-9 11-7 against teammates Honoka HASHIMOTO & Hitomi SATO. Korea Republic’s JEOUNG Youngsik & LEE Sangsu were too strong for the Japanese pair of Masataka MORIZONO & Yuya OSHIMA to win the men’s doubles title 14-12 11-5 11-7. The men’s doubles triumph was the second title of the event for LEE Sangsu after he teamed up with JEON Jihee to win the Mixed Doubles event 6-11 11-7 5-11 11-8 118 against fellow Koreans LIM Jonghoon & YANG Haeun. Next up for the world’s best table tennis players is the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open in Panagyurishte on 16-19 August as the players continue the fight to qualify for the one million dollar ITTF World Tour Grand Finals to be held in December. Quick Links: Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Australian Open Daily Schedule & Results Media Kit Flash Quotes Photos for Editorial Use Live Streaming & Videos on Demand Match Highlights
Record breaking European Youth Championships
The 2018 STAG European Youth Championships broke the record in term of number of players – 573 players were listed this year. The number of teams is also close to the record – 159. Only in 2006 and 2008 were more- 161. The 1263 individual matches were played and 2256 matches in teams event together 3519 matches in 10- days. Youngest player at the Championships was Sidelya MUTLU (BUL) 11 years 6 months old. Thje youngest boy was Timothy FALCONNIER (SUI) 11 years 9 months. Second youngest boy was Felix LEBRUN (FRA) 11 years 10 months. Special about him is a fact that he is Western European boy playing penhold grip! Most successfull players:Eu Subsemnatul 1. NING Jing (AZE) 2 gold 1 silver2. Lucie GAUTHIER (FRA) Elena ZAHARIA (ROU) and Maciej KUBIK (POL) 2 gold 1 bronze3. Maksim GREBNEV (RUS) and Prithika PAVADE (FRA) 1 gold 1 silver 2 bronze4. Misjaal SABHI (FRA) and Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA (FRA) 1 gold 1 silver 1 bronze5. Elisabet ABRAAMIAN (RUS) 3 silver6. Tania PLAIAN (ROU) and Ekaterina ZIRONOVA (RUS) 1 silver 2 bronze7. Rares SIPOS (ROU) 3 bronze European Youth Championships Table Tennis 2018 Medals table Gold Silver Bronze 1 France 5 2 6 2 Russia 3 5 5 3 Romania 2 2 7 4 Azerbaijan 2 2 5 Poland 2 1 1 6 Croatia 1 1 7 Greece 1 8 Italy 1 9 Sweden 1 2 10 Belgium 1 11 Serbia 3 11 Czech Republic 3 13 Germany 2 14 Slovakia 1
Visa-free travel to Belarus
On the eve of the ITTF tournament Belarus Open in November that is a testing tournament before 2019 European Games a new information concerning visas for entering Belarus appeared. According to the Presidential Decree which was signed by the President of the Republic of Belarus on July 24 the term of visa-free stay of foreign citizens in Belarus is extended to 30 days (instead of 5 days) provided they enter the country and depart it crossing the state border at the national airport Minsk. The list of countries whose citizens have the right to use the regime of visa-free entry and exit has been updated. It excludes countries with which Belarus has concluded bilateral agreements on the mutual abolition of visas. The given order of visa-free movement through the airport does not extend to persons coming to Belarus by flight from Russia as well as to those who intend to fly to the airports of Russia (such flights are considered as internal ones and countries do not have border control). To enter the Republic of Belarus in the visa-free regime via the checkpoint “Minsk National Airport” foreign citizens must have the following documents: – a valid ordinary passport or another substituting document for traveling abroad; – financial means: at least 25 Euro (or equal amount in dollars or Belarusian rubles) for each day of stay; – or 50 base values (more than 610 dollars) if the stay is of full 30 days – medical insurance for at least 10 000 Euros that covers the territory of Belarus. A mandatory additional requirement for the citizens of Vietnam Haiti Gambia India Lebanon Namibia and Samoa is the presence of a valid multiple entry visa of the EU or Schengen states in the passport with a mark on entry into their territory as well as air tickets with confirmation of departure from the national airport of Minsk within 30 days from the date of entry. A special decree was signed providing a visa-free regime for a number of foreign citizens for the period of the 2019 European Games in Minsk. The document sets visa-free entry to Belarus for participants officials Games’ organizers other professional staff from May 20 to July 10 2019 as well as for foreign tourists from June 10 to July 10 2019 on accreditation cards or tickets for sporting events. More information for your attention here
Brazil’s Calderano Looks to Climb Career New Height at 2018 ITTF Australian Open
Brazil’s Hugo CALDERANO looks to achieve new career best ranking on the ITTF World Ranking next month at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Australian Open that begins action tomorrow 26 July till 29 July 2018 in Geelong Australia. CALDERANO who just broke into the world top 10 in July 2018 faces Japan’s Yuya OSHIMA and is expected to overtake reigning World & Olympic Champion MA Long on the August world ranking if he is able to reach the semifinals and reach take the sixth spot on the world ranking if he takes Gold here in Geelong. MA had pulled out from the tournament just few days before the action due to a knee injury. Looking to repeat his heroics at the Qatar Open earlier this year where he upset several higher ranked stars to reach the final the 22-year-old stated “I played well at the Korean Open last week and I’m excited to be here at the Australian Open to try and perform in a strong tournament once again and I’m ready and prepared for whatever comes.” CALDERANO’s doubles partner Simon GAUZY (FRA) who claimed silver at the 2017 Australian Open will meet Indian superstar Sharath Kamal ACHANTA in the round of 32 & be aiming to match his previous performance in Australia to avoid losing world ranking points. Competition will be tough for the duo with top seeds Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) XU Xin (CHN) LEE Sangsu (KOR) and Japanese stars Koki NIWA Tomokazu HARIMOTO all aiming to become champion here in Australia after having mixed form in 2018. In the Women’s Singles event Grand Slam Champion DING Ning whose world ranking had fell due to inactivity will be looking at claiming Gold in Geelong to move her way back into the top 10. When asked her dreams after achieving her Grand Slam at the event launch the former world number one stated “My goal here is to win the tournament. I have already achieved my big career dream winning at the World Championships World Cup and Olympic Games so my dream now is just to win this tournament.” DING will face off with Chinese Taipei’s CHENG Hsien-Tzu in the first round in the main draw and is expected to meet Japan’s Miu HIRANO in the quarterfinals & semifinals respectively if things went according to seeding. The Australian Open is the eighth stop on the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour and the fifth of six Platinum events on the ITTF World Tour which is the top tier of the 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 qualify for the singles doubles and mixed doubles events at the one-million-dollar World Tour Grand Finals in December. Main draw action for the Australian Open will begin tomorrow 26 July with Mixed Doubles Final being played on Saturday 28 July and the remaining four Finals (Women’s Doubles Men’s Doubles Women’s Singles & Men’s Singles) Champions being crowned on Sunday 29 July 2018. Quick Links: Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Australian Open Daily Schedule & Results Media Kit Flash Quotes Photos for Editorial Use Live Streaming & Videos on Demand Match Highlights
Wales chosen as host of the 2021 EV Championships
The 2021 European Veterans Championships to be held at Cardiff Metropolitan University in the capital city of Cardiff The ETTU Executive Board is pleased to announce the 2021 European Veterans Championships has been awarded to the Table Tennis Association of Wales to be held at Cardiff Metropolitan University in the capital city of Cardiff from Monday 21st to Sunday 27th June 2021. “The Executive Board assisted by the Chairman of ETTU’s Veterans Committee was impressed by the overall quality of the bids from the associations of Norway Spain and Wales for the EVC 2021. We are quite confident that all three can stage an excellent veteran’s tournament with Spain having the advantage of having hosted the WVC in 2016. Nevertheless the unanimous choice for Wales was based on our appreciation for their outstanding presentation as a fully respected however relatively small association not having hosted an ETTU event for a long time” stated ETTU President Ronald KRAMER. Steve EADES Mike WATTS Owen RODGERS and Ryan JENKINS delivered the presentation to the ETTU Executive Board on Sunday in Cluj Romania at the European Youth Championships. Table Tennis Wales Vice-President Steve EADES has promised successful event at the Cardiff Metropolitan University: “Table Tennis Wales (TTW) are delighted that its Organizing Committee’s bid to host The 2021 European Veterans Championship in Wales has proved successful. A final presentation was made in Romania on Sunday 22nd July. TTW look forward to delivering a wonderful championship in conjunction with its partner Cardiff Metropolitan University”.
Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS at the top of the Europe again
2018 STAG European Youth Championships Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS of Greece beat Swede Truls MOREGARD to defend his title in Junior Boys Singles Event at the 2018 STAG European Youth Championships. Maksim GREBNEV of Russia and Rares SIPOS of Romania are the bronze medals winners. In the final SGOUROPOULOS was two games to one down but he recovered. “It was very difficult match for me but I am so proud that I won this title two times in the row ” said SGOUROPOULOS. In semis Maksim GREBNEV of Russia won the opening game against Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS but after that it was one-way street. SGOUROPOULOS recovered and in close encounter win next four games. “I had the difficult start. Lost few easy balls. My hand was stiffed; I did not play freely. On the other hand GREBNEV played on highest level ” explained Ioannis. “After that coach VATSAKLIS calmed me down we changed the tactics and it was much better. I stayed close to the table. I di not risk too much and played much more safe.” Rares SIPOS of Romania suffered by the hand of Truls MOREGARD. “This was an amazing victory I wanted to win this so much since I already was second twice in a row. So it feels good to be in the final again against Ioanis – it will be a good final I think. Playing in such a good atmosphere is just fun. Even if the crowed cheers for him it is so exciting to play ” said MOREGARD. Junior Boys Singles Final Truls MOREGARD (Sweden) – Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS (Greece) 3:4 (9:11 12:10 11:0 10:12 9:11 11:9 7:11) Semi final Maksim GREBNEV (Russia) – Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS (Greece) 1:4 (11:8 8:11 7:11 8:11 9:11) Rares SIPOS (Romania) – Truls MOREGARD (Sweden) 1:4 (11:8 7:11 7:11 11:13 13:15) Quick links ETTU EYC page Organiser’s web site ETTU on Facebook ETTU On Instagram ETTU on Twitter
NING Jing defended her title
2018 STAG European Youth Championships Azerbaijan’s NING Jing beat Romania’s Tania PLAIAN to defend her title in Junior Girls Singles Event. Cristina KALLBERG of Sweden won bronze as well as Ekaterina ZIRONOVA of Russia. In the penultimate stage NING Jing halted Cristina KALLBERG of Sweden on her way to the final. In other duel Ekaterina ZIRONOVA of Russia had 3:1 against Tania PLAIAN but failed to post the victory. She lost fifth and sixth game 10:12 before Romania’s player won 11:3 in perfect finish. “I feel very good because I wasn’t expecting to come back from the 3-1 10-5 for my adversary but I was very focused from the first until the last point. I am glad that made it to the first final in singles of the European Championship at home ” said Tania PLAIAN. Junior Girls Singles Final NING Jing (Azerbaijan) – Tania PLAIAN (Romania) 4:0 (11:7 11:8 11:4 11:7) Semi final Ekaterina ZIRONOVA (Russia) – Tania PLAIAN (Romania) 3:4 (11:7 11:13 11:9 11:3 10:12 10:12 3:11) NING Jing (Azerbaijan) – Cristina KALLBERG (Sweden) 4:1 (11:2 13:11 11:4 5:11 11:5) Quick links ETTU EYC page Organiser’s web site ETTU on Facebook ETTU On Instagram ETTU on Twitter
