The Uncle Pop 2017 Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals is the second most prestigious table tennis event of the year after the World Table Tennis Championships and is contested by 20 players. The Uncle Pop 2017 Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals will be held in Markham Canada. It is the first time that Canada is hosting the tournament. The previous occasion was in Philadelphia USA. The 20 players taking part at the Uncle Pop 2017 Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals qualified through their Continental Cups apart from wildcard player Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) and host representative ZHANG Mo (CAN). LIU Shiwen (CHN) replaces the World Champion DING Ning (CHN). Petrissa SOLJA withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Matilda EKHOLM (SWE). The 20 players who are contesting the Uncle Pop 2017 Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals comprises of: 17 players who have qualified through their respective Continental Cups. If no players qualify from the host association through the above avenues a host association player may nominate a player The final player is chosen by the ITTF as a wildcard. The current individual World Champion* If the World Champion is not available or withdraws she shall be replaced by the remaining highest ranked and highest finisher from the Continental Cups* * DING Ning has withdrew from the tournament and has been replaced by LIU Shiwen Most Women’s World Cup Appearances Liu Jia (AUT) will be taking part in her 12th Women’s World Cup. Tie Yana (HKG) 12 Liu Jia (AUT) 12 Jiang Huajun (HKG) 9 Li Jiawei (SGP) 9 # WR – Oct 2017 Player Qualification Method 1 4 LIU Shiwen (CHN 1) Substitute 2 103 Dina MESHREF (EGY) African Cup Winner 3 2 ZHU Yuling (CHN 2) Asian Cup Winner 4 80 Lily ZHANG (USA) Pan Am Cup Winner 5 249 Paulina VEGA (CHI) Pan Am Latin American Qualifier 6 117 LAY Jian Fang (AUS) Oceania Cup Winner 7 20 LI Jie (NED) Europe Cup Winner 8 5 Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN 1) Asian Cup 3rd place (2nd Qualifier) 9 6 Miu HIRANO (JPN 2) Asian Cup 4th place (3rd Qualifier) 10 44 Matilda EKHOLM (SWE) Substitute 11 52 Sabine WINTER (GER 2) Europe Cup 3rd place (3rd Qualifier) 12 35 LIU Jia (AUT) Continental Cup Qualifier 1 13 32 Georgina POTA (HUN) Continental Cup Qualifier 2 14 32 CHEN Szu-Yu (TPE 1) Continental Cup Qualifier 3 15 27 SUH Hyowon (KOR) Continental Cup Qualifier 4 16 19 DOO Hoi Kem (HKG 1) Continental Cup Qualifier 5 17 10 CHENG I-Ching (TPE 2) Continental Cup Qualifier 6 18 42 LEE Ho Ching (HKG 2) Continental Cup Qualifier 7 19 59 ZHANG Mo (CAN) Host 20 26 Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) Wild card Prize Money Winner: US$45 000 Runner-up: US$25 000 3rd place: US$15 000 4th place: US$10 000 5th – 8th place: US$6 000 9th – 16th place: US$3 250 17th – 20th place: US$1 250 Total: US$150 000
Fakel Gazprom proudly shows newly-crowned 2017 World Cup Champion
2017/18 TTCLM Round 3 is scheduled from Wednesday to Friday (October 25-27th). Reigning champion hosts TTCLM newcomer Sporting Clube De Portugal Reigning TTCLM champion Fakel Gazprom faces newcomer Sporting Clube De Portugal in the Round 3 (Oct 27 14:00) and fans in Russian TT Center in Orenburg will have opportunity to see the newly-crowned Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup Champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. German player won its very first World Cup title last Sunday in Liège after defeating his compatriot Timo BOLL in the final. “Dreams come true I won the World Cup for the first time and it means so much to me! I had a long way to win this title” stressed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV who won each of four Orenburg`s TTCLM title. Fakel Gazprom`s head coach Victor ANDREEV emphasized that all people in the club “are proud that the player of the Russian club Fakel-Gazprom Dimitrij OVTCHAROV won the World Cup in 2017”! Club`s President Vladimir KIYAEV congratulated Dima for this remarkable victory! “The upcoming match against the Portuguese club will be very stressful for both teams. Practically the fate of the first place in our group is decided. Our rival is a strong team. They proved it in previous matches. Orenburg club Fakel-Gazprom is aimed only at victory. We wish everyone good luck in the upcoming round of the Champions League” stated Victor ANDREEV. Other seven Round 3 games will be held from Wednesday to Friday (Oct 25-27). There are two more undefeated teams so far beside Orenburg and Sporting. They are German sides Saarbrucken (Group B) and Ochsenhausen (Group C) and French Hennebont (Group D). Double TTCLM champion Pontoise faces Bogoria in Poland in do-or-die clash having 0-2 score after first two rounds. Two former TTCLM runner-ups will play one against another in Verkhnaya Pyshma: UMMC vs. Eslovs (Group B) while Saarbrucken is determined to extend its winning streak in France against 2013 TTCLM runner-up Chartres. After clear 3:0 away win in Round 2 (Group C) against Walter Wels Czech Republic`s Ostrava 2016 aims new victory in front of their fans. But the opponent will be actual ETTU Cup winner Stella Sport La Romagne with the same goal: to reach 2017/18 quarter-final. The 2009 runner-up TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen is huge favorite against SPG Walter Wels playing on its soil. The 2017/18 TTCLM no. 6 seed Poland`s K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo haven’t been prove its ranking so far but now they are traveling to France to oppose Hennebont. Host side plays for 3-0 score in Group D while guests target their very first victory. Other match in this group will confront ten times TTCLM winner Borussia Düsseldorf and Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61. Round 3 of 2017/18 TTCLM GROUP A K.S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – AS Pontoise Cergy (Oct 26 18:30) TTC Fakel Gazprom – Sporting Clube De Portugal (Oct 27 14:00) GROUP B TTSC UMMC – Eslovs Ai Bordtennis (Oct 26 16:00) Chartres ASTT – FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis (Oct 27 19:00) GROUP C TTC Ostrava 2016 – Stella Sport La Romagne (Oct 25 18:00) TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen – SPG Walter Wels (Oct 27 19:30) GROUP D G.V. Hennebont T.T. – K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo (Oct 26 20:00) Borussia Düsseldorf – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 (Oct 27 18:30)
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Claims First ITTF World Cup Gold in Liège
German player is the Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup Champion after defeating the giant slayer his compatriot Timo BOLL in front of a capacity crowd in Liege Belgium today 22 October 2017. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV who became the Men’s World Cup Champion for the first time here in Liege had to overcome Timo BOLL who was the hero of the Belgium crowd after saving seven match points to beat LIN Gauyuan (CHN) in the quarter final and then beat Mr Unbeatable world number one MA Long (CHN) in the semi final earlier today. BOLL could not keep up his momentum and fell one match short in his quest to win the Men’s World Cup trophy for a third time. OVTCHAROV was simply too strong in the key moments and won the match to clinch the title 10-12 11-8 11-7 9-11 11-7 11-2. After lifting the cup the elated German stated: “I could never have imagined few years ago that I could be winning the World Cup. I think the support from my family was very helpful because without them I could not have been here today as champion of the World Cup.” “I am indeed privilege to be listed among the World Cup winners particularly I must acknowledge the quality of Timo who defeated two great Chinese players on his way to the final. I could see he was a bit tired as he could not move very well having played some fantastic matches. I think he deserves the victory as much as I do. I think I will have to go home and celebrate with my family ” added the 29-year-old. After his disappointing loss to BOLL the Olympic & World Champion MA recovered to win the bronze medal overcoming a spirited Simon GAUZY 4-2 (11-5 11-13 6-11 11-5 11-7 11-9) for a podium finish. “I am disappointed with my loss in the semi final; I came here to do my best and give the fans something to cheer ” shared MA who just recently celebrated his 29th birthday two days earlier. “I really focused on this match and it is worthwhile winning the bronze medal match. I think for you to win any match you have to be 100 percent ready. I did not lose my passion as I just focused on this match.” With the conclusion of the Liebherr 2017 ITTF Men’s World Cup in Liège all attention turns to the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals to be held in Markham Canada from 27-29 October 2017.
Superb Linz too strong for Cartagena
2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 3: Linz AG Froschberg – UCAM Cartagena TM 3:0 Austrian Linz AG Froschberg showed its strength in spite of not playing this season after many successful years in Seamaster ECLW without LIU Jia! Double ECLW winner 2009 and 2013 beat at home UCAM Cartagena TM 3:0. Sophia POLCANOVA again after convincing performances in the opening round (won two games against Bursa one of them vs. actual ECH gold medalist HU Melek) proved her talent. The 23-year-old host overcame Tetyana BILENKO in straight games of the opener. ZHANG Mo prevailed against WANG Zhipei while Linda BERGSTROM secured victory for Linz defeating Romania’s rising star Adina DIACONU in four games. The 18-year-old DIACONU one of biggest European prospects has debuted in ECLW. She won four gold medals in a row in women’s singles event in the European Youth Championships from 2013 to 2016: twice cadet’s (2013 2014) and twice junior’s (2015 2016). 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 3 GRPUP B Linz AG Froschberg – UCAM Cartagena TM 3:0 Sophia POLCANOVA – Tetyana BILENKO 3:0 (11:4 11:7 11:7) ZHANG Mo – WANG Zhipei 3:1 (11:8 3:11 11:9 11:3) Linda BERGSTROM – Adina DIACONU 3:1 (11:7 8:11 11:6 12:10)
Manolis Kolymbadis was again elected Secretary General of the Hellenic Olympic Committee
From Friday night the chairman of the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation Manolis KOLIMBADIS continues his work as Secretary General of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. He had taken this very honorary position for the first time in February 2017 but in July the elections in the H.O.C. were annulled by court order and for more than three months there was no administration. The elections were held again on October 20 and Manolis Kolymbadis was elected as General Secretary for the period 2017-2020. In a total of 22 sports federations that voted they got 21 votes and there was a white one. The president was re-elected for the third consecutive four-year term by Spyros Kapralos with 22-0 votes. There were 5 federations absent. “Reelection is solemn and this is again a great honor which primarily reflects on table tennis and then on my face. It also demonstrates that the sport is highly valued in the field of the sports movement» said the secretary general of the H.O.C. «In all these months from July to the present day where H.O.C. did not have the administration the positive energy of the world of the table tennis urged me to re-nominate and to be honest. It is now time for work starting on Tuesday we have the flame of Ancient Olympia for the Winter Olympics. Even the flame delivery to the Korean organizers on the 30th of the month at the Panathenaic Stadium we want to demonstrate to all the leadership of the International Olympic Committee which will be present in Athens in that time that the sports movement is united and leaves behind of all the introversion of about 9 months that preceded it. As far as I personally concerned as I did in my five-month term in my first term at IOC I will do my utmost to meet my duties without of course neglecting the duty I am facing the sport world as president of the federation. I would like to thank all the fellow representatives of the sports federations who honored me with their vote and in particular President Spyros Kapralos who since February has surrounded me with his trust and love» added Manolis KOLIMBADIS who is in Ancient Olympia and will receive on Sunday together with Spyros KAPRALOS the president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas BACH from Andravida Air Base.
2017/18 Seamaster ECLW: French teams win away
Round 3 – Group A: TuS Bad Driburg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 1:3 Group D: SKST Mart Hodonin-Stavoimpex – TT Saint Quentinois 2:3 Two French teams secured their first wins in the 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW playing away their Round 3 matches: TuS Bad Driburg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 1:3 SKST Mart Hodonin-Stavoimpex – TT Saint Quentinois 2:3. Bernadete SZOCS brought two points for Lille Metropole beating both Sarah DE NUTTE and Nina MITTELHAM who defeated Maria XIAO in the opener. Agnes LE LANNIC provided third win for guests as she overcame Sophia KLEE in straight games. The 22-year-old Romania`s SZOCS 2012 European junior champion improved her individual score in this season to 3-0. Germany`s MITTELHAM was 2013 European junior champion. Hodonin had strong GUO Lin but Saint Quentinois showed good team work to get first win in the ongoing ECLW season. Chinese player beat Chinese Taipei`s CHENG Hsieh Tzu in the opening clash and overcame Daniela DODEAN-MONTEIRO to level the score in the game at 2:2. Fifth deciding encounter was very exciting and tense and belonged to CHENG Hsieh Tzu who was extended to full distance by Natalia PARTYKA. 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 3 GROUP A TuS Bad Driburg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole 1:3 Nina MITTELHAM – Maria XIAO 3:1 (10:12 11:8 11:7 14:12) Sarah DE NUTTE – Bernadette SZOCS 1:3 (3:11 11:8 10:12 8:11) Sophia KLEE – Agnes LE LANNIC 0:3 (10:12 7:11 4:11) Nina MITTELHAM – Bernadette SZOCS 0:3 (6:11 7:11 6:11) GROUP B Linz AG Froschberg – UCAM Cartagena TM (October 21st 16:00) GROUP C ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly – Szekszard AC (October 20th 19:30) GROUP D SKST Mart Hodonin-Stavoimpex – TT Saint Quentinois 2:3 GUO Lin – CHENG Hsieh Tzu 3:1 (5:11 11:8 11:8 11:5) Natalia PARTYKA – Daniela DODEAN-MONTEIRO 0:3 (4:11 9:11 8:11) Renata STRBIKOVA – Britt EERLAND 2:3 (6:11 12:10 11:7 3:11 5:11) GUO Lin – Daniela DODEAN-MONTEIRO 3:0 (11:8 11:8 11:2) Natalia PARTYKA – CHENG Hsieh Tzu 2:3 (3:11 11:6 11:6 6:11 1:11)
Star Studded ITTF Men’s World Cup Begins Action in Liège
20 of the world best male table tennis stars have gathered in the Belgian city of Liège for the Liebherr 2017 ITTF Men’s World Cup at the Country hall de Liège. Reigning World Champion MA Long (CHN) will be heading the seeding to fight for the prestigious title alongside Continental Cup Champions who had all fought hard in their respective regions to qualify for the annual major tournament that counts to the Grand Slam title (Olympic Games World Championships World Cup). MA who will be celebrating his 29th tomorrow looks at putting on another strong performance to claim a career third World Cup title stated “After my first visit to Belgium in 2008 I am happy returning and I am looking forward to a good performance after my last outing at the Chinese National Games.” “I feel challenged in all competition particularly with the presence of young players coming through from China and that is what makes the Chinese team very strong. I am ready for the challenge and I am ready to adapt to it and take each match as they come.” MA’s younger teammate LIN Gaoyuan (CHN) will pose one major challenge to MA aiming for the title. LIN was the surprise qualifier to the World Cup after he shocked 2016 World Cup Champion FAN Zhendong at the 2017 ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup earlier in September to secure his ticket to Liège and will be determined to repeat his success again to make his World Cup debut a memorable one. 12 years since his last World Cup title in 2005 Germany’s Timo BOLL returns to the fateful city of Liège to eye for a third title. BOLL is joined by his teammate world number four Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) who will be looking at fending off all challenges for a career first World Cup title in Belgium. For the first time in World Cup history the ITTF Men’s World Cup welcomes two African representatives Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA qualifying as the African Cup Champion and Egypt’s Omar ASSAR becoming the first ever African to qualify for the World Cup through world ranking. Liebherr 2017 ITTF Men’s World Cup action starts today with stage one qualification rounds where seeds nine to 20 will play round robin in four groups of three players (two matches each). The top two players from each group will progress to join the top eight seeds in the second stage. The draw for stage one of the tournament can be found here: http://bit.ly/2xRcBdD. The second round will see the eight qualifiers facing off with the top eight seeds in a knockout. Round of 16 and the quarterfinals action will be live on Saturday 21 October while semifinals and the final battle for Gold will be played on Sunday 22 October.
Linz considers Cartagena as its milestone
2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 3 will be held this Friday and Saturday (October 20-21st) Round 3 of the 2017/18 Seamaster European Champions League Women will be held this Friday and Saturday (October 20-21st) as double ECLW champion Linz AG Froschberg hosts two times ETTU Cup winner UCAM Cartagena (Group B Oct 21 Saturday 16:00). Both sides were beaten by Bursa in their first Group B matches. “We are absolutely not the favourite now but we have a young team with a new spirit” stated Linz`s President Günther RENNER. “Like always we fight against the odds…until now we always go up to the quarter-final but this year it will be difficult. The game against Cartagena is an important milestone this year we expect a close game…and that small things will decide it at the end.” Actual World no. 37 Sofia POLCANOVA took leading role from 2005 individual European champion LIU Jia who left the club after many seasons winning 2009 and 2013 ECLW titles. The 23-year-old member of Austrian National Team won both her games in the opening round against Bursa (Turkish club beat them 3:2) against actual European champion HU Melek and LEE Ho Ching. Other two names in the Linz`s lineup were ZHANG Mo (no. 59) and HO Tin-Tin (no. 205) but new head coach Zsolt HARCZI can count also on Linda BERGSTROM (no. 165) and Lucia TRUKSOVA (no. 387). “Linz always reached the semi-finals in WECL for 12 years in a row I hope I`m not the first to lose before even though the this year`s lineup has the priority on developing players for the future. We will give our best we will attack and try to be the group first at the end doesn’t matter what the odds are in table tennis everything is possible” stressed Zsolt HARCZI former Head Coach of Hungarian Men`s National Team Men who was for 7 years no. 1 of the men’s team of Linz AG Froschberg). Last Friday (Oct 13) Cartagena lost from Bursa 3:1 playing with Matilda EKHOLM WANG Zhipei and Tetyana BILENKO in their lineup. Other three Round 3 matches will be held this Friday (October 20th). 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 3 GROUP A: TuS Bad Driburg – CP LYSSOIS LILLE METROPOLE (Oct 20 19:00) GROUP B: Linz AG Froschberg – UCAM Cartagena TM (Oct 21 16:00) GROUP C: ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly – Szekszard AC (Oct 20 19:30) GROUP D: SKST Mart Hodonin-Stavoimpex – TT SAINT QUENTINOIS (Oct 20 18:00)
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV leads the Europe’s challenge
2017 Men’s World Cup The Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup will be held in the Country hall de Liège. It is the fourth time that Belgium has hosted the tournament; the previous occasions being in Verviers in 2013 and in Liège in 2005 & 2008. The 20 players taking part at the Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup qualified through their Continental Cups apart from World Champion MA Long (CHN) host representative Cedric NUYTINCK (BEL) and wildcard entry Marcos Freitas (POR). The 20 players who contest the Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup comprise: The current World Champion 17 players who qualified through their respective Continental Cups. If no players qualify from the host association through the above the host association may nominate a player The final player is chosen by the ITTF as a wildcard. How the 17 places are determined through the Continental Cup: The winner of each Continental Cup plus the second and third highest finishers from Asia and Europe qualify; a total of 10 players. Seven additional players are selected from the Continental Cups based on their order of finishing and their World Ranking. The highest ranked player amongst players finishing second in Africa Latin America North America Oceania and fourth in Asia and Europe are selected. The highest ranked next player from the remaining players in the top most places on the qualifying positions from each Continental Cup are selected and so on until the seven places are filled. # WR – Oct 2017 Player Qualification Method 1 1 MA Long (CHN 1) World Champion 2 36 Quadri ARUNA (NGR) African Cup Winner 3 9 LIN Gaoyuan (CHN2) Asian Cup Winner 4 112 Gustavo TSUBOI (BRA) Pan American Cup Winner 5 228 Kanak JHA (USA) Pan American Cup (2nd player) 6 339 David POWELL (AUS) Oceania Cup Winner 7 4 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER 1) Europe Cup Winner 8 16 LEE Sangsu (KOR 1) Asian Cup 3rd place (2nd Qualifier) 9 33 CHEN Chien-An (TPE 1) Asian Cup 4th place (3rd Qualifier) 10 41 Alexander SHIBAEV (RUS) Europe Cup 2nd place (2nd Qualifier) 11 13 Simon GAUZY (FRA) Europe Cup 3rd place (3rd Qualifier) 12 7 Jun MIZUTANI (JPN 1) Continental Cup Qualifier 1 13 34 KOU Lei (UKR) Continental Cup Qualifier 2 14 5 Timo BOLL (GER 2) Continental Cup Qualifier 3 15 21 Omar ASSAR (EGY) Continental Cup Qualifier 4 16 36 JEONG Sangeun (KOR 2) Continental Cup Qualifier 5 17 15 CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE 2) Continental Cup Qualifier 6 18 8 Koki NIWA (JPN 2) Continental Cup Qualifier 7 19 7 Cedric NUYTINCK (BEL) Host 20 19 Marcos FREITAS (POR) Wild card Prize Money Winner: US$45 000 Runner up: US$25 000 3rd place: US$15 000 4th place: US$10 000 5th – 8th place: US$6 000 9th – 16th place: US$3 250 17th – 20th place: US$1 250 Total: US$150 000 Most Successful Men’s World Cup Players Ma Lin (CHN) 4 (2006 2004 2003 2000) Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) 3 (2009 2001 1999) Wang Hao (CHN) 3 (2010 2008 2007) MA Long (CHN) 2 (2015 2012) Most Men’s World Cup Appearances Jean-Michel Saive (BEL) 18 Jan-Ove Waldner (SWE) 18 Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) 17 Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) 14
Excitements grows in Lisbon after two historic TTCLM wins
Sporting Clube de Portugal debuted in the TTCLM with two victories in two rounds Portugal`s champion Sporting Clube de Portugal has 2-0 score in the Group A of 2017/18 Table Tennis Champions League Men debuting in this prestigious competition. First they beat away double TTCLM winner AS Pontoise Cergy 3:1 while in the Round 2 Joao MONTEIRO & Co. celebrated in front of their fans after 3:1 win against Poland`s Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazoqiecki. We asked coach CHEN Shi Chao and his players to explain how they feel after these two wins… “It was very important to win these first two days so that we can have less pressure now. We are happy. We will continue to work to fight in the next games.” (CHEN Shi Chao) “Although surprising for some we started the competition with the results we wanted. Our amazing team consists of the athletes we choose – with effort dedication and devotion the glory will easily appear. But we want more …” (Gonçalo CASTANHEIRA) “I am enjoying my first participation in the Champions League much more having achieved these two historic victories. It really is a dream come true.” (Bode ABIODUN) “In France I was a bit nervous because it was my debut but in the last match in Lisbon I got one of the best victories of my career so I’m already adapted and motivated to help the team.” (Diogo CARVALHO) “I am feeling very good to be able to help the team succeed and be part of the history of this fantastic club in this event that is the most important at European level. I will continue to train to improve and improve …” (Aruna QUADRI) “I returned to Sporting to play for Champions and I dedicate this victory to our fans. I have played on big stages with a lot of public but it was special to play before the members and fans of the club of my heart in this fabulous hall.” (João MONTEIRO)
