The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Executive Committee has appointed Mr. Frank JI as the Special Advisor to the ITTF President for Commercial and Business. Mr. JI has been a major commercial supporter to the ITTF in the last 24 months through a strategic investment partnership with the new form of table tennis Table Tennis X (TTX) as well as having his company Seamaster as the title sponsor of the ITTF World Tour. Mr. JI has also been instrumental in creating additional commercial table tennis products to promote table tennis globally with the Chinese national being the visionary behind the new T2 APAC table tennis league which was launched this year. On his new position Mr. JI stated: “I am honoured to be appointed as the Special Advisor to the ITTF President. Together with my company Seamaster I would try my utmost to contribute on the development of table tennis and make our sport more energetic and exciting to draw more younger generation into the game. I am happy to work with the ITTF who are capable enough to create a better environment for table tennis.” “I hope Seamaster could strengthen the collaborations with the ITTF in different aspects including with T2 in a more commercial way.” ITTF’s President Mr. Thomas WEIKERT added: “I would like to personally thank Frank for his commitment passion and belief in table tennis and the ITTF over our fruitful relationship over the last 24 months. Frank is a business visionary and I could not think of a better person to be advising me on how to develop ITTF’s commercial and business interests in his new position. I look forward to our relationship flourishing more and together taking table tennis to new heights.” Mr. WEIKERT and Mr. JI will hold their first meeting to discuss new strategies to develop the commercial aspects of table tennis during the Seamaster 2017 World Tour Grand Finals to be held in Astana Kazakhstan on 14-17 December 2017.
Eight more players joined U13 program for 2018
The final ETTU Selection camp for 2017 concluded in Slovenia’s town of Otocec. Players from 18 countries 30 in all were part of the evaluation U13 program for 2018. Istvan KORPA Joze URH Michael FUCHS Adrain ALEXANDRU Miran KONDRIC and Neven CEGNAR selected 8 players after this final camp. Boys: Darius MOVILEANU (ROU) 171 points Nikolaosz KIZAKISZ (HUN) 166 points Rafael KONG (POR) 165 points David BJORKRYD (SWE) 163 points Alessi MASSART (BEL) 159 points Girls: Julie Van HAUWAERT (BEL) 169 points Evelin UNGVARI (ROU) 168 points Veranika VARABYOVA (BLR) 159 points From 2016 selection there are futher 19 names already at the list Eduard IONESCU (ROU) Bogdan BADEA (ROU) Andrei TOMICA (ROU) Iulian CHIRITA (ROU) Dragos BUJOR (ROU) Elena ZAHARIA (ROU) Hana ARAPOVIC (CRO) Jamie LIU (ENG) Luiz MACIEL (POR) Simon BELIK (CZE) Ignas SISANOVAS (LTU) Sophie EARLEY (IRL) Gabrielius CAMARA (NED) Daniel BERSOZA (ESP) Jakub GOLDIR (SVK) Tayler FOX (GER) Laura KAIM (GER) Anna HURSEY (WAL) Miriam CARNOVALE (ITA)
ECLW Round 2: Favorites prove their class
Three top seeded teams – Tarnobrzeg Berlin and Dr. CASL – won their games Favorites of the 2017/18 Seamaster Champions League Women proved their class in the Round 2: CP Lyssois Lille Metropole – KTS Tarnobrzeg 1:3 Szekszard AC – Dr. CASL 0:3 TT Saint Quentinois – TTC Berlin Eastside 0:3. All winning teams improved their score in the group stage to 2-0. No. 1 seed Tarnobrzeg showed good team work as each their player won one game in France. HAN Ying continued her winning streak in the new ECLW edition beating World no. 108 Tamolwan KHETKHUAN in straight games. Thailand`s player suffered also at the hands of Tarnobrzeg`s newcomer Elizabeta SAMARA playing fourth match. LI Qian added third point to guest side beating Agnes LE LANNIC Dr. CASL won in Hungary without losing any set against Szekszard AC. ZHOU Xintong LI Jie 0:3 and YU Fu demonstrated their power. Defending ECLW champion had an easy job in France. Berlin beat TT Saint Quentinois fifth time in last three seasons in group stage. . 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 2 (October 13th) GROUP A CP Lyssois Lille Metropole – KTS Tarnobrzeg 1:3 Tamolwan KHETKHUAN – HAN Ying 0:3 (3:11 7:11 4:11) Bernadette SZOCS – Elizabeta SAMARA 3:1 (12:10 8:11 16:14 11:7) Agnes LE LANNIC – LI Qian 0:3 (8:11 1:11 4:11) Tamolwan KHETKHUAN – Elizabeta SAMARA 1:3 (9:11 8:11 11:9 6:11) GROUP B UCAM Cartagena TM – Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor GROUP C Szekszard AC – Dr. CASL 0:3 Polina MIKHAILOVA – ZHOU Xintong 0:3 (6:11 9:11 3:11) Dora MADARASZ – LI Jie 0:3 (9:11 6:11 11:13) Ruta PASKAUSKIENE – YU Fu 0:3 (6:11 7:11 5:11) GROUP D TT Saint Quentinois – TTC Berlin Eastside 0:3 Daniela MONTEIRO-DODEAN – Georgina POTA 1:3 (7:11 11:8 5:11 8:11) Britt EERLAND – SHAN Xiaona 1:3 (11:5 10:12 6:11 3:11) Aurore LE MANSEC – Irina PALINA 1:3 (11:4 9:11 13:15 5:11)
KARLSSON keeps Borrussia in right course
TTCLM Round 2: Winners are Orenburg Saarbrucken Chartres Borussia and Hennebont Four out of five tonight`s matches (Oct 13) of TTCLM Round 2 belonged to the guest`s teams. Saarbrucken is unique side who managed to celebrate on its soil. Two clubs which took last six TTCLM titles met in France as four times champion Fakel Gazprom beat double TTCLM winner AS Pontoise Cergy 3:0. The opening match was of highest importance bearing in mind that the two best ranked players met. Current World no. 4 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV paved the way for Orenburg`s victory beating World no. 19 Marcos FREITAS in four games. In other two matches Jun MIZUTANI and Vladimir SAMSONOV overcame Niagol STOYANOV and Can AKKUZY respectively Patrick FRANZISKA was a key man in the reprise of the 2012 TTCLM semi-final between Saarbrucken and UMMC. German side won 3:1 thanks to actual World. No 55 who provided two wins in straight games against Andrej GACINA and Alexander SHIBAEV who was also beaten by Tiago APOLONIA. Japanese Maharu YOSHIMURA got unique points for Russian team overcoming Bojan TOKIC in the clash between no. 3 players in the team`s line-ups. Austrian`s Robert GARDOS showed one of his best games in last two seasons leading Chartres to its first victory in Group B. French side 2013 TTCLM runner-up defeated 2016 runner-up Sweden`s Eslovs 3:2. GARDOS beat XU Hui in the opening encounter and Robert SVENSSON in the decisive fifth match. Par GERELL prevailed against SVENSSON too while XU Hui and 15-year-old Truls MOREGARDH secured one point each for the host side. Guests were successful in Group D: Borussia beat Dzialdovo 3:2 while Hennebont defeated Roskilde 3:0 to continue on the top of that group with 2-0 score. World no. 23 Kristian KARLSSON was Borussia`s hero as he managed to beat both World no. 10 WONG Chun Ting and WANG Yang. German club ten times TTCLM winner led 2:0 in Poland but host team leveled the score after WONG`s win against Timo BOLL. Sweden`s player decided the winner defeating WANG in straight games. Hennebont proved in Denmark that their win against Borussia in the opening round wasn’t a coincidence. French side beat away Roskilde 3:0. Liam PITCHFORD paved the way for Hennebont`s success when he overcame ZHAI Yujia in the opener. Michael MAZE this time had no energy to push his side to the victory. Cedric NUYTINCK deserved clear victory. 2017/18 TTCLM Round 2 GROUP A AS Pontoise Cergy – TTC Fakel Gazprom 0:3 Marcos FREITAS – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 1:3 (10:12 11:9 5:11 8:11) Niagol STOYANOV – Jun MIZUTANI 0:3 (5:11 10:12 9:11) Can AKKUZU – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (7:11 10:12 15:13 9:11) GROUP B FC Saarbrücken Tischtennis – TTSC UMMC 3:1 Patrick FRANZISKA – Andrej GACINA 3:0 (11:8 11:7 11:6) Tiago APOLONIA – Alexander SHIBAEV 3:0 (13:11 11:2 11:7) Bojan TOKIC – Maharu YOSHIMURA 0:3 (3:11 12:14 10:12) Patrick FRANZISKA – Alexander SHIBAEV 3:0 (11:7 11:7 9) Eslovs Ai Bordtennis – Chartres ASTT 2:3 XU Hui – Robert GARDOS 1:3 (5:11 11:5 6:11 7:11) Robert SVENSSON – Par GERELL 1:3 (7:11 11:5 5:11 7:11) Truls MOREGARDH – Romain LORENTZ 3:2 (7:11 11:3 6:11 11:6 11:8) XU Hui – Par GERELL 3:2 (7:11 7:11 11:3 11:8 11:6) Robert SVENSSON – Robert GARDOS 0:3 (9:11 12:14 3:11) GROUP D K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo – Borussia Düsseldorf 2:3 WONG Chun Ting – Kristian KARLSSON 1:3 (11:13 11:8 7:11 3:11) WANG Yang – Timo BOLL 0:3 (9:11 7:11 8:11) Jiri VRABLIK – Anton KALLBERG 3:2 (11:4 7:11 7:11 11:7 11:4) WONG Chun Ting – Timo BOLL 3:2 (14:12 3:11 1:11 11:9 11:8) WANG Yang – Kristian KARLSSON 0:3 (8:11 9:11 11:13) Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – G.V. Hennebont T.T. 0:3 ZHAI Yujia – Liam PITCHFORD 1:3 (9:11 4:11 11:6 9:11) Laurens TROMER – Quentin ROBINOT 2:3 (11:7 12:14 7:11 11:8 6:11) Michael MAZE – Cedric NUYTINCK 0:3 (8:11 11:13 6:11)
Portugal Netherlands and Germany will host next three editions of Europe Youth Top 10
The ETTU is pleased to announce that the 2018 2019 and 2020 Europe Youth Top 10 events have been awarded to the Associations of Portugal Netherlands and Germany respectively. President Ronald KRAMER is enthusiast about the executive Board’s decision to award three consecutive editions of the Youth Top-10 . “It shows not only the willingness of these associations to host this important European Cadet and Junior event it also witnesses a great spirit of cooperation within ETTU. After the successful 2017 edition in Worcester (ENG) I wish to congratulate and thank the three Associations for their support given to the development of our young players by accommodating and hosting these three events”. Next year’s date is 7th-9th September 2018 and the Europe Youth Top 10 will be held in Portugal’s city of Vila Real. “Portugal for the past 5 years has organized some of the major ETTU and ITTF events. To receive the best youth European players in our country it’s an honor pleasure and of course a big responsibility. I’m sure Portuguese TTA will be ready to the challenge ” said PTTA President Pedro MOURA. Dutch city famous of sport will host the event in 2019. “We are very pleased and honoured to be awarded the organisation of the 2019 Youth Top 10. This prestigious table tennis event will take place in Noordwijk the European city of sports in 2017 announced NTTB President Jan SIMONS. In Olympic year – 2020 City of Berlin will be the host. “We are very happy to organize the Europe Youth Top Ten in 2020. Berlin as the German Capital is a perfect host for the meeting of the best continental talents at Europe’s most important ranking tournament ” said DTTB President Michael GEIGER.
ETTU Seelection camp in Otocec
The final ETTU Selection camp for 2017 is underway in Slovenia’s town of Otocec. From 41 nominated players 30 are on duty with 18 coaches from 18 countries. From this camp the best players will be selected to become the part of the U13 program for 2018 alongside 18 previously selected talents. The complete evaluating process is carried by Istvan KORPA Joze URH Michael FUCHS Adrain ALEXANDRU Miran KONDRIC and Neven CEGNAR. PLAYERS IN OTOCEC SOMMEROVA Helena Czech Republic GRIESEL Mia Germany STORTZ Jele Germany VARABYOVA Veranika Belgium LERAT Nolan Belgium GILTIA Tim Belgium MASSART Alessi Belgium BJORKRYD David Sweden LARSSON Dennis Sweden UNGVARI Evelin Romania MIKE Boroka Romania TEGLAS Andreea Romania MOVILEANU Darius Romania PETEK Borna Croatia KENESEY Blanka Hungary KIZAKISZ Nikolaosz Hungary SZANTOSI David Hungary PANDUREVIČ Vladimir Bosnia and Herzegovina SANCHEZ Yanira Spain MIRO Marc Spain Player KONG Rafael Portugal ZHENG Xijin Netherlands SPAGNOLO Daniele Italy SERTI Attilio Italy LAKATCHENKO Lukas Lithuania BOONYAPRAPA Naphong England TOKIČ Sara Slovenia ALFREDSSON Isak Sweden ZIJADIČ Benjamin Bosnia and Herzegovina VAN HAUWAERT Julie Belgium
Ochsenhausen passes La Romagne test in France
TTCLM Round 2: Stella Sport La Romagne – TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen 0:3 Sporting Clube de Portugal – K. S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 The 2009 TTCLM runner-up beat actual ETTU Cup winner Stella Sport La Romagne 3:0 playing away TTCLM Round 2 game. It looks like German side had an easy job but all clashes were tense and exciting. One more game was held tonight as Sporting Clube de Portugal defeated K. S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1. Hugo CALDERANO provided very important win for Ochsenhausen beating WEI Shiao in the opener after full five games. Both had their chances in the fifth set which had 32 points in total but guest played better in crucial moments. Host missed four match-balls (10:9 11:10 13:12 14:13). Almost same scenario was seen in the clash between CHEN Tian Yuan and Simon GAUZY who was extended to full distance but managed to win. Host was very close to the victory when he reversed the score from 7:10 to 11:10 in the fourth set (it was a chance for 3:1 for him). GAUZY responded in a style taking three consecutive points to win that set and to seal his win in the fifth one. Joao GERALDO secured third point for German side overcoming Adrian CRISAN in four sets. Like Ochsenhausen in Group B Sporting improved his score to 2-0 in Group A. Portugal`s champion beat Bogoria 3:1 in spite of losing opening game (HAN overcame Quadri ARUNA in four games). Joao MONTEIRO extended his winning streak against Pavel SIRUCEK who forced him to play his best table tennis. Other players but same story in the third encounter in which Diogo CARVALHO beat Daniel GORAK 3:2 (16:14 9:11 14:16 11:4 12:10). Guest led 8:5 9:7 and 10:9 in the decisive fifth set. Fourth clash was different than previous. Nigerian player beat SIRUCEK in straight games. 2017/18 TTCLM Round 2 Group A Sporting Clube de Portugal – K. S. Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 Quadri ARUNA – HAN Chuanxi 1:3 (11:9 8:11 9:11 6:11) Joao MONTEIRO – Pavel SUIRUCEK 3:2 (9:11 11:8 11:7 12:14 11:9) Diogo CARVALHO – Daniel GORAK 3:2 (16:14 9:11 14:16 11:4 12:10) Quadri ARUNA – Pavel SIRUCEK 3:0 (11:3 12:10 11:5) GROUP C Stella Sport La Romagne – TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen 0:3 WEI Shihao – Hugo CALDERANO 2:3 (5:11 6:11 11:6 13:11 15:17) CHEN Tian Yuan – Simon GAUZY 2:3 (6:11 15:13 11:7 11:13 4:11) Adrian CRISAN – Joao Geraldo 1:3 (8:11 9:11 11:7 9:11)
2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 2: TT Saint-Quentin third time in a row against reigning champion
All Round 2 matches scheduled for this Friday October 13th All four Round 2 matches of the 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW will be held this Friday October 13th: CP Lyssois Lille Metropole – KTS Tarnobrzeg (Group A 19:00 CET) UCAM Cartagena TM – Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor (Group B 18:00 CET) Szekszard AC – Dr. CASL (Group C 17:00 CET) TT Sain-Quentin – TTC Berlin Eastside (Group D 19:30 CET). No. 1 seed KTS Tarnobrzeg last two times in a row ECLW runner-up beat TuS bad Driburg 3:0 in the opening round but now they will face huge challange playing away against CP Lyssois Lille Metropole. French side is the 2015/16 ETTU Cup winner while the best Polish club won that competition in 2014/15. Current ETTU Cup winner Bursa defeated double ECLW champion Linz AG Froschberg in the Group B Round 1 as each their player got one point: LEE Ho Ching HU Melek and Yana NOSKOVA. Now they are going to play against UCAM Cartagena double ETTU Cup winner (2008/09 2009/10). “For us the match against Bursa it is very difficult. They have a very strong team that has players like HU MELEK or LEE. It will be a very hard meeting. We are very confident in our players and we are going with the illusion of obtaining a good result although we know that it will not be easy” stated Enrique PEREZ UCAM Cartagena team manager. Bursa`s coach Mehmet ASLAN explains why he expects so hard clash: “We think we gonna find powerful team against us. Actually who believe himself he should expect a hard game. Every time we believe and we used to hear from someone that we will do whatever we can. Important idea is just do what you can. The skill is important for a team but if you know what you will you believe yourself you can reach your dream. So we think Cartagena believes itself and is a hard team and it’s so good to play with a hard team. Because all big teams should play with a successful team so in this way they can prove itself”. In the Group C Hungarian Szekszard AC hosts Croatian Dr. CASL who presented its strong line-up two weeks ago beating ALCL TT Grand-Quevilly 3:1. DOO Hoi Kem secured two wins YU Fu added one more while LI Jie after long trip from China lost to Barbora BALAZOVA. Now they will oppose the team guided by the best ranked ECLW player CHENG I-Ching (World no. 10). Four times ECLW champion in last six years Berlin is determined to prove his supremacy in the Group D facing away TT Saint-Quentin. Jean-Louis POLARD team manager of French club speaks about their aim in this ECLW campaign: “For the third year in a row we are competing with Berlin Eastside in the same group. As they are 2016 and 2017 Women`s European Champions League winner our aim is (as usual) to qualify for the quarter-finals in the second positions. So the crucial matches will be against Hodonin and the first one is already planned on October 20th. Meanwhile we are pleased to welcome the German team and we are sure the public in Saint-Quentin will be delighted to see again the best European players including Petrissa SOLJA if she has recovered”. 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW Round 2 (October 13th) GROUP A CP Lyssois Lille Metropole – KTS Tarnobrzeg (19:00 CET) GROUP B UCAM Cartagena TM – Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor (18:00 CET) GROUP C Szekszard AC – Dr. CASL (17:00 CET) GROUP D TT Sain-Quentin – TTC Berlin Eastside (19:30 CET)
ITTF Confirms List of Players for ITTF World Cups
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has confirmed the 20 male & female players who will be in action at the Liebherr 2017 ITTF Men’s World Cup and the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals to be held later this month. Liebherr 2017 ITTF Men’s World Cup – 20-22 Oct 2017 Liege (BEL) Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals – 27-29 Oct 2017 Markham (CAN) Reigning World Champion MA Long (CHN) and World number two Asian Cup Champion ZHU Yuling (CHN) will be heading the respective seeding at the Men’s & Women’s World Cup and will compete for the prestigious World Cup titles alongside Continental Champions as well as other top players who had qualified through their Continental Cups. After World Champion DING Ning (CHN)’s withdrawal from the Women’s World Cup due to her physical condition DING’s teammate LIU Shiwen (CHN) was selected to replace DING at the event given her strong past Women’s World Cup performance and her second-place finish at the 2017 ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup and will be aiming for a record fifth title in 2017. With their strong form in recent events European top stars Marcos FREITAS (POR) and Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) were given the wildcard places to compete at the Men’s & Women’s World Cups respectively for their chance at the titles. The ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups will start off with players seeded 9 – 20 playing round robin in the group stage to fight for their chance to join the top 8 players in the second stage where a knockout system will be played to determine the winner. The ITTF Men’s World Cup will be in its 38th edition in 2017 since its inauguration in 1980 in Hong Kong whereas the Women’s World Cup will be in its 21st year since it first started in 1996 in Hong Kong as well. With 20 world class players fighting for the title in Liége and Markham who will lift the cup? Watch the event promotional videos here:
TTCLM Round 2: Ostrava scores convincing win
Group C: SPG Walter Wels – TTC Ostrava 2016 0:3 Czech Republic`s TTC Ostrava 2016 actual no. 11 in the competition beat away no. 15 SPG Walter Wels 3:0 playing Group C Round 2 game. Both sides lost their matches against favorites in the opening round hence it was very important clash for them. Current World no. 131 Tomas TREGLER upset no. 63 Korean CHO Seungmin in the opening encounter taking the fifth set by a narrow margin. It was most important moment in the entire match. Other two encounters weren’t so tense and exciting. In the second one Greek Panagiotis GIONIS (no. 32) overcame Belgium`s Robin DEVOS (no. 176) in straight games. Two teammates from Serbian National Team Zsolt PETO and Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC met in the third match. Host won the opening set but his famous compatriot responded by three games in a row to secure win for his team. 2017/18 TTCLM Round 2 GROUP C SPG Walter Wels – TTC Ostrava 2016 0:3 CHO Seungmin – Tomas TREGLER 2:3 (11:8 9:11 10:12 11:7 10:12) Robin DEVOS – Panagiotis GIONIS 0:3 (5:11 5:11 10:12) Zsolt PETO – Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC 1:3 (11:9 1:11 8:11 5:11)
