Between July 15 and 28 next year 4 000 participants from Europe’s leading sport universities will compete across 13 sports in the Portugal’s student city Coimbra at the European Universities Games 2018. Sports programme of the European Universities Games Coimbra 2018 includes Badminton Basketball 3×3 Basketball Football Futsal Handball Judo Rowing Rugby 7s Table Tennis & Para Table Tennis Tennis Volleyball and Canoe Sprint as demonstrative sport. The European Universities Games are licensed by the European University Sports Association (EUSA). Table Tennis has been a part of EUSA’s sport programme since 2007 with the last Table Tennis event – the European Universities Table Tennis Championship 2017 taking place in Olomouc Czech Republic. Sports for students with disabilities and impairments in EUSA events have been introduced at the European Universities Games; featuring Para Table Tennis and Para Swimming at the last edition of the 2016 Games in Zagreb and Rijeka Croatia. In cooperation with the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) EPC and EUSA is looking forward to developing the best conditions for Para Table Tennis in European university sport. During the Coimbra Games Para Table Tennis tournament will be organised between July 14-19 enabling participation to students with disabilities as an integral part of the event. A limited number of scholarships will be offered covering participation fee for participation of student athletes with disabilities in the Para Table Tennis competitions. Participation and accommodation with meals is free for athlete’s students with disabilities. The registration in Para Table Tennis is open until end of May 2018. You can find more information online at www.eusa.eu and www.eug2018.com.
TTCLM final: There is still long way to go…
Timo BOLL Kristian KARLSSON and Vladimir SAMSONOV speak after first final leg Borussia – Orenburg 3:2 Borussia Dusseldorf beat Fakel Gazprom Orenburg 3:2 (12:8) two days ago (Sunday May 13th) but players from both sides emphasize that “there is still long way to go”… Second match is scheduled for this Friday May 18th (15:00 CET) in Russia where two teams met last year in the ultimate chapter of the 2016/17 season (Orenburg won its fourth title) “It went well we’re happy with the win and maybe we took advantage of the fact that Orenburg was a bit handicapped by Dimas’ current shape. So there is still a long way to go but we got a good starting position” stated for Borussia`s website Timo BOLL who beat both Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Jun MIZUTANI. Former Borussia`s player Vladimir SAMSONOV overcame youngest member of German side Anton KALLBERG in the third match. Belarus player targets his 13th TTCLM title next Friday and fifth one with Orenburg “Borussia Dusseldorf played really well Timo (BOLL) was in a good shape we’ve seen that lately he was really fast and kept getting better. Kristian KARLSSON did a good job as well but that was just first game and next Friday we have the second leg at home. It`s going to be tough after this 3:2 as Dima (OVTCHAROV) is not really fit at the moment and it’s going to be hard to win this game” explained SAMSONOV. Kristian KARLSSON has secured winning point in the first clash against Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. Swede hopes that could be enough for the second leg: “It was a big win for us but we know the away game is going to be tough. I’m very pleased with the 3:2 victory. The team is currently playing very well and I am satisfied with my performance. Now we must prepare for the second game.”
Bids open for Continental Para Championships
Enthralling competition bids for the 2019 Continental Para Championships are now open. All are major events in their own right the top step of the podium is a proud moment in the life of an athlete in whatever discipline may be in question. However in 2019 there is an added bonus a step to a higher level the highest of all the event that is revered above all others. It from these tournaments that the first slots in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games will be decided. Notably the gold medallist in each class in each continental tournament gains automatic entry to the prestigious quadrennial event. The continents in question are Africa Asia Europe and Oceania; there is no request for applications from Pan America; the 2019 Para Pan American Games to be staged in Lima next year in late August will provide the qualification for Tokyo. Increasingly the level of play in Para table tennis is higher and higher of that fact I have no doubt. Equally after watching play for only a short period of time you forget about the disability a player may possess you become enthralled with the play the intensity of the competition the desire to win. You are focused on a table tennis match. Para competitions are now broadcast more and more; the modern day media of streaming events is growing. Likewise social media is enthralled. It is an opportunity to promote your city. 2019 Continental Bid Document: European Para Championships
ITTF Board of Directors Approve Expansion of World Championships
Several big decisions were made at the ITTF Board of Directors meeting held on 3 May 2018 during the Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships in Halmstad Sweden. The meeting started after some presentations on an extremely positive note with the announcement of North and South Korea forming a unified team for the semi-final which the board was able to watch on the big screen live and follow the very emotional scenes from the venue. This sign of unity was greeted with standing applause and affirming the boards full support for the decision. MA Young-Sam represented at the Board as the Chairman of the Umpires and Rules Committee Affirmed that this was a great day for table tennis and peace between the two nations. In another historic moment for the ITTF the Board of Directors approved a new concept for the future of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships which will see the event expand dramatically. The proposed proposal will now see the world’s biggest table tennis event consist of continental stages feeding into the finals which means the event will expand its global footprint and ensure the number of member associations participating in the event increases dramatically. The individual World Championships finals which occurs every odd year will consist of a knockout of 128 for men’s and women’s singles and 64 men’s women’s and 128 mixed doubles pairs. The World Team Championships will have a finals which will consist of 32 men and 32 women’s teams. The system of how to make the final stage will be decided at next year’s Board of Directors meeting to be held in Budapest Hungary. The ITTF will engage experts and continental representation to come up with robust professional and fair proposals. The proposal for the expanded format of the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships was proposed by the ITTF Future Events Working Group which was established in 2016 under the facilitation from Deloitte to review the format of the World Table Tennis Championships to ensure the event achieves ITTF’s commercial promotional and developmental goals. All of which will be aligned to the ITTF Strategic plan that was adopted by the AGM two days earlier. The Board of Directors approved some changes to the eligibility rules with the intention that both ITTF World Title events and table tennis at the Olympic Games will have the same eligibility rules. The 2020 ITTF World Junior Table Tennis Championships were awarded to Guimaraes Portugal after they presented a strong bid to the board. The next Board of Directors meeting will be held during the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships in Budapest Hungary.
Dekorglass Dzialdowo made a big step toward title
Men’s ETTU Cup final In the opening leg of the Men’s ETTU Cup final French club Chartres ASTT failed to take advantage of home soil. Poland’s K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo left the venue in France with 3:1 victory. WANG Yang’s role in club’s success was pivotal. He beat both Swede Par GERELL and Austria’s player Robert GARDOS. Austrian suffered in the opening match as well; Chun Ting WONG gave his club good start. The only point for the French club came from Alexandre ROBINOT who beat Jiri VRABLIK. The return leg is scheduled for May 18th. Chartres ASTT – K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo 1:3 Robert GARDOS – Chun Ting WONG (8:11 4:11 7:11) Par GERELL – WANG Yang (9:11 3:11 11:6 6:11) Alexandre ROBINOT – Jiri VRABLIK (12:10 11:4 11:9) Robert GARDOS – WANG Yang (8:11 2:11 5:11)
Seamaster ECLW final: Dr. Casl secures advantage
First leg of 2017/18 final: Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor – Dr. Casl 2:3 Croatian champion Dr. Casl secured advantage in the first leg of Seamaster ECLW final held in Bursa Turkey against actual ETTU Cup Women winner Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor 3:2 (12:9 in sets). Second match is scheduled for next Friday May 18th in Zagreb. The 2016 individual European champion HU Melek won both games for the host side while the guests showed good team work as DOO Hoi Kem LI Jie and YU Fu won one game each. HU beat the best ranked ECLW player DOO (WR no. 11) in the opener after full five games. It was the very first defeat of DOO in this season. LI Jie and YU Fu have turned the score in a favor of Dr. Casl as they overcame Simay KULAKCEKEN and Yana NOSKOVA respectively. NOSKOVA was stretched to full distance by YU but Portugal`s player was unstoppable in the fifth set. That clash determined the winner of the first leg. HU leveled the score against LI Jie. The fifth match belonged to DOO who prevailed against 18-year-old KULAKCEKEN in four games. Seamaster ECLW final first match Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor (no. 4 seed) – Dr. Casl (no. 3) 2:3 HU Melek – DOO Hoi Kem 3:2 (11:7 11:5 9:11 5:11 11:5) Simay KULAKCEKEN – LI Jie 0:3 (1:11 5:11 4:11) Yana NOSKOVA – YU Fu 2:3 (4:11 11:9 9:11 11:8 4:11) HU Melek – LI Jie 3:1 (11:8 11:8 9:11 11:6) Simay KULAKCEKEN – DOO Hoi Kem 1:3 (6:11 13:11 7:11 5:11)
TTCLM final: Borussia travels to Russia with 3:2 win
German club beat actual TTCLM champion Orenburg in the first leg as Timo BOLL won two matches and Kristian KARLSSON added one Ten times TTCLM winner Borussia Dusseldorf has secured 3:2 (12:8 in sets) advantage in the first leg of 2017/18 against reigning champion and no. 1 seed Fakel Gazprom Orenburg. Timo BOLL provided two points as he beat Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Jun MIZUTANI while Kristian KARLSSON concluded the clash by his win against OVTCHAROV who wasn’t in his best shape due to injury. Timo BOLL prevailed against his team mate from the German National Team Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in four games. Host controlled the game in the first two sets but guest managed to reach third one by a narrow margin in spite of having four set points (6:10). BOLL responded by four consecutive points in an early fourth game (4:1) making crucial run from 6:4 to 9:4. Two left-handers met in the second encounter as Jun MIZUTANI was extended to full distance by Kristian KARLSSON. There were dozen incredible points but “craziest” moment was one at 10:10 in the third set when Japanese concluded the longest rally in the match. Third game confronted one of the youngest TTCLM participants 20 year-old Anton KALLBERG and the oldest one 42 year-old Vladimir SAMSONOV. Belarus legend won in four games. Timo BOLL ended Jun MIZUTANI`s winning run to level the score at 2:2. German has improved his season`s win-loss record to 14-3 while Japanese now has 11-1. Most probably this match was BOLL`s best one in 2017/18 TTCLM so far. KARLSSON secured victory for German team as he overcame OVTCHAROV in straight games. Swede decided the game by five consecutive points in third set (5:7 10:7). Second leg will be held next Friday May 18th in Orenburg. 2017/18 TTCLM final first match Borussia Dusseldorf (no. 2 seed) – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg (no. 1 seed) 3:2 Timo BOLL – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:1 (11:7 11:8 10:12 11:6) Kristian KARLSSON – Jun MIZUTANI 2:3 (8:11 11:8 10:12 11:9 12:14) Anton KALLBERG – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (6:11 3:11 11:7 6:11) Timo BOLL – Jun MIZUTANI 3:1 (13:11 11:8 5:11 11:3) Kristian KARLSSON – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3:0 (11:8 11:4 11:8)
Seamaster ECLW final: Bursa vs. Dr. Casl
First final leg to be held tomorrow (Sunday May 13th 15:00 CET) One out of two 2017/18 Seamaster ECLW finalists will take this prestigious cup for the very first time in their histories in the following six days: Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor (Turkey no. 4 seed) or Dr. Casl (Croatia no. 3 seed). Their first meeting will be held in the Turkish city of Bursa this Sunday (May 13th 15:00 CET) will the second match is scheduled for May 18th. “Firstly I would like to state that it is an incredible historic success for our city Bursa BSB is setting up a good tradition in table tennis. We try our best work hard and it is time to receive good results. For the last three seasons one ETTU Cup final one ETTU Cup title and this time Champions League final even maybe a Seamaster Women’s Champions League cup…” stressed Bursa`s Coach Mehmet ASLAN. Both sides have 7-1 win-loss record so far. Five Top 30 ITTF WR players will be involved in the upcoming clashes: DOO Hoi Kem no. 11 Elizabeta SAMARA no 18 LEE Ho Ching no. 19 LI Jie no. 25 YU Fu no. 30. Spectators in Bursa and Zagreb will have a rare opportunity to see four medal holders from ITTF European Championships: HU Melek (2016 gold 2010 bronze) Elizabeta SAMARA (2015 gold 2016 bronze) LI Jie (2015 silver 2016 bronze) YU Fu (2016 silver 2013 and 2015 bronze) “Dr Casl our opponent is a very strong team and their coach is also a top-quality coach who was also coach of Croatian Women team in 2018 WTTC Halmstad. It is hard to beat a team who has top quality players and coach yet this is why we are in the final. We know how to deal with difficult opponents and this challenge is the place where joy of table tennis is in. So we would like to wish our opponent good luck and best wishes for a fair-play match. It will be a difficult match and we are hopeful to add one more cup to our museum this season too” explained Coach ASLAN.
BOLL: “We are able to win the title this time”
First final leg of TTCLM to be held tomorrow (Sunday May 13th 13:00): Borussia Dusseldorf – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg Record holder ten times TTCLM champion Borussia Dusseldorf awaits first final leg against reigning champion Fakel Gazprom Orenburg in a good mood aiming its 11 title after last year`s defeat in the ultimate chapter against same opponent. Head Coach Danny HEISTER explains: “We have to take our chance. Timo (BOLL) is in a good mood we saw that at World Championships last week. His games against South Korea for example have been really good and his sciatica problems have also been overcome. But of course it will be a tough game. Our two Swedish players and especially Kristian KARLSSON should have got a boost by winning the bronze medal. I hope for a real highlight on Sunday. “ Timo BOLL believes that his side is capable to regain the title from Russian champion: “Even if Dimitrij OVTCHAROV is not yet 100% fit he knows all of us very well. That’s why he’s still very dangerous for us. But not only Dima is very strong also Jun (MIZUTANI) and Vladi (SAMSONOV) are extraordinary players. And Jun is the only one who is unbeaten this TTCL-season. But our team is in a good shape too and we are able to win the title this time.” Manager Andreas PREUSS hopes that his team will secure good result for the second leg in front of sold out ARAG CenterCourt: “At the moment this is the highest possible clash in table tennis team sport. Two vice-world champions and two bronze medalists of the World Championships are the non plus ultra. We can play without pressure Orenburg is the favorite for me. I’m looking forward to this table tennis highlight. The hall ARAG CenterCourt will be sold out and we will have a great atmosphere. We are in pleasant anticipation to the final.”
LI Jiao returned to China
Li Jiao has decided to go back to China. She resigned from her position as head coach of the Dutch women’s team. The reasons for her departure are personal. She wants to spend more time with her husband and her family in China. Jiao: ” What I will do next I have not decided yet. But I will not continue as a national coach in the Netherlands. I still have a house in the Netherlands and in the future I might do something there. But now I want to see my family and husband first. My life will be more connected with China and Asia and less with the Netherlands. “ Jiao emphasizes that it was not an easy decision: “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. It was hard decision since I built close bond with the players and staff. I am not leaving because of the table tennis it is purely a personal decision.”
