LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships Nina MITTELHAM looks forward to her debut at the LIEBHERR 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships as the youngest member of German National Team. The 21-year-old is ready for the event to be hosted by the Swedish city of Halmstad from April 26th to May 6th. “I like to play for Germany and so I also like to be a part of our team. We have a good team spirit and this makes it much easier to play also in difficult situations” stressed Nina MITTELHAM who recently signed for the 4-times Seamaster ECLW winner TTC Berlin Eastside. Germany named no. 11 seed of Women’s Championships Division counts on following five players: Kristin LANG (no. 168 33 year-old) Chantal MANTZ (no. 239 21) Nina MITTELHAM (no. 21 72) Petrissa SOLJA (no. 59 24) Sabine WINTER (no. 57 25). Reigning champion China starts as top seed followed by Japan Chinese Taipei Hong Kong Korea Republic Romania Austria Singapore Russia Hungary Germany… “I think in both men’s and women’s team the favorites are China. I think to beat the Chinese is really difficult but maybe we will experience something else. But I think Romania is really strong as some other nations” stated actual World no. 72 MITTELHAM 2013 European Youth Championships winner in Junior Girls Singles event in Ostrava Czech Republic (she was a runner-up from 2014 Riva del Garda Italy and Cadet Girls gold medalist in 2011 Kazan Russia). China won 19 out of last 21 editions while Germany is 2-time winner winning inaugural championships in 1933 and one in 1939. German side is bronze medalist from 2016 Rio Olympic Games but they changed their line-up adding two young players. “We as a team want to be in the last 16 that means that we are 3rd in the group. That is our first goal. If we archive this then for sure we want more” explained MITTELHAM.
ITTF Extends Three-Year Title Sponsorship Deal with Uncle Pop for Women’s World Cup
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has extended its partnership deal with Chinese leisure food company Uncle Pop for the ITTF Women’s World Cup for another three years. The ITTF Women’s World Cup is one of the most prestigious events on the ITTF calendar and is one of three tournaments that counts towards the Grand Slam (World Championships World Cup Olympic Games). On the back of a successful 2017 Women’s World Cup in Canada Uncle Pop will continue to be the title sponsor and official snack food for the 2018 – 2020 editions of the ITTF Women’s World Cup. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT shared “We are excited to have Uncle Pop continue the partnership for the Women’s World Cup for another three years after a very successful event in Canada last year organized in cooperation with our partners Table Tennis Canada.” He added “The partnership is a great fit for both parties and being a global sport we could definitely help Uncle Pop on their journey of the internalization of Chinese snack foods. We look forward to working with Uncle Pop to bring the Women’s World Cup to great new heights.” Mr. YANG Xiaoyong Chairman of Uncle Pop stated “I’m proud that Uncle Pop will continue to be the Title Sponsor of ITTF Women’s World Cup for the next three years. In 2017 Uncle Pop was the exclusive title sponsor of the ITTF Women’s World Cup. The competition was fierce and inspiring and finally it was ZHU Yuling a Sichuan-born Chinese table tennis player who won the title in Canada.” “In 2018 and 2019 the world-renowned ITTF Women’s World Cup will be held in Chengdu China. As the leading snack food company in Sichuan Province Uncle Pop is excited to continue our partnership with ITTF in the next three years. We have also signed top Chinese female table tennis players DING Ning and ZHU Yuling as brand spokespersons. This series of brand activations is Uncle Pop’s new explorations in their journey of brand growth. It also expresses our determination to go to the world and take responsibility for the internationalization of Chinese snack foods.” The Uncle Pop 2018 ITTF Women’s World Cup held from 29 to 30 September 2018 in Chengdu China will feature 20 of the world’s best players. 17 of the players competing have to qualify through their respective Continental Cups plus the current World Champion a host player and a wildcard which means only the best of the best can compete.
Host nation wins Cadet Boys Team Event
2018 Belgium Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Junior Circuit Host nation won gold medal in the Cadet Boys Team Event at the 2018 Belgium Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Junior Circuit in the city of Spa while other three champions are Japan/Greece (Junior Boys) Hong Kong (Junior Girls) and China (Cadet Girls) Adrien RASSENFOSSE and Nicolas DEGROS have prevailed against France`s Felix LEBRUN and Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA in straight games of the Cadet Boys Team final. Second match has defined the final as DEGROS managed to turn the score from 0:2 to 3:2. Junior Boys Singles winner Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS from Greece and Japan`s Aoto ASAZU have won Junior Boys Team Event. They overcame Spain A in the final. Two European sides lost to their opponents from Asia in the Girls Team finals: Hong Kong – France 3:1 (Junior Girls) and Norway – China 1:3. Junior Girls Team Event Semi-finals Hong Kong – Belgium 3:0 France – Hungary 3:0 Final Hong Kong – France 3:1 WONG Chin Yau – Leili MOSTAFAVI 2:3 (10:12 6:11 11:7 11:7 8:11) LEE Ka Yee – Lucie GAUTHIER 3:0 (11:6 11:5 11:6) CHAU Wing Sze – Camille LUTZ 3:2 (7:11 7:11 11:5 11:6 12:10) WONG Chin Yau – Lucie GAUTHIER 3:0 (11:7 11:8 11:8) Junior Boys Team Event Semi-finals Japan/Greece – Poland 3:0 Spain A – Belgium A 3:2 Final Japan/Greece –Spain A 3:1 Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS – Francisco Miguel RUIZ 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:6 11:6) Aoto ASAZU- Alberto LILLO 2:3 (11:5 7:11 11:9 9:11 6:11) Takeru KASHIWA – Javier SORIA 3:1 (11:6 11:9 11:13 12:10) Cadet Girls Team Event Semi-finals Norway – France A 3:0 China – France B 3:0 Final Norway – China 1:3 Katarina WETZEL – DING Xinnan 1:3 (11:13 6:11 11:3 3:11) Martine TOFTAKER – HOU Suheng 1:3 (12:14 14:12 5:11 6:11) Katarina WETZEL/Martine TOFTAKER – HOU Suheng/XU Yuhan 3:2 (13:15 3:11 16:14 13:11 11:8) Katarina WETZEL – HOU Suheng 0:3 (8:11 8:11 8:11) Cadet Boys Team Event Semi-finals Belgium A – Spain B 3:1 France – China 3:2 Final Belgium A – France 3:0 Adrien RASSENFOSSE – Felix LEBRUN 3:0 (11:2 11:6 11:4) Nicolas DEGROS – Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA 3:2 (6:11 9:11 13:11 11:6 11:7) Adrien RASSENFOSSE/ Nicolas DEGROS – Felix LEBRUN/ Fabio RAKOTOARIMANANA 3:0 (11:4 11:6 11:8)
Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS proves his class
Greek player wins Junior Boys Singles event at the 2018 Belgium Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Junior Circuit Greek player Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS has justify his seeding place by winning Junior Boys Singles event at the 2018 Belgium Junior & Cadet Open – ITTF Junior Circuit in the city of Spa. No. 1 seed actual European Junior champion from Guimaraes beat Przemyslaw WALASZEK in the final 4:1 (11:6 11:4 7:11 11:5 11:3). Greek player won three out of five matches in straight games on his road to the gold while two other took after five sets. Poland`s player upset no. 2 seed Dorian ZHENG in the quarter-finals. Borgar HAUG from Norway and Spain`s Alberto LILLO have reached bronze. Lucie GAUTHIER lost to Japan`s Yukari SUGASAWA in straight games of the Junior Girls Singles final – 4:0 (11:5 11:8 11:2 11:9). No. 3 seed GAUTHIER has defeated SUGASAWA`s compatriot Kahe AKAE in four sets of the semis whilst SUGASAWA was extended to full distance by Poland`s Anna WEGRZYN who upset no. 2 seed Hong Kong`s WONG Chin Yau in the quarter-finals. Hungary`s Fanni HARASTOVICH created the biggest upset at the women`s event by eliminating top seed from Hong Kong CHAU Wing Sze in the Round of 16. Two top seeding Junior Boys Doubles met in the final as Japan`s Aoto ASAZU and Takeru KASHIWA overcame Greek Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS and Borgar HAUG from Norway after full five games 3:2 (14:12 6:11 11:8 4:11 11:8). LEE Ka Yee and WONG Chin Yau from Hong Kong are the winners of the Junior Girl Doubles event. The no. 1 seed prevailed against Alba FERNANDEZ and Ana GARCIA from Spain 3:1 (11:7 9:11 11:5 11:5). Kaho AKAE and Yukari SUGASAWA from Japan and Netherland`s MEN Shuohan and Karlijn VAN LIEROP have won bronze medals.
Hungary beat Czech Republic in Haviron
ITTF European Team Championships 2018/19 In the Women’s Event in ITTF European Team Championships 2018/19 Czech Republic suffered defeat in their first match in A Groups. After defeat in previous round against Spain Hungary recorded away victory. Hana MATELOVA was the only player who brought joy for homes team supporters. She overcame Szandra PERGEL. However Georgina POTA in her both matches and Dora MADARASZ in the opening one prevailed against Dana CECHOVA and Hana MATELOVA. This was the last game from Round 2 played on March 27th. Next round is scheduled for May 22nd. However on April 24th Greece will host England in Women’s Event and in Men’s B Group Serbia will play against England on May 7th. Match Greece – England you can follow live on laola1.tv Czech Republic – Hungary 1:3 Dana CECHOVA – Dora MADARASZ (7:11 7:11 12:10 8:11) Renata STRBIKOVA – Georgina POTA (4:11 4:11 6:11) Hana MATELOVA – Szandra PERGEL (11:7 11:3 7:11 11:6) Dana CECHOVA – Georgina POTA (12:10 11:13 10:12 10:12)
ITTF and Twitter Announce Live Stream of 2018 Challenge Series
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Twitter today announced a deal to live stream the ITTF’s 2018 Challenge Series events to a global audience to complement ITTF’s current streaming platform itTV. After a successful live stream of the Slovenia Open attracted over 200 000 viewers on Twitter table tennis fans can now look forward to a live stream of the marquee ITTF tournaments from Thailand Nigeria Belgium and Belarus live and free to Twitter users around the world. The live streams of all Challenges Events matches will be available to logged-in and logged-out users on Twitter and connected devices via ITTF’s official Twitter account @ITTFWorld. Twitter will also feature additional premium highlights from each tournament. Both the live streams and highlight clips on Twitter will also be available to content sponsors to include pre-roll advertising packages. “Twitter is where the world of sport is happening every single day and we know from the conversations on Twitter that there is a growing appetite for elite table tennis ” said Maurizio BARBIERI Twitter’s Southeast Asia Head of Sports Partnerships. “Live streaming the ITTF Challenge Series events on Twitter makes it easier than ever for existing fans to watch the players in the world go head-to-head while also exposing the sport to an entirely new audience to help increase the growing popularity of table tennis.” Matthew POUND ITTF Head of Media said: “The ITTF is thrilled to be partnering with Twitter to stream live the remainder of the ITTF Challenge Series events of 2018. Twitter will provide the perfect platform to complement ITTF’s current streaming platform itTV and introduce new fans to the sport of table tennis.” The 2018 ITTF Challenge Events live stream on Twitter schedule is as follows: Thailand Open Bangkok: 16-20 May Qualification days 16-17 May Nigeria Open Lagos: 8-12 August Qualification days 8-9 August Belgium Open De Haan: 23-27 October Qualification days 23-24 October Belarus Open Minsk: 14-18 November Qualification days 14-15 November
The Coubertin Crew is recruiting volunteers for The European Youth Championships
The Coubertin Crew is recruiting volunteers for one of the biggest sports events that will take place in Romania in 2018. The European Youth Table Tennis Championships will be held in Cluj Napoca between 15-24 July 2018. Complete info you can find here
Sports Qualification Systems for the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019
Minsk European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) along with the European Olympic Committees is pleased to announce the Sports Qualification Systems for the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019. Events – Men’s Team Women’s Team Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Mixed Doubles. Athlete Quota – 64 men 64 women. Maximum number of athletes per NOC – Men’s Team (3) Women’s Team (3) Mixed Doubles pair (1+1). Total 4 men and 4 women. Host NOC (BLR) Athlete Quota – Men’s Team (3) Women’s Team (3) Mixed Doubles pair (1+1). Total 4 men and 4 women. Team Events – 12 Men’s Teams 12 Women’s Teams. Singles Events – 52 Men 52 Women maximum 2 Men and 2 Women per NOC. Mixed Doubles Event – 16 pairs maximum 1 pair per NOC. Eligibility – all athletes must comply with the provisions of the Olympic Charter currently in force including but not limited to Rule 41 (Nationality of Competitors). Only those athletes who have complied with the Olympic Charter may participate in the Minsk 2019 European Games. Universality – 3 men and 3 women. Places are made available to eligible NOCs. Complete information you can see here
ITTF Signs AIA for 2018 World Tour China Open
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced that AIA has come on board as the official life insurance partner of the Seamaster 2018 World Tour Platinum China Open to be held in Shenzhen China on 31 May to 3 June 2018. AIA will also be activating the partnership through several Chinese cities through TTX events as well as other table tennis activities to promote its brand through table tennis. ITTF CEO Steve DAINTON stated: “We are happy to welcome AIA the largest public listed pan-Asian life insurance group as a partner of the China Open. Their support attests to the continued high profile of table tennis in China and the ITTF platform is ideal for AIA to promote their brand to a global audience through extensive TV broadcast local spectators and global social media.” CEO of AIA China ZHANG Xiaoyu shared “Table tennis is the national sport of China it’s one of the most popular and common sport amongst people here. Through partnering with the 2018 ITTF China Open AIA hopes to encourage people to pursue a healthier and active lifestyle and to work hand in hand to live healthier longer and better lives.” “Shenzhen has been the youngest and liveliest technological city since the reform and there’s always a special feeling and sense of mission towards table tennis. We hope that through the sponsorship of the China Open we can enjoy the glory that our national sport brings to witness its succession and achieve healthier longer and better lives together with the people here in Shenzhen ” added AIA Shenzhen’s General Manager CAI Wei Bing. The AIA deal comes on the back of a strong commercial start to the year for the ITTF after already announcing partnership deals with British Airways and GoDaddy with more to be announced in the upcoming weeks. The Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open is the third 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.
Gao Ning Claims Double Gold on the Final Day of the Commonwealth Games
2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast Singapore’s GAO Ning has made up for his devastating final losses at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games by winning the men’s singles gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. The 35-year-old faced the number one seed and the hot favorite for the gold medal Quadri ARUNA (NGR) in the hotly anticipated gold medal match in front of a capacity crowd. Despite the Nigerian superstar fighting hard with many amazing rallies the Singaporean’s experience and cool head proved the difference as he won the match 11-7 11-8 5-11 3-11 11-9 11-5. With the illusive gold medal around his neck GAO stated: “Winning the fifth game was important but it was very difficult to predict the outcome of the match until the last point had finished. It was one of those matches were sometimes you win sometimes you lose. It could have gone either way. Today I felt very calm. Twice I’ve been the runner up now the winner but at the Commonwealth Games I’ve won Men’s Team and Men’s Doubles gold medals; sure I’m happy to win I just did my best.” Sharath Kamal ACHANTA capped off a memorable Commonwealth Games for the Indian team with a hard-fought bronze medal. The 2006 Commonwealth Games Champion was too good for England’s Sam WALKER in the bronze medal play-off winning 11-7 11-9 8-11 11-6 12-10. Singapore added to their medal tally by breaking the English hearts in the Mixed Doubles gold medal match. The singles champion GAO Ning paired up with the women’s singles silver medalist YU Mengyu to show their experience by winning the key points to defeat Liam PITCHFORD & Tin-Tin HO 12-10 12-10 11-9 to clinch the title. Indians Sathiyan GNANASEKARAN & Manika BATRA teamed up to defeat their colleagues Sharath Kamal ACHANTA & Mouma DAS to take home the bronze medal. The best players in the Commonwealth Game’s attention now turns to the Liebherr 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships which will be held in Halmstad Sweden from 29 April to 6 May 2018. Full list of 2018 Commonwealth Games champions: Men’s Team: India Women’s Team: India Men’s Doubles: Paul DRINKHALL & Liam PITCHFORD (ENG) Women’s Doubles: FENG Tianwej & YU Mengyu (SGP) Mixed Doubles: GAO Ning & YU Mengyu (SGP) Class 6-10 Women’s Para: Melissa TAPER (AUS) Class 6-10 Men’s Para: Ross WILSON (ENG) Men’s Singles: Gao Ning (SGP) Women’s Singles: Manika BATRA (IND)
