Greek National Championships   Tasos RINIOTIS in Men’s and Christina FILI in Women’s are champions of Greece in singles for the season 2016-2017. The Olympiacos’ player managed to reach the first time in his career the top and to break the 15 years old tradition like John VLOTINOS and Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU. RINIOTIS participated for the second consecutive season in the final. John SGOUROPOULOS also had his moment of glory at the National championship in STIGA Hall of Peace and Friendship Stadium. 17 years old John SGOUROPOULOS played his first final and was the one who beat PAPAGEORGIOU the player who won last seven consecutive semifinals.   The first position was also special moment for FILI. It may have been the eighth trophy but it added another value for the 38 years of former international player! The athlete of D.A.O. Taurus also prevailed in doubles. For the second consecutive year she excelled with Georgia ZAVITSANOU from Sarises Florinas. In Men’s Doubles brothers George and Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of A.O. Pefkis defended their title.   Giorgos VASILIADIS the Sports Minister of Greece attended the matches on Sunday. Minister VASILIADIS is close to the table tennis and month earlier he visited the stadium for the big game of men’s national team against England for ECQ. Another presence that surprised the crowd was the Romanian Bernadette SZOCS. One of the best athletes of Europe is injured from February 5th (has to strain shoulder) not playing and decided to go in Athens for 12 days in order to make holidays and treatment.     Finals RINIOTIS – SGOUROPOULOS 4-2 (11-9 11-9 12-10 5-11 3-11 12-10) FILI-TOLIOU 4-0 (11-6 13-11 12-10 11-2) KONSTANTINOPOULOS/K. KONSTANTINOPOULOS – RINIOTIS/PAPAGEORGIOU 3-1 (11-1 8-11 11-5 11-9) FILI/ZAVITSANOU-KIOUFI/EXARCHOU 3-0 (11-9 11-8 11-8)   MEN’S SINGLES: Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiacos) John SGOUROPOULOS (Olympiacos) Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU (Olympiacos) -. George KONSTANTINOPOULOS (AO Pefkis)   WOMEN’S SINGLES: Christina FILI (D.A.O. Taurus) Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus) Aliki KIOUFI (Sarises Florinas) -. Filareti EXARCHOU (D.A.O. Taurus)   MEN’S DOUBLES: George KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS (A.O. Pefkis) Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiacos) John SGOUROPOULOS/George STAMATOUROS (Olympiacos) -. George PANTERIS / John PAPADAKIS (A.O. Pefkis/Iraklis Salonica)   WOMEN’S DOUBLES: Georgia ZAVITSANOU/Christina FILI (Sarises Florinas/D.A.O. Taurus) Eleni GEORGIADOU/Aliki KIOUFI (YMCA Salonica/Sarises Florinas) Olga GEORGOPOULOU/Maria CHRISTOFORAKI (Pera Athens/Olympiacos) -. Filareti EXARCHOU/Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus)

Slovakian National Championships     Eva JURKOVA is the hero of the Slovakian National Championships as he won triple title. Last year`s semi-finalist in the Women`s Singles Event now beat Lucia TRUKSOVA in the final clash adding two more gold in doubles (with TRUKSOVA) and mixed pairs (with KEINATH).   Top four seeds entered the semi-finals in the Men`s Singles Event and the new champion became last year`s semi-finalist BAI He who overcame Samuel NOVOTA in the ultimate showdown. NOVOTA eliminated six times champion Lubomir PISTEJ in the semis. PISTEJ won all his titles in last 12 years.   PISTEJ and SEREDA won Men`s Doubles third time in a row while JURKOVA and TRUKSOVA did it second consecutive year in Women`s Doubles.   Men`s Singles semi-finals: BAI He – Peter SEREDA 4:0 (11:6 11:3 11:5 11:7) Samuel NOVOTA – Lubomir PISTEJ 4:2 (3:11 6:11 11:4 11:9 11:5 13:11). Final: BAI He – Samuel NOVOTA 4:1 (11:8 13:11 9:11 12:10 11:8).   Women`s semi-finals: Lucia TRUKSOVA – Monika URIKOVA 4:0 (11:9 11:9 11:6 11:8) Eva JURKOVA – Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVA 4:2 (8:11 11:9 11:7 11:9 7:11 11:4). Final: Eva JURKOVA – Lucia TRUKSOVA 4:0 (11:8 11:7 11:9 11:4).   Men`s: Doubles semi-finals: PISTEJ/SEREDA – SEVEC/ZELINKA 3:0 (11:6 11:3 11:6) PETER/KOPANYI – PEKO/SPANIK 3:2 (11:4 7:11 7:11 11:9 11:7). Final: PISTEJ/SEREDA – PETER/KOPANYI 3:0 (15:13 12:10 11:7).   Women`s Doubles semi-finals: JURKOVA/TRUKSOVA – FABIANOVA/PUCHOVANOVA 3:0 (12:10 11:7 11:9) GRIGELOVA/KUKULKOVA – BAKAIOVA/BELOPOTOCHANOVA (W. O.). Final: JURKOVA/TRUKSOVA – GRIGELOVA/KUKULKOVA 3:0 (12:10 11:9 11:6).   Mixed Doubles semi-finals: PAVOLKA/TRUKSOVA – KOPANYI/FURKOVA 3:1 (11:9 11:9 10:12 11:6) KEINATH/JURKOVA – PETER/PUCHOVANOVA 3:1 (11:6 8:11 11:8 11:2). Final: KEINATH/JURKOVA – PAVOLKA/TRUKSOVA 3:1 (11:8 11:13 11:8 11:9).

National Championships   The Assoluti 2017 Italian Championships in Playhall in Riccione concluded with the victories of the Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA and TIAN Jing in Men’s and Women’s Singles Events.     Men’s Singles Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA Ivanov Stoyanov NIAGOL Jordy PICCOLIN Marco RECH DALDOSSO   Women’s Singles TIAN Jing WANG Yu Chiara COLANTONI LE Thi Hong Loan     Men’s Doubles Marco RECH DALDOSSO / Ivanov STOYANOV NIAGOL Jordy PICCOLIN / Alessandro BACIOCCHI Daniele PINTO / Luca BRESSAN Maurizio MASSARELLI / Mattia GALDIERI     Women’s Doubles Denisa ZANCANER / Debora VIVARELLI Chiara COLANTONI / giulia CAVALLI Giorgia PICCOLIN / Veronica MOSCONI Loan LE THI HONG / Tatiana STESHENKO   Mixed Doubles   Marco RECH DALDOSSO / Chiara COLANTONI Paolo BISI / Debora VIVARELLI PAVAN FEDERICO / Denisa ZANCANER Stefano TOMASI / Veronica MOSCONI  

Swedish National Championships   Anton KALLBERG and Matilda EKHOLM won gold medals in the Swedish National Championships which was held in the city of Halmstad. The 19-year-old KALLBERG one of most talented players in Europe defeated Par GERELL after full seven games of the gold medal contest 4:3 (11:9 7:11 6:11 11:9 5:11 11:6 11:2) whilst EKHOLM overcame Linda BERGSTROM.   KALLBERG completed hat-trick of Borussia Dusseldorf`s players bearing in mind that two his team mates also won national championships in their countries: Timo BOLL is German champion and Stefan FEGERL is on the top in Austria. Fourth member of Borussia`s side Kristian KARLSSON finished 3rd in Sweden.   One of top seeds Mattias KARLSSON was upset by Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM in the quarter-finals.   Concerning Women`s Singles Event the 2013 European champion LI Fen didn’t participate this time.   Men`s Doubles champions are Hampus NORDBERG and Viktor BRODD. No. 2 seeds Par GERELL and Jens LUNDQVIST were forced to withdraw due to LUNDQVIST`s injury.   Men`s Singles Anton KÄLLBERG Pär GERELL Kristian KARLSSON Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM   Women`s Singles Matilda EKHOLM Linda BERGSTRÖM Erika FRONTH Ellen HOLMSTEN   Men`s Doubles Hampus NORDBERG/Viktor BRODD Harald ANDERSSON/Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM Kristian KARLSSON/Mattias KARLSSON Magnus MÅNSSON/Hampus SÖDERLUND   Women`s Doubles Erika FRONTH/Tilda JOHANSSON Filippa BERGAND/Jessica JONSSON Jennifer JONSSON/Stina ZETTERSTRÖM Lisa RYDÉN/Anna MÅNSSON   Mixed Doubles Mattias KARLSSON/Matilda EKHOLM Pär GERELL/Michaela KARLSSON Gustaf ERICSON/Linda BERGSTRÖM Erika FRONTH/Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM  

Czech Republic National Championships   At he Czech National Championships in Frýdlant nad Ostravicí Antonin GAVLAS and Hana MATELOVA won the titles. Matelova repeated the success in the Women’s Doubles Event   Men’s Singles Event Semi Final Frantisek PLACEK– Pavel SIRUCEK 4:1 (8 8 -7 6 10) Antonín GAVLAS  – Tomas TREGLER 4:2 (4 12 -5 7 -8 7) Final Antonin GAVLAS – Frantisek PLACEK 4:0 (5 7 5 6)   Women’s Singles Event Semifinal Hana MATELOVA– Renata STRBIKOVA 4:2 (8 -9 6 12 -2 5) Dana CECHOVA – Simona ERTLOVA 4:3 (4 -8 -12 5 10 -8 6) Final Hana MATELOVA – Dana CECHOVA 4:2 (7 5 -7 15 -8 7)   Men’s Doubles Event Semifinal  Martin KOBLIZEK David PALKOVSKY– Marek CIHSK Marek KLASEK 3:0 (8 7 8) Jakub SEIBERT Jan VALENTA– Michal BENES Vojtech ROZINEK 3:0 (4 9 6) Final Martin KOBLÍŽEK David PALKOVSKÝ – Jakub SEIBERT Jan VALENTA 3:1 (10 -8 8 7)   Women’s Doubles Event Semifinal Hana MATELOVA Katerina TOMANOVSKA– Karin ADAMKOVA Aneta KUCEROVA 3:1 (9 -10 9 3) Simona ERTLOVA Kristyna MIKULCOVA– Marketa SEVCIKOVA Stanislava SLEZAKOVA 3:2 (10 4 -5 -11 7) Final Hana MATELOVA Katerina TOMANOVSKA – Marketa SEVCIKOVA Stanislava SLEZAKOVA 3:0 (5 4 12)     Mixed Doubles Event Semi Final Tomas TREGLER Dana CECHOVA– Ondrej BAJGER Tamara TOMANOVA 3:1 (-9 7 10 7) Ivan KARABEC Karin ADAMKOVA – Petr DAVID Kateřina CECHOVA 3:2 (-4 6 13 -3 7) Final Tomaš TREGLER Dana CECHOVA – Ivan KARABEC Karin ADAMKOVA 3:0 (8 10 8).   U21 Men’s Event   Tomas POLANSKY David REITSPIES 3-4 Jakub NEMECEK Stanislav KUCERA   U21 Women’s Event Kristyna STEFCOVA Zdena BLASKOVA 3 -4 Katerina CECHOVA Stanislava SLEZAKOVA

National Championships   The Finnish number one Benedek OLÁH was up to challenge and took the Men´s Singles Event at the National Championships in Finland. OLÁH was the strong favourite to renew his gold again but it wasn´t just an easy walk-through. In Semi-finals he faced a tough opponent in Pasi VALASTI former Finnish number one player who produced his best performance when needed. VALASTI forced OLÁH to decisive set until Benedek found one more gear from his gearbox and cruised past VALASTI to the Final.   In the Final OLÁH had easier job to secure the victory in straight sets against Finland number two ranked Mika RÄSÄNEN who suffered of minor back problems.   In Women´s Singles the two highest seeded players made it quite easily to the Final. Anna KIRICHENKO played very aggressively from both sides and made it impossible to Annika LUNDSTRÖM to respond. A straight sets win for Anna KIRICHENKO who now took back the title from Annika.   The doubles event were as surprisising as one could think. Benedek OLÁH and Annika LUNDSTRÖM were the top seeded pair in mixed doubles but had to settle for silver medals as KIRICHENKO and Jani JORMANAINEN played excellent and took the gold medals.   It was even more difficult for OLÁH in men´s doubles as he and Lauri LAANE went out of the competition in the semi-final against Otto TENNILÄ and Miikka O´CONNOR. The latter pair also won the gold medals later.   Annika LUNDSTRÖM and Pihla ERIKSSON took the title in Women´s doubles.     Men´s Singles: Benedek OLÁH Mika RÄSÄNEN Roope KANTOLA Pasi VALASTI   Women´s singles: Anna KIRICHENKO Annika LUNDSTRÖM Elli RISSANEN Yumo LUO   Men´s Doubles: Otto TENNILÄ / Miikka O´CONNOR Pauli HIETIKKO / Toni SOINE Benedek OLÁH/ Lauri LAANE Jussi MÄKELÄ / Aleksi MUSTONEN   Women´s Doubles: Annika LUNDSTRÖM / Pihla ERIKSSON Elli RISSANEN / Anna KIRICHENKO Yumo LUO / Jannika OKSANEN   Mixed Doubles: Jani JORMANAINEN / Anna KIRICHENKO Benedek OLÁH / Annika LUNDSTRÖM Alex NAUMI / Pihla ERIKSSON Samuli SOINE / Jannika OKSANEN   The Finnish Table Tennis Association and TTC Kuopio Miko Haarala

The 85th German National Championships was held in Bamberg. Kristin SILBEREISEN two times on the top   It seems to be a record for the eternity: For the 11time Timo BOLL won the Men’s Singles Final at the German National Championships. The European Record Champion overcame defender Ruwen FILUS in the finals with an easy 4-0 win and showed up after four weeks in good shape.   “I played better than I expected from myself. I am happy to became champion in the city of Bamberg because my last memory to this city from some years before was losing a final. No I am good with Bamberg” Boll smiled.   Dimitrij OVTCHAROV canceled his participation because an injury. Ricardo WALTHER and Benedikt DUDA became third. In Men’s Doubles FILUS/WALTHER defended their title.   In Women Singles surprisingly Europe Doubles Champion Kristin SILBEREISEN defended her title from 2016 against favorite number one seed SHAN Xiaona after being 0-2 down in the finals. It was SILBEREISEN`s 3rd title after 2010 and 2016. World Number 6 HAN Ying didn’t play because a surgery of her daughter. Tanja KRÄMER and Katharina MICHAJLOVA became semi-finalists. In Doubles the gold medal went to SILBEREISEN/SHAN.   Men`s Singles Final: Timo BOLL – Ruwen FILUS 4:0 (11:4 11:8 11:2 11:5). Semi-finals: Timo BOLL – Ricardo WALTHER 4:1 (9:11 11:4 11:5 11:8 11:8) Benedikt DUDA – Ruwen FILUS 1:4 (9:11 4:11 8:11 11:5 6:11).   Women`s Singles Final: SHAN Xiaona – Kristin SILBEREISEN 2:4 (13:11 11:9 9:11 5:11 8:11 11:13). Semi-finals: SHAN Xiaona – Katharina MICHAJLOVA 4:1 (10:12 11:5 11:4 11:6 11:6) Tanja KRAMER – Kristin SILBEREISEN 1:4 (8:11 3:11 7:11 11:9 7:11).   Men`s Doubles Final: Ruwen FILUS/Ricardo WALTHER – Kilian ORT/DANG Qiu 3:1 (11:4 7:11 11:7 11:8). Semi-finals: Ruwen FILUS/Ricardo WALTHER – Thomas BROSIG/Steffen MENGEL 3:0 (11:6 11:5 11:3) Kilian ORT/DANG Qiu – Benedikt DUDA/Dennis KLEIN 3:1 (11:5 15:17 11:8 11:5).   Women`s Doubles Final: Kristin SILBEREISEN/SHAN Xiaona – Tanja KRÄMER/Jessica GÖBEL 3:0 (11:6 11:3 11:7). Semi-finals: Kristin SILBEREISEN/SHAN Xiaona – Sophia KLEE/Anastasia BONDAREVA 3:0 (4 10 9) Chantal MANTZ/YUAN Wan – Tanja KRÄMER/Jessica GÖBEL 1:3 (8:11 6:11 13:11 11:13).  

87th French National Championships   At he 87th French National Championships held in Palais omnisports Marseille Grand-Est for a second time in his careerr Emmanuel LEBESSON become the champion in Men’s Singles Event whilst YUAN Jia Nan succeeded for a third time in Women’s Singles Event.   “It’s just great to win this title. It was the one of the most competitevs championships in France since the time of the Musketeers – GATIEN CHILA LEGOÛT and ELOI with 7 players classified in the world’s Top 100. It was also a special weekend for me it was the birthday of my son who was born the day we missed a world team medal in 2016 ” said Emmanuel LEBESSON.   In the Men’s Doubles Event LEBESSON and Tristan FLORE justified their positions and beat Quentin ROBINOT and Thomas Le Breton in the final. It is their first title toogether but fourth in Doubles for LEBESSON. Roza SOPOSKI and Lucie GAUTHIER also gathered for a first time to win gold in Women’s Doubles Event.   Women’s Singles   YUAN Jia Nan Pauline CHASSELIN Laura GASNIER LIU Yu Hua   Men’s Singles Emmanuel LEBESSON Alexandre ROBINOT Simon GAUZY Romain LORENTZ   Men’s Doubles Event E. LEBESSON / T. FLORE Q. ROBINOT / T. Le BRETON S. OUAICHE / A. SALIFOU D. LLORCA / L. De NODREST   Women’s Doubles Event R. SOPOSKI / L. GAUTHIER L. GASNIER / A. ZARIF P. CHASSELIN / E. JAFFEUX P. SAUL / M. BERTHAUD

The 87th Austrian National Championships: Stefan FEGERL and Sofia POLCANOVA are winners of singles events   Stefan FEGERL and Sofia POLCANOVA are the crowned champions of Austria whilst the best doubles are Alexander CHEN/Simon PFEFFER and LI Qiangbing/Sofia POLCANOVA.   Borussia Dusseldorf`s player FEGERL took his fourth national crown after 2011 2012 and 2014 as he beat defending champion Dominique PLATTNER in six games. Daniel HABESOHN who won two titles in the last three years was beaten by PLATTNER in the semi-final.   Sofia POLCANOVA celebrates her very first gold medal. She overcame 15 times national champion LIU Jia in the final game after five sets. POLCANOVA finished with three gold medals as she won Women`s Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. In the final clash of Mixed Doubles together with Simon PFEFFER she overcame Stefan FEGERL and LI Qiangbing. FEGERL is married to LI since 2013.   Men`s Singles semi-finals: Dominique PLATTNER – Daniel HABESOHN 4:2 (13:11 15:13 11:8 5:11 6:11 11:6) Stefan FEGERL – Christian FRIEDRICH 4:1 (11:6 11:8 11:2 9:11 11:2). Final: Stefan FEGERL – Dominique PLATTNER 4:2 (11:7 3:11 9:11 11:4 11:7 11:3).   Women`s Singles semi-finals: LIU Jia – LIU Yuan 4:0 (11:9 11:8 14:12 11:5) Sofia POLCANOVA – LI Qiangbing 4:2 (11:6 11:3 4:11 11:6 10:12 11:8). Final: Sofia POLCANOVA – LIU Jia 4:1 (11:6 11:5 6:11 11:9 11:3).   Men`s Doubles semi-finals: Alexander CHEN/Simon PFEFFER – Christoph SIMONER/David VORCNIK 3:2 (8:11 11:9 5:11 11:9 11:9) Dominique PLATTNER/Martin STORF – Dominik HABESOHN/Mathias HABESOHN 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:7 11:8). Final: Alexander CHEN/Simon PFEFFER – Dominique PLATTNER/Martin STORF 3:2 (11:8 6:11 5:11 12:10 11:9).   Women`s Doubles semi-finals: LI Qiangbing/Sofia POLCANOVA – Ines DIENDORFER/Lisa STORER 3:0 (11:5 11:7 11:8) LIU Yuan/Amelie SOLJA – Sophia KELLERMANN/Karoline MISCHEK 3:1 (11:5 11:1 8:11 13:11). Final: LI Qiangbing/Sofia POLCANOVA – LIU Yuan/Amelie SOLJA 3:1 (11:6 9:11 11:2 11:8).   Mixed Doubles final: Simon PFEFFER/Sofia POLCANOVA – LIU Yuan/Dominique PLATTNER 3:2 (11:9 8:11 10:12 12:10 11:8) Stefan FEGERL/LI Qiangbing – Christoph SIMONER/Lisa STORER 3:1 (11:5 11:8 7:11 11:7). Final: Simon PFEFFER/Sofia POLCANOVA – Stefan FEGERL/LI Qiangbing 3:1 (11:9 11:9 3:11 11:5).

Danish Championships in Hjørring   The 20 year old Tobias RASMUSSEN won his first title in singles at the Danish Championships held this weekend in Hjørring. In the final he beat Claus Schou NIELSEN 4-0. In Men´s Doubles the two finalists clinched the title together.   In women´s singles Stefanie CHRISTENSEN won her first title after she in the final beat the 16 year old Sophie WALLØE. WALLØE won mixed doubles together with Anders LIND.   The only winners from 2016 who successfully defended the title were Pernille AGERHOLM and Pernille SØNDERGAARD who won Women’s Doubles.       Men´s singles Semifinals Tobias RASMUSSEN-Allan BENTSEN 8-11 11-2 6-11 11-5 2-11 11-8 11-8 Claus Schou NIELSEN-Mikkel HINDERSSON 11-9 11-2 6-11 13-15 9-11 11-9 11-4 Final Tobias RASMUSSEN-Claus Schou NIelsen 11-7 11-8 11-7 11-6   Women’s singles Stefanie CHRISTENSEN – Sophie WALLLØE 11-5 13-11 11-9 11-6-   Men´s doubles Tobias RASMUSSEN/Claus Schou NIELSEN-Morten HYRUP RASMUSSEN/Christian KONGSGAARD 6-11 11-7 7-11 11-9 11-8   Women´s Doubles Pernille Agerholm/Pernille Søndergaard-Mie Jacobsen/Sophie Egeholt Bang 11-8 12-14 3-11 12.10 11-8   Mixed Doubles Sophie WALLØE/Anders LIND – Stefanie CHRISTENSEN/Morten Hyrup RASMUSSEN 11-7 4-11 13-11 11-7