“This is the best year of my career” stressed OVTCHAROV after his historic win against Japan`s Koki NIWA at the opening round of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER congratulated to the newly crowned World no. 1   Dimitrij OVTCHAROV has achieved one of his biggest successes by reaching the world number one ranking on the ITTF World Ranking list. The 29-year-old German managed it by beating Japanese Koki NIWA after full seven games of the opening round match at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Astana Kazakhstan on Friday 15th December.   “This is the best year of my career! I am immensely proud to be no. 1 in January. It feels like a world title to me and I’ve worked for 20 years to achieve it” stressed actual no. 3 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV after breathtaking win against current no. 8 Koki NIWA 4:3 (10:12 11:6 12:14 11:6 9:11 11:9 11:5).   ETTU President Ronald KRAMER congratulated to the newly crowned World no. 1: “A superb achievement following a year of great success! He is being rewarded for his constant hard work and dedication. ETTU is thrilled to have a European heading the World ranking in 2018 to follow his compatriot Timo BOLL as World number one in 2011!”   World Cup winner will replace both World and Olympic champion MA Long after 34 months at the top. More than six and a half years (exactly 81 month) Chinese players have hold the top position. Last non-Chinese world no. 1 was another German legend Timo BOLL who climbed on the peak twice. First six times European champion occupied highest possible spot from January to May 2003 then from January to March 2011. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist OVTCHAROV is only second German player to be world no. 1   Like many experts emphasized congratulating to the newlyappointed ITTF Men`s World Cup Champion the 29-year-old German fully deserved this status. This is for sure his most successful year winning everything that could be won except LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships held in Dusseldorf where he was beaten by his today`s opponent Koki NIWA in the Round of 16.   Men`s national coach of Germany Jorg ROSSKOPF was overwhelmed with emotion after OVTCHAROV`s close win against NIWA:   “It was a tough match and Dima deserves to become the world’s number one in January which is a great confirmation of his achievements. But here at the Grand Finals I would like see him to collect some more wins not just this one against Koki NIWA”.   NIWA was one who held the lead but OVTCHAROV managed to send the match into a deciding seventh game. With the scores tied up at three points apiece German secured comfortable 10:4 lead to establish himself as a new World no. 1.   There was another seven game encounter as Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting prevailed against Belarus Vladimir SAMSONOV. The ultimate set was decided by a narrow margin – 4:3 (11:3 12:10 9:11 13:11 4:11 8:11 11:9). WONG meets Timo BOLL in the quarter-final stage while Dimitrij OVTCHAROV opposes Japan`s Tomoka HARIMOTO.

Germany’s Timo BOLL & reigning World Champion DING Ning (CHN) have been crowned the 2017 Male & Female Table Tennis Stars at the Astana 2017 ITTF Star Awards.   The year ending gala dinner and award ceremony was held tonight 14 December at the Rixos President Hotel in Astana Kazakhstan where the world’s best table tennis stars and coaches dressed up in glitz & glamour to join in a night of celebration for their achievements over the past year and eight prestigious awards were handed out to the respective winners.   The Male Table Tennis Star award presented by DHS saw a tough contest with reigning World & Olympic Champion MA Long who had been dominating the international scene for several years newly crowned Men’s World Cup Champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV table tennis legend Timo BOLL and Japanese prodigy Tomokazu HARIMOTO all eyeing for the prestigious title.   It was former world number one BOLL who rolled back the years to pull off several amazing comebacks and spectacular action in 2017 who impressed table tennis fans all over the world and the expert panel which included athletes and members of the media to garner the most votes to be crowned the 2017 Table Tennis Star.   The 36-year-old shared “I am very surprised to win this prestigious award against so many top players who have had an amazing year. Thanks to all my team and all the players who helped me win this amazing award. This award is for my fans they are my inspiration!”   Hot favorite for the Female Table Tennis Star title presented by Nittaku reigning World & Olympic Champion DING Ning did not disappoint as she takes her third Female Table Tennis Star award tonight to become the first ever athlete to achieve such as feat.   After fending off competition from current world number one ZHU Yuling (CHN) Japanese superstar Miu HIRANO and Chinese Taipei number one CHENG I-Ching the 27-year-old stated: “Thank you so much! It’s a great honour! I want to thank ITTF for giving me this award. Thank you to all who supported me I will keep fighting for more awards like this. I promise to make this game more popular in the world! Thank you!”   DING walks home as the biggest winner from the Astana 2017 ITTF Star Awards as her lightning fast rally against ZHU at the 2017 World Championships final was voted by fans as the 2017 Star Point presented by Seamaster.   Turkish star Neslihan KAVAS was crowned the Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International after a success year on the international para table tennis scene including a silver in the Class 9 event at the World Para Table Tennis Team Championships and claiming both the Singles Class 9 & Team Class 9-10 Gold medals at the 2017 European Para Table Tennis Championships.   Class 8 World number one Viktor DIDUKH who actively represented Ukraine on the ITTF World Tour prior to being diagnosed with cancer in 2008 that necessitated amputation of his left leg took home the Male Para Table Tennis Star award presented by Tinsue after winning several titles at various para table tennis Open & Championships events around the world.   14-year-old Tomokazu HARIMOTO claims the 2017 Breakthrough Star award presented by Monday Club after being the youngest ever World Tour Singles Champion and youngest ever World Championships quarterfinalist in 2017 beating world top 10 stars Timo BOLL and Jun MIZUTANI respectively.   Having coached the German team to reclaim the Men’s Team Gold at the European Championships as well as led top German stars BOLL & OVTCHAROV to several World Tour titles & victory at the 2017 Men’s World Cup Germany’s Jorg ROSSKOPF was named the 2017 Star Coach presented by Butterfly.   The 2017 Fair Play Star was handed out to France’s Irvin BERTRAND for his act of fair play at the Belarus Open where he gave his opponent his spare racket to compete fairly in the competition after his opponent failed the racket control testing and was not allowed to play.  Full list of 2017 ITTF Star Awards Winners: Male Table Tennis Star presented by DHS: Timo BOLL (GER) Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku: DING Ning (CHN) Male Para Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue: Viktor DIDUKH (UKR) Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International: Neslihan KAVAS (TUR) Table Tennis Star Point presented by Seamaster: DING Ning (CHN) Table Tennis Breakthrough Star presented by Monday Club: Tomokazu HARIMOTO (JPN) Table Tennis Star Coach presented by Butterfly: Jorg ROSSKOPF (GER) Fair Play Star: Irvin BERTRAND (FRA) With the conclusion of the Astana 2017 ITTF Star Awards the world’s best table tennis stars now return to the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals held in Astana Kazakhstan from 14-17 December to battle for the US$1 000 000 prize money on offer at the season ending finale. 

Newly crowned ITTF Men’s World Cup Champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) aims take over the top spot of the ITTF World Rankings in January 2018 with a strong performance at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals from 14-17 December 2017 in Astana Kazakhstan.   The top seed in Astana is merely one match away from ending the reign of current World & Olympic Champion MA Long (CHN) who has been dominating the ITTF World Ranking for a consecutive 34 months. Ovtcharov will have to avenge his 2017 World Championships defeat to Japan’s Koki NIWA to win his first-round match in Astana to become the next world number one.   “It will be a life dream for me to be world number one. It almost sound unreal to see the possibility that my name would be on the top of the list. I have a fantastic year with so many victories at so many events which gave me a lot of confidence. The draw seems to be tough as I lost to Koki at the World Championships and I will be well prepared for the match. I have met with him many times and I lost actually only that one encounter.”   “I believe in my victories and strengths and I hope I can make it far the event and this is right now my priority. I hope to make another final and the ranking comes with it.”   The new ITTF World Ranking system will come into effect starting on 1 January 2018 to present a more accurate measure and realistic situation of the playing level and to ensure that the World Ranking better supports ITTF events. More information on the new World Ranking can be found here or watch the explanation video to find out more!   All eyes will also be on current world number two FAN Zhendong (CHN) who will be eager to take home the Gold from the US$1 000 000 event in Astana without the presence of his teammate & arch-rival MA.   Having won three World Tour Platinum titles this year on the 2017 ITTF World Tour China’s CHEN Meng heads the Women’s seeding into the final fight for the prestigious title.   The top seed will have a tough battle to fight towards her first World Tour Grand Finals title as she will have to fend off challenges from compatriots including reigning world number one ZHU Yuling and up-and-rising stars of the Chinese team such as two-time World Junior Champion WANG Manyu who have produced great results on the 2017 ITTF World Tour.   Japanese stars Miu HIRANO Mima ITO and Kasumi ISHIKAWA will be going all out to challenge their Chinese counterparts and for their chance at the crown.   The Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals is the year ending finale for the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour which features 12 events across the world in 2017. The Grand Finals will feature the top 16 male and female players as well as the top 8 Men’s & Women’s Doubles pairs from the 12 World Tour events fighting for US$1 000 000 prize money in Astana Kazakhstan from 14-17 December 2017.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has announced it has signed a brand-new integrity partnership with Sportradar utilising the organisation’s world-leading monitoring intelligence and prevention solutions to help safeguard the sport against match fixing. Hundreds of matches each year will be covered by Sportradar’s Fraud Detection System (FDS) a unique service that credibly and effectively identifies betting-related manipulation in sport across all ITTF’s major events including the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Men’s & Women’s World Cup and the ITTF World Tour. The deal will also allow the ITTF to call on Sportradar’s bespoke Fraud Intelligence Unit (FIU) where cutting edge tools and processes are used by dedicated experts to develop an unmatched picture of those who may be looking to enable organise and finance any integrity attacks on the popular global sport. ITTF President Mr Thomas Weikert said: “We are very pleased to be signing a partnership with Sportradar as the world’s leading supplier of solutions to help prevent the threat of match-fixing and other integrity concerns around table tennis. Protecting the sport from such activity is crucial in maintaining table tennis’ position as an exhilarating spectacle and professional sport. We are looking forward to working with Sportradar to keep our sport clean which is one of the aspects that we pride ourselves on. Sportradar’s Managing Director of Integrity Services Andreas Krannich added: “Table tennis is a truly global sport enjoyed in every corner of the globe and fan favourite at every Olympic Games. The ITTF have today sent a clear message to their stakeholders and fans: comprehensive and credible protection is now in place to keep the game you love honest. There will be no compromise in this regard. We are humbled by their trust and commitment.”

T2 Asia Pacific League (T2APAC)   The winners of the inaugural T2 Asia Pacific League at the Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Johor Baru are TEAM MAZE represented by Timo BOLL CHEN Chien-An and Alexander SHIBAEV alongside Feng Tianwei Hina HAYATA and YANG Haeun won the team title; Timo BOLL emerged the Men’s individual champion Bernadette SZOCS secured the top prize in counterpart crown in the Women’s event.   In the final they overcame Team PERSSON with Jun MIZUTANI JOO Saehyuk and Mattias KARLSSON with Suthasini SAWETTABUT SHI Xunyao and Bernadette SZOCS being the female members. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER witnessed the final day of the T2 Championships in Johor.   “Spending a family visit in Singapore I was glad to be able to attend the finals in Johor next door to Singapore. It was a real great experience with an enthusiastic crowd who were cheering our European finalists. I have enjoyed every minute of these finals. In particular after having congratulated Bernadette SZOCS witnessing Timo BOLL winning his final over Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. After having been at the first round in June I could certainly see some major improvements. It is quite an achievement for Frank Ji and his people led by Jeff CHUE to set up such an innovative tournament with new ways of presentation of our sport in a TV studio.”   President Ronald KRAMER continues: “I think we in Europe but also worldwide can learn a lot of the experiences gained with this T2 tournament. I am looking forward to its continuation next year.”   On Friday in the Team final Timo BOLL secured the kill zone game against Jun MIZUTANI before sharing the spoils (2-2) in the 24 minute match. YANG Haeun lost the kill zone game in opposition to Suthasini SAWETTABUT but then won the longer version (4-1). Matters concluded with CHEN Chien-An overcoming Joo SAEHYUK (3-2) having lost the shorter version.   On the concluding day FENG Tianwei experienced defeats in both matches against SHI Xunyao losing the 24 minute (4-1) . Alexander SHIBAEV gave the advantage for Team MAZE; success in both forms was posted against Mattias KARLSSON in both formats a feat repeated by Hina HAYATA against Bernadette SZOCS. In the timed matches Alexander SHIBAEV  (4-1) and Hina HAYATA (5-2) were in commanding form.   Overall matters ended with a 20-13 success for Team Maze in opposition to Team Persson.   Bernadette SZOCS had won the Women’s individual title overcoming LIU Fei (3-2) in the semi-final and FENG Tianwei (5-3) in the final; in the counterpart semi-final FENG Tianwei had beaten SHI Xunyao (3-1).   Timo BOLL beat CHUANG Chih-Yuan at the semi-final stage (3-2) secured the top prize at the expense of German colleague Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (3-1); in the counterpart semi-final Dimitrij OVTCHAROV had accounted for Jun MIZUTANI (3-1).   The competition started 28th June; play in the Team event comprised six matches a “kill zone” contest where the first player to secure five points emerged successful followed by an engagement where matches were played over a 24 minute period with each game being to 11 points; the game stopped at 11 points a player did not have to be two points clear. It was the formula followed throughout the whole competition.    T2APAC has attracted table tennis’ top names including the world’s top female paddler DING Ning from China as well as Singapore’s FENG Tian Wei CHENG I-Ching from Chinese Taipei and South Korean YANG Haeun. The event also featured major top-10 men’s players including Dima OVTCHAROV from Germany. Jun MIZUTANI former World No. 1 Timo BOLL from Germany CHUANG Chih-Yuan of Chinese Taipei and legendary defensive player JOO Saehyuk of South Korea who was ranked 5th in the world at his peak . The league will also feature some of the best young talents from Japan such as 13-year-old child prodigy Tomokazu HARIMOTO 17-year old Hina Hayata who recently clinched the bronze in the women’s doubles at the LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships and rising-star 13-year old Miyuu KIHARA.   The contingent from China comprises members of the China men’s national Shang Kun Liu Dingshuo Xue Fei and Wang Chuqin; and from the China women’s national team –Wu Yang World No. 41 Wang Manyu Liu Fei and Sun Yingsha as well as 15-year old Shi Xunyao the Girl’s champion of the 2016 World Junior Championships.   Other top names competing in T2APAC’s inaugural season for a prize purse of over USD 1.75 million include CHEN Chien-an (Chinese Taipei) Vladimir SAMSONOV (Belarus) Paul Drinkhall (England) Georgina POTA (Hungary) Elizabeta SAMARA and Bernadette SZOCS (Romania) Jeon Jihee (South Korea) Aleksandr SHIBAEV (Russia) Matilda EKHOLM and Mattias KARLSSON (Sweden) as well as Suthasini SAWETTABUT (Thailand).

2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships will be held on March 8-11th in the Belarus city of Minsk   Three months before 2018 BELGOSSTRAKH European Under 21 Championships in the Belarus city of Minsk (March 8-11th) the names of 56 eligible players in each Men`s and Women`s competitions are announced as well as reserve players. Adina DIACONU from Romania and Darko JORGIC from Slovenia are topping the lists.   Actual top ten ranked Women`s players are following: Adina DIACONU (Romania) Andreea DRAGOMAN (Romania) Mariia TAILAKOVA (Russia) WAN Yuan (Germany) Oceane GUISNEL (France) HO Tin-Tin (England) Natalia BAJOR (Poland) ZHANG Xuan (Spain) Audrey ZARIF (France) Lisa LUNG (Balgium).   Actual top ten ranked Men`s players are following: Darko JORGIC (Slovenia) Can AKKUZU (France) Anton KALLBERG (Sweden) Tomas POLANSKY (Czech Republic) Bence MAJOROS (Hungary) Alexandre CASSIN (France) Truls MOREGARD (Sweden) Joe SEYFRIED (France) Deni KOZUL (Slovenia) Andreas LEVENKO (Austria).   Many of them recorded significant achievements in the European Youth Championships. The two times Junior Boy`s gold medalist 2014 and 2016 Alexandre CASSIN (FRA) and 2016 runner-up Andreas LEVENKO (AUT) are going to participate in Minsk as well as 2015 JB Singles champion Sweden`s Anton KALLBERG his compatriot Truls MOREGARD 2016 and 2017 Cadet Boy`s runner-up who won silver at the recent 2017 ITTF World Junior Championships in Riva del Garda 2013 CB Singles winner Czech Republic`s Tomas POLANSKY…   Concerning Women`s Singles event Adina DIACONU is the most decorated participant. She got four consecutive gold medals: 2013 Ostrava CG Singles 2014 Riva del Garda CG Singles 2015 Bratislava JG Singles and 2016 Zagreb JG Singles. Russia`s Mariia TAILAKOVA won two singles titles in a row 2014 and 2015.   The upcoming championships will be second one as the inaugural event was held this year in the Russian city of Sochi. The winners of the first Championships were Chantal MANTZ of Germany and Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia. MANTZ who upset no. 1 seed of Women`s Singles event Adina DIACONU in the opening round beat her compatriot WAN Yung in six games of the gold medal contest (8:11 11:9 5:11 12:10 11:6 11:7) while PUCAR overcame Germany`s QIU Dang in five sets (11:6 11:2 9:11 14:12 11:9).   Anders LIND (Denmark)/Alexander VALUCH (Slovakia) have defeated Tomislav PUCAR (Croatia)/Janos MAJOROS (Hungary) in straight games (11:8 11:5 11:6) of the Men`s Doubles final. Women`s Doubles winners were Lisa LUNG and Eline LOYEN from Belgium who prevailed against Romania`s Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN after four games (10:12 12:10 11:8 11:9).  

Finlandia Open ended- just like last year – as a perfect Japanese party. Even the names were pretty much the same as last year’s winner Hokuto KORIYAMA took the title in men’s singles and Minami ANDO repeated the story in women´s singles.   In men’s final Yusuke SADAMATSU – who beat local hero Benedek OLÁH away from the winning fight – was weaponless against lefthanded KORIYAMA. Third in the competition was Lev KATSMAN from Russia.   However KORIYMA struggled a lot on his way to his title while women´s winner Minami ANDO lost only three sets during the whole race. Defending compariot Mai ASADA had no chance in a 0-4 final match. Third place was captured by Rachel Moret from Switzerland.   – We are happy with the arrangements. On the basis of feedback both players and coaches are satisfied with our competition – venue meals and accomondation near by –  but of course we hoped that Benedek OLÁH would have played in the finals said Esko HEIKKINEN Chairman of the Finnish Table Tennis Association noted.   Men´s singles   Hokuto Koriyma Japan Yusuke Sadamatsu Japan 11-9 11-8 16-14 11-5 Lev Katsman Russia Benedek Oláh Finland   Women’s singles   Minami Ando Japan Mai Asada Japan 11-6 11-6 11-9 11-5 Rachel Moret Switzerland      

Badminton Association of Thailand Mahidol University Badminton World Federation International Table Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Federation invites to attend and participate at the “6th World Congress of Racket Sport Science” on May 25-26 2018.  The Congress will be held at Arnoma Grand Hotel in Bangkok Thailand.   The purpose of the Congress is to bring together researchers from around the world who are interested on factors which substantially influence the results of competitive racket sports.  The Congress will focus on topics such as coaching biomechanics ergonomics expert system fitness testing injuries and their prevention nutrition physiology rehabilitation and training.   For more information you can visit conference website at www.racketsports2018.com. You may also contact the Organising Committee at info@racketsports2018.com