The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has confirmed expressions of interest from three cities to host the 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships after the closing of the interest phase on 15 October 2017. The expressions of interest were received by Ekateringburg (Russia) Busan (Korea Republic) and San Jose (USA) to bring the world’s biggest table tennis event and the best teams into their city. The bid from San Jose also meant that USA is in the running to have the second only ITTF World Championships to be held outside Asia & Europe the first and only being in Cairo Egypt in 1939. This portrays the global rise of table tennis especially in North America who have successfully hosted the last two editions of the ITTF Women’s World Cup in the USA and Canada. ITTF CEO Steve DAINTON stated “We are glad to receive expressions of interest from three new cities to bid for the hosting of the 2020 edition which is a sign that more cities are now interested in bringing major table tennis events into their annual calendar.” “The World Table Tennis Championships is the world’s biggest table tennis stage and the ITTF’s most important event of the year that brings great opportunity for city promotion and tourism boost for the host city. With the success of the recently concluded edition in Düsseldorf Germany I believe it was a great motivation for Ekateringburg Busan and San Jose to bid for the hosting of the event in 2020.” The ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT added: “Having three cities showing strong interest is a clear sign that the new ITTF management’s hard work is paying off and is well supported around the world. We have been promoting the benefits of hosting the world’s biggest table tennis event more strongly as well as looking at how to make the event more successful to ensure its long future. All of this on the back of one of the best ever World Championships this year in Germany shows that the ITTF is performing better than ever before and we are so happy to have three fantastic cities keen to host the World Championships.” The Liebherr 2017 World Table Tennis Championships which was held in Düsseldorf Germany from 29 May to 5 June 2017 was followed by over 355.6 million audiences worldwide and smashed social & viewership records of any table tennis event in history. Following the closing of the interest phase the three interested cities will have to submit their detailed bids and commitment to bid which the ITTF Selection panel will analyze and conduct inspections in the bid phase which closes on 1 February 2018. The ITTF Executive Committee will then have to decide on the final shortlist by 15 February. The shortlisted bidders will be invited to present their final bid book to the ITTF and all National Associations for voting at the ITTF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Halmstad Sweden where a final decision on the host will be made.
OVTCHAROV (GER) advanced to a career high of number three in the world
World Rankings In the November edition of the Men’s World Rankings Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV advanced to a career high of number three in the world after becoming the Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup Champion for the first time. Reigning World and Olympic Champion MA Long of China who suffered a surprise defeat in the semifinals of the Men’s World Cup to Timo BOLL of Germany stays world number one ahead of FAN Zhendong of China. The Chinese pair of XU Xin and ZHANG Jike fell off the November list due to their inactivity over the last four months. Timo BOLL benefits from this moving up to number four. Next in line appear two familiar Japanese names but in different order than previous world rankings Koki NIWA and Jun MIZUTANI. NIWA climbs from number eight to five and MIZUTANI from 7 to 6. Simon GAUZY of France who has had a breakthrough season cracks the top 10 for the first time and sits in eighth position. On the back of her victory at the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals China’s ZHU Yuling (CHN) has become the women’s world number one for the first time. The 22-year-old replaces Olympic and World Champion DING Ning of China who held the top position for the past 13 months and beat ZHU in the World Championships final earlier this year. ZHU who is also a two time Junior World Champion stated: “Of course I’m very happy to be able to be ranked world number one but it’s just a ranking and doesn’t reflect the level of skills. I hope being ranked world number one is going to be another motivation for me to continue work hard for competitions in the future.” As DING Ning has been inactive for four months she loses her number two position and falls of the world ranking charts until she plays again. This means that CHEN Meng (CHN) is now at number two followed by the Women’s World Cup runner-up LIU Shiwen (CHN). The Chinese trio are followed by three Japanese players Kasumi ISHIKAWA at number four followed by Miu HIRANO and Mima ITO. Check out the full lists at https://www.ittf.com/rankings/.
OVTCHAROV (GER) advanced to a career high of number three in the world
World Rankings In the November edition of the Men’s World Rankings Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV advanced to a career high of number three in the world after becoming the Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup Champion for the first time. Reigning World and Olympic Champion MA Long of China who suffered a surprise defeat in the semifinals of the Men’s World Cup to Timo BOLL of Germany stays world number one ahead of FAN Zhendong of China. The Chinese pair of XU Xin and ZHANG Jike fell off the November list due to their inactivity over the last four months. Timo BOLL benefits from this moving up to number four. Next in line appear two familiar Japanese names but in different order than previous world rankings Koki NIWA and Jun MIZUTANI. NIWA climbs from number eight to five and MIZUTANI from 7 to 6. Simon GAUZY of France who has had a breakthrough season cracks the top 10 for the first time and sits in eighth position. On the back of her victory at the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals China’s ZHU Yuling (CHN) has become the women’s world number one for the first time. The 22-year-old replaces Olympic and World Champion DING Ning of China who held the top position for the past 13 months and beat ZHU in the World Championships final earlier this year. ZHU who is also a two time Junior World Champion stated: “Of course I’m very happy to be able to be ranked world number one but it’s just a ranking and doesn’t reflect the level of skills. I hope being ranked world number one is going to be another motivation for me to continue work hard for competitions in the future.” As DING Ning has been inactive for four months she loses her number two position and falls of the world ranking charts until she plays again. This means that CHEN Meng (CHN) is now at number two followed by the Women’s World Cup runner-up LIU Shiwen (CHN). The Chinese trio are followed by three Japanese players Kasumi ISHIKAWA at number four followed by Miu HIRANO and Mima ITO. Check out the full lists at https://www.ittf.com/rankings/.
Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Continental Qualification for Europe
Youth Olympic Games European Qualication Tournament This Sunday after three days of battles at the Youth Olympic Games European Qualication Tournament in Croatia’s city of Split four boys and four girls will qualify for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games. At the list of participants there are 59 names: 32 boys and 27 girls. The competition will be played in three stages: Stage 1 (Friday) group matches (8 groups with 3 4 5 or 6 players) Stage 2 (Saturday) knock-out system Stage 3 (Sunday) knock-out system In Stage one participating players will be drawn into 8 groups in accordance with the latest available World Ranking list. The winners and position 2 players from each group will qualify for the 2nd day Draw ‘A’. The position 3 and position 4 players from each group will qualify for the 2nd day Draw ‘B’. The players eventually ranked 5th or 6th in a group finish his/her participation. In Stage two the progressive knockout system will be used in order to determine the final position for every player with the exception of a match for position 1 and 2. The finalists of the Draw ‘A’ become Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 for Buenos Aires 2018 YOG. The remaining 14 players will be drawn into Draw ‘C’ of the qualification. In stage 2 the progressive knockout system will be used in order to determine the final position for every player with the exception of a match for position 1 and 2. The players finishing in position 3 of the first stage groups will be drawn randomly into Draw ‘B’. The players finishing in position 4 of the first stage groups will be drawn by lot into the remaining places but in the opposite half to the winners of their initial group.The finalists of Draw ‘B’ will qualify for Draw ‘C’ to be played on the 3rd day. The 14 remaining players from Draw ‘A’ and the 2 qualified players from Draw ‘B’ will play in a single knock-out system Draw ‘C’. The finalists of Draw ‘C’ become Qualifier 3 and Qualifier 4 for Buenos Aires 2018 YOG. The losers of the semi-final matches of DRAW ‘C’ will play an additional match to determine the 1st and 2nd reserve players. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS (59 PLAYERS) BOYS ENTRIES (32 ENTRIES) Nr NAME ASSOC. DOB 1 KOLODZIEJCZYK Maciej AUT 14-Jan-01 2 YU Khinhang ^ AZE 20-Sep-01 3 RUKLIATSOU Uladzislau BLR 27-Apr-01 4 DEVOS Laurens BEL 15-Aug-00 5 MIHAILOVIC Luka BIH 8-Jan-00 6 JAKELIC Jakov CRO 22-Dec-01 7 VALENTA Jan CZE 30-Mar-01 8 NAUMI Alex FIN 27-Apr-01 9 REMBERT Bastien FRA 31-May-00 10 STUMPER Kay GER 15-Oct-02 11 WALSH Ethan ENG 11-May-02 12 SGOUROPOULOS Ioannis GRE 8-May-00 13 ANDRAS Csaba HUN 2-Aug-02 14 CATHCART Owen IRL 5-Apr-02 15 ISRAELI Tal ISR 19-Apr-03 16 MUTTI Matteo ITA 21-Nov-00 17 MAHMUTI Kreshnik KOS 28-Apr-01 18 KOGANS Daniels LAT 6-Aug-03 19 STANKEVICIUS Medardas LTU 23-Feb-00 20 RIKALOSKI Aleksandar MKD 10-May-00 21 URSU Vladislav MDA 1-Mar-01 22 RADOVIC Filip MNE 8-Jul-00 23 HAUG Borgar NOR 21-Nov-02 24 KULCZYCKI Samuel POL 9-Aug-02 25 FRANCISCO Jose Pedro POR 18-Apr-00 26 PLETEA Cristian ROU 28-May-00 27 SIDORENKO Vladimir RUS 7-Apr-02 28 LEVAJAC Dimitrije SRB 14-Aug-01 29 MOREGARD Truls SWE 16-Feb-02 30 GIROD Dorian SUI 10-Mar-00 31 YILMAZ Tugay TUR 1-Jan-01 32 LUSHNIKOV Volodymyr UKR 25-Jun-01 GIRLS ENTRIES (27 ENTRIES) Nr NAME ASSOC. DOB 301 NING Jing ^ AZE 16-Mar-00 302 BOGDANOVA Nadezhda BLR 22-Jun-00 303 MARKOVIC Snezana BIH 20-Jun-00 304 ILIEVA Ivet BUL 21-Apr-02 305 PAVLOVIC Andrea CRO 27-Jan-00 306 BLASKOVA Zdena CZE 13-Feb-01 307 LUNDSTROM Annika FIN 16-Jan-00 308 GAUTHIER Lucie FRA 17-Feb-00 309 SCHREINER Franziska GER 22-Dec-01 310 GERASIMATOU Ioanna GRE 12-Apr-01 311 HARASZTOVICH Fanni HUN 17-Jan-01 312 LAURENTI Jamila ITA 24-Nov-02 313 MUSAJEVA Sabina LAT 26-Jun-03 314 STOJANOVSKA Ana MKD 25-Jun-03 315 BRINZA Natalia MDA 3-May-03 316 PETRIC Ivona MNE 2-Feb-01 317 ERNST Emine NED 20-Aug-03 318 WEGRZYN Anna POL 9-Jan-01 319 MARTINS Raquel POR 1-Apr-01 320 DRAGOMAN Andreea ROU 18-Aug-00 321 TAILAKOVA Mariia RUS 12-Mar-01 322 SURJAN Sabina SRB 10-Apr-00 323 KUKULKOVA Tatiana SVK 18-Jul-00 324 STRAZAR Katarina SLO 3-May-01 325 KALLBERG Christina SWE 1-Apr-00 326 YILMAZ Ozge TUR 4-Nov-02 327 PEREBEINOS Veronika UKR 20-Oct-01
ITTF Decides on Sanctions for Chinese Trio for China Open Forfeits
During the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum China Open held in Chengdu China in June 2017 the top three table tennis players in the world: MA Long FAN Zhendong and XU Xin did not turn up for their round of 16 matches subsequently forfeiting their matches. The trio did not provide the ITTF or the organizing committee any immediate reason why they did not turn up for their matches. This behaviour meant the ITTF was required to set up a disciplinary panel appointed by the ITTF Executive Committee to investigate the incident and determine appropriate sanction. The disciplinary panel reviewed all the evidence at hand including asking for three players for an official statement which was received as well as taking into account the public statements made by the three players and the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) regarding the issue. After reviewing all the evidence the Disciplinary Panel determined that the actions of the three players breached section 3.5.3 of the ITTF Rule book relating to Good Presentation more specifically clause 3.5.3.1.1 which states: ‘Players have to do their upmost to win a match and shall not withdraw except for reasons of illness or injury’. Therefore the Disciplinary Panel has determined that the behaviour of the three players represents a breach of section 3.5.3 of Good Presentation and according to section 3.5.3.4 the Disciplinary Panel is responsible to determine the players sanction. The Disciplinary Panel decided that due to the three players let down the global fans at the China Open due to their actions and damaged the reputation of the ITTF that a one month suspension would have been justified. However due to the players’ explanations both their own and CTTA’s assurances that such behaviour will not be repeated the three players will not receive any suspension and will be fined US$20 000 each for breaching section of 3.5.3 of ITTF rules. The decision of the disciplinary panel is effective immediately (31 October 2017) due to the players have not appealed the decision which is their constitutional right and have accepted their punishment. The ITTF is looking forward to welcoming MA Long FAN Zhendong and XU Xin back to the ITTF World Tour and for the three icons of the sport to be role models for the millions of table tennis players across the world.
KREANGA lead Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo into the Third Stage
After 2 years of early elimination in the 2nd round of the ETTU Cup time has come for European ambitions of Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo. Mayor Charlie APTROOT of Zoetermeer send congratulations to the team shortly after reaching the 3rd round in the ETTU Cup with a nice hint to the European ambitions of the club in his sportminded city. President Jacob de BOER and team manager Ruud van GRAAFEILAND still have the 2014/2015 quarterfinals in mind as a good example of what might be possible. Last year after a flying start with 2 wins the team was unlucky and still third after counting all sets. This time Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo was sure of to reach the next round after convincing wins against Fortune Kiev (3-1) and ASD Marcozzi (3-0) on day 1. Partly because the Belgian team Sokah Hoboken with Dutchman Rajko GOMMERS managed to beat the same teams by 3-2 and 3-0. The teams from Belgium and the Netherlands thus secured spots 1 and 2 in this phase giving entitlement to the third round. With 5 wins this weekend Kalinikos KREANGA had a significant share in the win. “I like it in Zoetermeer and ETTU Cup are nice games where I still learn every day. How crazy it sounds but for years I’ve been playing my game to win the absolute top players. I really have to adjust my game to win the good players just under that top layer. I’m happy with my teammates good and nice players they did well and won their matches and now we are looking forward to a hopefully favorable draw ” said KREANGA.
SF SKK El Nino Praha travells to Croatia again
Draw for the Men’s and Women’s ETTU Cup The draw for the third stage of the ETTU Cup was held tonight. The draw has been conducted by the ETTU Ranking Committee Chair Igor HELLER the Secretary General Richard SCRUTON and the Deputy Secretary General Pierre KASS. Top 16 clubs will meet in knock out phase; first match is scheduled for 24th to 26th November and return leg will be played between 15th and 17th December. In Men’s ETTU CUP top seeded French Ping Pong Club Villeneuvois will meet TTC Sokah Hoboken from Belgium. After they won the Group D in Dubrovnik SF SKK El Nino Praha will travel again to Croatia to play against STK Starr Varazdin. Spanish Cajasur Priego TM will meet the winner of the Group A Logis Auderghem of Belgium. French VS Angers TT will host Spanish Arteal Tenis De Mesa whilst Austria’s SG Stockerau will host another club from Spain Irun Leka Enea Tenis de Mesa. All-Slovakia’s match will be played between Hontianske Trstany / Dudince and SK Vydrany. In Scotland Drumchapel Glasgow will host Dutch Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo. French Istres Tennis se Table is the host of the Spanish DKV Borges Vall. In Women’s ETTU Cup French Metz TT as a top seed will play against Team Grace from Ukraine. Arteal Tennis de Mesa from Spain will travel to Austria to meet TTV Villach whilst Tigrem Sport Club will host Russia’s SKNT Luch-Vladimir in Turkey. TMK-Tagmet Taganrog of Russia will host Dutch Dozy Den Helder/Noordkop. Spanish Girbau-VIC TT will host Novi Sad from Serbia and Russia’s Kazana will meet ACS Dumbravita of Romania. Hungarian Budaörsi 2I SC awaits CTT Balaguer Villart Logistic and French Etival Clairefontaine ASRTT will meet Spanish Hotel Patria Chica Museo Priego TM.
Zhu Yuling Claims Career First ITTF Women’s World Cup Title in Markham
China’s ZHU Yuling is the newly crowned Champion of the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals held in Markham Canada from 27 – 29 October 2017. The top seed claimed her career first ITTF Women’s World Cup title in a grueling 7-games thriller and in turn stopping her teammate LIU Shiwen’s hope of a record fifth title. In the nail biting final that thrilled the capacity crowd at the Markham Pan Am Centre ZHU had to recover from 0-2 down and a controversial edge ball that costed her a crucial fifth game 10-12 against LIU. Determined for the title the 22-year-old was on all pumped to against her more experienced colleague and eventually winning the last two games to take the match 4-3 (11-13 8-11 11-7 11-8 10-12 11-9 12-10) & win the prestigious title. “I’m still very nervous now even after winning!” shared ZHU after her epic victory. “In the match because I was too nervous I made some errors. Now I’m really happy to win the title!” It’s double joy for the newly crowned Champions she has now also earned enough world ranking points to overtake reigning World Champion DING Ning (CHN) to become the next World Number One in the next month’s ITTF World Rankings. Finalists in Philadelphia last year defending champion Miu HIRANO (JPN) and CHENG I-Ching (TPE) had to fight for the bronze medal after being knocked out of the race for Gold by LIU & ZHU respectively in the semifinals. It was CHENG who took the victory in hand and avenged for the 2016 loss to HIRANO winning 4-2 (9-11 11-5 9-11 11-9 11-5 11-8) to take home the bronze medal. With the conclusion of the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals the world’s best athletes will head off to Magdeburg Germany for the upcoming Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open.
Asia in quest for gold at the Uncle Pop Women’s World Cup
LI Jie of Netherlands and Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania both concluded their journey at the Uncle Pop Women’s World Cup in Markham Canada in the quarterfinal. LIU Jia of Austria Georginal POTA of Hungary and Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden exited one round earlier. Both of last year’s finalists will compete on the concluding day of play with Miu HIRANO and CHENG I-Ching successfully negotiating their respective quarter-finals encounters. LIU Shiwen remains in the hunt to secure a fifth title at the competition after the second seeded contestant booked her spot in the semi-finals with a strong display on Day Two. The other player who will appear in the semi-finals lineup is top seed ZHU Yuling who is in search of her first Women’s World Cup trophy. Miu HIRANO accounted for the experienced Swedish player Matilda Ekholm in the Round of 16 (5-11 11-6 11-9 11-4 11-2). CHENG I-Ching overcame Hungary’s Georgina Pota (7-11 7-11 11-8 13-11 11-7 7-11 11-4). LIU Shiwen overcame the challenge of Romania’s Elizabeta Samara in style (11-4 11-6 11-7 11-4). ZHU Yuling beat LI Jie of the Netherlands (11-3 6-11 11-9 11-3 11-5). Previously LI overcame LIU Jia (11-9 11- 9 4-11 11-8 4:11 10-12 11-5).
Nine medals for Europeans in Fiji
2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge At the 2017 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Suva European players clinched nine medals – gold in Mixed Doubles Event; silver in Cadet Boys Teams and Cadet Boys Doubles; bronze medals in Cadet Girls Teams Cadet Boys Singles two in Cadet Girls Singles and Cadet Boys Doubles and Mixed Doubles. “It’s really great result for European Team! Boys played without top four players SIDORENKO MOREGARD STUMPER and KULCZYCKI. In addition girls cased great upset because Elena ZAHARIA is only 12 years old Elizabet ABRAAMIAN 13 years old but they are already at the same level with Asians. Both are the part of the ETTU Development Program ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. In the Mixed Doubles the favorites prevailed with NIU Guankai and Jamila LAURENTI taking the title as they defeated the Latin America and Asia duo of Diogo SILVA and RYU Hanna. But the pair were both louder and the more physical on the table than their opponents. The Chinese and Italian duo won the match 2-1 (-11 7 6). In the penultimate stage SILVA and RYU overcame Belgium’s Olav KOSOLOSKY and Canada’s ZHOU Benita 2-0 (2 8) In the Boys’ doubles final FENG Yi-Hsin and NIU Guankai over Team Europe’s Csaba ANDRAS and Martin FRIIS. Despite spectacular rallies the score line was a one sided 3-0 (7 11 7). Previously in the match for final FENG and NIU overcame Russia’s Maksim GREBNEV and KOSOLOSKY 3-1 (2 -11 7 10). In singles Romania’s ZAHARIA were halted on the penultimate hurdle. Japan’s Yumeno SOMA prevailed 4-0 (10 2 4 8) before she beat China’s HUANG to reach the gold. In semis Russia’s ABRAAMIAN lost against HUANG 4-0 (4 7 3 8). In the contest for third position ABRAAMIAN overcame ZAHARIA 3-1 (9 9 -9 5). Csaba ANDRAS of Hungary suffered by the hands of NIU Guankai of China in the semis of the Cadet Boys Singles Event 4-1 (7 14 8 -4 9). In the final NIU beat FENG Yi Hsin to win gold.
