ETTU site updates   The ETTU site already offered a new online platform with sports statistic data and results from previous competitions all at one place. One month later we are ready for the next step. Now all the data on the European Rankings starting May 2014 until now are available on the ETTU Results/Stats webpage (http://results.ettu.site).   Behind the work of developing and launching a new platform are ITTF and ETTU Competition Manager Dimosthenis MESSINIS who created the platform and the Ranking Committee Chairman Igor HELLER who provided all the results data.   “The new presentation offers a much better view on the European Rankings. Not only you can see the ranking positions and points you can follow the development of a player or a group of players over the years. Many different kinds of queries can be done and players coaches and table tennis fans. Maybe it can be used for scientific research as well. It will be extended every month and also rankings from the past will be added ” explained HELLER.   Those are just the first steps; ETTU will go deeper in history and will widen the field of data to be offered to the visitors fans coaches players media etc. With just a few clicks everyone will be able to see the ranking position and the ranking points of every ranked player in every age category on the same page and follow their progress during the year dynamically. There is no need to search for players in multiple pdf’s because all are at one place. The system provides a very efficient way to find the data you want instantly.     “The new ETTU results statistics and rankings webpage was made to help table tennis fans having an access to historical results and rankings in a much easier and clearer way. It’s a database driven website which can be a useful tool to all table tennis professionals who are looking for information of this kind. The rankings page will be updated monthly and we ensure that more and more results and stats will be added soon ” added Dimosthenis MESSINIS.  

ETTU site updates   The ETTU site already offered a new online platform with sports statistic data and results from previous competitions all at one place. One month later we are ready for the next step. Now all the data on the European Rankings starting May 2014 until now are available on the ETTU Results/Stats webpage (http://results.ettu.site).   Behind the work of developing and launching a new platform are ITTF and ETTU Competition Manager Dimosthenis MESSINIS who created the platform and the Ranking Committee Chairman Igor HELLER who provided all the results data.   “The new presentation offers a much better view on the European Rankings. Not only you can see the ranking positions and points you can follow the development of a player or a group of players over the years. Many different kinds of queries can be done and players coaches and table tennis fans. Maybe it can be used for scientific research as well. It will be extended every month and also rankings from the past will be added ” explained HELLER.   Those are just the first steps; ETTU will go deeper in history and will widen the field of data to be offered to the visitors fans coaches players media etc. With just a few clicks everyone will be able to see the ranking position and the ranking points of every ranked player in every age category on the same page and follow their progress during the year dynamically. There is no need to search for players in multiple pdf’s because all are at one place. The system provides a very efficient way to find the data you want instantly.     “The new ETTU results statistics and rankings webpage was made to help table tennis fans having an access to historical results and rankings in a much easier and clearer way. It’s a database driven website which can be a useful tool to all table tennis professionals who are looking for information of this kind. The rankings page will be updated monthly and we ensure that more and more results and stats will be added soon ” added Dimosthenis MESSINIS.  

60th STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   For a first time in the history Russia clinched three titles in the Team’s Events at the 60th STAG 2017 European Youth Championships. Last time when the same country won three crowns was in 2014 and it was France. In 1976 that record was surprised but then Soviet Union was complete. In Guimaraes Russia’s Junior Girls Cadet Girls and Boys won gold whilst Junior Boys reached the final.   Coach Sergei BRUZIN who led Cadet Girls helped his team won 9 gold medals and this gold was third in the row. In his treasury BRUZIN has 20 medals at the European Youth Championships. He has experience of 23 EYC.   “We have to thank for our latest successes to Igor LEVITIN Chairman of Supervisory Board of the Table Tennis Federation of Russia. He improved the development of table tennis by investing in programs and sport centers in many towns in Russia » explained BRUZIN.     In Junior Girls final Russia overcame Romania. It was the team who reigned in past two editions of the Championships led by the singles champion Adina DIACONU.   “It was amazing win for Anastasia KOLISH. No one thought it is possible to overcame DIACONU. She proved her maturity after DIACONU recovered from 0:2 to level the match. Anastasia did not give up. She stayed focused and gave Russia good start ” explained coach Sergei BRUZIN.   Mariia TAILAKOVA was also starched to full distance against Andreea DRAGOMAN whilst Kristina KAZANTSEVA sealed the victory with 3:2 win over Tania PLAIAN.   “Mariia was 2:0 down but she was in that situation many times on the tournament. She has enough stability in her mind to overcame slower start and to make points in crucial moments and tight finishes. Also Kristina despite her very nervous start managed to calm down and to finish the duel in the big style. I think that speaks a lot about the Russia’s team spirit. “   Junior Boys lost against Germany.   “Everything was clear after Denis IVONIN lost against Gerrit ENGEMANN. It opened the door for Germany’s well deserved success ” said BRUZIN.   In cadet girls final Russia beat France.   “Elizabet ABRAAMIAN proved she is very strong. She was opening game down but beat Prithika PAVADE. Ekaterina ZIRONOVA then lost against Camille LUTZ after she had three match balls in decisive game. However they showed good mentality and won doubles. ZIRONOVA was upset but eventually she controlled her emotions and won 3:0 against Prithika PAVADE.   Cadet boys Vladimir SIDORENKO and Maksim GREBNEV beat France in the final but coach pointed that crucial match was for the medal against Poland.   “They were under big pressure. They had to play decisive match and in that one GREBNEV showed brave performance. He was 1:2 down had 10:5 then KUBIK recovered to level at 10:10 but Maksim returned to game and won two points for fifth set. Then he prevailed without problems.”

60th STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   For a first time in the history Russia clinched three titles in the Team’s Events at the 60th STAG 2017 European Youth Championships. Last time when the same country won three crowns was in 2014 and it was France. In 1976 that record was surprised but then Soviet Union was complete. In Guimaraes Russia’s Junior Girls Cadet Girls and Boys won gold whilst Junior Boys reached the final.   Coach Sergei BRUZIN who led Cadet Girls helped his team won 9 gold medals and this gold was third in the row. In his treasury BRUZIN has 20 medals at the European Youth Championships. He has experience of 23 EYC.   “We have to thank for our latest successes to Igor LEVITIN Chairman of Supervisory Board of the Table Tennis Federation of Russia. He improved the development of table tennis by investing in programs and sport centers in many towns in Russia » explained BRUZIN.     In Junior Girls final Russia overcame Romania. It was the team who reigned in past two editions of the Championships led by the singles champion Adina DIACONU.   “It was amazing win for Anastasia KOLISH. No one thought it is possible to overcame DIACONU. She proved her maturity after DIACONU recovered from 0:2 to level the match. Anastasia did not give up. She stayed focused and gave Russia good start ” explained coach Sergei BRUZIN.   Mariia TAILAKOVA was also starched to full distance against Andreea DRAGOMAN whilst Kristina KAZANTSEVA sealed the victory with 3:2 win over Tania PLAIAN.   “Mariia was 2:0 down but she was in that situation many times on the tournament. She has enough stability in her mind to overcame slower start and to make points in crucial moments and tight finishes. Also Kristina despite her very nervous start managed to calm down and to finish the duel in the big style. I think that speaks a lot about the Russia’s team spirit. “   Junior Boys lost against Germany.   “Everything was clear after Denis IVONIN lost against Gerrit ENGEMANN. It opened the door for Germany’s well deserved success ” said BRUZIN.   In cadet girls final Russia beat France.   “Elizabet ABRAAMIAN proved she is very strong. She was opening game down but beat Prithika PAVADE. Ekaterina ZIRONOVA then lost against Camille LUTZ after she had three match balls in decisive game. However they showed good mentality and won doubles. ZIRONOVA was upset but eventually she controlled her emotions and won 3:0 against Prithika PAVADE.   Cadet boys Vladimir SIDORENKO and Maksim GREBNEV beat France in the final but coach pointed that crucial match was for the medal against Poland.   “They were under big pressure. They had to play decisive match and in that one GREBNEV showed brave performance. He was 1:2 down had 10:5 then KUBIK recovered to level at 10:10 but Maksim returned to game and won two points for fifth set. Then he prevailed without problems.”

60th STAG European Youth Championships   Germany waited 11 years for the title in Junior Boy’s Teams Event at the European Youth Championships. After the generation of Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Ruwen FILUS Steffen MENGEL Markus SCHLICHTER and Hendrik FUSS that has clinched the title in Sarajevo Germany is at the top of the Europe again. In Guimaraes at the 60th STAG European Youth Championships Tobias HIPPLER Gerrit ENGEMANN Cedric MEISSNER and FANBO Meng led by the coach ZHU Xiaoyong avenged their defeat in the group stage and beat Russia on their way to the highest step of the medal rostrum.   “ I think that mental part of the game prevailed in the final. We lost against Russia very close encounter by narrow margin and we wanted to prove we could beat them. It could easily be different but the opening game made a difference. ENGEMANN’s five games victory over Denis IVONIN opened the doors for success. In the second match HIPPLER already proved his skills against players with the defensive style. Artur ABUSEV had no chance ” explained coach ZHU Xiaoyong.   It was not only the match against Russia in group that was stretched to full distance. On their way to the final Germany beat Romania 3:2 in semis; by same margin Italy was denied of medal.   “Last year it was opposite situation concerning Italy. They overcame us and reached the gold. This year I changed the formation; we beat Italy in the quarterfinal and we made it to top.”   Coach ZHU Xiaoyong admitted no one expects gold. They lost against Russia and against Spain they were only two points away from a defeat and the third place in the group in the preliminary round.   “We fought hard for each win. Against Romania ENGEMANN had 2:2 and he was were 5:10 down against Rares SIPOS in the decisive game of the decisive match before we recovered to win and move to final. We had very hard time. Maybe we hope for medal but gold came as a surprise for us at the end. There are a lot of teams with equal quality here. Everyone can beat everyone.”   The team already won the gold at the Italy Open earlier this year whilst in Spain they were third. Can they repeat the success in singles event?   “It will be very difficult. We have very good team but in individual competition there are a lot of favorites. Cristian PLETEA of Romania showed good shape Greek’s Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS is also very good Sweden has their aces….Very tight competition ” commented ZHU Xiaoyong.    

60th STAG European Youth Championships   Germany waited 11 years for the title in Junior Boy’s Teams Event at the European Youth Championships. After the generation of Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Ruwen FILUS Steffen MENGEL Markus SCHLICHTER and Hendrik FUSS that has clinched the title in Sarajevo Germany is at the top of the Europe again. In Guimaraes at the 60th STAG European Youth Championships Tobias HIPPLER Gerrit ENGEMANN Cedric MEISSNER and FANBO Meng led by the coach ZHU Xiaoyong avenged their defeat in the group stage and beat Russia on their way to the highest step of the medal rostrum.   “ I think that mental part of the game prevailed in the final. We lost against Russia very close encounter by narrow margin and we wanted to prove we could beat them. It could easily be different but the opening game made a difference. ENGEMANN’s five games victory over Denis IVONIN opened the doors for success. In the second match HIPPLER already proved his skills against players with the defensive style. Artur ABUSEV had no chance ” explained coach ZHU Xiaoyong.   It was not only the match against Russia in group that was stretched to full distance. On their way to the final Germany beat Romania 3:2 in semis; by same margin Italy was denied of medal.   “Last year it was opposite situation concerning Italy. They overcame us and reached the gold. This year I changed the formation; we beat Italy in the quarterfinal and we made it to top.”   Coach ZHU Xiaoyong admitted no one expects gold. They lost against Russia and against Spain they were only two points away from a defeat and the third place in the group in the preliminary round.   “We fought hard for each win. Against Romania ENGEMANN had 2:2 and he was were 5:10 down against Rares SIPOS in the decisive game of the decisive match before we recovered to win and move to final. We had very hard time. Maybe we hope for medal but gold came as a surprise for us at the end. There are a lot of teams with equal quality here. Everyone can beat everyone.”   The team already won the gold at the Italy Open earlier this year whilst in Spain they were third. Can they repeat the success in singles event?   “It will be very difficult. We have very good team but in individual competition there are a lot of favorites. Cristian PLETEA of Romania showed good shape Greek’s Ioannis SGOUROPOULOS is also very good Sweden has their aces….Very tight competition ” commented ZHU Xiaoyong.    

The Liebherr 2017 World Table Tennis Championships has smashed social & viewership records to become the most followed table tennis event in history. The world’s biggest table tennis event which was held in Düsseldorf Germany from 29 May to 5 June 2017 was followed by fans in 122 territories through TV broadcast and Over-the-top (OTT) platform streaming reaching over 355.6 million audience worldwide. In China alone more than 319.1 million viewers tuned in to the event on CCTV5 & CCTV5+ to follow the results on their favorite stars. Data provided by CSM Sports & Media Research has revealed that 6 matches from the World Championships including the Men’s & Women’s Singles Finals has made it to the Top 10 of Sports in China so far in 2017 in terms of viewership figures. Managing Director of CSM Sports & Media Mr. Pierre JUSTO stated “The Liebherr 2017 World Table Tennis Championships has jumped to another level in terms of table tennis coverage and viewership around the globe with over 1 200 hours of coverage in all parts of the globe.” “The World Championships was more visible than ever by tennis fans around the globe. Our research shows that the 8-days event was watched by more than 300 m unique viewers on the 5 continents a significant rise from all the previous World Championships making it on par with the other big sporting players in the world.” ITTF Acting CEO Mr. Steve DAINTON shared “We considered it imperative that since taking the Commercial rights back in house we have to ensure our World Championships received the best TV numbers ever. Together with our partner Lagaredere who put extra efforts to ensure a wide global audience we are extremely satisfied with the result and are proud to say its arguably the most viewed Word Table Tennis Championships ever.” With the introduction of new innovations such as aerial cam and ball tracking technology to bring new insights of the game to fans the ITTF’s digital and social media platforms were able to achieve higher level of views. itTV the ITTF’s free online streaming platform which offered 8 tables of action live from Düsseldorf attracted 810 000 fans to tune in to the event from their mobile devices at the own convenience. The ITTF’s Youtube channel which offered match highlights interviews and other exclusive features also hit 2.4 million views. The 2017 World Championships was another breakthrough for the ITTF on social media with the help of increased social content creation. The “#TATADoorTricks” trickshot challenge “STIGA Point of the Day” as well as a new “Liebherr Live” daily show that reviews actions of the day and preview following day’s exciting upcoming matches with athletes’ and coaches were well received by fans to contribute to the record figures on the ITTF’s digital & social media platforms.   2017 World Championships related content reached 10.3 million table tennis enthusiasts on Facebook and leaving 34.7 million impressions on Facebook during the event. In partnership with Weibo Sports in China the event was a big success on the ITTF’s weibo page which now has over 1.33 million followers. The 2017 World Championships was one of the top trending hot topics on Weibo in China for the duration of the event leaving a staggering 240 million impressions over the 8-days period. #ITTFWorlds2017 Media Statistics: TV & OTT Broadcast : 122 Countries TV Viewership in China : 320.43 million Worldwide TV Viewership : 355.6 million ITTF.com Unique Visitors : 640 000 itTV Viewership : 810 000 Total Facebook Reach : 10.3 million Facebook Impressions : 34.7 million Facebook Engagement : 4.9 million Facebook Video Views : 4.3 million views 2.7 million minutes viewed Twitter Impressions : 3.3 million Instagram Impressions : 7.5 million Youtube Video Views : 2.4 million views 4.4 million minutes viewed Weibo Impressions : 240 million Media Articles : 12 400

STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   Anastasia KOLISH Mariia TAILAKOVA Kristina KAZANTSEVA Anna KRASIKOVA and Daria SHADRINA of team of Russia are the newly crowned champions of the Junior Girls Team’s Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Portugal. They took the crown from Romania the team they halted in the ultimate stage. Silver medal winners are Adina DIACONU Andreea DRAGOMAN Mihaela PLAEASU Tania PLAIAN.   Semi -finalists and bronze medals winners are Serbia’s Tijana JOKIC Izabela LUPULESKU Sabina SURJAN Dragana VIGNJEVIC Angela MENGER and Azerbaijan’s CHEN Xingtai DENG Simeng Nazakat GARAYEVA.   Anastasia KOLISH put Russia under severe pressure by beating Adina DIACONU in the opening match. In the opening game she was very aggressive forcing DIACONU into errors. Adina lost two opening games but recovered to force the match into the decisive game. Once she felt she is in control again she started to attack but KOLISH preserved cold head and in superb style won the match.   “I never beat Adina and I know it will not be easy. I was ready for long fight ” said KOLISH.   Andreea DRAGOMAN won two opening games of her match against Mariia TAILAKOVA but in third Mariia moved to another gear. Once again at the tournament she played full five games match and proved her maturity in edgy situations.   “I was two games in reverse before I started to play calmer. I rushed myself into mistakes so I had to slow down and try to wait for Andreaa’s errors. At the beginning she was just superb. She put every ball at the table ” said TAILAKOVA.    Despite difficulties at the early stage of the match Kristina KAZANTSEVA managed to settle into the right rhythm against Tania PLAIAN but even she could not escape nervous wrecking decisive game.   “At 2:2 I realized I am going to win. I got the energy to stood up to the enormous pressure ” said KAZANTSEVA.   Romania – Russia 0:3 Adina DIACONU – Anastasia KOLISH 2:3 (9:11 9:11 11:7 11:9 6:11) Andreea DRAGOMAN – Mariia TAILAKOVA 2:3 (11:7 11:9 5:11 11:13 7:11) Tania PLAIAN – Kristina KAZANTSEVA 2:3 (10:12 11:6 13:11 1:11 5:11)

STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   Anastasia KOLISH Mariia TAILAKOVA Kristina KAZANTSEVA Anna KRASIKOVA and Daria SHADRINA of team of Russia are the newly crowned champions of the Junior Girls Team’s Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships in Portugal. They took the crown from Romania the team they halted in the ultimate stage. Silver medal winners are Adina DIACONU Andreea DRAGOMAN Mihaela PLAEASU Tania PLAIAN.   Semi -finalists and bronze medals winners are Serbia’s Tijana JOKIC Izabela LUPULESKU Sabina SURJAN Dragana VIGNJEVIC Angela MENGER and Azerbaijan’s CHEN Xingtai DENG Simeng Nazakat GARAYEVA.   Anastasia KOLISH put Russia under severe pressure by beating Adina DIACONU in the opening match. In the opening game she was very aggressive forcing DIACONU into errors. Adina lost two opening games but recovered to force the match into the decisive game. Once she felt she is in control again she started to attack but KOLISH preserved cold head and in superb style won the match.   “I never beat Adina and I know it will not be easy. I was ready for long fight ” said KOLISH.   Andreea DRAGOMAN won two opening games of her match against Mariia TAILAKOVA but in third Mariia moved to another gear. Once again at the tournament she played full five games match and proved her maturity in edgy situations.   “I was two games in reverse before I started to play calmer. I rushed myself into mistakes so I had to slow down and try to wait for Andreaa’s errors. At the beginning she was just superb. She put every ball at the table ” said TAILAKOVA.    Despite difficulties at the early stage of the match Kristina KAZANTSEVA managed to settle into the right rhythm against Tania PLAIAN but even she could not escape nervous wrecking decisive game.   “At 2:2 I realized I am going to win. I got the energy to stood up to the enormous pressure ” said KAZANTSEVA.   Romania – Russia 0:3 Adina DIACONU – Anastasia KOLISH 2:3 (9:11 9:11 11:7 11:9 6:11) Andreea DRAGOMAN – Mariia TAILAKOVA 2:3 (11:7 11:9 5:11 11:13 7:11) Tania PLAIAN – Kristina KAZANTSEVA 2:3 (10:12 11:6 13:11 1:11 5:11)

STAG 2017 European Youth Championships   Germany’s Gerrit ENGEMANN Tobias HIPPLER Cedric MEISSNER and Fanbo MENG are the newly crowned champions of the Junior Boys Teams Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Championships. In the final they beat Russia’s team composed of Artur ABUSEV Nikita ARTEMENKO Denis IVONIN Lev KATSMAN and Anton KOTOV.     Sweden’s Truls MOREGARDH Simon SODERLUND Melker NILSSON Jonathan THIMON and Romania’s Cristian PLETEA Rares SIPOS Dragos OPREA Florin SPELBUS clinched bronze.   Germany suffered by the hands of Russia’s players in the Group stage but they avenged 2:3 – defeat with full power by beating adversaries in straight matches duel.   Gerrit ENGEMANN won the opening game against Denis IVONIN by close margin but slowly IVONIN raised his game and after he faced and saved three games ball he won the second set. Once he settled into the rhythm IVONIN continued to create the chances but ENGEMANN had all the answers. However IVONIN’s efforts were not to be denied. He managed to come back from 2:1 in reverse and to level for decisive game. In the finish ENGEMANN showed more.   “In second game it was 9:4 in advance and I lost that game. I become nervous. I had to change my tactics and play completely different from the way I did in Group stage. I used more my backhand spin and a lot of service variations” said Gerrit ENGEMANN.   Tobias HIPPLER displayed good skills against defensive style of Artur ABUSEV. Russia’s player was powerless and he failed in all attempts to halt HIPPLER.   “With my coach I worked on tactics after we recorded the first match. I adapted my game to win. I changed the placement of the ball several times and I was good with the spins. ABUSEV could not control my game ” said Tobias HIPPLER. “In the main draw we had a lot of difficult matches; close calls. As we reached the closing stages the level of the teams improved.”     Lev KATSMAN started good against Cedric MEISSNER but he failed to continue in the same style.   “I knew that I had to win this and I was nervous. In the group stage KATSMAN beat me by same margin as I won today. I did not made many errors. I played freely and relaxed as my coach told me to. I was good in service I never played this good. I never felt like this before ” Cedric MEISSNER.   FANG BO added: “We had great team spirit. We pushed each other to extremes.”     Russia – Germany 0:3 Denis IVONIN – Gerrit ENGEMANN 2:3 (12:14 12:10 7:11 13:11 7:11) Artur ABUSEV – Tobias HIPPLER 0:3 (4:11 7:11 5:11) Lev KATSMAN- Cedric MEISSNER 1:3 (11:8 4:11 5:11 5:11)