2017 STAG European Youth Table Tennis Championships The draw for the 2017 STAG European Youth Table Tennis Championships 14th-23rd July Guimaraes Portugal was held a couple days ago with a total of 147 teams in four competitions. Defending champions are Italy (Junior Boys Team) Romania (Junior Girls Team) and Russia in both cadet events. Medal winners of the 2016 Junior Boys Team event held last year in Zagreb Croatia now will start in two different groups. Defending champion Italy shares Group D with Belgium (actual bronze medalist) beside Slovak Republic and Greece while 2016 runner-up Czech Republic and last summer semi-finalist Romania will play in Group B alongside Denmark and Serbia. A 37 teams in total will compete in 2017 Junior Boys Team event and 16 out of them have their place in the Lavel 1. Group A is composed by France England Poland and Slovenia while Group C gathers Russia Germany Spain and Turkey. Reigning champion of the Junior Girls Team event (35 teams in total in two levels) Romania will play in Group A against France Croatia and Slovenia. The 2016 runner-up Serbia (Group D) is going to fight with Germany Poland and Turkey. Last year`s bronze medalist Russia is placed in Group B together with Sweden Belgium and Norway while other semi-finalist from Zagreb Spain starts from Group C where other three competitors are Azerbaijan Belarus and Hungary. Two Russian teams won gold last year in both cadet events. Actual champions of Cadet Boys Teams will play in Group A (Italy Turkey Ukraine) while 2016 runner-up Sweden shares Group C with Hungary Poland and Denmark. A total of 40 national sides will compete in this part of championships. Group B are composed by France Portugal Romania and Spain while Belgium Germany Croatia and Austria are placed in Group D. Regarding Cadet Girls Teams (35 teams in two levels) defending champion Russia shares Group A with Hungary Spain and Slovenia. The 2016 runner-up Poland will face France Turkey and Belarus. Group C has strong team of Romania (2016 bronze medalist) as well as Ukraine Croatia and Sweden while Germany Czech Republic England and Greece will play in Group D. Medal winners of the team`s events in 2016 JBT: Gold Italy Silver Czech Republic Bronze Belgium Romania JGT: Gold Romania Silver Serbia Bronze Spain Russia CBT: Gold Russia Silver Sweden Bronze Azerbaijan Hungary CGT: Gold Russia Silver Poland Bronze Romania Slovenia
Table Tennis Mixed Doubles Added to Tokyo 2020
Mixed Doubles has been added to the Table Tennis Olympic programme for Tokyo 2020 which was announced at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne today. The Mixed Doubles event has been a constant fixture in ITTF’s World Championships since 1926 and will now make its first Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020. On the decision ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “The ITTF is extremely happy to have Mixed Doubles added to the Olympic Programme. Table Tennis obtained very high television and social media numbers at Rio 2016 so we feel that a fifth gold medal was deserved. At last week’s World Championships a sellout crowd of 8 000 people watched the Mixed Doubles final so we know that the public has an appetite for this exciting event and it will be a huge success at Tokyo 2020.” Fittingly just six days ago the Japanese pair of Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Maharu YOSHIMURA were crowned Mixed Doubles World Champions in Dusseldorf Germany and will now have the chance to turn their World title into an Olympic gold on home soil in three years’ time. After hearing the announcement ISHIKAWA stated: “I am so happy that Mixed Doubles will be included in Tokyo 2020. I have so much fun playing Mixed Doubles and now that I have a chance of winning gold in this cool event in front of my home crowd is a dream come true!” A record 15% of the total viewing audience on TV Tokyo in Japan tuned in to watch the Japanese pair strike gold which shows the popularity of the event in Japan which is great signs for Tokyo 2020. Japanese victory at the World Championships follows in the footsteps of Korea Republic & China’s international paring gold in 2015 and Korea DPR’s historic win back in 2013 which makes Mixed Doubles the most unpredictable and exciting event! Raul CALIN ITTF Director of Operations and Olympic/Paralympic Games stated: “Since table tennis joined the Olympic Games programme in 1988 we tried on two previous occasions to add Mixed Doubles. The ITTF wants to thank the IOC Executive Board the Olympic programme commission led by Mr Franco Carraro Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and the IOC Summer Sports Department for their consideration of our application. It has been a long and exciting journey but now with the inclusion an even more exciting journey begins.” The Mixed Doubles event means that table tennis will have five gold medals at Tokyo 2020: Men’s singles Women’s singles Men’s team Women’s team and now Mixed Doubles.
Draw for the 2017 STAG European Youth Championships
The Draw for the 2017 STAG European Youth Championships (14-23 Jul 2017) was held today in the city of Dusseldorf. You can see the complete draw here The EYC will be played in Portugal’s city of Guimarães.
European Under 21 Championships in City of Minsk
European Table Tennis Union is pleased to announce that the Belarus Table Tennis Federation will host the second edition of the European Under 21 Championships in the city of Minsk. The Events will start at Thursday 8th and it will last until Sunday 11th March 2018. “Minsk has everything to guarantee a wonderful Under 21 Championship. Not just a long tradition of organising table tennis events but also a newly developed infrastructure that will surprise Europe’s table tennis community ” announced ETTU President Ronald KRAMER. The inaugural event was held this year in Sochi and it was individual event. The winners of the first Championships were Chantal MANTZ of Germany and Tomislav PUCAR of Croatia.
MA Long: It’s the craziest final in which I’ve ever played
LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships Defending champion Ma Long repeated the success at the LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships in Düsseldorf experienced two years earlier in Suzhou when he won the Men’s Singles title. The top seed beat Chinese national team colleague FAN Zhendong the no.2 seed (7-11 11-6 11-3 11-7 5-11 7-11 12-10) to retain the title. “It’s the craziest final in which I’ve ever played; I’ll always remember today ” Ma Long admitted after the match. Comparing two final MA stated: “I feel very happy to won but I feel I was a bit lucky this time. I apologise to Fan Zhendong but the future belongs to him; mentally I was not certain on how to prepare for the game so I consulted LIU Guoliang. I thank him of this guidance and tolerance. I would also like to specially thank ZHANG Jike because of his achievements I really looked up to him and he is my role model I have learnt a lot from his game.” MA complained that he is not at the very best of his shape before the match. “I was feeling tired before the Championship partly due to post Olympics time and the new ball. I was not feeling focused and mentally I was not self confident. But I consulted LIU Guoliang who gave me good guidance. This is the World Championships anyways only once two years I had the opportunity and wanted to do my best.” What guidance did LIU Guoliang gave you? MA Long: “He told me that I am in the life shape and that I might not be in this condition again after 2 years so I must fight hard to win the title. “ MA Long and FAN Zhendong were practicing together before the match. “The Chinese national team always practices together there is nothing to hide from each other and this is our tradition. We are the team.” FAN Zhendong added: “We both played at a very high level today I fought very hard. Maybe when I got the opportunity I didn’t grab it and made mistakes. I congratulate ma Long we both gave a wonderful performance today. I lost by a very close margin its very difficult to summarize it. I will work on the details get faster for the next time as I was a bit slow this time.” At 3-3 10-10 everything was still open. Ma Long: “I really did not give this too much focus. It is more a question of routine not about technique because I have no space to think too much; I’m just focused.” In the morning part of the program MA Long beat his colleague XU Xin; he had emerged successful in four straight games (11-6 11-9 11-9 11-3). FAN Zhendong followed suit; the no.2 seed he beat Korea’s LEE Sangsu the no.17 seed (11-5 11-9 11-6 11-1). “Before no one knows LEE Sangsu. Then he beat ZHANG Jike SAMSONOV and then WONG Chun Ting. He played very well. With the doubles medal as well this was a very good tournament for us ” Said LEE’s coach KIM Taek-Soo. XU Xin reflected on his tournament: “There were good and bad parts. I feel like the semi-finals were bad losing zero to four. It also includes the first match of singles where every minute seemed like I might lose. I feel like my performance in the other matches were quite good.”
President GEIGER: Celebration of the sport
LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships For a last three days the 8 000 sell-out crowd in Messe Düssledorf were treated to a show of world-class table tennis in action. However it was not only the weekend that was sold out on Thursday LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships hosted additional 1.200 spectators in second playing hall and all in all 58.000 spectators watched the matches live from last Monday. That was the figures presented by the President of the German Table Tennis Federation Michael GEIGER. “For ITTF this Championships was nothing but the success. I knew it already when I saw the venue when we sold the tickets. We have great partners: DTTB City of Dusseldorf Messe Dusselforf our sponsors which were able to produce the Championships at such level. It is difficult for me to speak as I am German so I will quote our Marketing department Director who said ”Amazing” as well as SAMSONOV the head of the Athletes Commission who told me that there were no complains about the playing conditions food shuttles accommodation…everything what is essential for the top class players. Only negative part is the lack of presence from the people of the Government ” said ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT. DTTB President Michael GEIGER spoke about the aim for this Championships. “We wanted to do exactly what happened here. We produced the event in which the spectators were able to enjoy to the maximum. We wanted to show the other face of the competition as a celebration of a sport for all and to make party of it. By seeing so much enthusiasm in the crowd I am sure we succeeded ” said DTTB President GEIGER. The impact to city of Dusseldorf is huge. “We are already known as a sport s city and I am happy that all our guests had one more time chance to feel our hospitality to enjoy our City our weather and lifestyle ” said Lord Mayor of Dusseldorf Thomas GEISEL.
Anthony PERETTI and Danielle KONSBRUCK crowned champions in San Marino
The 2017 Games of the Small States of Europe Anthony PERETTI from Monaco and Danielle KONSBRUCK from Luxembourg are crowned champions of the 2017 Games of the Small States of Europe held in San Marino. PERETTI beat Montenegro`s Filip RADOVIC in the semi-final match of Men`s Singles event while in the gold medal clash he prevailed against Luxembourg`s Gilles MICHELY (Luxembourg) – 3:0 (11:8 11:9 11:3). Two players who won together gold in the Women`s Team event Tessy GONDERINGER and Danielle KONSBRUCK met in the Women`s Singles final. This very intense encounter was decided by narrow margin after full five sets. GONDERINGER managed to level the score after two sets deficit but KONSBRUCK won the fifth set adding one more gold medal to her account. Men`s Singles Semifinals: Anthony PERETTI (Monaco) – Filip RADOVIC (Montenegro) 3:1 (8:11 11:3 11:6 11:6) Damien PROVOST (Monaco) – Gilles MICHELY (Luxembourg) 1:3 (10:12 11:3 6:11 6:11). Final: Anthony PERETTI (Monaco) – Gilles MICHELY (Luxembourg) 3:0 (11:8 11:9 11:3) Women`s Singles Semifinals: Tessy GONDERINGER (Luxembourg) – Ulrika QUIST (Monaco) 3:1 (11:6 11:9 5:11 11:1) Ivona PETRIC (Montenegro) – Danielle KONSBRUCK (Luxembourg) 0:3 (4:11 11:13 7:11). Final: Tessy GONDERINGER (Luxembourg) – Danielle KONSBRUCK (Luxembourg) 2:3 (4:11 8:11 12:10 11:9 9:11).
In Luxembourg anticipation for the European Championships mounts
The players invites you to the LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships After the LIEBHERR World Championships in Düsseldorf exhibition halls 5 6 and 7 after 8 days of fabulous sport have been thoroughly tidied up the next international table tennis highlight is close: in less than a hundred days the 2017 Liebherr ITTF European Table Tennis Championships begin. From 13th to 17th September the best male and female players compete for the European title in the Team Event in the arena of The Sports and Cultural Centre named the „Coque“ (The Shell) at the edge of Luxembourg-City. The German ladies will attempt to repeat the success achieved two years ago. The men Dima OVTCHAROV Timo BOLL and Co target a gold medal again (after two silver ones) and wish to push Austria off the throne. Watch the “100 days to go” video here with the Europan stars! Men and women play in three divisions each: the best 16 teams serve in the Champions Division the teams ranked between 17 and 32 in the Challenge Division and the rest in the Standard Division. The exact number of teams is not official yet but ought to reach about 40 for both men and women. In Luxembourg anticipation for the Liebherr Championships is on the rise; as confirmed by André Hartmann the President of the Luxembourg association the sale of tickets is in full swing. Most bookings come from Luxembourg but a number of fans from France Germany and Belgium have purchased tickets as well. Even from Ireland there has been some interest. The Early-Bird Tariff (cheap tickets) is valid up to July 12th. From that date when the draw of the groups is carried out the final programme will be made out and the prices will be adapted to the usual tariffs appropriate for such an international event. Entry tickets are available from ticket-regional.lu Each entry ticket which is bought through ticket-regional.lu comprises free use of public transport (bus and train) across the whole country. This also means that the 3 Park-and-Ride car parks Bouillon Howald and Foire will be available for free bus transport to the“Coque“. André HARTMANN specifies: „The number of parking spaces is limited at the Coque and therefore we offer this service for specators to reach the European Championships comfortably.“ No early elimination is possible ITTF President Thomas Weikert knows from experience how attractive a team championship can be. „From the perspective of the German Table Tennis Association one can say that the DTTB likes organising such team events. There is the guarantee that one’s favorite team will participate from the beginning to the end which is very interesting for all spectators. Besides due to the lack of domination of a team like China in the World Championships the result remains open. Among the favorites to win one can mention present European Champion Austria with Robert Gardos and Stefan Fegerl Vice-Champion Germany with Timo Boll and Dima Ovtcharov France with Simon Gauzy and Emmanuel Lebesson as well as Portugal with Marco Freitas and Tiago Apolonia. Concerning the ladies’ event the following could be favorites: Germany with Petrissa Solja and Kristin Silbereisen Hungary with Georgina Pota Romania with Elizabeta Samara and the Netherlands with Ji Lie. Because of the attractive playing system with group games direct elimination and the following placement games an early elimination is impossible. Therefore anticipation grows for a unique event nobody should miss barely a hundred days before the first serve. Further Information: ettc2017.lu coque.lu Like it on Facebook (2017 LIEBHERR ITTF European Table Tennis Championships)
Fully packed Messe Dusseldorf departed BOLL with the applause
LIEBHERR World Championships In front of full packed Messe Arena in Dusseldorf in front of 7.000 enthusiastic spectators and in fabulous atmosphere Germany’s Timo BOLL was close to reach the semi final of the Men’s Singles event at the LEBHERR World Championships 2017. On the other side of the net it was his doubles partner World’s no. one and defending champion MA Long of China; MA was the man who denied Timo of reaching the semi final (5-11 11-8 4-11 11-5 4-11 9-11). Last time he played in the penultimate stage was in 2011. “I am very disappointment ” said Timo BOLL. “I am very satisfied with my performance but not with the result.” He had a chance in the sixth game at 8:4 but could not seized the opportunity to level to 3:3. “Few little things decided the match at the end.” After seven grueling games the Round of 16 was completed with the triumph of Japan’s Koki NIWA who also inflicted the pain in the harts of the home supporters. Koki seeded at the position no 10 beat no. 5 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany (11-13 13-11 7-11 3-11 11-9 3-11). “It was very tough I barely can remember when I played against an opponent who take all the risk and basically never misses. It was very tough to play and to find a tactic against him. Nevertheless I tried to play my game and most of the time it worked well. I had a big chance in the second set where I was leading 6-2 especially in the fourth game at 10-8 and at 8-6 I had a good ball; these were my chances ” Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. “The fans gave me strength and confidence and I’m so very glad they came out to see me play.” National coach Jorg ROSSKOPF commented the game. ‘It was incredibly fast and game with long rallies. Both players played very vise but at this point NIWA had 1percent more power and Dimitrij was under great pressure playing in Dusseldorf. He want so much to be here tonight and play the quarter final against FAN Zhendong.” In five previous occasions OVTCHAROV succeeded but this time NIWA was better. The winner of the match between FAN Zhendong and NIWA will meet LEE Sangsu of Korea who beat WONG Chun Ting in the quarters (11-7 10-12 11-8 11-7 11-5).
DING Ning defended her crown in Dusseldorf
LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships Reigning World & Olympic Champion DING Ning has successfully defended her Women’s Singles title today at the LIEBHERR 2017 World Table Tennis Championships claiming her third singles title. DING faced off teammate & surprise finalist ZHU Yuling (CHN) in an enthralling final in front of the sellout crowd. Participating in her third World Championships this is only ZHU’s first appearance in the Women’s Singles final losing to World number two LIU Shiwen in 2013 and 2015. In Düsseldorf ZHU was determined to make her breakthrough beating LIU 4-3 in the semifinals hence preventing a rematch of the 2015 World Championships final between DING and LIU. In the final battle for the Gold medal DING pulled off an impressive performance taking the first game in dominant fashion 11-4 before ZHU recovered to take the next two 11-9 11-4 respectively. The duo continued to exchange fast rallies in the match and it was DING who eventually prevailed to win the next three games and take the title 4-2 (11-4 9-11 4-11 12-10 11-6 11-7). “It’s a very special win for me to take a third title! I’m really thankful to all my fans who have been cheering on for me throughout giving me a lot of encouragement during my match. I feel Germany is also a lucky place for me thank you Düsseldorf!” shared the world number one after the historic victory that puts her in line with legends DENG Yaping & WANG Nan with three World Championships titles under their belt. “I came here not expecting to win the World Championships for the third time. It really depended on my state of mind and condition and that of the opponents.”
