Five players of the 2009 TTCLM runner-up are 21-year-old or younger. World`s no. 24 Simon GAUZY from France is the best ranked one in the line-up German club TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN returns to Table Tennis Champions League Men family as no. 7 seed in its 60th anniversary having currently youngest squad in that prestigious competition. Coach Dubravko SKORIC selected five players 21-year-old or younger: Simon GAUZY (October 25th 1994) Yuto MURAMATSU (October 14th 1996) Jakub DYJAS (October 9th 1995) Joao GERALDO (September 29th 1995) and Hugo CALDERANO (Jun 22nd 1996). The 2009 TTCLM runner-up was drawn into the Group A alongside the top seeded FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG French VS ANGERS TT and ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 from Denmark. Each of “5 Under 21” OCHSENHAUSEN`s players collected several medals from respectable youth competitions like European Youth Championships Olympic Youth Games World Junior Circuits and ITTF World Tour events. The best ranked one in the line-up is world`s no. 24 Simon GAUZY from France who is European Cadet Champion in 2009 Prague. He is also triple bronze medallists from prestigious youth competitions: EYCH 2010 Istanbul and 2011 Kazan as well as Olympic Youth Games in 2010 Singapore. TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN`s President Kristijan PEJINOVIC stated for the club`s website that he is happy to have a new chance to play in the TTCLM: “We are proud to welcome Orenburg in our group. Other two opponents Roskilde and Angers are in our range. We are focused on the second place and I believe that we are able to achieve it. Of course Orenburg is clear favourite but other teams have well recognized international players too like Angers` Jens LUNDQVIST or Roskilde`s Jon PERSSON”. Three times winner of both German League (1997 2000 2004) and German Cup (2002 2003 2004) and double ETTU Cup winner (1996 1997) opens new TTCLM season on its soil against ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 (October 5-7th). FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG arrives in Ochsenhausen on October 26-28th (Round 2) while the first away game will be held in France against VS ANGERS TT (November 3-4th).
Orange – the color of winners
TMK-TAGMET clinched the title in Russia This season both Russian club champions played in orange. Men’s UMMK team and Women’s team TMK-Tagmet from Taganrog wear the same colors. However the similarities stops there. Unlike the men’s final the women’s clubs champion of Russia was unknown to the last minute. In the first match of the play-off the club Rodina from Arkhangelsk (the favorite in play-off) has won 3: 2. The final decision about the winner came at the very last moment. In the second leg when the score was 2: 2 match between Viktoria PAVLOVICH and Anna BLAZHKO decided the overall winner. Club TMK-TAGMET from Taganrog became the champion of Russia for the first time although they had good results at the European level – in the season 2014/2015 Club TMK-TAGMET from Taganrog was ETTU Cup semi-finalist. “This year we were also planning to participate in European cups to see where is our place among the strongest European clubs but for the season 2016/2017 the deadline was more earlier than usual and unfortunately before the finish of the Russian clubs championship. We are very sorry we will miss the European season this year ” said coach of TMK-TAGMET of Taganrog Sergey BELOVOL. Rodina – TMK-Tagmet 3:2 Zou Yang – Anna BLAZHKO 3: 2 (5-11 11-7 9-11 11-3 7-6) Margaryta PESOTSKA – Olga BARANOVA 2: 3 (11-8 5-11 11-9 7-11 1-7) Oksana FADEEVA – Elena TROSHNEVA 1: 3 (7-11 11-7 10-11 9-11) Zou Yang – Olga BARANOVA 3: 2 (3-11 7-11 11-6 11-9 7-6) Margaryta PESOTSKA – Anna BLAZHKO 3: 2 (11-10 11-7 10-11 6-11 7-3) Rodina – TMK-Tagmet 2:3 Zou Yang – BLAZHKO Anna 3: 2 (11-10 6-11 9-11 11-9 7-5) Viktoria PAVLOVICH – Olga BARANOVA 2: 3 (11-7 11-6 5-11 10-11 3-7) Oksana FADEEVA – Elena TROSHNEVA 0: 3 (10-11 4-11 2-11) Zou Yang – Olga BARANOVA 3: 0 (11-9 11-4 11-9) Viktoria PAVLOVICH – Anna BLAZHKO 0: 3 (10-11 9-11 10-11)
UMMC restores title in Russian Premier League
Club from Verkhnaya Pyshma beat defending champion FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG in the semifinal UMMC won Russian Premier League as they beat all their opponents at the final tournament held in Sochi. Verkhnaya Pyshma`s side eliminated reigning champion FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG in the semi-final while in the final they defeated SPARTA&K. The final standings of the 2016/17 Premier League is the next: 1 UMMC 2 SPARTA&K 3 FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG 4 KAZAN 5 UMMC ELEM 6 GIDROMET 7 KUBAN-SEDIN 8 NEFTEGRAD. “The match against Orenburg was the hardest one for sure” pointed out UMMC manager Dmitrij BALACHENKOV speaking for club`s website. Each round took two matches between same opponents. UMMC beat twice FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG 3:1 and 3:0 as well as SPARTA&K (3:0 3:1). Regarding games between two TTCLM participants Japanese Jun MIZUTANI was a key player in the first game beating both beat both Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (3:1) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (3:1). Grigory VLASOV prevailed against Alexey SMIRNOV while OVTCHAROV won unique point for Orenburg in the opener against Alexander SHIBAEV 3:1. UMMC finished second match in straight games: MIZUTANI – OVTCHAROV 3:0 SHIBAEV – SAMSONOV 3:0 VLASOV – SMIRNOV 3:1.Japanese will play for FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG in the upcoming season.
Xu Xin Shocks Ma Long to Claim Third Korea Open Title
XU Xin (CHN) has defeated world number one MA Long (CHN) for the second time in a week to claim the 2016 ITTF World Tour Korea Open title in Incheon Korea. The penholder was in sublime form to defeat MA Long 11-7 12-10 4-11 12-10 7-11 6-11 11-9 in a pulsating match. The loss is a major blow to MA Long who before the Japan Open had only lost twice in 12 months and now he has added two more defeats in a space of a week just before his Olympic Games quest for gold. MA Long fought back from 1-3 down and saved three match points before XU Xin claimed his third Korea Open title. After the match the world number three who defeated last week’s Japan Open champion FAN Zhendong (CHN) in the semifinals stated: “It is always special to beat MA Long and it gives me lots of confidence that I could do it twice in a row. I am now a bit nervous as I hurt my shoulder during the match I hope it is not too severe and I will be at full strength in Rio where I will play the team event. I am sure MA will bounce back from these two defeats and be very strong in the Rio Olympics singles event.” DING Ning (CHN) revenged for her Japan Open final loss to teammate LIU Shiwen by defeating the world number one 11-9 11-13 11-8 11-6 11-6 to claim her 11th ITTF World Tour title. The world number two justified her position in the Olympic singles competition ahead of LIU Shiwen in a devastating performance that will give her the confidence she needs to fight for a maiden Olympic singles gold in Rio. After the match the World Champion stated: “I played very well today it is always hard to defeat LIU Shiwen as she is a great player. I really had to fight for every point. I was determined to win as this is my last match before the Olympics so I wanted to be able to enter the Olympic Games as a winner.” China’s other male singles Olympic player ZHANG Jike had a disappointing tournament being defeated by CHEN Chien-An (TPE) in the opening round. However the current Olympic champion put that behind him to win the men’s doubles title with singles champion XU Xin 12-10 12-10 11-8 against local favourites JEOUNG Youngsik & LEE Sangsu. DING Ning & LIU Shiwen were rivals in the women’s singles but the duo joined forces to win the women’s doubles. Despite the massive local support for JEON Jihee & YANG Haeun (KOR) in the arena the Chinese pair were too good winning 11-9 11-7 11-4 in the final. The 2016 ITTF World Tour now heads to DPR Korea for the Pyongyang Open which begins on Wednesday 29 June 2016.
TTCL Men draw brings reprise of 2015/16 final
The draw for the 2016/17 TTCLM held in Schwechat set new showdown between PONTOISE CERGY TT and ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS this time in Group B Schwechat 24th June – The draw for the 2016/17 Table Tennis Champions League Men was held at WERNER SCHLAGER ACADEMY in Schwechat putting in the same group last season`s finalists AS PONTOISE CERGY TT (France) and ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS (Sweden). They will share Group B with 2012 TTCLM runner-up UMMC and 2015 ETTU Cup finalist ASTS “OLIMPIA-UNIA” GRUDZIĄDZ. Yet in the opening round on early October we`ll see reprise of the 2015/16 final when AS PONTOISE CERGY TT is going to host ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS. Representatives of majority of 16 participants were present at the draw led by ETTU Deputy Secretary General Pierre KASS with the assistance of former Austrian national team player and long time Table Tennis administrator Barbara GEHART. The draw was guided by ETTU Ranking Committee Chairman Igor HELLER. Top seeded triple TTCLM champion FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG (Russia) was drawn alongside the 2009 finalist TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN (Germany) VS ANGERS TT (France) and ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 (Denmark). Second seed and ten times TTCLM champion BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF (Germany) will see in Group D one familiar face the 2012 runner-up CHARTES ASTT (France). They meet third consecutive time. SPG WALTER WELS (Austria) and KST ENERGA – MANEKIN TORUŃ (Poland) are other two clubs in that group. Fourth seed and 1985/86 Champions League winner and 3 times ETTU Cup winner 1.FC SAARBRUCKEN (Germany) is the biggest name in well balanced Group C. Their challengers are K.S. DARTOM BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (Poland) GV HENNEBONT TT (France) and TABLE TENNIS CLUB OSTRAVA 2016 (Czech Republic). Manager of AS PONTOISE CERGY TT Louise ADAM pointed out after the draw: “I am disappointed because the title holder is not protected and better seeded. When you win such a tough competition you must be protected in some way. We have the last year`s finalist in our group. We have a difficult and interesting group but of course we are determined to defend our crown.” Team manager and player of ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 Allan BENTSEN commented the draw: “Orenburg seeks a long trip but it`s always interesting to play against Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Vladimir SAMSONOV and Jun MIZUTANI. We look forward to meet them. The group is very hard. Roskilde will try to disturb strong teams in the upcoming season. We are happy to play again in the TTCLM. Regarding Michael MAZE `s comeback he needs some more practices and we will see how it will unfold during the season. The draw was the opportunity to have it combined by a meeting for the discussion between TTCLM clubs about perspectives of that competition and possibilities to improve it. Members of the recently established TTCL Management Board Philipp MOEHRING and Bianka STAK (tsmg – ETTU´s TTCLM media& marketing partner) reminded clubs on many important changes which will be included in the next season. Students from the Cooperation Project University from Vienna showed their presentation speaking about all possibilities to promote table tennis in a better way. Group A FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG (RUS) TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN (GER) VS ANGERS TT (FRA) ROSKILDE BORDTENNIS BTK 61 (DEN) Group B UMMC (RUS) AS PONTOISE CERGY TT (FRA) ASTS “OLIMPIA-UNIA” GRUDZIĄDZ (POL) ESLÖVS AI BORDTENNIS (SWE) Group C 1.FC SAARBRUCKEN TT (GER) K.S. DARTOM BOGORIA GRODZISK MAZOWIECKI (POL) GV HENNEBONT TT (FRA) TABLE TENNIS CLUB OSTRAVA 2016 (CZE) Group D BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF (GER) CHARTRES ASTT (FRA) SPG WALTER WELS (AUT) KST ENERGA – MANEKIN TORUŃ (POL)
Zhang Jike Knocked out of ITTF World Tour Korea Open
The world’s best table tennis players have struggled at the Korea Open. Seeds have tumbled out in a dramatic opening round of the 2016 ITTF World Tour Korea Open today in Incheon Korea with top players ZHANG Jike Timo BOLL Kasumi ISHIKAWA and AI Fukuhara all being defeated. Olympic champion ZHANG Jike (CHN) was the highest profile causality losing to CHEN Chien-an (TPE) 4-3 in an enthralling first round match. ZHANG who despite having suffered several shock losses in the past 12 months was selected to play singles for China at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which a lot of people questioned. This loss will cast further scrutiny over the decision to select the world number four over the current world number two and three FAN Zhendong and XU Xin. After his amazing performance against ZHANG Jike CHEN stated: “I can’t believe it I am so happy. I was leading 3-1 and then started to think too much. When it was 3-3 I just told myself to slow things down and relax as I still thought I could win the match. This is the best singles match of my career.” One of table tennis’s most known players Timo BOLL (GER) who was playing his first international event since February’s World Table Tennis Championships was no match for up and coming French player Tristian FLORE losing 4-1. 21 year old FLORE who used to idolize “It was difficult playing him as he is my hero. I grew up idolising him and watching videos of him on YouTube. I was so nervous at the end I was stressed. I was happy I was able to close the match out. This is my biggest ever win!” Japan’s Olympic preparations have been thrown into turmoil with their three Olympic players Kasumi ISHIKAWA Ai FUKUHARA and Mima ITO all suffering defeat today. World number 108 Cazuo MATSUMOTO (BRA) caused the biggest in qualification defeating world number 20 Andrej GACINA (CRO) to qualify for the main draw. Today he caused an even bigger upset beating world number 18 Koki NIWA (JPN) 4-2 to progress to the final 16. Will there be more upsets in the second round? Watch ITTF.com/itTV live to find out. The first round knock out started today Friday 24 June and the winners will be crowned on Sunday 26 June. The Korea Open is the 12th of the 20 events on the 2016 ITTF World Tour and the fifth Super Series event of the year. The ITTF World Tour is categorized into three tiers: Super (six events) Major (six events) and Challenge (eight events). The higher the tier the higher the prize money better playing conditions and tougher competition for the title. All the players playing ITTF World Tour events are fighting for not only for prize money and world ranking points but also World Tour ranking points to qualify for the lucrative World Tour Grand Finals taking place on 8-11 December 2016 in Doha Qatar. The 2016 ITTF World Tour is set to be the most extensively followed tour in history with more events shown live throughout the world on television and all the events being shown live on ITTF’s live streaming platform ITTF.com/itTV. In addition to the men’s and women’s singles event at the Korea Open the world’s best players will also be playing men’s and women’s doubles and the stars of the future will be lining up in the men’s and women’s under 21 events.
Draw in Vienna – first step of 2016/17 TTCL Men
It will be held today from 2.30pm live on www.laola1.tv. French champion AS PONTOISE CERGY TT defends the title The 2016/17 Table Tennis Champions League Men comence today by the draw which will be held in Vienna starting at 2.30pm (live on www.laola1.tv. As in the last season 16 teams will be allocated in four groups. Two best sides from each group are going to play in the quarter-finals. Names of the clubs and players promise exciting season. Top seeded FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG has super trio Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (world`s no. 5) Jun MIZUTANI (no. 9) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (no. 9). In the recent TTCLM history this is the first time that one club managed to gather three Top 10 players at the ITTF World ranking list. Three clubs won last eight TTCLM titles: BORUSSIA DÜSSELDORF (2009 2010 2011) FAKEL GAZPROMA ORENBURG (2012 2013 2015) and AS PONTOISE CERGY TT (2014 2016). BORUSSIA DÜSSELDORF holds the record with 10 titles while Byelorussian Vladimir SAMSONOV tops individual list with his 11 TTCLM crowns. Since 2000 all gold medalist from ITTF European Championships Singles event will be included in the 2016/17 TTCLM season: Vladimir SAMSONOV Timo BOLL Michael MAZE and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. The seeding list puts FAKEL GAZPROMA (Russia) BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF (Germany) UMMC (Russia) and 1. FC SAARBRUCKEN (Germany) in the positions of main candidates for the title but AS PONTOISE CERGY managed to upset SAMSONOV & Co two times in last three seasons. Nobody expected that no. 6 and no. 14 seed will play for the title in the 2015/16 TTCLM season but AS PONTOISE CERGY and ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS provided spectacular ending for their fans as French champion won with one set difference (4:4 15:14). This time AS PONTOISE CERGY will defend its crown as no. 8 seed will actual runner-up starts as no. 13.
Europe’s best table tennis teams in the battle for the crown
ETTU Table Tennis Champions League Men – Draw live on www.laola1.tv Vienna 23. July 2016 – The new season of the ETTU Table Tennis Champions League Men is about to begin. 16 Teams from 8 countries will be fighting for the crown. Starting with the draw LAOLA1.tv will cover the whole tournament live. LAOLA1.tv is showing the draw on Friday 24th June from 2.30pm live on www.laola1.tv. After the spectacular 4:4 win of AS Pontoise Cergy against Eslovs Ai Bordtennis (Pontoise won with 1 set difference 15:14) the 2016/17 Table Tennis Champions League is about to start. 16 Teams from Austria Czech Republic Denmark France Germany Poland Russia and Sweden have been qualified for group phase which will be divided in four groups (A-D). Only Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg and Borussia Düsseldorf are already drawn for group A (Orenburg) and group D (Düsseldorf). LAOLA1.tv is covering the draw live and worldwide on Friday 24th June starting from 2.30pm (CEST). As an added benefit Premium members will be able to follow the matches on the move on their smartphones on the computer accessing up to four simultaneous live streams or via Smart TV in top HD and commercial-free quality.
Battle for Olympic Seedings at the 2016 Korea Open
2016 ITTF World Tour Korea Open For many of the table tennis players the 2016 ITTF World Tour Korea Open will be the last international competition before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Korea Open main draw which starts tomorrow 24 June 2016 in Incheon Korea will be the last chance for the Olympians to get valuable world ranking points for Rio 2016 seeding. CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) who had a disappointing first round defeat at last week’s Japan Open is desperately looking for world ranking points to jump above Jun MIZUTANI (JPN). If the world number seven is able to do this he will get the valuable number four seeding position in Rio which means he won’t meet a Chinese player until the semifinals. On the Rio seeding situation CHUANG stated: “I am trying not to think about the seeding too much for the Olympic Games of course they are important but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I am just trying to work out what flaws are still in my game and trying to fix them before Rio.” One person who is not worried at all about Rio 2016 seeding is FAN Zhendong. The 19-year-old world number two who won the Japan Open last week was sensationally left out of the Chinese Olympic team and will be watching the event from home. Despite not going to Rio FAN is still determined to do well here in Korea: “Winning the Japan Open certainly gave me more confidence it also showed the result of my training and I hope to continue playing well in Korea.” FAN’s teammate and world number one MA Long will be using the Korea Open to get back his winning ways before Rio 2016 after losing in the semifinals in Japan. This was the World Champion’s only second loss in the past 12 months. He will be hoping it’s his last until Rio 2016 match. World Champion DING Ning (CHN) the current top seed for Olympic Singles will also be fighting to prove herself and stay on top of the rankings after her surprise defeat to Japan’s 15-year-old Mima ITO in the recent ITTF-Asia Olympic Qualification Tournament and Japan final loss to teammate LIU Shiwen. The Japanese duo of Kasumi ISHIKAWA who will be the number two seed in Rio and Ai FUKUHARA will be desperate to find some form here in Korea. The duo was knocked out very early in their home event last week so they need to win some matches to gain momentum for Rio. Qualification for the main draw of 32 started yesterday 22 June and concludes today before the knockout main draw begins on Friday 24 June and the winners will be crowned on Sunday 26 June. The Korea Open is the 12th of the 20 events on the 2016 ITTF World Tour and the fifth Super Series event of the year. The ITTF World Tour is categorized into three tiers: Super (six events) Major (six events) and Challenge (eight events). The higher the tier the higher the prize money better playing conditions and tougher competition for the title. All the players playing ITTF World Tour events are fighting for not only for prize money and world ranking points but also World Tour ranking points to qualify for the lucrative World Tour Grand Finals taking place on 8-11 December 2016 in Doha Qatar. The 2016 ITTF World Tour is set to be the most extensively followed tour in history with more events shown live throughout the world on television and all the events being shown live on ITTF’s live streaming platform ITTF.com/itTV. In addition to the men’s and women’s singles event at the Korea Open the world’s best players will also be playing men’s and women’s doubles and the stars of the future will be lining up in the men’s and women’s under 21 events.
6th table tennis open championship in memory of Brone BALAISIENE in Vilnius
17-19th of June Lithuania capital Vilnius hosted 6th Lithuanian Cadet & Mini Cadet Open in memory of Lithuanian coach Brone BALAISIENE. Traditionally held in the middle of June tournament was very successful and gathered participants from 11 countries: England Netherlands Czech Republic Israel Sweden Poland Ukraine Russia Latvia Estonia and Lithuania. Table tennis players competed in team and single events in U-15 and U-12 age category. Lithuanian table tennis association president Rimgaudas BALAISA is glad that the international tournament in honor of his mother table tennis coach Brone BALAISIENE every year attracts more and more strong players from Europe: “Certainly that raises the level of the tournament. This year we received a lot of compliments from countries such as England Israel Czech Republic and other delegations on a very high level of the tournament both regarding organizational aspects and hospitality and also strong players in all the events – said Rimgaudas BALAISA. The tournament in memory of one of the best table tennis coaches of Lithuania of all the time Brone BALAISIENE for the first time was held in 1986. It had participants only from Vilnius. Later it was organized nationally and since 2012 Lithuanian table tennis association organizes international cadet and mini cadet open championship. By Secretary General Kristina JUKNYTE FINAL STANDINGS Cadet girls team event 1st place Ukraine-1 (Veronika PEREBEINOS Oleksandra TSUIPKO) 2nd place Ukraine – 2 (Yaroslava PRYKHODKO Anastasiya YEPIFANTSEVA) 3rd place Lithuania – 1 (Kornelija RILISKYTE Emilija RILISKYTE) England (Denise PAYET Charlotte BARDSLEY) Cadet boys team event 1st place Ukraine-1 (Volodymyr LUSHNIKOV ANTON LIMONOV) 2nd place England-1 (SMITH JAMES DAI HARRY) 3rd place Israel- 1 (Karamazin YANIV Amit GOREN) Russia-2 (Nikita TIMOVEEV Andrei LATCYNA) Mini cadet girls team event 1st place Russia-3 (Karina IUSUPOVA Daria GRIGOREVA) 2nd place Russia-4 (Ekaterina MAKSIMOVA Ksenia VALOVAA) 3rd place Russia – 1 (Anastasia KAVRIGINA Svetlana DVITRIENKO) Russia-2 (Vasilisa DANILOVA Sofia KNIAZEVA) Mini cadet boys team event 1st place Russia – 1 (Mikhail BREDNIKOV Vladislav BANNIKOV) 2nd place England-Russia (Alexey PERFILYEV Jamie LIU) 3rd place Russia – 3 (Aleksandr CHERNOKNIZHNIKOV Roman VINOGRADOV) Russia – 2 (Miron VASILJEV Vsevolod IDIN) Cadet girls single event 1st place Veronika PEREBEINOS (UKR) 2nd place Oleksandra TSIUPKO (UKR) 3rd place Anna MIKLUKHA (UKR) Denise PAYET (ENG) Cadet boys single event 1st place Volodymyr LUSHNIKOV (UKR) 2nd place Shayan SIRAJ (ENG) 3rd place Anton LIMONOV (UKR) Stanislav STROGOV (UKR) Mini cadet girls single event 1st place Daria GRIGOREVA (RUS) 2nd place Kseniia VALOVA (RUS) 3rd place Ruby CHAN (ENG) Sofia KNIAZEVA (RUS) Mini cadet boys single event 1st place Sergei RYZHOV (RUS) 2nd place Denis IZUMRUDOV (RUS) 3rd place Jamie LIU (ENG) Miron VASILJEV (RUS)
