2016 Slovak Junior Open – ITTF Junior Circuit Germany’s Tobias HIPPLER and Puerto Rico’s Adriana DIAZ emerged successfully as the winners of the Boys’ and Girl’s Singles Events at the 2016 Slovak Junior Open in Senec. HIPPLER the no.9 seed exceeded all expectations to secure his first ever title on the ITTF Junior Circuit. In the opening round of proceedings he beat Japan’s Shunsuke TOGAMI in a seven games contest and in next round HIPPLER also needed full seven games to overcame Hungary’s Gergo TIMAFALVI. With one game less he beat Canada’s Jeremy HAZIN the no.4 seed. In the quarter final German player accounted for Japan’s Shunsuke TOGAMI. His colleague Nils HOHMEIER the no.11 seed was beaten in straight games prior to his win over Japan’s Aoto ASAZU the no.2 seed. Aoto ASAZU had beaten the Slovak Republic’s Adam BRAT the no.15 seed and Jakub AELINKA prior to recording a semi-final success in opposition to Hungary’s Mate BRUCKNER the no.7 seed . Takeru KASHIWA and Yu KAYAMA secured the Boys’ Doubles title. They accounted for the Indian combination of Ananth DEVARAJAN and Manav Vikash THAKKAR in three straight games in the final. The winner eight months ago in Croatia Puerto Rico’s Adriana DIAZ collected the second ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles title of her career. After beating Kausharu NATH also from India in four straight games and Thailand’s Monaposorn SARITAPIRAK by a similar margin Adriana Diaz needed five games to overcome the host nation’s Tatiana KUKULKOVA the no.5 seed at the semi-final stage. A straight games win over the Czech Republic’s Marketa SEVCIKOVA the no.6 seed sealed the title. Marketa SEVCIKOVA had beaten Hungary’s Kitt KORDA and the Slovak Republic’s Karolina FURKOVA prior to recording a semi-final success in opposition to Thailand’s Jinnipa SAWETTABUT the no.12 seed. Jinnipa SAWETTABUT and Monapsorn SARITAPIRAK clinched gold in doubles. At the final hurdle the duo accounted for Germany’s Anne BUNDESMANN and Lotta ROSE.
Zamek plans to spoil unbelievable season of Berlin
Returning leg of the 2015/16 ECLW final will be held in Germany this Friday after 3:2 away victory of Berlin three weeks ago Tenth edition of European Champions League Women will be concluded next Friday (May 27th 18:30 CET live on laola1.tv) in Germany by the returning leg of the 2015/16 final between TTC Berlin Eastside and KTS SPAR-Zamek Tarnobrzeg. German team won 1st leg 3:2 (9:9) three weeks ago so both sides need the win to ensure the title. “I am one of the few who already saw the Cup which will be given to the winner on Friday. And it is very beautiful! We`d like to stay in Berlin in our club and for this we will fight on May 27th” stated Berlin`s Coach Irina PALINA which side has an impressive 31-0 score in the ongoing season (4-0 German Cup 18-0 Bundesliga 9-0 ECLW). Both finalists won their national leagues between two games of ECLW finals. Zamek became a 25th time Polish champion while Berlin conquered Bundesliga third time in a row (and in total). The hall in Berlin should be a sold out. President of the ETTU Ronald KRAMER will hand over the trophy to the victorious side. The key player in the first leg SHAN Xiaona (beat both Natalia PARTYKA and HAN Ying) has the best indidvidual record so far 12-1 (36-12). Other players have two or more defeats Berlin – Georgina POTA 7-3 (22-12) Petrissa SOLJA 7-4 (23-14) Yui HAMAMOTO 1-0 (3-2) Zamek – HAN Ying 12-6 (43-22) Natalia PARTYKA 4-7 (23-25) LI Qian 7-4 (25-13). FACTS Berlin is unique undefeated team in this ECLW season Zamek plays for its second European title in a row after 2015 ETTU Cup crown Berlin can become the first triple champion of ECLW Zamek can become the very first ECLW champion from Poland The 2015/16 ECLW final returning leg (Friday 27th May 18:30 CET) TTC Berlin Eastside – KTS SPAR-Zamek Tarnobrzeg (live on laola1.tv) The 2015/16 ECLW final first leg (April 29th) KTS SPAR-Zamek Tarnobrzeg – TTC Berlin Eastside 2:3 (9:9) HAN Ying – Petrissa SOLJA 3:0 (12:10 11:9 11:2) Natalia PARTYKA – SHAN Xiaona 2:3 (11:8 8:11 7:11 13:11 7:11) LI Qian – Georgina POTA 3:0 (12:10 14:12 11:9) HAN Ying – SHAN Xiaona 1:3 (7:11 11:5 10:12 8:11) Natalia PARTYKA – Petrissa SOLJA 0:3 (11:13 2:11 8:11)
Borussia 28th time Bundesliga`s winner
In the final showdown in front of 2 800 people at the Frankfurt Fraport Arena Dusseldorf`s side beat FC Saarbrucken 3:1. Timo BOLL took two points Borussia Dusseldorf reached its 28th title of Bundesliga as they beat FC Saarbrucken 3:1 in front of 2 800 people at Frankfurt Fraport Arena. Timo BOLL was man of the match bringing two points as many times before in the finals. Today he defeated both Bojan TOKIC and Tiago APOLONIA. Indian Kamal ACHANTA overcame Adrien MATTENET while APOLONIA took unique point for Saarbrucken playing against Panagiotis GIONIS in the second encounter of the final. Dusseldorf`s side had many problems during the 2015/16 championships but confirmed its supremacy in play-off. This is the their 8th title in domestic league in the last nine seasons (Werder was champion in 2012/13) and third double crown in a row. Counting all competitions Borussia has 66 titles in total. Borussia Dusseldorf – FC Saarbrucken 3:1 Timo BOLL – Bojan TOKIC 3:1 (11:3 11:6 12:14 12:10) Panagiotis GIONIS – Tiago APOLONIA 0:3 (10:12 10:12 7:11) Sharat Kamal ACHANTA – Adrien MATTENET 3:1 (11:8 8:11 11:7 16:14) Timo BOLL – Tiago APOLONIA 3:1 (6:11 11:8 11:2 11:8)
Titles for Sweden and Norway at the North European Championships
Sweden clinched both titles in Men’s and Women’s Events at the North European Championships in Norway. In the final of the Men’s Event Alexander FRANZÉN beat Anders LIND Simon BERGLUND overcame Andreas DILLING and Jonas STENER prevailed against Kasper RASMUSSEN. In semi final Sweden beat Norway whilst Denmark overcame Latvia. All matches concluded by 3:0. In Women’s Teams Event Tilda JOHANSSON Jennifer JONSSON and Erika FRONTH clinched gold. Silver went to Denmark’s Sophie WALLØE Stefanie CHRISTENSEN and Nicoline KOFOED. Norway is third.
Silver for Czech Republic in Senec
2016 Slovak Junior Open – ITTF Junior Circuit Japan dominated proceedings in the Boys’ Team event at the 2016 Slovakia Junior Open in Senec. They won gold and silver. In the title deciding contest just one player was not from the Land of the Rising Sun – Canada’s Jeremy HAZIN. He was in the silver medal winning team alongside Aoto ASAZU and Takeru KASHIWA. However it was three Japanese players they faced in the final who emerged successful – Yu KAYAMA Shunsuke TOGAMI and Hiromu KOBAYASHI. Yu KAYAMA beat both Aoto ASAZU (8-11 11-8 10-12 11-8 14-12) and in vital fifth match of the engagement Takeru KASHIWA (11-8 11-6 14-12). Occupying the top seeded position in the competition en route to the title on the second day of play Jeremy HAZIN Aoto ASAZU and Takeru KASHIWA had experienced few problems. At the quarter-final stage they had recorded a three-one success against the Hungarian trio of Mate BRUCKNER Istvan MOLNAR and Gergo TIMAFALVI prior to recording a three-nil win over Germany’s Nils HOHMEIER Tobias HIPPLER and Cedric MEISSNER. Yu KAYAMA Shunsuke TOGAMI and Hiromu KOBAYASHI starting matters as the eleventh seeds after recording a three-nil win in opposition the fifth seeded Serbia ‘A’ Team trio of Aleksa GACEV Nikola MARINKOVIC and Pero TEPIC; the full five games were needed to end the hopes of Belgium the second seeds. Yu Kayama in the opening match of the fixture beat Thibaut DARCIS (11-5 11-9 11-9); in vital fifth and deciding duel he defeated Florian CNUDDE (4-11 11-7 13-11 11-8). Top seeds the combination of Puerto Rico’s Adriana DIAZ alongside Thailand’s Jinnipa SAWETTABUT and Monapsorn SARITAPIRAK justified their exalted status to win the Girls’ Team title. At the final hurdle they overcame the second seeded Czech combination of Marketa SEVCIKOVA Stanslava SLEZAKOVA and Nikita PETROVOVA by three match to one. Adriana Diaz beat both Markets SEVCIKOVA (12-10 11-6 11-4) and Nikita PETROVOVA (11-9 11-6 11-5). The one win for the Czech Republic was posted by Nikita PETROVOVA; in the opening match of the fixture she defeated Jinnipa SAWETTABUT (8-11) 11-9 11-7 11-7). At the semi-final stage Adriana Diaz Jinnipa SAWETTABUT and Monapsorn SARITAPIRAK had accounted for the combination formed by India’s Selena SELVAKUMAR who joined forces with Ukraine’s SOLOMIYA BRATEYKO and Natalia DIVINSKA.
Zhang Jike Gets the Opportunity to Defend Olympic Title
After years of speculation ZHANG Jike has been given his chance to defend his Olympic title after he wasconfirmedtoday to play singles at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The current world number four who has lost several high profile matches recently will be joined by the world number one and reigning World Champion MA Long in the singles event where only two players per NOC can compete. As announced by the Chinese Table Tennis Association word number three XU Xin will join ZHANG Jike and MA Long in the teams event which means world number two FAN Zhendong misses out altogether. World champion DING Ning has been given the chance to avenge her painful loss to LI Xiaoxia in the London 2012 Olympic Games final after they were both confirmed for the women’s singles event in Rio. Despite ranking first on the world ranking the current ITTF Female Table Tennis Star LIU Shiwen missed out on singles selection and will have to settle for playing in the team event in Rio. Japan who will be one of the biggest challengers to China for all the medals available in Rio have confirmed a strong team and will be represented by Ai FUKAHARA & Kasumi ISHIKAWA in the women’s singles and Jun MIZUTANI & Koki NIWA in the men’s singles event. The Olympic Games Table Tennis event will take place on 6-17 August 2016 at Riocentro Pavilion 3 and there will be four medals on offer: men’s singles women’s singles men’s teams and women’s teams. The next step of the Table Tennis Olympic Qualification process is that the ITTF will inform all the NOCs that have qualified a team on 21 May. The NOCs must then confirm if they will be taking their team allocation and inform the ITTF the third player who will play in the team latest by 6 June 2016.
KARLSSON: The first match against XU Hui will be crucial
Pontoise`s player speaks about returning leg (May 29th 17:00) of the 2015/16 TTCLM against Eslovs Al Bordtennis. Swedish club won 3:1 at home Ten years ago Kristian KARLSSON was a runner up of the 2006 European Cadet Championships held in Sarajevo. Last year in August he was world`s no. 69. Today he is no. 27 (last month no. 26 his best position so far) and looks forward to the returning leg of the 2015/16 TTCLM against his compatriots from Eslovs Al Bordtennis (May 29th 17:00). Swedish side won first game 3:1. “Of course we are very disappointed with our performances in Sweden. I could not play due to illness so was extra frustrating for me” pointed out Swedish player. The 14th TTCLM seed secured big advantage in sets (9:5) thanks to XU Hui who won both his games against Tristan FLORE and Marcos FREITAS who got unique point for his team. “We are very difficult to beat on our home soil so I think it’s still a 50/50 match. The crucial match to take a title is no doubt the first match against XU Hui. If we win this one I am positive we will stand as champions again” explained KARLSSON who already has one TTCLM crown with Pontoise (2015) as well as two ProA league titles (2014 2016). The 24-year-old plans to continue his climbing on the ITTF World ranking list: “Yes I am satisfied how I play in the last months. Improved my World ranking we won French League and I beat some top players I’ve never beaten before. We welcome Eslov to Paris and will give them a fight they won’t forget”.
Fenerbahce double Turkish champion
Both men`s and women`s teams clinched titles in the national leagues Fenerbahce Sport Club reached both titles in Turkish Super League last weekend confirming the leading role in the table tennis in that country. Women`s team the 2015 ECLW champion finished first with 41 points ahead of Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyesi Ankara TIGEM and Cukurova University. Defending national champion beat Bursa 4:3 in the ultimate round. This is the seventh consecutive title of Fenerbahce and 12th in total. Regarding men`s competition Fenerbahce secured the top with 40 points reaching its first national crown after seven years. Yalova Belediyespor is second with 37 Besiktas third with 34 Istanbul BBSK fourth with 33. Istanbul`s side now has four Super League titles.
Borussia Düsseldorf aiming another title on Sunday
The final of the TTBL play off In the final of the Germany’s play off Borussia Düsseldorf will meet 1. FC Saabrücken TT. The new champion will be crowned after just one match on the neutral ground in Frankfurt Fraport Arena on Sunday. The Rhine-Main region is one of the table tennis strongholds in Germany and was already 2013 2014 and 2015 the venue of the Liebherr TTBL final In the semi final of the play off Borussia Düsseldorf beat TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell whilst 1. FC Saabrücken TT overcame TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. In the interview made by Johannes EICKHOFF BOLL addmited he did not expect to see 1. FC Saabrücken TT in the final. “They are doing excelent job in Saarbrücken. With the support of the Olympic base they developed something very good. But to be honest I had expected to see Ochsenhausen in the final. However the adversaries are not to be underestimated and I do not see us necessarily as favorites in the final ” stated BOLL. The Frankfurt Fraport Arena will be the venue for the final again this year. What memories do you have to the venue? “It’s nice to play at home and the Frankfurt area is indeed still my home. Many familiar faces coming into the hall and the atmosphere is good. I hope it is not so hot now as it was two years ago. “ BOLL said he is fit now and he recovered from the surgery completely. “I am convinced that I am on the right path toward Rio. “ BOLL already clinched two team Olympic medals; silver in Beijing in 2008 and bronze in 2012 in London. Asked about his aspirations in Rio he stated: “When I compete in a tournament I want maximum success.”
Swedish Table Tennis Asociation celebrated 90th aniversary in big style
Eminent guests and TT legends visited Halmstad last weekend The Swedish Table Tennis Association formed in 1926 last weekend celebrated its 90th birthday. Anniversary celebration was hosted at the same time as a Convention on Swedish table tennis development. This convention is held every second year and is one of the most important event for Swedish table tennis. Host city of this event was Halmstad successful host of recently organized European Olympic Games qualifications and also is the host city of the World championships for team in 2018. Many eminent guests and speakers attended the dinner with speeches and gifts for the “birthday child”. Among the guests were ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT ETTU President Ronald KRAMER PAC member Walter RÖNMARK honorary chairman of the Swedish TTA Ulf LÖNNQUIST Ria DAMGREN of the Swedish Olympic Committee vice President of the Swedish Sports Federation Susanne ERLANDSSON and many more. The dinner was hosted by Swedish TTA President and ITTF vice President Petra SÖRLING with Swedish TTA General Secretary Mikael PETERSON. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER states: “Swedish table tennis has a sensational history a promising present and a fantastic future!” During the 90th birthday dinner the Swedish TTA chartered the new “Champions club” which includes former Swedish winners of gold medals at European Championships World Championships and Olympic games. Names as Jörgen PERSSON Ulf CARLSSON LI Fen Marie SVENSSON Thomas von SCHEELE Jan-Ove WALDNER Mikael APPELGREN and Peter KARLSSON are all a part of the “Champions club” plus many more champions from the past. To wind up the dinner and the celebration a table tennis tournament on mini tables where hosted by long time sponsor STIGA. The winner of the tournament was the Swedish national coach for men and former World Champion In doubles from 1985 Ulf CARLSSON. So many memories and such a bright future for Swedish Table Tennis. The 90 year is just the beginning of the Swedish TTA and sends a feeling that many more successful years are to come.
