Reigning ECLW champion lost in Tarnobrzeg 3:2 but coach Irina PALINA believes in success this Friday (May 12th 18:30 CET live on LAOLA1.t) After all what happened in the first leg of the 2016/17 ECLW final Berlin`s coach Irina PALINA should be satisfied with the 3:2 defeat in the Polish city of Tarnobrzeg. KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg had 2:0 (6:0) advantage after first two encounters but Georgina POTA managed to stretch the clash by her win against Viktoria PAVLOVICH. “You can be a pessimist and say we lost the first match and interrupted our unbeaten run of 69 matches you can be optimistic and say that after the ’such’ start the end result of first match is encouraging. Of course it’s not easy but we are optimistic and we will try to make our best on Friday” stated Berlin`s coach Irina PALINA. German champion won third ECLW crown last year with 10-0 score but the best Polish team broke their winning streak which started two years ago.
Elena TIMINA and LI Jiao shared their experience in Zagreb
ETTU Women Coaches Seminar 2017 The ETTU Women Coaches Seminar 2017 in Croatia’s city of Zagreb gathered 24 coaches from 13 countries. The organisers European Table Tennis Union in cooperation with the Croatian Table Tennis Association secured top class conditions for the participants. Main topics are how to teach and select young defence players; how to play against them as well as how to return the service. Lecturers are Elena TIMINA and LI Jiao of Netherlands. The three days of intensive work in top class conditions provided by Westin Hotel started with the opening speech of ETTU Deputy President Ivo-Goran MUNIVRANA. Later yesterday TIMINA and LI gave introductory lecture whilst today the theoretical and practical workout is on the schedule. Tuesday is reserved for forum and questions.
ECLW final 1st leg: LI Qian secures advantage for Tarnobrzeg
KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg – TTC Berlin Eastside 3:2. Returning leg will be held on May 12th (18:30 CET). ECLW second seed KTS Sairka ZOT Tarnobrzeg beat top seeded TTC Berlin Eastside 3:2 (10:7) in the first leg of the 2016/17 European Champions League Women. It was Berlin`s first defeat in the last two years. Returning leg will be held on May 12th (18:30 CET) in Germany. Clash in Polish city of Tarnobrzeg was tense and unpredictable like last year when these two teams met in the 2015/16 final. Berlin won 3:2 then and after second leg (3:0) took its third ECLW crown. Like in the 2015/16 leg no. 1 HAN Ying beat Petrissa SOLJA in straight games of the opener. It showed again that SOLJA has no solution for defensive play of her team mate from German National Team. Actual world no. 9 convincingly won this clash against no. 20. Polish champion saw huge advantage after first two matches as world no. 37 LI Qian beat no. 14 SHAN Xiaona in straight games. SHAN couldn’t adapt on LI`s style. LI showed all her abilities in defense switching sometimes her play on attacking mode. SHAN had his last chance in late third set when she saved three match balls but host cemented her confidence by winning longest rally of the day (11:10). World no. 28 Georgina POTA improved her season`s record to 10-1 as she overcame actual no. 58 Viktoria PAVLOVICH in straight games. POTA confirmed her good shape from recent Slovenia Open where she took two medals. Two best ranked players from both sides met in the fourth encounter. The outcome was the same like in the 2015/16 final leg no. 1 in Poland: SHAN defeated HAN in four games. Host took second set by narrow margin; while guest easily won other three games (SHAN started 3rd set 7:1 and 4th 8:0). They also played one against another in the semi-final of LIEBHERR 2013 ITTF European Championships when SHAN won 4:1. LI secured victory for her side beating SOLJA in four games. It was probably bet performance of LI in the ECLW so far and her actual individual score now stands on 8-2. ECLW final 1st leg KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg – TTC Berlin Eatside 3:2 (10:7) HAN Ying – Petrissa SOLJA 3:0 (11:8 11:8 11:8) LI Qian – SHAN Xiaona 3:0 (11:5 11:3 12:10) Viktoria PAVLOVICH – Georgina POTA 0:3 (8:11 9:11 8:11) HAN Ying – SHAN Xiona 1:3 (6:11 11:9 3:11 7:11) LI Qian – Petrissa SOLJA 3:1 (11:4 11:9 8:11 11:6)
Huge advantage for Orenburg after 1st final leg of TTCLM final
First final match was held in Germany: Borussia Dusseldorf – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg 0:3. Returning leg will take place on May 12th (14:00 CET). The 2016/17 TTCLM top seed secured huge advantage in the first final leg held in Germany: Borussia Dusseldorf – Fakel Gazprom Orenburg 0:3 (3:9). Returning match is scheduled for May 12th (14:00 CET). Two team mates from the German National Team Timo BOLL (World No. 8) and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (No. 5) showed world class table tennis as Orenburg`s star won after full five games. Host six times individual European champion found himself in unpleasant situation in the ultimate game (1:6 5:9 7:10) but managed to recover. Culmination started when double individual European champion OVTCHAROV earned three match balls in the fifth set. But host supported by sold out ARAG CenterCort (1 100) managed to reverse the score from 7:10 to 11:10 and had one more match ball on his side. BOLL missed a huge chance on 11:10 to conclude the clash when OVTCHAROV did breathtaking return. Since BOLL missed his second match ball guest took three points in a row and win. Jun MIZUTANI improved his season`s individual score to 14-0 as he overcame Stefan FEGERL in straight games. Japanese won all three sets convincingly and has a chance to finish 2016/17 season undefeated something not seen for years in this competition. Vladimir SAMSONOV who spent six season in Borussia`s jersey and won three TTCLM titles with them now provided third point for Orenburg. Belarus defeated Kristian KARLSSON in four games. Swede did everything he could to push the clash to the fifth set but missed a set ball in the fourth game. TTCLM 1st final leg BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF – FAKEL GAZPOM ORENBURG 0:3 Timo BOLL – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 2:3 (11:7 5:11 8:11 11:6 12:14) Stefan FEGERL – Jun MIZUTANI 0:3 (7:11 8:11 5:11) Kristian KARLSSON – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (4:11 11:9 5:11 10:12)
Panagiotis GIONIS won the title in Zagreb
2017 ITTF Challenge Zagreb Open Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece beat young Frenchman Tristan FLORE (11-5 11-6 9-11 5-11 12-10 11-6) to secure the top step of the medal podium in the Men’s Singles event at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Zagreb Open. He won his first title at either an ITTF World Tour or ITTF Challenge Series tournament. After Kalinikos KREANGA GIONIS becomes only the second player representing the Greece to win an ITTF World Tour or ITTF Challenge Series Men’s Singles title. The Swedish pairings Viktor BRODD and Hampus NORBERG won the Men’s Doubles event. They were required to compete in the qualification tournament since they were not seeded but it did not stop them to clinch the title. In the final they beat the Czech Republic combination of Tomas KONECNY and Tomas POLANSKY the no.5 seeds (11-9 11-6 12-10). Japan’s Honoka HASHIMOTO won the Women’s Singles title. The no.2 seed at the final hurdle she accounted for Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA the no.6 seed. She won in four straight games (11-8 11-8 11-9 11-6). HASHIMOTO partnering Hitomi SATO won the Women’s Doubles title as well. They accounted for surprise finalists Belarus qualifiers Nadezhda BOGDANOVA and Daria TRIGOLOS (14-12 11-7 11-7) to secure the title.
Stella Sport La Romagne and Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyesporin winning mode
ETTU Cup Final At the home soil Stella Sport La Romagne recorded victory over Vaillante Sports Angers TT in the opening duel of the Men’s ETTU Cup. Even gold medalists in Men’s Singles Event from Budapest last year Emmanuel LEBESSON could not help his team against determined adversaries. On the other side led by the Women’s Singles European champion HU Melek Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyes secured straight matches victory over Tigem SC Ankara in the first leg of the Women’s ETTU Cup. Emmanuel LEBESSON was the first to felt the heat of the tonight’s duel. In two opening games he lost by narrowest margins against WEI Shihao. In the third game Chinese player was in the driving seat. Jon PERSSON put some extra pressure on CHEN Tian Yuan; lost very close the second game won next one but in the fourth CHEN showed no mercy. Adrian CRISAN gave no hope to guests. He beat Jens LUNDQUIST in straight games. Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyespor played in Ankara but it seems they felt like they were playing at home soil. With straight games victory over Cristina HIRICI Aleksandra PRIVALOVA gave her team dream start. Only player who was under severe pressure was HU Melek. She was stretched to full five games against Zoia NOVIKOVA before she eventually prevailed by narrow margin. Simay KULAKCEKEN proved she matured for big events. Simay sealed the match in effective style. Stella Sport La Romagne – Vaillante Sports Angers TT 3:0 WEI Shihao – Emmanuel LEBESSON 3:0 (11:9 12:10 11:6) CHEN Tian Yuan – Jon PERSSON 3:1 (11:6 13:11 7:11 11:5) Adrian CRISAN – Jens LUNDQUIST 3:0 (11:4 11:7 11:6) Tigem SC Ankara – Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyespor 0:3 Cristina Alina HIRICI – Aleksandra PRIVALOVA 0:3 (8:11 6:11 8:11) Zoia NOVIKOVA – Melek HU 2:3 (11:7 11:6 6:11 6:11 11:13) Duygu KOCAK – Simay KULAKCEKEN 0:3 (1:11 3:11 2:11)
Danny HEISTER: “Of course Orenburg is the favorite”
Borussia`s coach believes that his side has a chance to win TTCLM in spite of playing against team with three world class players. First leg this Sunday (May 7th 13:00 CET live on LAOLA1.tv) Ten times TTCLM champion Borussia is aware that its opponent in the forthcoming final Fakel Gazprom Orenburg is named as clear favorite but they believes in their power and good team spirit. Of course it`s not easy to promise victory when you play against squad whose lowest ranked player (great Vladimir SAMSONOV) occupies 13th spot at the ITTF World Ranking list. “We should go without pressure and instead with a lot of joy in the game” stressed Borussia`s player Stefan FEGERL at the team’s press conference before the first leg in the sold out ARAG CenterCort. Coach Danny HEISTER says that last Sunday’s win against Saarbrucken 3:0 in the Bundesliga semi-final should be a recipe for the success in the TTCLM final. Borussia will meet Fulda-Maberzell in the domestic league final. “Of course Orenburg is the favorite but I told the team that we always have a chance when we give our best”. Manager Andreas PREUSS added: “Nominally we have no chance against them but that fact give us some options. We showed how strong and good team we are playing last weekend against Saarbrucken. That victory brought us a lot of self-confidence.” Timo BOLL emphasizes that Jun MIZUTANI (World No. 6) is most dangerous player in the impressive line-up of Orenburg with best ranked player at No. 5 spot Dimitrij OVTCHAROV his team mate in German National Team. “It is nice to be in the outsider role. I know all opponents very well for years. Especially dangerous and over the last year strongest player is surely Jun MIZUTANI” stated Borussia`s best player.
Final showdown for the ETTU Cup title in Turkey
With the final matches between Bursa BSB and Ankara Tigem S.C ETTU Cup will come to Turkey for the 3rd time. Fenerbahce has won this cup in 2012 and 2013 Bursa BSB was the runner-up in 2016’s final event. It will be fifteenth time that the clubs of same country meets in final stage. German clubs has played against each other 9 times and Hungarian clubs met in the decisive round 5 times before. Turkish TTA President Mr Kerim KOC has stated “The ETTU Cup will be in Turkey for the 3rd time. The level of women table tennis in Turkey has raised a lot. We have gained many successful results. Fenerbahce has won ETTU Cup twice and Champions League once. Bursa has also played at final last year. Melek HU has become European Champion in 2016. I believe that these successes will be an example for other women table tennis clubs.” European champion Melek HU was very optimistic: “Our team has been active in recent years in ETTU club competitions. We have been in final before we reached it again this year and I feel confident. My team mates also hope we will win this cup. I should also add that I am really very glad to have a Turkish duel in the final it will be very nice. Young Simay KULAKCEKEN from Bursa also underlined the pleasure of playing in all-Turkish final. “I can not wait to play in these final matches. As a Turkish player I really could not dream any better final than a Turkish duel and it is really important for me to have such experiences at my age. I’m happy to witness this level of success yet I hope better ones are waiting for us.” Coach Mehmet ASLAN said: “We have worked really hard during the whole season for this competition. Now there are just 2 matches left. I would like to thank our club’s managers and club president. They have been investing in table tennis really much in recent years and we are glad that we have taken attention of many people not only in Bursa but also in the whole country and even in Europe.” Tigem has begun to play in ETTU Cup on 2nd stage beating DT Diggeleng (3-0) ASD Tennistavolo Norbello (3-0) Irun Leka Enea (3-1) and lost to ACD de Sao Joao (2-3). Then Tigem has played against Novi Sad on the 3rd stage. Tigem has beaten Novi Sad in Serbia with a score of 3-2 and on the 4th stage Tigem has beaten TTC Moravsky Krumlov 3-0. In the quarter final Tigem has beaten TuS Driburg in Turkey 3-1 and lost in Germany with a score of 2-3. After this score Tigem has reached the semi-final. In this stage Tigem has played against TTC Kazan from Russia and beat Kazan 3-1 in Ankara and 3-2 in Russia. Bursa BSB has begun to season in Champions League they became 3rd in the league and went onto their way with ETTU Cup beginning from the quarter final. Bursa has lost their first match to Budaorsi 2i Sport Club 3-2 then won the second match 3-1 and reached to the semi final. In the semi final Bursa has taken the revenge of 2016 and beaten Lille Metropole 3-2 in Lille and 3-1 in Bursa. The first match of final will be played in Ankara – Mamak Sport Hall on 5th May 2017 and second match will be played in Bursa – BUSKI Sport Hall on 12th May 2017.
Laimis JANCIUNAS is newly elected President of Lithuanian TTA
After 23 years of Rimgaudas BALAISA’s Presidency in Lithuanian TTA Laimis JANCIUNAS is newly elected President. Laimis JANCIUNAS is 42 years old businessman board member at Lithuanian association of account and auditors board member at Lithuanian marketing association. New president also enjoys playing table tennis at leisure time. When new President was asked what will be his first job in association he said: „First job to be done during first month – is analysis of all needs pros and cons. I need to have this list not only from board members employees but also from players coaches and all community. I believe the list will be long. Only then I could prioritize and start from the most important jobs to do.” Laimis JANCIUNAS invited Skirmantas SKRINSKAS and Inga NAVICKIENE to join team as vice presidents. Skirmantas SKRINSKAS is a former player and Inga NAVICKIENE was table tennis coach for a long time board member of Lithuanian table tennis association. Now she is working administrative work in one of sports schools in Lithuania. Secretary General is Juste MAZEIKIENE. The other board members are: Valdas MARTINKUS Aurelija ABARAVICIENE Karolis KASPARAITIS Gediminas USACKAS Raimondas JACKEVICIUS Romualdas FRANCKAITIS Romas STANKEVICIUS. Rimgaudas Balaisa was awarded as President of Honour. During his presidency Lithuania won 17 medals in Europe championships. Seven of these were gold medals. Also this year Lithuanian TTA will celebrate 90th year anniversary.
Irina PALINA: Any point could be decisive in the ECLW final
Berlin`s coach speaks about the upcoming ECLW final against KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg (1st leg Sunday May 7th 18:00 CET live on LAOLA1.tv) TTC Berlin Eastside aims third Triple Crown in its history after 2014 and 2016. Irina PALINA`s side is determined to attach the 2016/17 ECLW title to the German Cup and Bundesliga`s titles but Polish champion KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg has the same goal in the most prominent club`s competition. These two teams will meet second time in a row in the ECLW final having first leg in Poland (May 7th 18:00 CET) while the returning game will take a place five days later in Germany (May 12th 18:30 CET). Both matches will be live streamed on LAOLA1.tv. “In this season we won the Cup and the German championship which was expected from one side. On the other side the season after the Olympics is always not easy as four-year training has been put in place and we must start all over again. Especially difficult for SOLJA and SHAN after winning silver medals. But the girls managed and now there are the most intriguing matches of the Final” stated Berlin`s coach Irina PALINA Best German club didn’t suffer any defeat in the last two years counting all events. Regardless of that fact PALINA is aware how huge task awaits her side: “As usual I do not make any forecasts and I’m sure the team understands that in such matches any set or point can be decisive”. Reigning ECLW champion had some problems with injuries during the season but managed to set a perfect 8-0 score before the final clashes. Good news for them is nice shape of Georgina POTA who won two medals (singles silver and doubles gold) at the recent 2017 Slovenia Open. “Peti (SOLJA) completely recovered from the injuries Gina (POTA) perfectly “prepared” in Slovenia Nana (SHAN) should show her ability to play against the defense. We have everything and something more…” stressed Irina PALINA who believes that attacking ability of her side will prevail against European best defensive team of Tarnobrzeg with HAN Ying Viktoria PAVLOVICH and LI Qian in the line-up.
