The 11th international tournament dedicated to the memory of the coach Andrei SHKALA will be held from 4 to 6 of May in Minsk. The competition includes three different age categories events. Before the competition the International training camp gathered players from Belarus Lithuania Latvia Russia Slovakia and Georgia. It was the 3-days camp. Boys and girls had the trainings two times a day. The athletes born from 2001 to 2008 took part of it. The head coach of the Sports School # 1 BFSO “Dynamo” the organizer of the camp Alexandra SIPACH said: “The main goal of the camp was to popularize table tennis and to establish international relations. These events favorably influence on the development and improvement of the level of young athletes. We have an excellent sports base: a game room with 24 tables and a modern gym. We are open to cooperation and we would like to continue to hold international children’s camps with the involvement of a large number of countries. We are grateful to the Federation and the Republican Center for Olympic Training in Table Tennis for providing an opportunity to train alongside famous Belarusian table tennis players.” SIPACH also expresed his deep gratitude to the First Deputy President of the Table Tennis Federation the head coach of the national team of the Republic of Belarus Alexandre PETKEVITCH for the assistance in organizing the international training camp and the tournament to the memory of the coach Andrei SHKALA. President of the table tennis Federation of Vilnius former member of the national team of the USSR Mironos KREERIS added: “I express many thanks to Alexandra SIPACH for inviting us to the camp. I really like the hall I think it is one of the best sports facilities for table tennis in Europe. Everything is done and organized perfectly the children feel comfortable they do not want to go home. There is a friendly and cozy environment the children feel it and this can be seen with the naked eye. You have an excellent team that helps to develop table tennis.” Coach of the Russian team a member of the Russian national team a member of the public chamber of Sosnovy Bor Nina ROMANYUTA also praised the conditions for play and work in Belarus. ” Children will have a unique experience. They will communicate with players from other countries. In addition it is great they will have the opportunity to play with players of different levels and styles. It is very important to communicate between athletes the sport is outside the politics. The camp is fun the atmosphere in the team is comfortable and friendly that is very important for the athletes. In the training of young table tennis players psychological preparation is very important and now they can look and learn how to cope with difficulties and fight. Also the technical preparation is very important a lot is done for it during the camp.”
SALABAEV: TTCLM final determines entire season
Interview of Valeriy SALABAEV (Fakel Gazprom Orenburg coach) before the 1st TTCLM final leg against Borussia Dusseldorf (Sunday May 7th 13:00 CET live on LAOLA1.tv) Fakel Gazprom Orenburg and Borussia Dusseldorf will play for the 2016/17 TTCLM title this Sunday (May 7th 13:00 CET) in Germany and next Friday (May 12th 14:00 CET) in Russia. Both matches will be live streamed on LAOLA1.tv. They met twice in the finals so far: Borussia was better in 2011 while Orenburg lifted the trophy in 2015. The 2011 crown was the latest one of German side who is the TTCLM record holder with 10 titles. Today we present interview of Valeriy SALABAEV Orenburg`s coach. He won three TTCLM titles with Russian club. The upcoming final is his sixth in last seven seasons. How do you comment the ongoing season so far? The results of the TTCLM finals and the playoffs of the Russian Premier League will be the main criteria for assessing the team in the season 2016/2017. Let us wait for the results. Are you satisfied with current shape of Orenburg`s players? Almost all players of our team had some health problems during this season. I hope that our team players will fit in a good sports form to the final matches. What do you remember most about previous two finals with Borussia 2011 and 2015? In the first TTCL final we could not decide for a long time about our line-up and this thing did not allow players to concentrate on their individual matches as much as possible. In the second TTCL final of 2015 the most memorable match in Orenburg when the all our team players showed maximum restraint concentration and will to win What could be crucial this time? In my opinion the upcoming TTCLM finals will be very tense for both teams. There are no trifles because any factor can be decisive in such matches.
Tarnobrzeg won Polish League Finals – again
Tarnobrzeg won 26th Polish Club title in 27 years. In the final against Bebetto Częstochowa they succeded in both matches. Tarnobrzeg recorded two straight matches victories and celebrate the HAN Ying’s birthday after the second match.
Great pressure on Emmanuel LEBESSON
ETTU Cup final Vaillante Sports Angers TT will meet Stella Sport La Romagne in this year’s final of the ETTU Cup. Two French clubs showed the most this season so everyone is hope for thrilling closure on May 5th and 12th. President of the Vaillante Angers Tennis de Table Gérard SARAZIN explained: “For us our priority is to stay in Pro A and for that we need to have more points to be sure to stay. My team is currently in a good shape. We are ready for battles on both fronts.“ What is you expectations before the final? “For the final there is no other option but to win! However we know that it will be very difficult. In the Championship last match we played in La Romagne and we lost 3/0 they have two good Chinese players…” Club members knows each other very well. “Of course that we know well each other because there are only 60kms between the two cities. In the past we were better but now the second Chinese has changed everything and la Romagne is for sure better. In Angers at the first match we won 3/1 but the second foreign player was not arrived because he played in Chinese league.” President SARAZIN added: “For us everything will depend on Emmanuel LEBESSON European championship. We have to overcame the bad record he lost 2 out of 2 against la Romagne in Championship.”
Final TTCLM showdown: Borussia vs. Orenburg
First final leg will be held next Sunday in Dusseldorf (May 7th 13:00 CET). Orenburg`s Jun MIZUTANI has 13-0 individual score Timo BOLL stands on 10-2. Both final games live on LAOLA1.tv Two top seeds of the 2016/17 Table Tennis Champions League Men No. 1 Fakel Gazprom Orenburg and No. 2 Borussia Dusseldorf will meet in the final third time in last six years. First leg will be held in Germany on May 7th (13:00 CET) while the returning clash is scheduled for May 12th (14:00 CET). Each side got one crown in their mutual duels: German club prevailed in 2010/11 while the most successful Russian team ever got revenge in 2014/15. Both finalists won nine out of ten games so far. Orenburg finished first in the Group A with 5-1 score (16-4). They suffered unique defeat from Roskilde Bordtennis (3:1 away) when all three their first line-up players were absent. Russian champion eliminated 2015/16 TTCLM runner-up Eslovs Al Bordtennis in the quarter-final stage (twice 3:1) confirming their power in the semi-final against Saarbrucken Tischtennis. Orenburg`s newcomer Jun MIZUTANI is the best TTCLM player so far in the ongoing season. Japanese won all his 13 encounters taking over leading role in that team from German Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. TTCLM record holder with 10 titles Borussia was invincible in the Group D playing two hard games against 2012 runner-up Chartres ASTT. Quarter-final clash with their adversaries from the 2009 final TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen showed the high class table tennis: Dubravko SKORIC`s side won 3:2 first home leg but Borussia responded by 3:1 on its ground. Reigning TTCLM champion Pontoise was beaten twice in the semi-final (3:0 3:1). Timo BOLL currently has 10-2 score but all Borussia`s newcomers had significant contribution in previous 10 matches. Former Pontoise`s Kristian KARLSSON won all his seven matches Ex-Niederosterreich`s player Stefan FEGERL has 8-3 score while rising star from Sweden Anton KALLBERG stands on 4-3. TTC FAKEL GAZPROM ORENBURG 9-1 (28-7) Group A score 5-1 (16-4) Vaillante Sports Angers TT H 3:0 A 3:0 TTF Liebher Ochsenhausen A 3:1 H 3:0 Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 H 3:0 A 1:3 Quarter-final 2-0 (6-2) Eslovs Al Bordtennis A 3:1 H 3:1 Semi-final 2-0 (6-1) Saarbrucken Tischtennis A 3:1 H 3:0 Individual scores (6-3) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (13-0) Jun MIZUTANI (8-1) Vladimir SAMSONOV (0-1) Denis IVONIN (1-1) Alexey SMIRNOV (0-1) Fedor KUZMIN BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF 9-1 (29-8) Group D score 6-0 (18-3) SPG Walter Wels H 3:0 A 3:0 Chartres ASTT A 3:2 H 3:1 KTS Energa-Manekin Torun H 3:0 A 3:0 Quarter-final 1-1 (5-4) TTF LIEBHER Ochsenhausen A 2:3 H 3:1 Semi-final 2-0 (6-1) AS Pontoise Cergy A 3:0 H 3:1 Individual scores (10-2) Timo BOLL (7-0) Kristian KARLSSON (8-3) Stefan FEGERL (4-3) Anton KALLBERG
Bastian STEGER crowned champion in Slovenia
German player beat Sweden`s Jon PERSSON after full seven games in the final of the 2017 ITTF Challenge Slovenian Open. POTA finished with two medals Germany`s Bastian STEGER top seeded player at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Slovenian Open in Otocec won the title in the super thrilling final clash against No. 22 seed Jon PERSSON. STEGER who was out of action for six months due to injury needed full seven games to clinch his very first title on the ITTF World Tour – 4:3 (11:6 11:8 9:11 11:13 11:9 9:11 11:9). Semi-final games weren’t so exciting. STEGER beat his young compatriot Kilian ORT in five games while PERSSON defeated Czech Republic`s Tomas TREGLER in straight sets. Women`s top seed and actual World No. 9 Hitomi SATO from Japan won his third title this year beating in the final Hungary`s Georgina POTA 4:0 (11:8 13:11 11:9 11:6). No. 4 seed POTA who played two finals today overcame SATO`s compatriot and 3rd seed Honoka HASHIMOTO in straight games of the semi-final. Best ranked Hungarian player emerged in her second final in last eight months while the last year`s Under 21 winner in Otocec SATO completed the hat-trick in 2017 after Belarus and Thailand. POTA added one more medal on her count as she won gold in Women`s Doubles event playing beside Sweden`s Matilda EKHOLM. They managed to reverse the score from 0:2 to 3:2 in the final clash against Romania`s Elizabeta SAMARA and Czech Republic`s Renata STRBIKOVA (2:11 9:11 11:4 15:13 11:8). Hungarian pair Nandor ECSEKI and Adam SZUDI finished second in the Men`s Doubles event. Korea`s CHOI Wonjin and LEE Jungwoo were too strong for them.
Slovenia Open: POTA invincible in both routes
Hungary`s player reached Women`s Singles semi-final and Women`s Doubles final at 2017 ITTF Challenge Slovenia Open in the city of Otocec Best ranked Hungary`s player Georgina POTA had very successful penultimate day of the 2017 ITTF Challenge Slovenia Open in the city of Otocec. World No. 30 reached Women`s Singles semi-final and Women`s Doubles final playing alongside Sweden`s Matilda EKHOLM. This pair clinched gold at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour India Open two months ago. Women`s Singles Round of 16 brought several interesting clashes. Second seeded Matilda EKHOLM lost to Linz`s player ZHANG Mo from Canada in five games. The 2015 individual European champion Elizabeta SAMARA lost to Chinese Taipei`s CHENG Hsien-Tzu 4:1 (11:9 11:7 6:11 13:11 11:3) while Netherland`s Britt EERLAND prevailed against Thailand`s Suthasini SAWETTABUT after full seven games 4:3 (11:9 17:15 11:9 7:11 5:11 7:11 11:7). Georgina POTA beat Puerto Rico`s Adriana DIAZ in straight games. In the quarter-final stage Britt EERLAND suffered at the hands of CHENG Hsien-Tzu (TPE) who reversed the score from 2:3 to 4:3. POTA defeated Korea`s PARK Joohyun 4:2 (13:15 11:7 11:8 11:4 9:11 11:6). Two Japan`s players No. 1 and No. 3 seeds Hitomi SATO (World No. 9) and Honoka HASHIMOTO (No. 22) also reached semifinal spots. Semi-final pairs are: Hitomi SATO – CHENG Hsien-Tzu Georgina POTA – Honoka HASHIMOTO. Concerning Men`s Singles event Bastian STEGER set all-German semi-final against his much younger compatriot Kilian ORT. Member of bronze-winning Germany team last summer in 2016 Rio Olympics STEGER plays his first international tournament after six month break due to injury. He had a very hard task in the Round of 16 playing full seven games against Kazuhiro YOSHIMURA 4:3 (12:10 11:5 14:12 6:11 3:11 7:11 11:9). Other semi-final game will confront Sweden`s Jon PERSSON and Czech Republic`s Tomas TREGLER who managed to recover after 0:2 against Russia`s Alexey LIVENTSOV. Hungary`s Nandor ECSEKI and Adam SZUDI secured their place in the final game in the Men`s Doubles as they beat Iran`s Nima ALAMIAN and Noshad ALAMIYAN 3:2 (11:8 7:11 8:11 11:6 11:7). Other finalists are Korea`s CHOI Wonjin and LEE Jungwoo who eliminated Sweden`s Jens LUNDQVIST and Jon PERSSON in four games. Two European pairs will fight for the gold in the Women`s Doubles event. Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) and Renata STRBIKOVA (CZE) overcame Honoka HASHIMOTO/Hitomi SATO from Japan 3:1 (11:9 11:13 11:8 11:8) while Matilda EKHOLM and Georgina POTA beat Germany`s Chantal MANTZ/WAN Yuan 3:0 (11:7 11:7 11:4).
LIEBHERR 2017 ITTF European Championships ticket sales begins
The non-profit-making association DTEM 2017 and d’Coque are pleased to inform all table tennis fans about the ticket sale start from 27 April 2017 for the LIEBHERR 2017 ITTF EUROPEAN TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS to be held from 13 to 17 September 2017 at d’Coque The organisation of the “Liebherr 2017 European Table Tennis Championships” in Luxembourg is an historic event for Luxembourg Sport history. From 13 to 17 September 2017 more than 600 sportsmen and women from almost 40 countries will compete in their national teams to win medals and to enter into the table tennis history. We are delighted to inform all those who wish to support the National Teams of Luxembourg or who simply wish to attend this outstanding event that tickets for the “Liebherr 2017 European Table Tennis Championships” are on sale since 27th of April 2017 at the Reception desk at d’Coque at www.coque.lu and at www.ettc2017.lu. Purchasing your ticket before 12 July will enable you to take advantage of preferential “early bird” prices. Price categories Free entry for children and youngsters up to 14 years ( but exclusively in the areas ‘F’ and ‘G’ ) as well as for people in wheelchairs ( these tickets are available only at the box office the days of the event ) Ticket for Wednesday 13th or Thursday 14th of September o Ticket purchased before the 12th of July: € 12 o Ticket purchased after the 12th of July: € 18 Ticket for Friday 15th Saturday 16th or Sunday 17th of September o Ticket for one seat in the terraces purchased before the 12th of July: € 25 o Ticket for one seat in the terraces purchased after the 12th of July: € 30 o Ticket for one seat in the grandstands purchased before the 12th of July: € 35 o Ticket for one seat in the grandstands purchased after the 12th of July: € 40 o VIP* ticket purchased before the 12th of July: € 125 o VIP* ticket purchased after the 12th of July: € 135 Season-pass for 5 days ( from the 13th to the 17th of September ) o Ticket for one seat in the terraces purchased before the 12th of July: € 90 o Ticket for one seat in the terraces purchased after the 12th of July: € 110 o Ticket for one seat in the grandstands purchased before the 12th of July: € 120 o Ticket for one seat in the grandstands purchased after the 12th of July: € 140 o VIP* ticket purchased before the 12th of July: € 380 o VIP* ticket purchased after the 12th of July: € 410 * the VIP ticket includes the following benefits and services: a numbered seat in the VIP area free car parking permanent access to the VIP Lounge VIP meals in the VIP Premium Lounge o on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th of September starting from 6 p.m. o on Sunday 17th of September starting from 11.30 a.m. For any further information concerning tickets and/or the access to d’Coque please contact us by phone via the number (00352) 43 60 60 – 222 For any further information concerning the event please visit our web site www.ettc2017.lu or contact us by mail via info@ettc2017.lu.
108 Countries Set to Compete at 2017 World Table Tennis Championships
The entry list for the Liebherr 2017 World Table Tennis Championships has been announced with an impressive 613 athletes making the trip to Dusseldorf Germany for the biggest table tennis event of the year. For the first time in history players from Afghanistan Oman Palestine and Tahiti will be amongst the 108 countries fighting to be crowned World Champion in the event that will be held from 29 May to 5 June 2017 at the Messe Dusseldorf. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “I am very excited about welcoming 613 players from 108 countries to my home country of Germany for the Liebherr 2017 World Table Tennis Championships. We are all a part of the ITTF family and this Championships will be a celebration of that and a celebration of table tennis. It is going to be a fantastic event and I look forward to watching as many countries and players as possible playing here in Germany.” The most captivating entries were from the Japanese women’s team whose average age is just 19 and they are without team icon Ai FUKUHARA who has been a consistent member of the Japanese team since 2003. Japan will now be spearheaded by their oldest member of the team 24-year-old Kasumi ISHIKAWA and 17-year-old sensation Miu HIRANO who shocked the world to become Asian Champion last month and is now one of the favorites for the world title. China has again chosen a team of superstars to defend their titles they won 2 years ago in Suzhou China. The Chinese men’s team boasts the world’s top four male players and the women’s the top two players in the world so they will be hot favorites to continue their World Championships gold rush. The local German hopes will rest with world number five Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and former world number one Timo BOLL who is fresh off his triumph at the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Korea Open last week. The near sold out crowd will have high hopes that this experienced duo can break the Chinese dominance and bring gold home from Germany. There are five titles up for grabs in Germany: Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Qualification for the singles main draw of 128 will start on 29 May 2017 with the main draw starting 31 May. The Women’s champion will be crowned on 4 May and the Men’s on 5 May. The full list of entiries and all event information can be found here: http://www.ittf.com/tournament/2705/
POTA enters ECLW final with 9-1 score
Individual scores before the 2016/17 ECLW finals Berlin targets its fourth ECW title while Tarnobrzeg seeks revenge for last year’s defeat in the final! The 2016/17 ECLW finals will confront again second time in a row reigning champion TTC Berlin Eastside and actual runner-up KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg. Both legs will be livestreamed on LAOLA1.tv on May 7th (18:00 CET) in Poland and on May 12th (18:30 CET) in Germany. Both teams again occupy two highest positions on the seeding list. Triple ECLW winner and current No. 1 seed won all its games so far having 8-0 score while the 25th times champion of Poland stands on 6-2. When they met in the 2015/16 final Berlin won both legs. German club finished last season with a perfect 10-0 score. Regarding individual scores top spots were usualy reserved for Tarnobrzeg`s HAN Ying and Berlin`s SHAN Xiaona but now Berlin`s Georgina POTA stands on the top with 9-1 score counting just players who played at least one match per round. For example the 18-years-old Yui HAMAMOTO from Japan had very important role in Berlin`s squad winning all her five encounters. This is POTA`s best ECLW season so far though she provided several important wins for Berlin in the past. Her teammate SOLJA fought with injuries within months but managed to recover. On the other side LI Qian contributed a lot to Tarnobrzeg`s side winning four out of last five games. All individual scores of the finalists are next: Berlin – Georgina POTA 9-1 SHAN Xiaona 6-2 Yui HAMAMOTO 5-0 Petrissa SOLJA 4-2 Tarnobrzeg – HAN Ying 8-2 LI Qian 6-2 Viktoria PAVLOVICH 4-4 Kinga STEFANSKA 1-0 Andrea TODOROVIC 0-1.
