The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has become an official partner of the Table Tennis Legends Tour. The Legends Tour is a blast from the past with legendary table tennis players picking up their rackets again to wind back the clock and resume their rivalry on the world stage. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “The ITTF is always looking for great ideas to invest into and the Legends Tour is definitely a great idea. We have a lot of past superstars in our sport so there is a big demand from spectators to watch them at the table again. We look forward to working with the Legends Tour team to grow these events to new heights.” The first ITTF Legends Tour with the new partnership will take place in Metz France on Friday 28 April 2017 and will include past legends Jorgen PERSSON (SWE) Jorg ROSSKOPF (GER) Jean-Michel SAIVE (BEL) JIANG Jialiang (CHN) Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE) and Christophe LEGOUT (FRA). ITTF Marketing & Commercial Director Steve DAINTON added: “When Philippe Saive Management approached the ITTF for financial assistance for the Legends Tour we were happy to assist. The Marketing & Asia Pacific Headquarters has always thought the Legends Tour was a good promotional tool for table tennis so we are glad we could ensure that the product went ahead. We also believe that this product has a bright long term future and will be pleased to work with Philippe Saive Management to ensure it reaches its global commercial potential.” The Legends Tour started in 2014 in Seraing (BEL) and has had two editions since in Halmstad (SWE) in 2015 and Ans (BEL) in 2016. The Legends Tour event in Metz can be watched live this Friday from 8pm local time (+2 GMT) on ITTF’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
Mihai BOBOCICA Senior passed away
With deep sadness and sorrow the Romanian Table Tennis Federation announced that much admired and loved table tennis coach Mihai BOBOCICA Senior passed away in a fatal accident. “He dedicated his entire life to table tennis as a professional player and later as a coach. He achieved the high results in both stages. His son Mihai BOBOCICA is also a table tennis player member of the Italian national team…” announced Romanian Table Tennis Federation.
Final games of the 2016/17 ECLW will be held on May 7th and 12th
Both matches between TTC Berlin Eastside and KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg will be livestreamed on LAOLA1.tv TTC Berlin Eastside from Germany and Poland`s KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg will meet second consecutive time in the final of European Champions League Women. Last year German side won the title after two wins in the final. Both teams again occupy two top positions on the seeding list. No. 2 seed Tarnobrzeg will host the first leg in Poland on May 7th (18:00 CET) while the returning game is scheduled for May 12th (18:30) on the soil of top seeded Berlin. Both legs will be livestreamed on ETTU.tv/LAOLA1.tv.
Evaluation team announced European team for the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge
After the ETTU – ITTF Hopes Selection camp heln in Luxembourg (April 17th – 24th) the Evaluation team selected the players for the European team at the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge (Luxembourg August 10th – 18th). The Evaluation team consists of LI Xiaodong XIA Cheng LU Peng Martin OSTERMANN and Neven CEGNAR had chosen folowing players: ETTU HOPES SELECTION CAMP (Luxembourg April 17th – 24th) Girls: Anna Hursey (WAL) 141 pts. Feyza Demir (TUR) 130 pts. Laura Kaim (GER) 129 pts. Helena Sommerova (CZE) 127 pts. Annet Kaufmann (GER) 125 pts. Sophie Earley (IRL) 123 pts. Foteini Meletie (CYP) 122 pts. Evelin Ungvari (ROU) 121 pts. Boys: Dragos Bujur (ROU) 150 pts. Julian Chirita (ROU) 138 pts. Tayler Fox (GER) 137 pts. Luiz Maciel (POR) 131 pts. Lectenborger Justus (GER) 129 pts. Brhel Stepan (CZE) 126 pts. Madetis Alexandros (GRE) 122 pts. Sonmez Emir Baha (TUR) 119 pts. Top three players will come back to Luxembourg in August as members of the European team. The exception is Julian CHIRITA. He is second but another Romania’s player Dragos BUJUR is already listed at the top position. It opened the place for Portugal’s Luiz MARCIEL who is placed at the position no. four.
BOLL beats FRANZISKA in all-German final in Incheon
Actual World No. 11 beat his compatriot in straight games of the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Korea Open. One more gold for Germany as SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA won Women`s Doubles event German players ended the Seamaster 2017 ITTF World Tour Korea Open in a style winning two gold and two silver medals. Timo BOLL beat Patrick FRANZISKA in straight games of the all-German final of Men`s Singles event while SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA are crowned pair of the Women`s Doubles event. FRANZISKA added one more silver on his account playing alongside Denmark`s Jonathan GROTH in the Men`s Doubles event. “I have the feeling I´m gaining back my skills and abilities but I still feel I need to improve on some physical details such as the footwork” stressed actual World No. 11 Timo BOLL. “It won’t be easy playing at home at the forthcoming World Championships but I will feel more electrified than other events. I think it´s very important to have a good start and then I can improve as the tournament goes on. I can feel a big difference with the new ball. I think it´s better than the previous and you are able to play more rallies. It seems kind of chalky and has no grip on the rubber.” Five European players entered quarter-final stage of the Men`s Singles but just two emerged successful winning their matches in straight games: Timo BOLL defeated Japan`s Kenta MATSUDAIRA whilst Patrick FRANZISKA overcame Sweden`s Kristian KARLSSON. The 36-year-old BOLL was one game down after the third set of the semi-final clash against Japanese Muharu YOSHIMURA but responded by three games in a row to secure the final showdown. FRANZISKA regained his good shape after long injury as he prevailed against Korea`s LIM Jonghoon. Current World No. 89 Romanian Hunor SZOCS created the biggest surprise in the tournament as he eliminated top seeded host and World No. 8 JEOUNG Youngsik playing Round of 32. SHAN Xiaona from Germany was unique European player in the Women`s Singles Round of 16. Japan`s Hina HAYATA beat her in five games of that stage. German`s SNAH Xiona and Petrissa SOLJA beat two strong pairs in the ultimate two chapters of the Women`s Doubles event. First they overcame Chinese Taipei`s CHEN Szu-Yu and CHENG I-Ching (TPE) in five games while in the gold medal contest needed one game less to beat Japan`s Hina HAYATA and Mima ITO. “It´s an unbelievable to win; in the semi-finals they beat JEON Jihee and YANG Haeun. From the beginning we felt the game we played very well on the first two balls service and receive. We became used to the new ball from match to match; we couldn´t practice with it before. It was hard at the beginning but then we got used to it and we were able to achieve an amazing performance” stated Petrissa SOLJA. Patrick FRANZISKA and Jonathan GROTH played very tense and close final clash of the Men`s Doubles event but lost to host pair JANG Woojin (KOR)/JEONG Sangeun (KOR) 3:2 (11:9 8:11 12:10 7:11 12:10). Men`s Singles Quarter-finals: Muharu YOSHIMURA (JPN) – Rucardo WALTHER (GER) 4:1 (4:11 14:12 11:9 11:3 11:8) Timo BOLL (GER) – Kanta MATSUDAIRA (JPN) 4:0 (11:8 11:8 11:4 14:12) Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) – Kristian KARLSSON (SWE) 4:0 (11:7 11:2 11:3 11:7) LIM Jonghoon (KOR) – Marcos FREITAS (POR) 4:1 (13:11 6:11 11:8 11:9 11:4). Men`s Singles Semi-finals: Timo BOLL (GER) – Muharu YOSHIMURA (JPN) 4:2 (11:9 14:16 12:14 11:2 11:9 11:9) Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) – LIM Jonghoon (KOR) 4:1 (11:4 11:7 10:12 11:8 11:9). Men`s Singles Final: Timo BOLL (GER) – Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) 4:0 (11:8 12:10 12:10 11:6). Women`s Singles Semi-finals: FENG Tianwei (SGP) – CHEN Szu-Yu (TPE) 4:2 (11:4 9:11 12:10 11:8 3:11 11:6) Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) – Miu HIRANO (JPN) 4:0 (11:9 11:6 11:5 11:2). Women`s Singles Final: FENG Tianwei (SGP) – Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) 4:2 (12:10 6:11 11:9 5:11 11:8 11:9). Men`s Doubles Semi-finals: JANG Woojin (KOR)/JEONG Sangeun (KOR) – HUNG Tzu-Hsiang (TPE)/YANG Heng-Wei (TPE) 3:1 (7:11 11:7 11:7 11:6) Patrick FRANZISKA (GER)/ Jonathan GROTH (DEN) – JEOUNG Youngsik (KOR)/LEE Sangsu (KOR) 3:1 (11:9 11:8 10:12 12:10). Men`s Doubles Final: JANG Woojin (KOR)/JEONG Sangeun (KOR) – Patrick FRANZISKA (GER)/ Jonathan GROTH (DEN) 3:2 (11:9 8:11 12:10 7:11 12:10). Women`s Doubles Semi-finals: Hina HAYATA/Mima ITO (JPN) – JEON Jihee (KOR)/YANG Haeun (KOR) 3:0 (11:3 13:11 11:7) SNAH Xiona (GER)/Petrissa SOLJA (GER) – CHEN Szu-Yu (TPE) – CHENG I-Ching (TPE) 3:2 (10:12 11:2 11:8 9:11 11:8). Women`s Doubles Semi-finals: SNAH Xiona (GER)/Petrissa SOLJA (GER) – Hina HAYATA/Mima ITO (JPN) 3:1 (11:4 11:3 3:11 11:9).
Table Tennis coaches honored by Polish Olympic Committee
Elzbieta MADEJSKA is named “Coach of the Year 2016” while Zbignew NECEK is awarded for his hard work and dedications to the women`s sport Two table tennis coaches have been awarded by Polish Olympic Committee for their outstanding achievements. Women’s Sports Committee of PKOl named Elzbieta MADEJSKA as a “Coach of the Year 2016” while Zbignew NECEK is awarded for his hard work and dedications to the women`s sport. Elżbieta MADEJSKA led Polish national team to the eight medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympics winning 31 medals in total at all biggest competitions in the last year. Since 1995 he has been associated with the sport of people with disabilities. Coach of women`s national team of Poland Zbignew NECEK has been serving to the table tennis more than 30 years. He participated at the last three Olympic Games Beijing 2008 London 2012 and Rio 2016. Best Polish club KTS Sairka ZOT Tarnobrzeg won 25 titles of national league guided by NECEK.
2017 Seamaster ITTF Training Camp in Shanghai
A brand new initiative of Тhe ITTF Education & Training Program 2017 Seamaster ITTF Training Camp is materializing thanks to the valuable support of Seamaster. The Training Camp will be held in the period 26 June – 4 July 2017 at the wonderful facilities of the China Table Tennis College in Shanghai/China an International Training Center member of the ITTF ITC Network with the Academy status and conducted by Coaches from the Chinese Table Tennis Association and CTTC. Seamaster Training Camp sponsor provides support for 25 players by covering fully their hospitality costs during the activity. “This is the first of several projects where Seamaster will assist with ITTF DreamBuilding through the Education & Training and Development Programs of ITTF. These projects will include high level elite training camps focusing on our young players as well as support at the base level for the 4 new ITTF members that have applied for ITTF membership in 2017. Seamaster’s commitment to ITTF as sponsor of World Tour is well known but the commitment of Seamaster and Frank Ji personally to Corporate Social Responsibility through these projects is also greatly appreciated by ITTF and the beneficiaries” reflects Glenn TEPPER ITTF Deputy CEO eagerly awaiting this and all the other new incentives supported by Seamaster. The closing for applications for national associations is Wednesday 10th May; for individuals it is Saturday 20th May. Contact: Polona Cehovin Director – ITTF Education and TrainingEmail: pcehovin@ittfmail.com Seamaster 2017 ITTF Training Camp: Invitation and Prospectus (Thursday 20th April)
Chinese experts help European talents
ETTU / ITTF – Europe Eurotalents Project Talent Identification & Selection In cooperation with Luxembourg/Chinese TT College the ETTU / ITTF Hopes Selection camp is underway. The record number of participants gathered and at the end the best three boys and girls will be selected as a part of the European team at the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge (Luxembourg August 10th – 18th). “We have 46 players from 17 countries. In addition six Chinese players also help. Four coaches from China LI Xiaodong LU Aifa YOU Tianhui DU Peng are on duty alongside European experts Martin OSTERMANN an XIA Cheng from FLTT ” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. Every day players have two trainings whilst the eveninga are reserved for the lectures.
2017 ITTF European Championships
With the ultimate play off matches yesterday the Qualification process of the 2017 ITTF European Championships has been concluded. The process that started in September 2016 came to the conclusion after two phases of competition. In Men’s Teams Event in Luxembourg from 13th to 17th September in Championships Division will play Austria Germany France Croatia Sweden Portigal Greece Slovenia Spain and Romania. They secured their places by topping their respective groups in first phase of the qualifications. Slovakia Ukraine Russia Poland and Belarus joined them after play off matches. Last on the list is Luxembourg as host nation. In Women’s Teams Event will play Germany Romania Russia Ukraine Poland Austria Czech Republic Portugal France and Hungary – the winners of the group stage. Spain Netherlands Belarus Sweden and Croatia won their respective play off duels whilst Luxembourg will be among them as a host. For the Challenge Division the qualified teams are: Hungary Denmark Serbia Swityerland Italy Finland Israel Estonia Lithuania England Netherlands Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic and Turkey as they failed to retain their status in top Division whilst Ireland qulified from Challenge Division. In Women’s Event will play Slovenia England Greece Bulgaria Finland Switzerland Wales Kosovo Serbia Lithuania Turkey Azerbaijan Slovakia Italy belgium. Denmark joined as a winner of Challenege Division. All other teams will play the Standard Division. “I take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to everybody who helped and contributed to ensure smooth running of the Qualifiers. Special thanks have to be addressed to the umpires who officiated during the matches without real honorarium. Congratulation to all qualified Associations and best wishes for the European Championships to all teams “ stated Zita PIDL ETTU Project Co-ordinator.
Yuto MURAMATSU continues with Ochsenhausen
Japanese extended his contract with German club until the end of 2017/18 season The 20-year-old Japanese Yuto MURAMATSU actual World No. 22 on the ITTF World ranking list has extended his contract with German club TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen until the end of 2017/18 season. This young but well known defensive player had 10-5 individual score in his debuting season in Bundesliga while he has 4-2 in the Table Tennis Champions League Men. Ochsenhausen`s President Kristijan PEJINOVIC stressed for the club`s website next: “Of course that we are happy to be able to keep Yuto in Ochsenhausen for another season. I am glad that he has decided to have another year with us. He will continue to be part of the Liebherr Masters College and will be able to make progress in the TTF Ochsenhausen`s team. Our trainers are very satisfied with Yuto’s development. He is one of the world’s best defenders and enrichment for the team even in training. The other players will have the opportunity to improve their game against defense for another year. As a team he makes us more variable and unpredictable. He wants to grow with the team”. Yuto MURAMATSU explains why he decided to stay one more year in the 2009 TTCLM runner-up: “I feel very well here and have a lot of support from the club. I’ve noticed in the first year that it’s good for me to play here. I am gaining important experience and it is a challenge in the Bundesliga and the Champions League because you have to face very strong opponents against whom you have to give everything and also play tactically well. I am proud to be part of the Ochsenhausen team and hope that our team will be successful next season and get the title”.
