Semi final of the ETTU Cup Romania’s young star Bernadette SZOCS missed the first leg of the Women’s ETTU Cup semi final. She was not in the game when her team CP Lyssois Lille Metropole suffered defeat in the opening leg in the semis against Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Turkish club left France with the valuable victory by narow margin 3:2. “I was out from the game for more then a month. I had problem with triceps” said SZOCS.” Now bad times are behid me. I stated with practice sessions a week ago. Tomorrow I will play my first match in French Pro A after the break. I hope everything will end well and I will be in the team for ETTU Cup.” It will be very difficult to beat Turkish team with the European champion HU Melek on their soil? “Things will be different now. Two weeks ago YANG Xiao Xin was playing at the position no. three. Now when I am back things will return to normal. We still have a chance. I am feeling good and I am very positive. We do not have anything to lose and I am sure we are going to fight up to the last point with whole heart.” In the opening leg Yue WU and YANG Xiao Xin scored for French club whilst Aleksandra PRIVALOVA added her point alongside two from HU Melek to the Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyespor’s account.
All-Swedish semi-final in Asuncion
Two Mini-Cadet Boys from Sweden Tom HOLMQVIST and Love IWARSSON play one against another at the 2017 Paraguay Junior & Cadet Open All-Swedish semi-final is set up at the 2017 Paraguay Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Junior Circuit in Asuncion. Tom HOLMQVIST and Love IWARSSON will play one against another while the other semi-final contest are reserved for Argentina`s Facundo DE LEON and Brazil`s Joon SHIM. Sweden had five players in the Boys Singles Round of 16: one in both Junior and Cadet competitions and three more in Mini-Cadet event. Tom HOLMQVIST beat Nicolas Augusto DIAZ from Argentina in straight games of Mini-Cadet Boys Singles Round of 16 while Love IWARSSON eliminated host Federico SAAVEDRA after full five games turning the score from 1:2 to 3:2. Edvard NELLY was beaten by Paraguay`s Shogo YAMAMOTO in four sets. HOLMQVIST and IWARSSON have dominated in the quarter-final stage winning their matches in straight games against host players. HOLMQVIST overcame top seeded Gaston DI MENNA CABANA – 3:0 (11:3 11:6 11:8) whilst IWARSSON prevailed against Axel BERTOLO – 3:0 (14:12 11:9 11:5). Regarding Junior Boys Singles Round of 16 Oskar DANIELSSON from Sweden lost from Brazilian Luiz ANJOS 4:1 (8:11 14:12 11:7 11:6 11:8). In the same stage DANIELSSON`s compatriot Linus KERAENEN was defeated by Cadet Boys Singles No. 1 seed Luciano ALTO from Argentina – 3:0 (11:7 16:14 11:8).
Sweden`s junior team lost in quarter-final
2017 Paraguay Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Junior Circuit Sweden`s Oskar DANIELSSON and Jens HOLMQVIST finished their participation in the Junior Boys Team event at the 2017 Paraguay Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Junior Circuit in Asuncion. They lost to Argentina A 3:1 in the quarter-final stage. Unique point for European side won DANIELSSON who overcame Martin BENTACOR in the opening match. Other Swedish teams in both men`s competitions Junior and Cadet didn’t manage to reach knockout stage. Junior Boys Teams quarter-finals Sweden – Argentina A 1:3 Oskar DANIELSSON – Martin BENTACOR 3:2 (11:4 14:12 9:11 9:11 11:8) Jens HOLMQVIST – Francisco SANCHI 0:3 (8:11 7:11 9:11) Oskar DANIELSSON/Jens HOLMQVIST – Francisco SANCHI/Martin BENTANCOR 0:3 (4:11 11:13 7:11) Oskar DANIELSSON – Francisco SANCHI 1:3 (14:16 7:11 11:9 8:11) Brazil A – Argentina C 3:0 Chile – Brazil C 3:1 Brazil B – Argentina B 3:2
The draw for the EYC Team’s Event will be held in Dusseldorf on June 7th
STAG 2017 European Youth Table Tennis Championships The draw for the Team’s Event at the STAG 2017 European Youth Table Tennis Championships will be held in Dusseldorf on June 7th two days after the World Championships. The seedings will be determend according the June’s World’s Rankings. The STAG 2017 European Youth Table Tennis Championships starts on Friday 14th July and following the Team’s Event the individual part will start on 18th. The Championships will finish on 23rd of July. Federação Portuguesa de Ténis de Mesa will wellcome participants in Multiusos de Guimarães. Event Website www.eyc2017.com Title holders Junior Boys Team Italy Junior Girls Team Romania Cadet Boys Team Russia Cadet Girls Team Russia Junior Boys Singles Alexandre CASSIN (FRA) Junior Girls Singles Adina DIACONU (ROU) Junior Boys Doubles Tobias HIPPLER / Nils HOHMEIER (GER) Junior Girls Doubles Lisa LUNG / Eline LOYEN (BEL) Junior Mixed Doubles Aliaksandr KHANIN / Daria TRIGOLOS (BLR) Cadet Boys Singles Vladimir SIDORENKO (RUS) Cadet Girls Singles Mariia TAILAKOVA (RUS) Cadet Boys Doubles Maciej KOLODZIEJCZYK (AUT) / Vladislav URSU (MDA) Cadet Girls Doubles Tania PLAIAN (ROU) / Ekaterina ZIRONOVA (RUS) Cadet Mixed Doubles Lev KATSMAN / Kristina KAZANTSEVA (RUS)
Nine Swedish boys compete in Paraguay
The 2017 Paraguay Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Junior Circuit in Asuncion Nine Swedish boys will participate on 2017 Paraguay Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Junior Circuit. The event will be held from March 23rd to 26th in the city of Asuncion. Unique European country in this contest will be represented by the following boys: Marcos ERICSSON (Cadet 15-years-old) Linus KERAENEN (Cadet 14) Teodor SILJEHOLM (Cadet 15) Oskar DANIELSSON (Junior 16) Jens HOLMQVIST (Junior 15) Love IWARSSON (Mini Cadet 12) Edvin LINDEMALM (Mini Cadet 12) Tom HOLMQVIST (Mini Cadet 12) Edvard NELLY (Mini Cadet 11). Competitions start by Cadet Boys Team Event on Thursday March 23rd. First two days are reserved for the Team events. The 2017 Paraguay Junior & Cadet Open ITTF Junior Circuit gathered 118 participants in total.
UMMC signed actual World Championships runner-up
Chinese FANG Bo will play for Verkhnaya Pyshma`s side in the upcoming 3rd tournament of Russian Premier League Prior to the 3rd tournament of Russian Premier League defending champion UMMC strengthened its line-up with Chinese FANG Bo the QOROS 2015 World TT Championships runner-up and current World No. 10. The 25-year-old FANG was beaten by his compatriot MA Long in the gold medal contest of the championship held two years ago in the Chinese city of Suzhou. Beside his career-best achievements he also had an outstanding junior career winning all possible gold medals in the 2009 World Junior Champiosnhips. Third tournament of Russian Premier League will take a place from March 23rd to 26th in the UMMC hall in Verkhnaya Pyshma. UMMC coach Tatiana KUTERGINA stated that FANG will significantly increase chances of her club to defend its title in battle with Orenburg actual leader of Premier League. “We are seriously preparing for the playoffs of the Russian championship because this year we have to defend the title which is always difficult. I think FANG Bo will significantly increase our chances at the decisive stage of the tournament” said KUTERGINA for UMMC website. The ultimate 4th tournament of Russian Premier League will be held on April 20-23rd.
Joy for home fans – SAMSONOV clinched the title in Minsk
2017 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open For a third time in his career (previously in 2008 and 2014) Vladimir SAMSONOV clinched the title in the Men’s Singles Event at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open. In Minsk in the final he overcame WANG Zengyi of Poland 4:2 (11-8 11-5 8-11 9-11 11-5 11-5). Three years ago he aloso succeded against Polish player in the final to clime his second title. Top seeded Vladimir SAMSONOV said: “I’m very glad that I am victorious in this tournament. Thanks for all today’s spectators their support really helped me. The match has been tough with all the games going at equal. A finale is always hard. I plan to work on my health now because I don’t have enough time for recovery due to the stiff games schedule and permanent moving’s.” However WANG will not left Minsk empty handed. He clinched the title in the Men’s Doubles Event. The Polish duo of Daniel GORAK and WANG Zengyi the no.3 seeds beat Japan’s Yuto KIZUKURI and Masaki TAKAMI (11-7 11-7 11-9) in the final. On their way to the top spot at the medal rostrum they overcame top seeds Mikhail PAIKOV and Grigory VLASOV of Russia. “We’re so happy with our victory that’s our first title. Each game was played equally but our opponents made too many simple mistakes. Also we picked all the right tactics in different situations which gave positive results for us” said the Men’s Doubles champions WANG Zengyi and Daniel GORAK. Hitomi SATO has beaten Honoka HASHIMOTO to the Women’s Singles title (11-9 11-2 11-8 5-11 11-4).
Elena TIMINA and LI Jiao talks about defence players
ETTU Women Coaches Seminar The European Table Tennis Union in cooperation with the Croatian Table Тennis Association will organise the ETTU Women Coaches Seminar 2017 from 7th to 9th May in Hotel Westin Zagreb Izidora Krsnjavog street 1 in Zagreb. Lecturers are Elena TIMINA and LI Jiao and the main focus will be on “How to teach and select young defence players and how to play against them?” in addition the part of framework will be the subject “How to return the service”. With their great and priceless experience we are looking forward this event. The full cost (including accommodation with full board and lodging and pick up from the airport) in double occupancy will be covered by ETTU for one female coach per National Association–entered by the respective Association through its official e-mail address. Additional coaches will of course be warmly welcomed. All entries shall be sent not later than 25th April 2017 to: Renato CENGIC – Director of Croatian TTA (rcengic@gmail.com). Please send cc to: Zita PIDL – ETTU Project Coordinator (zpidl.ettu@gmail.com) for ETTU administration. You can find the prospectus here
Cristian PLETEA crowned Under 21 champion in Minsk
2017 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open Cristian PLETEA clinched the Under 21 Men’s title at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Belgosstrakh Belarus Open. Saki SHIBATA reached the top step of the podium in the Under 21 Women’s Singles competitions. Romania’s Cristian Pletea entered the Under 21 Men’s Singles draw seeded fourth for the event and the odds were stacked against him in the final as he faced the no.1 seed Yuto KIZUKURI for the title. On his way to the final KIZUKURI beat the third seed Tomas POLANSKY of Czech Republic “I was a bit upset when taking to the table because I had suffered the loss in Men’s Singles 40 minutes ago. But I knew that it was crucial to ignore emotions and stand tall. Today I played my 200%. That’s my first victory in an Under 21 international tournament I’m very happy” said Cristian PLETEA.
RENNER: Nothing has been decided yet!
Linz`s president comments first ECLW semi-final leg against reigning champion Berlin Linz AG Froschberg is still full of optimism in spite of losing the first ECLW semi-final home game against the reigning champion TTC Berlin Eastside 3:2. President of Austrian side Gunther RENNER explains why he believes that his side is capable to reach the 2016/17 final after the returning match (April 7th). But first of all he comments the first clash held last Sunday in Linz: “It was one of the most dramatic exciting and above all high-class ECLW games of all time that we experienced in the sold-out Sportpark Lissfeld. Spectators permanently cheered for their team and were happy about fantastic rallies. In addition to this thanks to ORF TV the live coverage optically adjusted to table tennis provided excellent pictures (with 5 cameras including slow-motion). Thanks to LAOLA who took over the signal from ORF the whole planet could enjoy in this table tennis clash”. RENNER explains what determined the winner of the first game: “Our players were very well prepared for the match. Once again a perfect set-up was achieved. Certainly the crucial was the fact that the young Sofia POLCANOVA – who had recently been very successful in the international tournaments – was unable to cope with the pressure on her playing extremely nervous. On the other side SHAN Xiaona showed high-class table tennis to overcome LIU Ja in the breathtaking game”. Last year in the quarter-final stage Linz also lost first home leg to Metz 3:2. But in an aggregate score they won by super narrow margin – 19:19 in sets 347:346 in points. RENNER expects one more close encounter: “The Score of 2:3 or 3:2 does not play a determining role. We have nothing to lose in the rematch. We are expecting a hard fight in do-or-die match in Berlin. Sofia POLCANOVA played below her usual level thus if she plays in her normal shape she would be able to compete against the top players of Berlin. Nothing has been decided yet. Memories of the last year are still fresh when we lost home game against Metz 2:3 but managed to progress thanks to a single point”.
