Belgium National Championships   In the Centre Sportif du Blocry Cedric NUYTINCK and Eline LOYEN clinched the titles in their respective Men’s and Women’s Singles Event. Previously NUYTINCK secured bronze in Men’s Doubles with Robin DEVOS whilst LOYEN was successful in all three events.   Eline clinched gold in Women’s Doubles with Margo DEGRAEF and silver in Mixed Doubles with Tim JANSSENS.   Men’s Singles   Cedric NUYTINCK (A2 – Merelbeke – O.) Florent LAMBIET (A3 – Le Logis – B.) Cedric MERCHEZ (A8 – SudTele Virton – LX.) Martin ALLEGRO (A9 – Hainaut – H.)   Women’s Singles Eline LOYEN (A1 – Hasselt – LK.) Nathalie MARCHETTI (A5 – Diest – VB.) Margo DEGRAEF (A6 – Dylan Berlaar – A.) Natacha KOSZULAP (A14 – Vedrinamur – N.)   Men’s Doubles Event Julien INDEHERBERG / Florian CNUDDE | A13 / A26 | Alpa (B.) Kilomo VITTA / Yannick MAES | A15 / A22 | Sokah (A.) / Nodo (A.) Florent LAMBIET / Lauric JEAN | A3 / A5 | Le Logis (B.) / Hainaut (H.) Robin DEVOS / Cedric NUYTINCK | A1 / A2 | Sokah (A.) / Merelbeke (O.)   Women’s Dobles Event Eline LOYEN / Margo DEGRAEF | A1 / A6 | Hasselt (LK.) / Dylan Berlaar (A.) Lisa LUNG / Marie MAESEN | A4 / A9 | Diest (VB.) Lauranne HACKEMACK / Florence VAN ACKER | A8 / B0 | Astrid Herstal (L.) / Vervia (L.) Daria MITYUKOVA / Nathalie MARCHETTI | A2 / A5 | Sokah (A.) / Diest (VB.)   Mixed Doubles Nicolas SCHENKEL / Daria MITYUKOVA | B2 / A2 | Hasselt (LK.) / Sokah (A.) Tim JANSSENS / Eline LOYEN | A25 / A1 | Patria Castel. (H.) / Hasselt (LK.) Frederic SONNET / Morgane GUIDON | A7 / A12 | Vedrinamur (N.) Arthur BILAS / Lauranne HACKEMACK | B0 / A8 | Liege (L.) / Astrid Herstal (L.)

Slovenia National Championships   At its 26th national table tennis championships in Puconci Slovenia saw the number 1 seeds in both Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles Events win their first title.   In absence of Bojan TOKIĆ Darko JORGIĆ was the favourite to the title. In semi-finals stage he beat Tom ŠFILIGOJ by 4-1 (7 6 4 -8 5) while the home-town favourite and 3-time former champion Mitja HORVAT won against the 2014 champion Uroš SLATINSEK by the narrowest of margin the score line reading 4-3 (-10 -5 8 -6 5 8 1) in the end. The defending champion Deni KOŽUL lost in the quarterfinals against the in-form SLATINŠEK who took out another former champion Jan ŽIBRAT in the last-16 stage of the tournament.   In the finals the 19-year-old JORGIĆ lost the first set against his opponent (at 38 he’s twice JORGIĆ’S age) but then found his rhythm and showcased why he is the biggest prodigy of Slovenian table tennis right now. He won by 4-1 (-5 8 6 7 12) and secured his first national title at the senior level.   Alex GALIČ was able to build on her latest success at the international stage which saw her rise up to number 128 in world rankings and get the better of her long-time rival and friend Manca FAJMUT in the final. FAJMUT the four-time defending champion won the first set but then faded and didn’t manage to win another. Tamara PAVČNIK and Katarina STRAŽAR finished in the bronze-medal position.   Jan ŽIBRAT and Deni KOŽUL failed to win their 3rd straight title in men’s doubles after losing the final against SLATINŠEK and Jorgić in a dramatic finish by 12-14 in the deciding set. GALIČ and FAJMUT were unstoppable in the women’s doubles category while Matic SLODEJ and Ivana ZERA won the mixed doubles title.   Men’s Singles semifinal Darko JORGIĆ – Tom ŠFILIGOJ 4-1 (7 6 4 -8 5) Mitja HORVAT – Uroš SLATINŠEK 4-3 (-10 -5 8 -6 5 8 1) final Darko JORGIĆ – Mitja HORVAT 4-1 (-5 8 6 7 12) Women’s Singles semifinal Alex GALIČ – Katarina STRAŽAR 4-1 (-10 5 4 10 8) Manca FAJMUT – Tamara PAVČNIK 4-1 (-9 3 15 6 9) final Alex GALIČ – Manca FAJMUT 4-1 (-8 7 8 8 7) Men’s Doubles semifinal Darko JORGIĆ/Uros SLATINŠEK – Denis PINTAR/Andraž NOVAK 3-0 (10 4 6) Jan ŽIBRAT/Deni KOŽUL – Tom ŠFILIGOJ/Ludvik PERŠOLJA 3-0 (7 4 6) final JORGIĆ/SLATINŠEK – ŽIBRAT/KOŽUL 3-2 (-7 9 -9 8 11) Women’s Doubles semifinal Alex GALIČ/Manca fajmut – Katja GUTNIK/Lea PAULIN 3-1 (7 -7 7 8) Katrina STERCHI/Urška ČOKELJ – Ana TOFANT/Katarina STRAŽAR 3-1 (6 -10 12 9) final GALIČ/FAJMUT – STERCHI/ČOKELJ 3-1 (-8 8 6 7) Mixed doubles semifinal Matic SLODEJ/Ivana ZERA – Tilen NOVAK/Katrina STERCHI 3-1 (8 -11 5 10) Tom ŠFILIGOJ/Ana TOFANT – Erik PAULIN/Lea PAULIN 3-1 (10 6 -5 10) final SLODEJ/ZERA – ŠFILIGOJ/TOFANT 3-1 (9 -8 8 10)

National Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina   Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC and Ivan BOBAS are the new champions crowned at the National Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Jablanica.   It is HADZIAHMETOVIC’s nineth title in the row in the singles. She was strecehed to full seven games in the final against Sanja MILOJICA but she succeded to the highest step of the medal rostrum.     Men’s Singles Ivan BOBAS (CM – Vitez) Srdjan MILICEVIC (Vogosca – Vogosca) Armin ALICIC (Vogosca – Vogosca) Marko VUCIJAK (Mostar – Mostar)   Women’s Singles Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Sanja MILOJICA (Prijedor – Prijedor) Snežana MARKOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Elda SEHIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Men’s Doubles Admir RIZVANOVIC (Brka 2007 – Brcko Distrikt) / Damjan MARKOVIC (Hasim Spahic – Ilijas) Luka MATKOVIC / Marko Vucijak (Mostar – Mostar) Edin GUTIC / Mirza HANIC (Kreka Edelex – Tuzla) Edin KONJIC / Mirza DIZDAREVIC (Mladost – Zenica)   Women’s Doubles Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC / Ivona BASKARAD (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Snezana MARKOVIC / Elda SEHIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Ajla KOVAC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) / Amra SILIC (Stens 73 – Cazin) Alemka HASECIC (Novi Grad – Sarajevo) / Ivona KNEZOVIC (Mostar – Mostar)   Mixed Doubles Edin KONJIC (Mladost – Zenica) / Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Edin CIZMIC (Stens 73 – Cazin) / Nedžma MULALIC (Hasim Spahic – Ilijas) Snežana MARKOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) / Mirza DIZDAREVIC (Mladost – Zenica) Ivan BOBAS (CM – Vitez) / Ajla KOVAC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo)  

National Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina   Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC and Ivan BOBAS are the new champions crowned at the National Championships in Bosnia and Herzegovina in Jablanica.   It is HADZIAHMETOVIC’s nineth title in the row in the singles. She was strecehed to full seven games in the final against Sanja MILOJICA but she succeded to the highest step of the medal rostrum.     Men’s Singles Ivan BOBAS (CM – Vitez) Srdjan MILICEVIC (Vogosca – Vogosca) Armin ALICIC (Vogosca – Vogosca) Marko VUCIJAK (Mostar – Mostar)   Women’s Singles Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Sanja MILOJICA (Prijedor – Prijedor) Snežana MARKOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Elda SEHIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Men’s Doubles Admir RIZVANOVIC (Brka 2007 – Brcko Distrikt) / Damjan MARKOVIC (Hasim Spahic – Ilijas) Luka MATKOVIC / Marko Vucijak (Mostar – Mostar) Edin GUTIC / Mirza HANIC (Kreka Edelex – Tuzla) Edin KONJIC / Mirza DIZDAREVIC (Mladost – Zenica)   Women’s Doubles Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC / Ivona BASKARAD (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Snezana MARKOVIC / Elda SEHIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Ajla KOVAC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) / Amra SILIC (Stens 73 – Cazin) Alemka HASECIC (Novi Grad – Sarajevo) / Ivona KNEZOVIC (Mostar – Mostar)   Mixed Doubles Edin KONJIC (Mladost – Zenica) / Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) Edin CIZMIC (Stens 73 – Cazin) / Nedžma MULALIC (Hasim Spahic – Ilijas) Snežana MARKOVIC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo) / Mirza DIZDAREVIC (Mladost – Zenica) Ivan BOBAS (CM – Vitez) / Ajla KOVAC (Spin 2012 – Sarajevo)  

England PG Mutual Championships   In England Paul DRINKHALL won his sixth Men’s Singles title Tin-Tin HO her second Women’s Singles and Commonwealth Games gold medallists Paul & Jo DRINKHALL won the Mixed Doubles on their return to competition for the first time since Glasgow 2014 as the PG Mutual Championships finals day produced some dazzling play.   “We were here to enjoy it but we are both very competitive people. We played quite well on Saturday and found a way to win matches but on Sunday we played really well. I was attacking Jo was mixing up the spins and they struggled. It was bringing back memories from Glasgow “ said Paul DRINKHALL.   The Drinkhalls beat England team-mates WALKER & HO 3-0 (12-10 14-12 11-6) in the final in Nottingham in Jo’s first event since the birth of the couple’s second child Bonnie.   Jo DRINKHALL added: “I’m so pleased to win the mixed and I think we played so well especially in the final. I think we came together better than ever it really felt natural. Sam and Tin-Tin are a really good doubles pair so to win 3-0 we have to have played well.”   DRINKHALL won the Men’s Singles beating WALKER 4-2 (9-11 11-6 9-11 11-7 11-7 11-8) in a repeat of last year’s final. The beaten semi-finalists were Liam PITCHFORD who lost to WALKER and Danny REED who led DRINKHALL 3-1 before his opponent came back to take it 4-3.   “It’s great to win another national singles title. I didn’t feel I was playing as well as last year and sometimes I had to remind myself to enjoy because it if I relax and enjoy it my game comes more naturally and I play my best “said Paul.   HO won the Women’s Singles against Kelly SIBLEY triumphing 4-1 (12-10 6-11 12-10 11-5 11-4). Bronze medals went to Denise PAYET and Maria TSAPTSINOS.   “The singles final against Kelly was really tough so it was very good for me to win that.I’ve been working a lot on my mentality so it’s good to see that it’s paying off helping me to build confidence for future matches ” explained Tin-Tn HO.   England’s top two Paul DRINKHALL & Liam PITCHFORD won the Men’s Doubles 3-0 (11-6 14-12 12-10) against Chris DORAN & Mike O’DRISCOLL.   Jo DRINKHALL also reached the Women’s Doubles final alongside SIBLEY but they were beaten 3-0 (11-6 11-9 11-8) by defending champions HO & TSAPTSINOS.     The final stages of the event were broadcast live on TheSPORTbible Facebook page with well over half a million viewers watching.  

National Championships   In the final of the Montenegro National Championships BAKIC beat Dusan BULATOVIC. The bronze medalist are Branko CUBOVIC and Alan JASAROVIC. In Women’s Singles final PETRIC overcame Snezana CULAFIC and in the semis they were better in the matches against Nada MILACIC and Nadja SEKULOVIC.   CULAFIC and BOGDANOVIC clinched the titles in Women’s Doubels Event silver went to PETRIC BAJOVIC and the bronze medalists are GOLUBIC-RACIC and SEKULOVIC-VUJOVIC. In Men’s Doubles Event RADULOVIC and TALJANOVIC beat TOMOVIC and JASAROVIC in the final. Third pairings are ISLAMOVIC and DOBRASINOVIC.   In Mixed Doubles RADULOVIC CULAFIC succeded in the final against JASAROVIC and BAJOVIC. Bronze medalists are ISLAMOVIC DUBAK and TOMOVIC PETRIC  

Greek National Championships   Tasos RINIOTIS in Men’s and Christina FILI in Women’s are champions of Greece in singles for the season 2016-2017. The Olympiacos’ player managed to reach the first time in his career the top and to break the 15 years old tradition like John VLOTINOS and Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU. RINIOTIS participated for the second consecutive season in the final. John SGOUROPOULOS also had his moment of glory at the National championship in STIGA Hall of Peace and Friendship Stadium. 17 years old John SGOUROPOULOS played his first final and was the one who beat PAPAGEORGIOU the player who won last seven consecutive semifinals.   The first position was also special moment for FILI. It may have been the eighth trophy but it added another value for the 38 years of former international player! The athlete of D.A.O. Taurus also prevailed in doubles. For the second consecutive year she excelled with Georgia ZAVITSANOU from Sarises Florinas. In Men’s Doubles brothers George and Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of A.O. Pefkis defended their title.   Giorgos VASILIADIS the Sports Minister of Greece attended the matches on Sunday. Minister VASILIADIS is close to the table tennis and month earlier he visited the stadium for the big game of men’s national team against England for ECQ. Another presence that surprised the crowd was the Romanian Bernadette SZOCS. One of the best athletes of Europe is injured from February 5th (has to strain shoulder) not playing and decided to go in Athens for 12 days in order to make holidays and treatment.     Finals RINIOTIS – SGOUROPOULOS 4-2 (11-9 11-9 12-10 5-11 3-11 12-10) FILI-TOLIOU 4-0 (11-6 13-11 12-10 11-2) KONSTANTINOPOULOS/K. KONSTANTINOPOULOS – RINIOTIS/PAPAGEORGIOU 3-1 (11-1 8-11 11-5 11-9) FILI/ZAVITSANOU-KIOUFI/EXARCHOU 3-0 (11-9 11-8 11-8)   MEN’S SINGLES: Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiacos) John SGOUROPOULOS (Olympiacos) Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU (Olympiacos) -. George KONSTANTINOPOULOS (AO Pefkis)   WOMEN’S SINGLES: Christina FILI (D.A.O. Taurus) Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus) Aliki KIOUFI (Sarises Florinas) -. Filareti EXARCHOU (D.A.O. Taurus)   MEN’S DOUBLES: George KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS (A.O. Pefkis) Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiacos) John SGOUROPOULOS/George STAMATOUROS (Olympiacos) -. George PANTERIS / John PAPADAKIS (A.O. Pefkis/Iraklis Salonica)   WOMEN’S DOUBLES: Georgia ZAVITSANOU/Christina FILI (Sarises Florinas/D.A.O. Taurus) Eleni GEORGIADOU/Aliki KIOUFI (YMCA Salonica/Sarises Florinas) Olga GEORGOPOULOU/Maria CHRISTOFORAKI (Pera Athens/Olympiacos) -. Filareti EXARCHOU/Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus)

Slovakian National Championships     Eva JURKOVA is the hero of the Slovakian National Championships as he won triple title. Last year`s semi-finalist in the Women`s Singles Event now beat Lucia TRUKSOVA in the final clash adding two more gold in doubles (with TRUKSOVA) and mixed pairs (with KEINATH).   Top four seeds entered the semi-finals in the Men`s Singles Event and the new champion became last year`s semi-finalist BAI He who overcame Samuel NOVOTA in the ultimate showdown. NOVOTA eliminated six times champion Lubomir PISTEJ in the semis. PISTEJ won all his titles in last 12 years.   PISTEJ and SEREDA won Men`s Doubles third time in a row while JURKOVA and TRUKSOVA did it second consecutive year in Women`s Doubles.   Men`s Singles semi-finals: BAI He – Peter SEREDA 4:0 (11:6 11:3 11:5 11:7) Samuel NOVOTA – Lubomir PISTEJ 4:2 (3:11 6:11 11:4 11:9 11:5 13:11). Final: BAI He – Samuel NOVOTA 4:1 (11:8 13:11 9:11 12:10 11:8).   Women`s semi-finals: Lucia TRUKSOVA – Monika URIKOVA 4:0 (11:9 11:9 11:6 11:8) Eva JURKOVA – Nikoleta PUCHOVANOVA 4:2 (8:11 11:9 11:7 11:9 7:11 11:4). Final: Eva JURKOVA – Lucia TRUKSOVA 4:0 (11:8 11:7 11:9 11:4).   Men`s: Doubles semi-finals: PISTEJ/SEREDA – SEVEC/ZELINKA 3:0 (11:6 11:3 11:6) PETER/KOPANYI – PEKO/SPANIK 3:2 (11:4 7:11 7:11 11:9 11:7). Final: PISTEJ/SEREDA – PETER/KOPANYI 3:0 (15:13 12:10 11:7).   Women`s Doubles semi-finals: JURKOVA/TRUKSOVA – FABIANOVA/PUCHOVANOVA 3:0 (12:10 11:7 11:9) GRIGELOVA/KUKULKOVA – BAKAIOVA/BELOPOTOCHANOVA (W. O.). Final: JURKOVA/TRUKSOVA – GRIGELOVA/KUKULKOVA 3:0 (12:10 11:9 11:6).   Mixed Doubles semi-finals: PAVOLKA/TRUKSOVA – KOPANYI/FURKOVA 3:1 (11:9 11:9 10:12 11:6) KEINATH/JURKOVA – PETER/PUCHOVANOVA 3:1 (11:6 8:11 11:8 11:2). Final: KEINATH/JURKOVA – PAVOLKA/TRUKSOVA 3:1 (11:8 11:13 11:8 11:9).

National Championships   The Assoluti 2017 Italian Championships in Playhall in Riccione concluded with the victories of the Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA and TIAN Jing in Men’s and Women’s Singles Events.     Men’s Singles Mihai Razvan BOBOCICA Ivanov Stoyanov NIAGOL Jordy PICCOLIN Marco RECH DALDOSSO   Women’s Singles TIAN Jing WANG Yu Chiara COLANTONI LE Thi Hong Loan     Men’s Doubles Marco RECH DALDOSSO / Ivanov STOYANOV NIAGOL Jordy PICCOLIN / Alessandro BACIOCCHI Daniele PINTO / Luca BRESSAN Maurizio MASSARELLI / Mattia GALDIERI     Women’s Doubles Denisa ZANCANER / Debora VIVARELLI Chiara COLANTONI / giulia CAVALLI Giorgia PICCOLIN / Veronica MOSCONI Loan LE THI HONG / Tatiana STESHENKO   Mixed Doubles   Marco RECH DALDOSSO / Chiara COLANTONI Paolo BISI / Debora VIVARELLI PAVAN FEDERICO / Denisa ZANCANER Stefano TOMASI / Veronica MOSCONI  

Swedish National Championships   Anton KALLBERG and Matilda EKHOLM won gold medals in the Swedish National Championships which was held in the city of Halmstad. The 19-year-old KALLBERG one of most talented players in Europe defeated Par GERELL after full seven games of the gold medal contest 4:3 (11:9 7:11 6:11 11:9 5:11 11:6 11:2) whilst EKHOLM overcame Linda BERGSTROM.   KALLBERG completed hat-trick of Borussia Dusseldorf`s players bearing in mind that two his team mates also won national championships in their countries: Timo BOLL is German champion and Stefan FEGERL is on the top in Austria. Fourth member of Borussia`s side Kristian KARLSSON finished 3rd in Sweden.   One of top seeds Mattias KARLSSON was upset by Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM in the quarter-finals.   Concerning Women`s Singles Event the 2013 European champion LI Fen didn’t participate this time.   Men`s Doubles champions are Hampus NORDBERG and Viktor BRODD. No. 2 seeds Par GERELL and Jens LUNDQVIST were forced to withdraw due to LUNDQVIST`s injury.   Men`s Singles Anton KÄLLBERG Pär GERELL Kristian KARLSSON Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM   Women`s Singles Matilda EKHOLM Linda BERGSTRÖM Erika FRONTH Ellen HOLMSTEN   Men`s Doubles Hampus NORDBERG/Viktor BRODD Harald ANDERSSON/Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM Kristian KARLSSON/Mattias KARLSSON Magnus MÅNSSON/Hampus SÖDERLUND   Women`s Doubles Erika FRONTH/Tilda JOHANSSON Filippa BERGAND/Jessica JONSSON Jennifer JONSSON/Stina ZETTERSTRÖM Lisa RYDÉN/Anna MÅNSSON   Mixed Doubles Mattias KARLSSON/Matilda EKHOLM Pär GERELL/Michaela KARLSSON Gustaf ERICSON/Linda BERGSTRÖM Erika FRONTH/Fabian ÅKERSTRÖM