Based on 11 applications submitted and on the fulfilment of all the necessary requirements in 2017 ETTU is going to co-finance the following seven programs within the ETTU project NA’s Assistance Program: – Lithuania (Cadet Training Camp 2500 €) – Scotland (Coaching Conference 2000€) – Estonia (Cadet Training Camp 2000 €) – Ireland (Coaching Conference 2000 €) – Norway (National Referee Seminar 1500 €) – Israel (Cadet players support for Pre-selection Camp 1500 €) – Iceland (Coaching Conference / Cadet Training Camp 1500 €) ETTU will consider all the other submitted programs for co-financing under the same project in 2018. ETTU hereby announces the lists of young male and female players in two projects: Eurotalents U-14 and Eurotalents U-18.We wish to point out that the U-18 list includes only 6 players and all other potential young participants from the list will be invited depending on the results of their work and progress. EUROTALENTS U-18: 1. Tailakova Mariia (RUS) 2. Sidorenko Vladimir (RUS) 3. Pletea Cristian (ROU) 4. Diaconu Adina (ROU) 5. Dragoman Andreea (ROU)6. Moregardh Truls (SWE) Status of potential U-18 participants: 1. Kolish Anastasiia (RUS)2. Grebnev Maksim (RUS)3. Sipos Rares (ROU)4. Kallberg Christina (SWE) 5. Li Tiago (POR) 6. Rassenfosse Adrien (BEL)7. Stumper Kay (GER) 8. Kubik Maciej (POL) 9. Kulczycki Samuel (POL) EUROTALENTS U-14 1. Ionescu Eduard (ROU) 2. Tomica Andrei (ROU) 3. Badea Bogdan (ROU) 4. Oleskevych Jaroslav (UKR) 5. Papadimitriou Malammatenia (GRE) 6. Santos Patricia (POR) 7. Carnovale Miriam (ITA)8. Arapovic Hana (CRO)9. Muskantor Rebecca (SWE)10. Zaharia Elena (ROU) 11. Weatherby Joshua (ENG)12. Liu Jamie (ENG)13. Hollo Mike (GER) 14. Karkusova Daniela (SRB)15. Klee Sophia (GER) 16. Belik Simon (CZE)17. Abramian Elizabet (RUS) 18. Riliskyte Kornelija (LTU) 19. Riliskyte Emilija (LTU) 20. Zaderova Linda (CZE) 21. Kas Van Oost (NED) 22. Israeli Tal (ISR)
Borussia and Ochsenhausen promise one more TTCLM thriller
Returning matches of the TTCLM quarter-finals will be held this Friday February 10th with a live streaming on LAOLA1.tv Semi-finalists of the 2016/17 Table Tennis Champions League Men will be decided this Friday when the returning quarter-final games are scheduled: TTC FAKEL GAZPROM – ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS (1st leg 3:1 for Russian team) BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF – TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN (2:3) FC SAARBRUCKEN TISCHTENNIS – CHARTRES ASTT (3:1) AS PONTOISE CERGY – G.V. HENNEBONT (3:0). Five out of eight best players from the recent 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Antibes France will participate: winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Orenburg) bronze medalist Simon GAUZY (Ochsenhausen) 5th placed Timo BOLL (Borussia) 7th Tiago APOLONIA (Saarbrucken) and 8th Stefan FEGERL (Borussia). Most exciting clash in the first quarter-finals was one between two German clubs. Their last two meetings (one in Bundesliga) were extended to full distance of five games: Borussia won in domestic league while Ochsenhausen prevailed in the TTCLM 3:2 (12:9) as World No. 15 Simon GAUZY got two points. Ochsenhausen`s president Kristijan PEJINOVIC emphasized Frenchman role: “Simon showed excellent table tennis playing with a really good tactics. He plays well against BOLL and can read his game well. Simon proved his class and that he deserves his place on the ITTF World ranking list”. The 22-year-old Simon GAUZY beat six times individual European champion Timo BOLL in last four occasions including ITTF 2017 Europe Top 16 Cup quarter-final match four days ago – 4:2 (11:8 3:11 4:11 11:7 11:8 11:7). GAUZY defeated German legend and leveled the score (1:1) in the first quarter-final clash while Jakub DYJAS in the next encounter recorded probably decisive win against Stefan FEGERL. Austrian led 1:0 (10:6) but host saved five set balls and won three sets in a row. “We certainly had our chances. FEGERL was a really good but had a bit of a bad luck with his set-balls. Our chances are not high as we wanted but with our own spectators in the back we can still do it” stated Borussia`s manager Andreas PREUSS speaking for the club`s website. Actual No. 1 TTCLM seed Orenburg hosts current runner-up Eslovs leading by new-old Europe Top 16 Cup winner Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. Russian side had 3:1 advantage. Its vice-president Victor ANDREEV stressed: “In the first quarter-final match the Russian TTC Fakel Gazprom won a very important victory – 3:1. Breathtaking match Jun MIZUTANI – XU Hui ended with the victory of the Japanese player. Although the result in Sweden is a cause for certain optimism the upcoming match will be a very difficult and stressful. This means that Orenburg and the whole world will see again table tennis of the highest level”. Saarbrucken did a nice job in France defeating 2013 TTCLM runner-up Chartres 3:1. Coach of German club Slobodan GRUJIC double TTCLM winner as a player is aware that French side is very dangerous: “We couldn’t play in our best line-up in the first leg but we managed to secure optimal result for the returning game. One more hard match is in front of us but I hope that we’ll have our best three players in the line-up”. Reigning TTCLM champion Pontoise hosts G.V Hennebont in all-French quarter-final. Marcos FREITAS & Co. have a big advantage from the first duel – 3:0 (9:4). The 2016/17 TTCLM quarter-finals 2nd leg (Friday February 10th) TTC FAKEL GAZPROM – ESLOVS Al BORDTENNIS (13:30 CET 1st leg 3:1) BORUSSIA DUSSELDORF – TTF LIEBHERR OCHSENHAUSEN (18:30 CET 1st leg 2:3) FC SAARBRUCKEN TISCHTENNIS – CHARTRES ASTT (19:30 CET 1st leg 3:1) AS PONTOISE CERGY – G.V. HENNEBONT (20 CET 1st leg 3:0)
Arben MECE reelected President of Albanian Association.
At the Election Assembly held January 29th in Vlora Arben MECE is reelected as a President of Albanian Table Tennis Association. This is fourth mandate for President MECE – he is a President since 2004. Mr. Tonin BINOSHAJ is re-elected as a Secretary General of Albanian TTA. This is his second mandate. The new members of Albanian TTA executive board for period 2016-2020 are: Dritan KRUJA Jetmir SHPUZA Kujtim MACUKULLI Jonida LUNDRA (Haka) Kostandin CEREKJA Shkelqim HOXHA.
Manolis KOLYMPADIS General Secretary of the Hellenic Olympic Committee
The president of Hellenic Table Tennis Federation Manolis KOLYMPADIS received another great honor in his long career in sport yesterday. KOLYMPADIS was elected general secretary of the Hellenic Olympic Committee for the period 2017-2020. In the elections of H.O.C. he received 14 votes in total of 14 votes cast and became General Secretary in the administration of Spiros KAPRALOS who was re-elected to the presidency continuing his tenure which began in 2009. In a statement 64 year old head of the board of E.F.O.Ep.A. sent warm thanks to various people and in particular to the President of the Greek Basketball Federation George VASSILAKOPOULOS whom he described as his mentor. He also assured the people of table tennis that his new duties in the H.O.C. will not affect the work of the president of H.T.T.F.. Manolis KOLYMPADIS said: “I thank my colleagues for the honor they gave me. And those who honored me with their vote and those who withdrew from the process. I feel that this is the culmination and reward of my long road in sports and this is directly reflected in the table tennis sport. Thanks also sincerely welcome friends from all over Greece who yesterday and today telephoned and gave me my courage and strength but especially want to thank my athletic father George VASSILAKOPOULOS who in 1982 helped me and encouraged me to be involved with sport. He is my mentor and whether it did not attend the vote for me it was like to be present. I want to assure the world of table tennis that my increased responsibilities as the Hellenic Olympic Committee general secretary will no way affect my presence as president of the federation.”
Manolis KOLYMPADIS General Secretary of the Hellenic Olympic Committee
The president of Hellenic Table Tennis Federation Manolis KOLYMPADIS received another great honor in his long career in sport yesterday. KOLYMPADIS was elected general secretary of the Hellenic Olympic Committee for the period 2017-2020. In the elections of H.O.C. he received 14 votes in total of 14 votes cast and became General Secretary in the administration of Spiros KAPRALOS who was re-elected to the presidency continuing his tenure which began in 2009. In a statement 64 year old head of the board of E.F.O.Ep.A. sent warm thanks to various people and in particular to the President of the Greek Basketball Federation George VASSILAKOPOULOS whom he described as his mentor. He also assured the people of table tennis that his new duties in the H.O.C. will not affect the work of the president of H.T.T.F.. Manolis KOLYMPADIS said: “I thank my colleagues for the honor they gave me. And those who honored me with their vote and those who withdrew from the process. I feel that this is the culmination and reward of my long road in sports and this is directly reflected in the table tennis sport. Thanks also sincerely welcome friends from all over Greece who yesterday and today telephoned and gave me my courage and strength but especially want to thank my athletic father George VASSILAKOPOULOS who in 1982 helped me and encouraged me to be involved with sport. He is my mentor and whether it did not attend the vote for me it was like to be present. I want to assure the world of table tennis that my increased responsibilities as the Hellenic Olympic Committee general secretary will no way affect my presence as president of the federation.”
Three days of table tennis magic in Antibes
The review of the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup competition hosted in the town of Antibes on the French Riviera took place over the weekend beginning Friday 3rd and ending Sunday 5th February as some of Europe’s strongest table tennis players went head-to-head at the Azur Arena. 16 male and 16 female players were invited to the event with each player aiming to guarantee an invitation for the respective LIEBHERR 2016 Men’s World Cup and 2016 Women’s World Cup a feat that would be achieved for the top three finishing positions in both the Men’s and Women’s Singles competitions. Before the 2017 Europe Top 16 had even seen any action there were two withdrawals from the Women’s Singles event: Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA cancelled her trip to Antibes early due to a knee injury which required surgery while Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany also withdrew due to illness. Drafted in as replacements were Bernadette SZOCS and Barbora BALAZOVA. SZOCS headed into the 2017 tournament having made appearances at previous Europe Top 16 competitions but having never before managed to progress beyond the group stage. In Antibes however SZOCS not only managed to move through her group but also went on to finish in sixth position overall. While SZOCS made the headlines for all the right reasons there was one high profile name who will leave Antibes disappointed with her finish and that is Turkey’s HU Melek. Crowned Women’s Singles champion at the LIEBHERR 2016 European Championships in Budapest Hungary’s HU Melek went into the 2017 Europe Top 16 event as one of the favourites for the title and as the top seed. However defeats to Hungary’s Georgina POTA and Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA saw HU fail to advance from her group. One of the standout players in the group stage of the Men’s Singles competition was Ukraine’s KOU Lei who was making his debut at the tournament. KOU who was seeded 14th for the Men’s Singles category lost his opening match in Group B to Tiago APOLONIA but went on to claim victories over Emmanuel LEBESSON and the no.2 seed Vladimir SAMSONOV to progress to the last eight. SAMSONOV left Antibes without a single win to his name and rather shockingly finished fourth in the group. There were also unexpected group stage exits for the fourth seed Marcos FREITAS and the runner up of the 2016 competition in Gondomar Portugal Joao MONTEIRO in Groups D and A respectively. With the group stages concluded day two of the tournament focused on deciding which four players in both the Men’s and Women’s events would progress to the semi-finals and three players in particular surprised the spectators in Antibes: Simon GAUZY Alexander SHIBAEV and Sabine WINTER. Germany’s WINTER left the no.5 seed Georgina POTA frustrated after the Hungarian lost out in seven games (11-9 8-11 11-2 6-11 11-5 7-11 11-8) to move into the Women’s Singles last four. GAUZY of France stunned the five time Men’s champion Timo BOLL across six games (11-8 3-11 4-11 11-7 11-8 11-7) to set up a tie with Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV in the last four following his seventh game success against Tiago APOLONIA (11-5 5-11 9-11 11-8 11-7 10-12 11-5). Much to the disappointment of the home fans GAUZY missed out on reaching the final on the last day of action after he was subject to a 2-4 defeat to SHIBAEV (7-11 9-11 11-8 10-12 11-8 9-11) – but the Frenchman finished in third position overall and ultimately ended his campaign with a smile on his face. “I am really happy to have performed quite well in Antibes and it means a lot to me to play in front of my family my friends and in front of this great crowd so I’m really happy that I could do this here. This performance here gives me a lot of confidence and I’m really looking forward to the World Championships in Dusseldorf” Simon GAUZY. Comeback victories are always very special moments in sport: the determination and the commitment required of the players in pulling off a recovery always make for an exciting match. LI Jie of the Netherlands was very much the queen of comebacks in Antibes after she managed to survive her group campaign with an important recovery win from two games down against LI Qian. LI Jie then went on to work her magic again in the next round when she fell 0-2 behind to Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM before going on to triumph 4-2 (7-11 11-13 11-5 11-7 11-8 11-9). Many would argue that it was rather fitting that the Dutch representative LI would go on to achieve the ultimate goal as she went on to claim the title. The final saw LI take on SOLJA for the crown but rather disappointingly the match was cut short with SOLJA withdrawing after four games due to injury problems (11-7 7-11 11-3 11-6). After picking up the trophy at the Azur Arena LI Jie said that she was happy to have won the title for the first time but that she isn’t thinking too far ahead and wants time to reflect on her achievement in Antibes. “I’m very happy but I’m also very sorry for SOLJA. This was my third time in the final and finally I’ve won so I’m very happy. For my career and my future the title is important for self-confidence… I don’t think so fast about future tournaments. I want to first enjoy this title and then I will concentrate on future tournaments” LI Jie. With the Women’s Singles tournament closed there was just one more match to play out as the no.1 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV faced the no.14 seed Alexander SHIBAEV in the Men’s Singles final. OVTCHAROV entered the match having won the title on the two previous occasions at the tournament and on paper he
Three days of table tennis magic in Antibes
The review of the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup competition hosted in the town of Antibes on the French Riviera took place over the weekend beginning Friday 3rd and ending Sunday 5th February as some of Europe’s strongest table tennis players went head-to-head at the Azur Arena. 16 male and 16 female players were invited to the event with each player aiming to guarantee an invitation for the respective LIEBHERR 2016 Men’s World Cup and 2016 Women’s World Cup a feat that would be achieved for the top three finishing positions in both the Men’s and Women’s Singles competitions. Before the 2017 Europe Top 16 had even seen any action there were two withdrawals from the Women’s Singles event: Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA cancelled her trip to Antibes early due to a knee injury which required surgery while Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany also withdrew due to illness. Drafted in as replacements were Bernadette SZOCS and Barbora BALAZOVA. SZOCS headed into the 2017 tournament having made appearances at previous Europe Top 16 competitions but having never before managed to progress beyond the group stage. In Antibes however SZOCS not only managed to move through her group but also went on to finish in sixth position overall. While SZOCS made the headlines for all the right reasons there was one high profile name who will leave Antibes disappointed with her finish and that is Turkey’s HU Melek. Crowned Women’s Singles champion at the LIEBHERR 2016 European Championships in Budapest Hungary’s HU Melek went into the 2017 Europe Top 16 event as one of the favourites for the title and as the top seed. However defeats to Hungary’s Georgina POTA and Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA saw HU fail to advance from her group. One of the standout players in the group stage of the Men’s Singles competition was Ukraine’s KOU Lei who was making his debut at the tournament. KOU who was seeded 14th for the Men’s Singles category lost his opening match in Group B to Tiago APOLONIA but went on to claim victories over Emmanuel LEBESSON and the no.2 seed Vladimir SAMSONOV to progress to the last eight. SAMSONOV left Antibes without a single win to his name and rather shockingly finished fourth in the group. There were also unexpected group stage exits for the fourth seed Marcos FREITAS and the runner up of the 2016 competition in Gondomar Portugal Joao MONTEIRO in Groups D and A respectively. With the group stages concluded day two of the tournament focused on deciding which four players in both the Men’s and Women’s events would progress to the semi-finals and three players in particular surprised the spectators in Antibes: Simon GAUZY Alexander SHIBAEV and Sabine WINTER. Germany’s WINTER left the no.5 seed Georgina POTA frustrated after the Hungarian lost out in seven games (11-9 8-11 11-2 6-11 11-5 7-11 11-8) to move into the Women’s Singles last four. GAUZY of France stunned the five time Men’s champion Timo BOLL across six games (11-8 3-11 4-11 11-7 11-8 11-7) to set up a tie with Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV in the last four following his seventh game success against Tiago APOLONIA (11-5 5-11 9-11 11-8 11-7 10-12 11-5). Much to the disappointment of the home fans GAUZY missed out on reaching the final on the last day of action after he was subject to a 2-4 defeat to SHIBAEV (7-11 9-11 11-8 10-12 11-8 9-11) – but the Frenchman finished in third position overall and ultimately ended his campaign with a smile on his face. “I am really happy to have performed quite well in Antibes and it means a lot to me to play in front of my family my friends and in front of this great crowd so I’m really happy that I could do this here. This performance here gives me a lot of confidence and I’m really looking forward to the World Championships in Dusseldorf” Simon GAUZY. Comeback victories are always very special moments in sport: the determination and the commitment required of the players in pulling off a recovery always make for an exciting match. LI Jie of the Netherlands was very much the queen of comebacks in Antibes after she managed to survive her group campaign with an important recovery win from two games down against LI Qian. LI Jie then went on to work her magic again in the next round when she fell 0-2 behind to Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM before going on to triumph 4-2 (7-11 11-13 11-5 11-7 11-8 11-9). Many would argue that it was rather fitting that the Dutch representative LI would go on to achieve the ultimate goal as she went on to claim the title. The final saw LI take on SOLJA for the crown but rather disappointingly the match was cut short with SOLJA withdrawing after four games due to injury problems (11-7 7-11 11-3 11-6). After picking up the trophy at the Azur Arena LI Jie said that she was happy to have won the title for the first time but that she isn’t thinking too far ahead and wants time to reflect on her achievement in Antibes. “I’m very happy but I’m also very sorry for SOLJA. This was my third time in the final and finally I’ve won so I’m very happy. For my career and my future the title is important for self-confidence… I don’t think so fast about future tournaments. I want to first enjoy this title and then I will concentrate on future tournaments” LI Jie. With the Women’s Singles tournament closed there was just one more match to play out as the no.1 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV faced the no.14 seed Alexander SHIBAEV in the Men’s Singles final. OVTCHAROV entered the match having won the title on the two previous occasions at the tournament and on paper he
Linz against Metz is always special…
Froschberg`s president Gunther RENNER speaks about upcoming returning quarter-final match of ECLW The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Antibes France is closed and some of the best women’s players from Old Continent switch their focus on the returning leg of the 2016/17 ECLW quarter-finals. Double ECLW champion Linz AG Froschberg was represented by two players in Antibes LIU Jia and Sophia POLCANOVA. LIU finished fourth being defeated by Sabine WINTER in the game for the 3rd spot while POLCANOVA had 1-2 score in the group stage. Linz beat away Metz 3:2 (12:8) in the first quarter-final match but its president Gunther RENNER is aware that everything is possible in the clash between these two clubs (Austrian side won last year’s quarter-final with just one point in its favor 347:346). “If you look at the result sheet you will find out our post-game thoughts… We could already be with 99% casualty in the semifinals if we close the game after 2:0 lead but MO Zhang had to face Pauline CHASSELINE and Pauline made a perfect game against MO. At the end we were again lucky against Metz because SAMARA could not finish her first game without knee problems and could not play her second match at all. After all we are and have to be happy with the result it will be a tough fight in LINZ ON February 12th because LINZ against METZ is always special…” stated RENNER.
Linz against Metz is always special…
Froschberg`s president Gunther RENNER speaks about upcoming returning quarter-final match of ECLW The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Antibes France is closed and some of the best women’s players from Old Continent switch their focus on the returning leg of the 2016/17 ECLW quarter-finals. Double ECLW champion Linz AG Froschberg was represented by two players in Antibes LIU Jia and Sophia POLCANOVA. LIU finished fourth being defeated by Sabine WINTER in the game for the 3rd spot while POLCANOVA had 1-2 score in the group stage. Linz beat away Metz 3:2 (12:8) in the first quarter-final match but its president Gunther RENNER is aware that everything is possible in the clash between these two clubs (Austrian side won last year’s quarter-final with just one point in its favor 347:346). “If you look at the result sheet you will find out our post-game thoughts… We could already be with 99% casualty in the semifinals if we close the game after 2:0 lead but MO Zhang had to face Pauline CHASSELINE and Pauline made a perfect game against MO. At the end we were again lucky against Metz because SAMARA could not finish her first game without knee problems and could not play her second match at all. After all we are and have to be happy with the result it will be a tough fight in LINZ ON February 12th because LINZ against METZ is always special…” stated RENNER.
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV wins Europe Top 16 title again
The 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Antibes France Dimitrij OVTCHAROV has been crowned the Men’s Singles champion at the 2017 ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Antibes France following his 4-2 victory over Alexander SHIBAEV in the final on Sunday 5th February. Germany’s OVTCHAROV who has now won the trophy on four occasions (2012 2015 2016 2017) and for the third year in a row at the tournament had a strong level of support from the crowd. After six games against his Russian opponent SHIBAEV the top seed sealed his place on the top step of the podium. The opening of the match was hotly contested by both finalists and OVTCHAROV knew that he was in for a challenge as SHIBAEV had set a personal best record at the tournament by reaching the final in Antibes and improving on his third place finish achieved in Gondomar Portugal in 2016. Neither player could be separated after the opening four games but then OVTCHAROV began to find his rhythm and managed to claim the fifth game by a three point margin. Then it looked difficult for SHIBAEV to get himself back into the match after OVTCHAROV raced into a comfortable lead in game six. But then the Russian representative managed to claw his way back to a two point difference and suddenly it was OVTCHAROV who was the player under pressure. However OVTCHAROV survived and the title was in his hands once again (11-8 12-14 11-5 11-13 11-8 11-8). With OVTCHAROV and SHIBAEV finishing in the top two they will receive an invitation to the Liebherr 2017 Men’s World Cup set to be hosted in Liege Belgium in October. Another player set to gain an invitation is Frenchman Simon GAUZY who captured the hearts of the home fans in Antibes throughout the 2017 Europe Top 16. GAUZY’s victory over KOU Lei in the third place match saw him make the podium. “I am really happy to have performed quite well in Antibes and it means a lot to me to play in front of my family my friends and in front of this great crowd so I’m really happy that I could do this here” Simon GAUZY.
