Soon you can watch table tennis from any position in your living room. Table tennis is set to move into the virtual reality broadcasting world with a test broadcast organized for the Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Doha Qatar on 8-11 December 2016. The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has partnered with SECA who owns ITTF’s Chinese Digital rights from 2017 to make the move into virtual reality and become a world leader in the new age of broadcast. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “The ITTF is very excited about this momentous step forward in the way we will broadcast events. We are sure that virtual reality will be a big hit amongst table tennis and sport fans and will improve the popularity of table tennis broadcast significantly. Table tennis was the first ever video game with Pong being released in 1972 so we are very excited to again be a leader in digital innovation. Due to China being such a strong market for table tennis we are confident that SECA who is based in China are the best partners to move into this new frontier.” The virtual reality broadcast will eventually allow fans to watch the table tennis match from any position inside the venue. This means a fan could watch the match from the umpires or coaches’ perspective or sit up in the VIP seats to get a prime view of the world’s best table tennis player battling for gold. SECA CEO and Founder LI Sheng added: “SECA is delighted to bolster our partnership with ITTF in pushing the sport of table tennis to new frontiers. As the leadings sports marketing company in China SECA is always looking to service sports fans both in China and Worldwide through the newest technologies. Together with ITTF we firmly believe virtual reality and augmented reality is the technology of the future and that table tennis is the perfect sport to start this revolution.” Once the test has been successfully conduced at the Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals the ITTF & SECA plan to roll out virtual reality broadcasts at key ITTF events in 2017 to bring table tennis into the virtual realm.
Golden DIACONU and DRAGOMAN rewrites history books
Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN have put their names into the history books after becoming the first European partnership to win a Doubles title at a World Junior Championships. The Romanian pairings the No.4 seeds beat second seeded pair Japan’s Hina HAYATA and Miyu KATO in the Girls’ Doubles final (11-7 11-8 11-6 5-11 9-11 11-9) at the Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships. Romania’s previous best effort in the Girls’ Doubles category was a third place finish. “It was amazing and unbelievable that we could be world champions in the Doubles. It’s like a dream to me. I think the semi-finals loss in the Singles really motivated me a lot for the final of the Doubles. My partner and I have been playing together for more than a year and we understand each other very well on table. I think we played an amazing match today and I am so excited to win a world title this year” – Adina DIACONU said. Earlier Adina enriched her treasury with bronze medal in the Singles Event. MAK Tze Wing of Hong Kong ended her great run. In semifinal MAK succeeded in straight games (12-10 11-7 11-7 11-9). In the final SHI Xunyao provides China with sole gold medal for 2016 World Junior Championships. She beat Mak Tze Wing in another straight games duel (11-2 12-10 13-11 11-3). “I am so excited winning the first gold medal for China in the competition but I am little bit disappointed that we could not win more gold medals. Perhaps we were inexperienced because we have not played more international competitions. The final match looked simple in terms of the results but my opponent was very strong particularly in the second and third games as the scores were so close” – said SHI Xunyao. Japan’s Tomokazu HARIMOTO overcame CHO Seungmin of Korea in the ultimate match of the Championships. The final went full seven games (7-11 9-11 11-6 12-10 11-8 7-11 11-7) Korea Republic has won its second Doubles gold medal following a Boys’ Doubles triumph for AN Jaehyun and CHO Seungmin over the top seeds from Japan Tomokazu HARIMOTO and Tonin RYUZAKI (7-11 11-8 11-4 11-3 11-4). In the semifinal Japan’s players prevailed in the match against Alexandre CASSIN and Joe SEYFRIED of France 4:3 (8-11 6-11 11-7 12-10 11-8 8-11 14-12). CHO Seungmin and KIM Jiho are the crowned Mixed Doubles champions. They beat YUKI Matsuyama and HINA Hayata of Japan (7-11 11-9 11-9 7-11 8-11 11-3 13-11) in the final of the event. “I am so happy that we won our first gold medal in this competition and I am hoping to add more in the Boys’ Doubles and Boys’ Singles. In the final game they were leading 10-8 but I knew we could get back into the game because we understood ourselves very well” said CHO Seungmin. Bronze medal went to XU Haidong and YUAN Yuan of China as well to Darko JORGIC of Slovenia and Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia.
Golden DIACONU and DRAGOMAN rewrites history books
Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN have put their names into the history books after becoming the first European partnership to win a Doubles title at a World Junior Championships. The Romanian pairings the No.4 seeds beat second seeded pair Japan’s Hina HAYATA and Miyu KATO in the Girls’ Doubles final (11-7 11-8 11-6 5-11 9-11 11-9) at the Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships. Romania’s previous best effort in the Girls’ Doubles category was a third place finish. “It was amazing and unbelievable that we could be world champions in the Doubles. It’s like a dream to me. I think the semi-finals loss in the Singles really motivated me a lot for the final of the Doubles. My partner and I have been playing together for more than a year and we understand each other very well on table. I think we played an amazing match today and I am so excited to win a world title this year” – Adina DIACONU said. Earlier Adina enriched her treasury with bronze medal in the Singles Event. MAK Tze Wing of Hong Kong ended her great run. In semifinal MAK succeeded in straight games (12-10 11-7 11-7 11-9). In the final SHI Xunyao provides China with sole gold medal for 2016 World Junior Championships. She beat Mak Tze Wing in another straight games duel (11-2 12-10 13-11 11-3). “I am so excited winning the first gold medal for China in the competition but I am little bit disappointed that we could not win more gold medals. Perhaps we were inexperienced because we have not played more international competitions. The final match looked simple in terms of the results but my opponent was very strong particularly in the second and third games as the scores were so close” – said SHI Xunyao. Japan’s Tomokazu HARIMOTO overcame CHO Seungmin of Korea in the ultimate match of the Championships. The final went full seven games (7-11 9-11 11-6 12-10 11-8 7-11 11-7) Korea Republic has won its second Doubles gold medal following a Boys’ Doubles triumph for AN Jaehyun and CHO Seungmin over the top seeds from Japan Tomokazu HARIMOTO and Tonin RYUZAKI (7-11 11-8 11-4 11-3 11-4). In the semifinal Japan’s players prevailed in the match against Alexandre CASSIN and Joe SEYFRIED of France 4:3 (8-11 6-11 11-7 12-10 11-8 8-11 14-12). CHO Seungmin and KIM Jiho are the crowned Mixed Doubles champions. They beat YUKI Matsuyama and HINA Hayata of Japan (7-11 11-9 11-9 7-11 8-11 11-3 13-11) in the final of the event. “I am so happy that we won our first gold medal in this competition and I am hoping to add more in the Boys’ Doubles and Boys’ Singles. In the final game they were leading 10-8 but I knew we could get back into the game because we understood ourselves very well” said CHO Seungmin. Bronze medal went to XU Haidong and YUAN Yuan of China as well to Darko JORGIC of Slovenia and Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia.
World’s Best Players Ready for Action
2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals The top 16 men and women from the 2016 ITTF World Tour have assembled in Doha Qatar for the Seamaster Qatar World Tour Grand Finals being held 8-11 December 2016. The world’s best players battled through 20 World Tour events across the globe to gather enough points to qualify for the $500 000 season-ending event. As always all eyes will be on World & Olympic champion MA Long of China who will be the red-hot favorite to defend the title he won last year in Lisbon. The odds for the 28-year-old were slashed even more as he was drawn in the other half of his two other teammates world number two FAN Zhendong and number three XU Xin. This means MA will not have to face his Chinese teammates until the final. “I am very happy to avoid my friend XU Xin in the draw. This is my last tournament of the year so I want to finish the year of my dreams off in style by winning the World Tour Grand Finals for the fourth time.” Number two seed 19-year-old FAN Zhendong the man that MA Long beat in last year’s World Tour Grand Final will be out for revenge for his 2015 defeat and will want to keep up his momentum from winning the Men’s World Cup earlier in the year. Double World Tour Grand Final champion Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) is making his first international appearance since winning bronze at Rio 2016 so confidence will be high for the Japanese superstar. Europe’s hopes rest with Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) who will be bidding for their first World Tour Grand Finals crown. Like fellow Olympic champion MA Long DING Ning (CHN) is out to defend her World Tour Grand Finals title here in Doha. The 27-year-old stated after seeing her draw: “Allthe 16 players are qualified through many tough tournaments in 2016 so everyone here will be strong. I will prepare my best for every match as each match will be difficult. I am here to win and want desperately to defend my title.” The Japanese trio of Miu HIRANO Mima ITO and Hina HAYATA fresh from their historic feat of becoming the Women’s Junior World Team Champions earlier in the week are ready to enter back into the senior stage after all qualifying for the event here in Doha. Time will tell if they can transfer their junior form to senior success in Doha. The Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals is the most lucrative table tennis event on the globe with only the top 16 men and women players from the 20 2016 ITTF World Tour events securing their place in Doha. In addition to the singles competition eight men’s and women’s doubles pairs and 8 men’s and women’s under 21 players have also be making their way to Doha to compete in the event. Tomorrow night also see’s the Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF Star Awards take place at the Sheraton Hotel at 19:30 more information can be found at ITTFStarAwards.com.
World’s Best Players Ready for Action
2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals The top 16 men and women from the 2016 ITTF World Tour have assembled in Doha Qatar for the Seamaster Qatar World Tour Grand Finals being held 8-11 December 2016. The world’s best players battled through 20 World Tour events across the globe to gather enough points to qualify for the $500 000 season-ending event. As always all eyes will be on World & Olympic champion MA Long of China who will be the red-hot favorite to defend the title he won last year in Lisbon. The odds for the 28-year-old were slashed even more as he was drawn in the other half of his two other teammates world number two FAN Zhendong and number three XU Xin. This means MA will not have to face his Chinese teammates until the final. “I am very happy to avoid my friend XU Xin in the draw. This is my last tournament of the year so I want to finish the year of my dreams off in style by winning the World Tour Grand Finals for the fourth time.” Number two seed 19-year-old FAN Zhendong the man that MA Long beat in last year’s World Tour Grand Final will be out for revenge for his 2015 defeat and will want to keep up his momentum from winning the Men’s World Cup earlier in the year. Double World Tour Grand Final champion Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) is making his first international appearance since winning bronze at Rio 2016 so confidence will be high for the Japanese superstar. Europe’s hopes rest with Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) who will be bidding for their first World Tour Grand Finals crown. Like fellow Olympic champion MA Long DING Ning (CHN) is out to defend her World Tour Grand Finals title here in Doha. The 27-year-old stated after seeing her draw: “Allthe 16 players are qualified through many tough tournaments in 2016 so everyone here will be strong. I will prepare my best for every match as each match will be difficult. I am here to win and want desperately to defend my title.” The Japanese trio of Miu HIRANO Mima ITO and Hina HAYATA fresh from their historic feat of becoming the Women’s Junior World Team Champions earlier in the week are ready to enter back into the senior stage after all qualifying for the event here in Doha. Time will tell if they can transfer their junior form to senior success in Doha. The Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals is the most lucrative table tennis event on the globe with only the top 16 men and women players from the 20 2016 ITTF World Tour events securing their place in Doha. In addition to the singles competition eight men’s and women’s doubles pairs and 8 men’s and women’s under 21 players have also be making their way to Doha to compete in the event. Tomorrow night also see’s the Seamaster Qatar 2016 ITTF Star Awards take place at the Sheraton Hotel at 19:30 more information can be found at ITTFStarAwards.com.
European players secured four medals in Cape Town
Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships European players secured four medals at the Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships in Cape Town in the individual part of the Championships. Today was the great day for Romania’s players Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN as well as for French representatives Alexandre CASSIN and Joe SEYFRIED. Day earlier Darko JORGIC of Slovenia and Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia secured their place at the medal rostrum in Mixed Doubles Event. Most successfull player is Adina DIACONU. No. seven seed at the tournament; she reached the semi final phase in both Singles and Doubles Event. In the quarterfinal of the Singles she beat Korea’s KIM Youjin in straight matches (11-7 11-5 11-8 11-7). KIM was seeded only at the position no. 22 but she was the creator of one of the biggest upsets by beating no. two seed Mima ITO of Japan in the Round of 32. In the semi final ADINA will play against Hong Kong’s MAK Tze Wing. Partnership with Andreea DRAGOMAN brought to ADINA another medal. In the quarterfinal of the Junior Girls Doubles Event no.4 seeds prevailed against Oceane GUISNEL and Marie MIGOT Marie of France in another straight games duel (9-11 5-11 9-11 7-11). The Romanian duo will be LIU Qi and WONG Chin Yau’s opponents in the last four. In the quarterfinal of the Junior Boy’s Doubles Event Alexandre CASSIN and Joe SEYFRIED succeded against Dragos OPREA and Rares SIPOS and denied Romania of third medal. French pairings won in six games (6-11 10-12 12-10 3-11 11-5 16-18). In semis they will meet Tomokazu HARIMOTO and Tonin RYUZAKI of Japan.
European players secured four medals in Cape Town
Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships European players secured four medals at the Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships in Cape Town in the individual part of the Championships. Today was the great day for Romania’s players Adina DIACONU and Andreea DRAGOMAN as well as for French representatives Alexandre CASSIN and Joe SEYFRIED. Day earlier Darko JORGIC of Slovenia and Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia secured their place at the medal rostrum in Mixed Doubles Event. Most successfull player is Adina DIACONU. No. seven seed at the tournament; she reached the semi final phase in both Singles and Doubles Event. In the quarterfinal of the Singles she beat Korea’s KIM Youjin in straight matches (11-7 11-5 11-8 11-7). KIM was seeded only at the position no. 22 but she was the creator of one of the biggest upsets by beating no. two seed Mima ITO of Japan in the Round of 32. In the semi final ADINA will play against Hong Kong’s MAK Tze Wing. Partnership with Andreea DRAGOMAN brought to ADINA another medal. In the quarterfinal of the Junior Girls Doubles Event no.4 seeds prevailed against Oceane GUISNEL and Marie MIGOT Marie of France in another straight games duel (9-11 5-11 9-11 7-11). The Romanian duo will be LIU Qi and WONG Chin Yau’s opponents in the last four. In the quarterfinal of the Junior Boy’s Doubles Event Alexandre CASSIN and Joe SEYFRIED succeded against Dragos OPREA and Rares SIPOS and denied Romania of third medal. French pairings won in six games (6-11 10-12 12-10 3-11 11-5 16-18). In semis they will meet Tomokazu HARIMOTO and Tonin RYUZAKI of Japan.
University degree study programme in sports coaching successfully started in Split
University Degree Study Programme in Sports Coaching designed to suit the needs of table tennis players and coaches started with classes in November. This global university education programme which includes and connects more than 20 recognised universities institutes and academies worldwide has been organised at the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Split in Croatia in co-operation with International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and European Table Tennis Union (ETTU). Aim of the project is to make quality studying accessible to a wider/global table tennis community by using all benefits of modern technologies such as “online” learning methods enabling both players and coaches to actively study regardless of their professional duties in clubs national teams or their current geographical location. In this first academic year (2016/17) with English being the official language 20 students from 16 different countries worldwide have enrolled the TT study programme and started with classes. The majority of students are already well established coaches or still active players who have decided to use this opportunity to obtain well-rounded professional knowledge in the field of sports science and coaching and acquire a university degree while pursuing their professional coaching/playing careers. Notably the list of students includes names of some well-known former or still active table tennis internationals like Japan’s Aya UMEMURA Croatian’s Tomislav KOLAREK and Austrian’s Dominique PLATTNER. The European Table Tennis Union as one of co-organizers of the initiative has established its own Scholarship program with an aim to provide scholarship support for coaches and players coming from European countries. This initiative also fits well and nicely supports the ETTU’s well-rounded efforts to raise the quality of coaching in Europe and is surely a big step ahead for education of coaches in our sport. The two candidates who have been selected to receive the ETTU’s scholarship support for the academic year 2016/17 are Ms. Fragou VASILIKI from Greece and Mr. Eirik ANSNES from Norway.
University degree study programme in sports coaching successfully started in Split
University Degree Study Programme in Sports Coaching designed to suit the needs of table tennis players and coaches started with classes in November. This global university education programme which includes and connects more than 20 recognised universities institutes and academies worldwide has been organised at the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Split in Croatia in co-operation with International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and European Table Tennis Union (ETTU). Aim of the project is to make quality studying accessible to a wider/global table tennis community by using all benefits of modern technologies such as “online” learning methods enabling both players and coaches to actively study regardless of their professional duties in clubs national teams or their current geographical location. In this first academic year (2016/17) with English being the official language 20 students from 16 different countries worldwide have enrolled the TT study programme and started with classes. The majority of students are already well established coaches or still active players who have decided to use this opportunity to obtain well-rounded professional knowledge in the field of sports science and coaching and acquire a university degree while pursuing their professional coaching/playing careers. Notably the list of students includes names of some well-known former or still active table tennis internationals like Japan’s Aya UMEMURA Croatian’s Tomislav KOLAREK and Austrian’s Dominique PLATTNER. The European Table Tennis Union as one of co-organizers of the initiative has established its own Scholarship program with an aim to provide scholarship support for coaches and players coming from European countries. This initiative also fits well and nicely supports the ETTU’s well-rounded efforts to raise the quality of coaching in Europe and is surely a big step ahead for education of coaches in our sport. The two candidates who have been selected to receive the ETTU’s scholarship support for the academic year 2016/17 are Ms. Fragou VASILIKI from Greece and Mr. Eirik ANSNES from Norway.
Timo BOLL: Overall it was a great achievement
The best player of Borussia Dusseldorf comments on TTCLM Round 5 win against Chartres ASTT Borussia Düsseldorf record holder with 10 titles in TTCLM secured the top spot before quarterfinal stage. Timo BOLL & Co. beat again their old rival Chartres ASTT 3:1 playing Round 5 game last weekend. German club No. 2 seed stands on 5-0 score in Group D as just one of two unbeaten participants so far beside No. 1 seeded FAKEL GAZPROM Orenburg. Thanks to Borussia`s head of marketing PR and social media Alexander SCHILLING we present postgame comments… “This was a very important victory and a great performance of the team. All three of them including Stefan (FEGERL) who lost but fought incredible and had a lot of bad luck in the end. We won 3-1 and made the group victory perfect” stated Danny HEISTER Coach Borussia Düsseldorf: Timo BOLL won all his matches so far having score 7-0 (21-3 in sets): “We wanted to win the game to become group winner. We achieved this through our 3:1 success. A pity for Stefan that he lost his game. Up to 2:0 he played very well. I think it has annoyed him. Overall it was a great achievement.” Chartres ASTT will go among top 8 TTCLM clubs from the second spot of Group D. Their Coach Calin TOMA comments: “Düsseldorf was simply stronger than us. We also had a few injuries in the team for example we missed Robert GARDOS and we are trying to get them out for Tuesday’s game. We were already qualified for the quarter finals but we wanted to win. This time it just was not enough against Borussia.”
