2015 ITTF World Tour Austrian Open started today in Wels The GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Austrian Open started today in Wels. In Men’s Singles Event Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV is the no.1 seed with Jun Mizutani the no.2 seed. Jun MIZUTANI like Dimitrij OVTCHAROV has made three appearances to date on this year’s ITTF World Tour. There are also two previous champions and two runners up in action in 2015. Beaten in the final in 2004 in Wels Belgium’s Jean-Michel SAIVE is on duty as is Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan who was the silver medallist in 2008 in Salzburg; both were beaten by Germany’s Timo BOLL. Likewise Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA and Croatia’s Zoran PRIMORAC are present. Tiago Apolonia won in 2012 again when the event was held in Wels beating Timo BOLL in the final; whilst in 1997 when the tournament was staged in Linz Zoran PRIMORAC clinched the top prize at the expense of Sweden’s Peter KARLSSON. In Wels in 2015 CHUANG Chih-Yuan is the no.5 seed behind Vladimir SAMSONOV and Japan’s Koki NIWA; Tiago APOLONIA is the no.8 seed; he follows Korea’s JUNG Youngsik and Hong Kong’s WONG Chun Ting. Both Zoran PRIMORAC and Jean-Michel SAIVE must compete in the qualification stage.
The Women Table Tennis Community visits Schwechat
1st Europe-wide seminar for Women Table Tennis The Women Table Tennis project of the Werner SCHLAGER Academy causes a ripple effect. The development of the (inter-)national WSA-Women-training-group progresses rapidly. Up to 30 players from 16 different nations practice regularly in the WSA. At the time of the official WSA-opening in January 2011 there were only 4 players from 3 different countries who stayed permanently in Schwechat. Another pleasing fact is the WSA-partner club SVNÖ Ströck which celebrated an amazing 3:0 victory over the Spanish elite-team UCAM Cartagena on Monday and therefore started promising into the new Champions-League season 2015/16. The latest hit: From 7th to 9th September immediately after the Austrian Open in Wels the WSA premises will host the first European seminar for women table tennis by request of the European Federation ETTU. The focus: the work of female coaches. Representatives from various countries have registered for this 3-day seminar and also high ranked officials from the World-Federation ITTF have ensured their arrival for this top-class event. It can be categorized as top-class not only but to a big part because of the participation of Li Xiaodong Chinas highest -ranked table tennis coach who will give a much respected lecture. Li Xiaodong is not only a worldwide known table tennis guru but especially in Austria he is not unfamiliar as he is the father of ÖTTV-team player Li Qiangbing.
GERELL and PERSSON clinched the Men’s Doubles title
First ever ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles semi-final for GAUZY WONG Chun Ting won the title in the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Czech Open in Olomouc. At the final hurdle he succeded against Maharu YOSHIMURA of Japan 2:4 (3:11 15:13 11:7 9:11 9:11 8:11). In the final of the Women’s Singles Event Ai FUKUHARA of Japan beat JEON Jihee of Korea in straight games (7:11 12:14 11:13 8:11). Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS experienced defeat at the semi-final stage and failed to defend the title. The top seed he was beaten in seven games by Japan’s Maharu YOSHIMURA the no. 5 seed (11:7 5:11 9:11 11:7 11:9 3:11 11:4). Success for Japan was followed by success for Hong Kong; in the counterpart semi:final Wong Chun Ting the no.3 seed accounted for Frenchman Simon GAUZY the no.18 seed 4:1 (15:13 12:10 11:7 7:11 11:8). It was the first ever time that he had reached an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles semi-final meanwhile for Marcos FREITAS he was on duty in his sixth ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles semi-final. Germany’s HAN Ying also played in the semi fanal as a last European representative in the Singles Event. She suffered by the hands of the new champion FUKUHARA 4:2 (6:11 11:9 4:11 11:7 12:10 11:8). In the quarterfinal HU Melek of Turkey Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania and Polina MIKHAILOVA all failed to progress further. Par GERELL and Jon PERSSON clinched the title in the Men’s Doubles Event. In the ulitamete stage they beat JUNG Youngsik and KIM Minseok of Korea 0:3 (7:11 6:11 7:11). In the semi final Partnership from Sweden overcame Patrick BAUM and Patrick FRANZISKA of Germany 3:2 (9:11 11:9 11:4 14:16 11:7) whilst JUNG Youngsik and KIM Minseok overcame TANG Peng and WONG Chun Ting of Hong Kong by same margin 2:3 (11:4 6:11 6:11 11:6 11:13). In the final of the Women’s Doubles Event JEON Jihee and YANG Haeun of Korea overcame DOO Hoi Kem and TIE Yana of Hong Kong 3:1 (6:11 11:7 11:8 11:5). In the penultimate stage JEON Jihee and YANG Haeun beat LI Jie of Netherlands and LI Qian of Poland 3:1 (11:9 6:11 14:12 11:5) whilst DOO Hoi Kem and TIE Yana succeded against LIU Jia of Austria and Iveta VACENOVSKA of Czech Republic 3:1 (11:5 6:11 11:6 11:3).
High Performance Training Camp in Plovdiv
Plovdiv situated in the south central part of Bulgaria the country’s second largest city after the capital Sofia recently was the home for a High Performance Training Camp. The camp was supported by the Stoyanstroy Club alongside parents and other local club. “Previously I conducted Olympic Solidarity supported course under the auspices of the ITTF Development Programme in August 2011 in Chepelare in the same month one year later in both Plovdiv and Sofia; whilst more recently in December 2014 again in Plovdiv. So I knew what to expect ” said coach Aleksey YEFREMOV. Organization of the training camp was very good. “We had two sessions each day each lasted three hours with the finishing time being 7 pm. We organized a very complete itinerary covering technical physical and tactical aspects. Before the day began we determine goals and objectives. The schedule was set to meet the individual needs as well. All the requirements were in place at the “Stoyanstroy Club” thanks to Stojan SARIEV and Ani SARIEVA. We used two halls with total of 13 tables; some 1 200 balls to perform multi-ball as well service and receive practices were available as well as fruit coffee and water.” Nothing was missing; the Stoyanstroy Club proved not only perfect hosts but ambitious hosts; a purpose built High Performance Centre is expected to be opened early next year. “ I would like to congratulate to all participants who attended the High Performance Training Camp. I wish all players best of luck in this season 2015-2016 and of course at the coming World Tour tournament”
Good training camp for Greek national teams in Veria
Greek national team had the opportunity to prepare in very good conditions and at more friendly temperatures in this part of the season in Veria. The municipality of the city invited 16 men and women who worked in Filippeion gym at Veria and fitness at 1 500 meters altitude at Seli. With them were two international athletes Daniel KOSIBA from Hungary and Benedek OLAH from Finland. The municipality of Northern Greece city offered the hospitality in the cooperation with the table tennis clubs A.S.E.A. and O.E.A. The camp was organized perfectly by Verias. They hosted the athletes of national teams with great attention. On Tuesday the Major of Veroia Κostas VORGIAZIDIS made the reception in his office for the players also the Municipality organized a lunch in honor of teams the young athletes of local clubs gave international players t-shirts for the camp while journalists and photographers from local media showed great interest in the presence of the European runner-up of 2013. The national teams were focused on physical fitness as they are at the beginning of the year. Only Kallinikos KREANGA was missing because he had to be in Athens for personal reasons. “The conditions were excellent both in the gym in Veria and mountain views Seli. I think it was very well prepared and I will look through the results in the year. The hospitality also was perfect and we are grateful to all those who offered us assistance. It was a very good organized work of local government which I think I will help further the promotion of the sport that is already widespread in Veria” said the head coach Kostas VATSAKLIS. KOSIBA and OLAH concluded the trainings on 16 August because they had to continue their preparation in Hungary. Their impressions from Veria was very positive. “It was a really good week concerning both the training and the rest time. The Greek team was very kind and helpful to us. The conditions were very good and we liked especially every day we had to rig several children who came to see the workout. We want to say “thank you” for this beautiful week to all members of the Greek delegation and operators from the city” commended the Hungarian KOSIBA which has rich curriculum and experience of major events. KOSIBA was asked about the young players of Greek team and pointed at SGOUROPOULOS. “I believe this 15 year old athlete SGOUROPOULOS is very talented player” he answered while for his personal ambitions next year said: “My big goal is to get the qualification to the Olympic Games and also I have to be at 100 best athletes in the world rankings (this month is at number 106)”. OLAH: At the start was no problem to adopt for the higher altitudes and to the travel to the hall but sometimes later during the week I felt little weaker than sometimes but nothing really. The hotel was nice and the landscape in chalet were amazing. Mountains and calming nature. What made the biggest impact on me was how the players and the coaches from Greece behaved like a big family helping each other having fun and still fighting practicing 100% and competing against each other. It was super nice to train there therefore and many other countries should learn from you guys. The youngest players level was good They work hard in the practice and hit hard…. Sometimes too hard … I was very surprised when I found out how old they are.” By I. FAKAROS
50 Days to Go Until Liebherr 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup
The second most prestigious table tennis event on earth the Liebherr 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup is just 50 days away The Liebherr 2015 Men’s World Cup will take place from 16-18 October in Halmstad Sweden the same city that will host the 2018 World Team Table Tennis Championships. Only 20 of the world’s best table tennis players are invited to play in Halmstad. 17 of them have qualified through their respective Continental Cups plus the current World Champion a host country player and a wildcard. Current world champion and world number one MA Long heads the entry list at the 36th Men’s World Cup. The 26 year old will be determined to win his second World Cup crown after coming so close last year in the most dramatic final in recent history against the 2014 champion ZHANG Jike. The 2013 champion and world number two XU Xin and the 2015 European Games champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV will be the other two big names in a star studded field at the Halmstad Arena. The full list of 20 players that have qualified for one of the biggest shows in table tennis are (pending confirmation): MA Long (CHN) – World Champion ASSAR Omar (EGY) – African Cup Winner XU Xin (CHN) – Asian Cup Winner TSUBOI Gustavo (BRA) – Latin American Cup Winner BUTLER Jimmy (USA) – North American Cup Winner HENZELL William (AUS) – Oceania Cup Winner OVTCHAROV Dimitrij (GER) – Europe Cup Winner MIZUTANI Jun (JPN) – Asian Cup 3rd place FREITAS Marcos (POR) – Europe Cup 2nd place GIONIS Panagiotis (GRE) – Europe Cup 3rd place TANG Peng (HKG) – Asian Cup 4th place KIM Minseok (KOR) – Asian Cup 5th place GAUZY Simon (FRA) – Europe Cup 4th place APOLONIA Tiago (POR) – Europe Cup 5th place GARDOS Robert (AUT) – Europe Cup 6th place ACHANTA Sharath Kamal (IND) – Asian Cup 6th place NIWA Koki (JPN) – Asian Cup 7th place GAO Ning (SIN) – Asian Cup 8th place KARLSSON Kristian (SWE) – Host player KALLBERG Anton (SWE) – Wild card
ETTU Champions League LIVE at www.laola1.tv
Europe´s best table tennis teams in the fight for the crown The new season started in the ETTU Table Tennis Champions League Men. LAOLA1.tv offers full-scale coverage of this premium event and showing all matches LIVE. The opening round of the TTCLM in which the Russian representative TTC Fakel Gazproma Orenburg suffered from the shocking defeat against SPG Walter Wels already announced a very interesting season. A total of 16 teams from seven European countries take part. The two best teams in each group will qualify for the next round. LAOLA1.tv broadcasts all TTCLM matches LIVE and subsequently offering recordings of the full matches on ETTU.tv powered by LAOLA1.tv. Reporting on this top European table tennis event will be supported by the magazine programme “Backspin” with features such as “Scene of the Week” presenting news from the social networks and background reports.
DEMELBAUER: Our goal becomes more realistic
Walter Wels tries to stay with both legs on the ground after sensational victory against reigning TTCLM champion Fakel Gazproma Orenburg The opening round of the 2015/16 TTCLM was marked by sensational away victory of Walter Wels against defending champion Fakel Gazproma Orenburg. In the last five years since Russian giant entered this prestigious competition it was beaten in the group stage on its soil just once so far by Pontoise AS Cergy a year ago. Vladimir SAMSONOV Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Alexey SMIRNOV and Fedor KUZMIN have reached all five possible finals becoming three times champions of Old Continent. Thus it is not hard to conclude that the 2013/14 Austrian champion achieved remarkable accomplishment. “I am still overwhelmed about the happenings in Orenburg. Now our goal reaching the quarter finals of TTCLM has become a little bit more realistic. Furthermore I’d like to thank Fakel Gazprom Orenburg with Victor ANDREEV and his team for showing excellent hospitality during our stay” stressed Walter Wels` President Gerard DEMELBAUER. Serbian Zsolt PETÖ announced a big sensation when he overcame world`s no. 5 and actual individual European champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV: “The match in Orenburg gave me confidence about the upcoming Czech and Austrian Open. In the past months I practiced a lot which has played well. Also I have to thank my team mate Yuya (OSHIMA) who only recently played and won against OVTCHAROV and gave me some important hints. Walter Wels` newcomer Japanese Yuya OSHIMA has took a recipe from the recent 2015 China Open when he eliminated the best ranked European player in the Round of 32. Now he went one step forth beating both greats Dima OVTCHAROV and Vladimir SAMSONOV. “I am very happy having made a contribution to the successful start of my team into the new TTCLM season and will give my best to continue this way” stated OSHIMA. Coach Edi VECKO is aware that tough challenges are still ahead of his side: “Having secured this important point against Orenburg is incredible! Not only every single player gave its best also the atmosphere within our young (excluding me) team is excellent which made an essential contribution to our victory”.
Second stage of the ETTU Cup in Netherlands Spain Luxembourg and Croatia
Netherlands Spain Luxembourg and Croatia will host four groups in the second stage of the Men’s ETTU cup. The second round clashes are scheduled for 9th to 11th October. In Netherlands Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo will host Belgium’s TTC Sokah Hoboken Hungarian Floraton SZEGED AC Probart and A.S.D. Marcozzi from Italy. Spanish Cajasur Priego TM will host Fortune –Kyiv from Ukraine CS Mioveni from Romania and Rio Star Muttenz from Switzerland. In Group C in Luxembourg will play: DT Diddeleng Israel’s Yroni Givatayim Portugal’s GDCS Juncal and Yalova Belediye G.S.K. from Turkey. Czech Republic’s El Nino EHW will travel to Croatia where STK Libertas Marinkolor will organize the matches in Group D. Istanbul BBSK from Turkey and Irun Leka Enea from Spain will also play there.
SOROS: Small first step on the way to the quarter final
SVNO STROCK`s president comments ECLW Round 1 win against UCAM Cartagena The ECLW Round 1 is closed by the Group B match between SVNO STROCK and UCAM Cartagena held in Schwechat as the 2011/2012 runner-up won 3:0. Tetyana BILENKO has pushed his team to the victory beating Iulia NECULA in the straight games while Matilda EKHOLM and Lea RAKOVAC were extended the full five games distance by Ruta PASKAUSKIENE and Maria XIAO respectively. “Despite the fact that our number 1 Sayaka HIRANO was not able to play due to problems with her shoulder the team played in convincing style” stated president of Austrian side Martin SOROS. “Tanya (BELENKO) opened with a very solid game in the last weeks she improved also her offensive skills and she played unbelievable safe. Matilda (EKHOLM) and Lea (RAKOVAC) showed also very important mental strength”. Matilda EKHOLM came back against former individual European champion Ruta PASKAUSKIENE after a 1:2 and 5:9 whilst Lea RAKOVAC played huge rallies at the end of match as SOROS emphasized: “The 3:0 score sounds very good but was only a small first step on the way to the quarter final we are part of a strong group and we are part of the best and most exciting Champions League ever. Our team has the chance to go for the title this season like 10 other teams as well and on the other hand there is still the danger to check out after the group stage”. In the clash between two rising stars RAKOVAC overcame XIAO showing that Schwechat`s club has a bright future (counting also Tamolwan KHETKUEN and Marie MIGOT). But SOROS suggested to his girls to go step by step: “We will stay focused but I am sure that our coaches Tamy BOROS and Neven CEGNAR and our players are ready for reaching the stars”. ECLW Round 1 Group B SVNO STROCK – UCAM Cartagena 3:0 Tetyana BILENKO – Iulia NECULA 3:0 (11:4 11:6 11:7) Matilda EKHOLM – Ruta PASKAUSKIENE 3:2 (11:8 7:11 6:11 12:10 11:8) Lea RAKOVAC – Maria XIAO 3:2 (11:1 11:5 7:11 6:11 11:9)
