President of the actual ETTU Cup winner Thomas ANDERSON speaks about today`s away match against KST Manekin-Energa Torun KTS Manekin-Energa Torun and Eslovs AI Bordtennis are privileged to open the 2015/16 TTCLM season today in Poland (18.00 CET). The actual ETTU Cup winner from Sweden is focused to reach next stage this time because they finished 3rd last year in the group stage although they played very well. Eslovs`president Thomas ANDERSON explains what will be the target in the upcoming season. “After last season when we finished 3rd in the group and later became winners of the ETTU Cup our aim this season is to advance to at least the quarterfinals stage of the Champions League. The match away against KST – Manekin Energa Torun will obviously be tough but we hope it will be a good match and that we are victorious.
Walter Wels excited to play against reigning TTCLM champion
In the opening round Austrian club plays away against Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (Friday 14.20 CET) The reigning TTCLM champion and no. 1 seed opens the new season by the home encounter against SPG Walter Wels which players are – as they stressed – very excited to play opening game against Fakel Gazproma Orenburg. President of Austrian club Bernhard HUMER hopes that newcomer from Japan Yaya OSHIMA could be able to repeat excellent performance from recent China Open where he reached the semi-final (in the Round of 32 Japanese eliminated Orenburg`s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in seven games): “As we have a newly composed team (BOBOCICA and OSHIMA are new to the club) we are very happy to play against Orenburg in the first round. We know that Orenburg is a very strong opponent so there is not too much pressure but maybe we can win a game having in mind that Oshima played excellent at China open some days ago.” Walter Wels` coach Edi VECKO agreed with his president: “We know that we are the underdog in this match but we will try our best.” On the other side Orenburg`s coach Valeriy SALABAEV announces his victorious squad (Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Vladimir SAMSONOV Alexei SMIRNOV): “As always all home matches we take very seriously. I hope nothing will prevent us to put the strongest lineup. In the new TTCLM season we shall try to defend the title won a year ago.”
ECLW starts without clear-cut favorite
Fenerbahce defends the title but this time TTC Berlin Eastside is the top seed. Round 1 will be held from August 21st to 24th Everything indicates that the 2015/16 European Champions League Women will be one of the most exciting seasons ever in this competition. Twelve clubs divided in four groups (instead eight in two) will fight for the prestigious European trophy starting from this Friday when double ECLW champion TTC Berlin Eastside hosts TT Saint Quentin (August 21st 19.30 CET) while actual ETTU Cup winner KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg plays at home against CP Lyssois Lille Metropole (August 21st 17.00 CET). Other two Round 1 matches will be held in Austria and Turkey: SVNO STROCK – UCAM Cartagena (August 24th 19.00 CET) Fenerbahce – Postas Sport Egyesulet (August 23rd 17.30 CET). Reigning ECLW champion Fenerbahce defends the title without strong Chinese players but manager Gurhan YALDIZ kept his optimism: “The 2015/16 season will be more strong and difficult. I think that 12 teams will be better for Champions League. This season first match is very important for us because we are the winner of the last Cup. As you know we won all our matches in the last season making 10 wins in 10 games. We will start so early this season and I hope that we start with the good result”. YALDIZ stressed that first aim of Istanbul`s side is to play in quarter final: “After that we will see what we can do. Our young and strong team need to be good concentrated in the first match at home and I hope we`ll win” Newcomer from France has its debut in the home of top ranked club. Saint Quentin`s coach Franck DELCAMBRE said: “Our group A is very strong with Berlin Eastside seeded N°1 and firm favourite for the title. As far as TT Saint-Quentin is concerned we are very pleased to discover such a prestigious competition and our aim is to stay ‘alive’ as long as we can… We lack experience but we are looking forward to playing the best players in Europe.” Saint Quentin`s manager Jean-Louis POLARD explains how hard will be to overleap the group stage: “Two seasons ago we took part in the ETTU Cup with our Singaporian player YU Mengyu and reached the semi-finals but we lost against Tarnobrzeg. This season is a new step for us being in the ECLW Top 12 and we are proud of it. Nevertheless we realize that it will be very difficult indeed. We know that our first opponents from Berlin Eastside deserve their N°1 ranking and we wish them good luck for the whole ECLW season. Bursa B.B. SK’s leader HU Melek is one of the best competitors too and we will have to focus on her two colleagues to compete for the second place in the group.” ECLW Round 1 (August 21-24th) GROUP A TTC Berlin Eastside – TT Saint Quentin (August 21st 19.30 CET) GROUP B SVNO STROCK – UCAM Cartagena (August 24th 19.00 CET) GROUP C Fenerbahce – Postas Sport Egyesulet (August 23rd 17.30 CET) GROUP D KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg – CP Lyssois Lille Metropole (August 21st 17.00 CET)
PREUSS: At least 50% of the clubs are able to win the TTCLM
Borussia`s manager predicts very hard season in the European best club`s competition Borussia didn’t manage to reach its new triple crown last season but there is no doubt that 2014/15 was successful bearing in mind that they won two titles (Bundesliga and German Cup) and reached the final in the TTCLM. Despite 3:1 home win in the first final leg they were beaten by Orenburg 3:0 in the returning match. The most successful European club ever opens its new TTCLM chapter this Friday (19.30 CET) at home against Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. “Last season we had a big chance to win the title but Orenburg took the cup away from us in the last moment” commented Borussia`s manager Andreas PREUSS. “I hope that we can do it better this time. But first of all we have to be successful in group stage. This will be tight enough. And if we reach the quarter finals we have to beat other top teams. I think at least 50% of the clubs are able to win the TTCLM. So it´s a long way to be on the top of this competition.” Patrick FRANZISKA had a problem with an injury in the first months of last season but he managed to recover and played an important role in Borussia`s line-up during last spring. “We are happy that the new season begins on Friday” said young German. “The time since we played the last match in May was long enough although the upcoming season will be hard and long with Olympic Games at the end of it. Bogoria will be an excellent opponent which will show us directly the way for the group stage. I hope that we are strong enough to start successful into the new season.”
New TTCLM season begins on Thursday
Borussia`s coach Danny HEISTER explains why the 2015/16 season will be tough like previous one: “Even no. 16 seed Ostrov has a top player like Masataka MORIZONO” The 18th edition of TTCLM starts this Thursday by Round 1 game between KST Energa-Manekin Torun and Eslovs Al Bordtennis (August 20th 18.00 CET) while other seven matches will be held on Friday and Saturday. Again 16 clubs will fight for the title divided in four groups. Russian Fakel Gazproma Orenburg defends the crown which it has won in the final clashes against ten times European champion Borussia Dusseldorf. Borussia plays in Group D and it starts new season against well known opponent Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Coach of German side Danny HEISTER explained why the upcoming season should be a huge challenge for his team: “The new TTCL season will be as tough as it was last year. There are several teams playing with excellent players. Even number 16 seeded Ostrov has got a top player with Masataka MORIZONO world´s 21. So I think this TTCL season will be as balanced as never before. Bogoria with JUNG Youngsik Daniel GORAK and Pawel FERTIKOWSKi is one of the candidates in our group D to reach quarter finals. So it will be a great match to start into the new season. Our hall ARAG CenterCourt will be sold out and we will have a special atmosphere.” Other Group D match will be held in France where Chartres ASTT expects STEN Marketing HB Ostrov. Host team the 2012/13 TCLM finalist is considered as one of favorites. They are continuing with same four players like in last couple of seasons: GAO Ning Robert GARDOS Par GERELL and Damien ELOI. “We respect the strength of team Chartres and we travel to France with thoughts that we can only surprise our opponent. Regarding the whole season our goal is to take the 3rd place in the group” emphasized Jan HRNCIRIK manager of STEN Marketing. Top seeded Orenburg will fight for its fourth crown as unique TTCLM participant with two Top 10 players on ITTF World Ranking List: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (no. 5) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (no. 8). They will be supported by the best no. 3 team`s player in TTCLM in last five seasons Alexei SMIRNOV. They are going to host SPG Walter Wels in the Round 1. The 2012/13 semi-finalist Saarbrucken expects VS Angers TT in the other Group A match. Coach of German club Slobodan GRUJIC who won TTCLM as a player (with Gonnern) has sent compliments to his first opponent in the new season: “Angers is very strong experienced and well balanced team. We had good preparation thus we are ready for the match. As usual in the eve of the new season players lack the matches but we hope that we can reach first TTCL victory”. Two big names are in the Group B are the 2008 TTCLM champion Wienviertel Niederosterreich and the 2012 finalist UMMC. In the Round 1 Russian side plays at home against GV Hennebont who still counts on Kalinikos KREANGA. World`s no. 6 Jun MIZUTANI will be a biggest weapon of Verkhnaya Pyshma`s side. Niederosterreich hosts Olimpia Unia one of three TTCLM participants from Poland. The 2014 TTCLM champion and 2015 ETTU Cup winner play in Group C and both start new season away: AS Pontoise Cergy in Bremen and Eslovs in Torun. Pontoise is determined to continue its successful run after 2014 TTCLM title and 2015 French National League crown. Marcos FREITAS should be a guarantee for that. Round 1 of the 2015/16 TTCLM (August 20-22nd) GROUP A Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – SPG Walter Wels (August 21st 14.20 CET) 1.FC Saarbrucken TT – Angers TT (August 21st 18.00 CET) GROUP B UMMC – GV Hennebont (August 21st 14.00 CET) Wienviertel Niederosterreich – Olimpia Unia Grudziadz (August 22nd 17.00 CET) GROUP C SV Werder Bremen – AS Pontoise Cergy TT (August 21st 19.00 CET) KST Energa-Manekin Torun – Eslovs Al Bordtennis (August 20th 18.00 CET) GROUP D Borussia Dusseldorf – Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (August 21st 19.30 CET) Chartres ASTT – STEN Marketing HB Ostrov (August 21st 19.00 CET)
Season kick off in Spain Scotland Turkey and Hungary
The ETTU Cup starts this weekend This weekend 19 clubs will start their journer toward the title in Men’s ETTU Cup. In Spain Scotland Turkey and Hungary divided in four groups clubs from all over the Continet will kick off the first stage tournaments. In Group A top seeds Spanish Irun leka Enea will host CTT Royal Alpa Ixelles Schaerbeek (Belgium) GDCS Juncal (Portugal) TED Sports Club (Turkey). That is the only group with the four clubs remaining three has five teams each. In Scotland North Ayrshire will host TT Vedrinamur (Belgium) Arteal Tenis de Mesa (Spain) Yalova Belediye (Turkey) and SC Mioveni (Romania). Team from belgium is seeded at the position no. one in Group B. Top seeded in Group C G.D. Toledos of Portugal will travel to Istanbul to play against Istanbul BBSK (Turkey) NTK Iliria (Slovenia) Montoutojas (Lithuania) and ASD Marcozzi (Italy). In Group D Hungary’s Floraton Szeged will host top seeds Tenis de Mesa Rivas (Spain) alsongside Rio-Star Muttenz (Switzerland) Turk Telekom Ankara (Turkey) and Sarkuysan Spor (Turkey). Top two teams in this stage will progreess to the second round scheduled for 9 – 11 October.
2015 ITTF Star Awards to be held in Lisbon
The ITTF announced the 2015 ITTF Star Awards in Lisbon Portugal on 9 December 2015 The 2015 ITTF Star Awards is the third edition of the annual year-ending table tennis awards and it promises to build on the immense success of the two previous editions. The 2015 ITTF Star Awards will be held prior to the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals and will recognize and celebrate the stars of table tennis the players and coaches. The evening of glitz and glamour will take place in the centre of Lisbon in the historic Patio de Gale Lisbon as the table tennis stars dress up in their finest to attend. ITTF Marketing Director Steve DAINTON stated: “The ITTF Star Awards has grown into a yearly event with great stature and an important date on the calendar for all of the world’s top table tennis players. This year we head to the beautiful city of Lisbon in conjunction with the World Tour Grand Finals to recognize the Stars of our sport for what will be a classical and elegant evening!” Portuguese interest in table tennis is at an all time high on the back of their National Team’s gold medal feats at the TMS 2014 European Team Table Tennis Championships and the 2015 European Games. A record of eight ITTF Star Awards will be handed out in Lisbon with the ITTF Star Breakthrough being the new addition in Lisbon. The full list of eight ITTF Star Awards that will be on offer in Lisbon are: Male Table Tennis Star Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku Para Male Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue Para Female Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International Table Tennis Star Point presented by DHS Table Tennis Star Coach presented by Butterfly Table Tennis Breakthrough Star Fair Play Star The nominees for the awards will be announced shortly so make sure you keep an eye onITTFStarAwards.comand not miss out.
37th Flanders ITT & 17th Flanders Ostend Masters
37th Flanders ITT & 17th Flanders Ostend Masters gathered players from 43 countries The 37th Flanders ITT & 17th Flanders Ostend Masters brought something for everyone last week. From top table tennis with Jean Michel SAIVE as a host player and a lot of top players in the Ostend Master 2015 to the competition with the 6 years old to 85+ at the Flanders ITT Belgium opened the door for 1.669 players from 43 countries. Bojan TOKIC of Slovenia clinched the top prize at the 17th Flanders Ostend Masters. In the final he beat KOU Lei of Ukraine 4:2. In the semi final KOU overcame Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal whilst TOKIC prevailed against Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia. .Germany’s Bastian STEGER Steffen MENGEL Patrick FRANZISKA and SAIVE also played at the tournament.
Stefan LABITZKE from Berlin won three titles in Austria
1st Championships for Table Tennis Match Officials The 1 st Championships for Match Officials concluded this Saturday in Austria. Umpires and Referees from Russia Sweden Germany Hungary Czech Republic Poland and Austria played two days. Germany Poland and Austria won the first titles. In the team’s event Sweden and Germany faced no big difficulties on their way to the finals. The German Team (Lothar JANDER Hans-Peter WÖRNER Stefan LABITZKE and Jörg BAUMGART) won 3:0 against Liam SCHOUG his brother Lukas and Anders NILSSON from Sweden. Czech Republic finished third. In Women Individual Events Poland and Austria met in the final matches. The Austrian players Renate BURG and Pia STRAUSS won the Women Doubles but the Single Event was in control of Poland. Malgorzata FIDALA won 3:0 against her teammate Agata BIESAGA. In the Men´s Double Event Hans-Peter WÖRNER and Stefan LABITZKE won against Jan BENES and Emanuel VOTIPKA from Czech Republic. In Men Individual Events Sweden and Germany met again in the semifinals. Stefan LABITZKE who already won the gold medal in the team event and the Men´s Double title halted the progress of the SCHOUG brothers from Sweden. He beat Liam in the Semifinal and Lukas in the Final. During the official dinner on Friday the president of the Austrian Table Tennis Association Hans FRIEDINGER and the mayor from Haid/Ansfelden congratulated the players for their dedication to table tennis as match officials but also for their performance as players. At the same time the Austrian umpires Erich and Norbert TRAXLER finished their career as umpires after 30 years and both of them received the silver badge of honour for his work for the Austrian Table Tennis Association.
SVNO STROCK faces new challenges
WSA Women Head Coach Neven CEGNAR reveals the aims of Austrian club in the 2015/16 ECLW season The 2011/12 ECLW runner-up SVNO STROCK is ready to improve itself by one step in the upcoming season which starts on Friday but Schwechat side will play their first game next Monday against UCAM Cartagena (August 24th 19.00 CET). Basic strategy remains the same to combine wunderkinds with experienced players. This time they will be supported by world`s no. 18 Sayaka HIRANO from Japan. „Our team is composed by three experienced players (HIRANO BILENKO and EKHOLM) and four youngsters (ZHANG RAKOVAC KHETKHUAN and MIGOT) who need to fight for their places in the matches against the best ones” stressed WSA Women Head Coach Neven CEGNAR who has won 32 medals with his players at both World and European Championships. „Our goals in the upcoming season is not a good result „at any price” but to promote our basic work: development of both women`s and men`s players who train and work in the WSA. Regarding that we will try to reach as much as best possible result respecting help and investment of our actual and future potential sponsors.” The 2015/16 European Champions League Women season gathered 12 clubs divided in four groups. Maybe first time there is no clear favorite. SVNO STROCK will play in the Group B with UCAM Cartagena (Spain) and Szekszard AC (Hungary). Neven CEGNAR speaks: “We also wish to continue our work on affirmation of our Head Coach Tamara BOROS who has been working excellent more than three years in both WSA and SVNO STROCK. All of us from our CEO Martin SOROS to all other coaches are focused to help on this path. We are looking forward new challenges in the ECLW impatiently expecting our opening game against UCAM Cartagena. Our wish is to show part of everything I mentioned regarding our long term aims.”
