Titleholder in Men’s Singles 65 reached semis despite shaky start At last three European Veterans Championships Claus PEDERSEN of Denmark never left the hall without the medal. This year’s edition in Finland’ s Tampere will not be the exception. The titleholder in Men’s over 65 category Dane already booked the pace at the medal rostrum. PEDERSEN will meet Goran SKOGSBERG; Nosratallah SAFAI also of Sweden will meet Milos MATEJCEK of Czech Republic. For little bit shaky start of the competition in the main draw PEDERSEN blaimed lack of table tennis training. Asked about leg injury Claus admitted: “I had little bit to much of tennis training in past few months. I do not play much of table tennis during summer ” said Claus who is active player of tennis in Germany’s Eche Kiel. After opening match in the main draw against Russia’s STOLNIKOV when Claus needed four games to progress further the remained three duels concluded in straight sets. Germany’s RUNGE and HURMANN as well as Austria’s SORGER all lost 3:0. “There are few notable names missing from the top 20 players it should be easier for me this year to win but only recently I started to have trainings three times per week. I needed few wins to restore my confidence here ” said PEDERSEN.

Last year’s silver medalist in perfect shape On his way to the semi final of the Men’s Singles Event at the European Veterans Championships Dimitry MAZUNOV of Russia showed no mercy. All four matches in main draw MAZUNOV concluded in straight games; Finland’s TANHUA Switzerland’s STUMPFECKER Austria’s KRAUS GUNTE and Swede ZETTERSTROM all failed to halt his progress.  Russia’s player won the silver medal at the last Championships. We asked him about the competition in Tampere. “I am not sure. It seams that the competition is not as strong as the last time but it might be the case that I feeling better. It only my second appearance at the Veterans and I am still adjusting to this kind of competitions ” explained MAZUNOV. During the active playing career Dimitriy has clinched the titles at Yugoslavia Italy and Austria Open and reached the place among best 16 at the World Championships.  “ There are many strong players here. Players from Russia Lithuania UK showed very high level of quality.” MAZUNOV is working as a coach in Germany’s Ochsenhausen. “We have very talented young generation of players. We are trying to implement the program which will help European players to narrow the gap with China.” Surprisingly in the quarterfinal MAZUNOV did not play against Finland’s Pasi VALASTI as the seeding predicted. VALASTI faced unexpecting defeat in the second round against French LE PENVEN . LE PENVEN then lost two rounds latter against ZETTERSTROM. In the semi final tomorrow MAZUNOV will meet Henrik VANDELBO of Denmark whilst Leonid IVANOV of Russia will play against Saim POLATKAN of Turkey. 

Representatives of some of Europe’s strongest veterans countries met members of the ETTU Veterans Committee to discuss the possibility of a future European Veterans Team Championship Chairman of the ETTU Veterans Committee Dr Zdenko KRIZ invited the representatives to an informal ‘brain storming’ session at the European Veterans Table Tennis Championship currently taking place in Tampere Finland.   He explained the purpose of the meeting was to invite the views of the representatives of the veterans’ table tennis societies in Europe regarding the desirability and feasibility of holding European Team Championships in the future. Those views would be taken into account and the ETTU Veterans Committee would prepare a report and recommendations for the ETTU Executive Committee. The mood of the meeting was that the players and veterans society would welcome the principle of a European Team Championships given the practicalities and logistics of staging an event were manageable.   There was a general consensus that if it took place it should be linked to the European Veterans Championships. This would mean extending the event by a number of days and possibly losing the mid-week free day. This would of course have financial and administrative issues for organisers and players. A number of ways the team format could operate were considered including two aside teams with singles and a doubles starting in groups then proceeding to knock outs.   The membership of the teams would also need to be clearly defined and the preferred recommendation following discussion was that the players should be from the same country but not necessarily selected by their association. Dr Zdenko KRIZ concluded by thanking the participants and saying that he felt it had been a very positive meeting with a general consensus that team events should be on the agenda in the future also the precise detail needed further consideration.   The ETTU Veterans Committee will now make a series of recommendations to the Executive of the ETTU. Any team event is not likely to occur before 2019   By Susie HUGHES

ETTU President shared his joy of being part of the amazing event and meeting with the old friends   If you ask most of the participants at the European Veterans Championships in Tampere they will tell you the same thing; this event is not only about the competition and result- it is more about friendship and comradery. Even ETTU President Ronald KRAMER learned that this could be the sentimental journey.  “My first objective and reason for my visit to Tampere at the very beginning was to witness for the first time what the Veterans Championships are. I never have seen it before so I was invited to come to see the penultimate and final stages of the Events on Friday and to be part of the medal ceremony on Saturday ” said KRAMER.  However plans changed. The official reception of the City of Tampere on Wednesday did it to be more precise. The highest Finnish Governmental representatives were at the meeting.  “From the time I was working for Ministry and Olympic Committee I have made a very good friends in Finland. They found them and invited them to the reception. One of them is now retired Raija MATTILA former colleague of Harri SYVASALMI Director of Sports in Finish Government. It was the reason for me to come earlier. I was so glad they came and that I had a chance to meet them.” It gave President KRAMER two extra days to enjoy the battles in Expo Center in Tampere. “Now I am very happy that I got this chance. I have never seen before so many people playing table tennis under one roof at the same time. There are 90 tables here in the main hall and more 40 in the training hall and everybody is playing whole day! It is amazing picture. Whether you are the top player or not whether you feel the pain in your leg or arm…everybody keeps on playing enjoys the opportunity to meet old friends. Even we have nice weather this week. I got a lot of energy myself of looking those players. “ Organizers did a great job to make everyone feel confortable.  “It was not an easy task. Having 1.830 people playing in one hall. I love what I see! I saw the picture of an empty hall and even then it looked impressive but with the players it is amazing. ” KRAMER also praised the atmosphere. “I have not heard single complain so far. Also the players are taking everything so easy. I know it is big difference between this event and the Top 16; also I am sure the tension will rise and some of them will get more emotional as we came closer to the final stages but so far they are all relaxed. As I can see we have a wonderful  table tennis festival in Tampere.” In 2017 the EVC will be held in Sweden. The contacts are already underway. However the destiny of the Team’s EVC will be soon on agenda. Last year the system did not meet the expectations.  “It have been the discussed yesterday with the members of the ETTU Veterans Committee. Chair Zdenko KRIZ informed me that they will come up with a proposal to the Executive Board to include a team’s competition. I am quite open to it. Let’s wait and see what the proposal is. If it is feasible if it manageable if we can regulate it in the way it can be called European Championships…There are many details we have to discuss but we have enough time since it will not be in calendar before 2019.” But let’s focus on now and here; the real heat in Tampere is yet to come but even now everybody enjoys a great time in Finland. 

Former player of Yugoslavia still gives her best in the hall From 1999 when she played at her very first Veterans Championships Branka BATINIC of Croatia never missed the medal rostrum in her rich career. Judging by the performance in opening days of the competition at the Women’s Singles and Doubles Events at the European Championships in Tampere hardly that this edition could be the exception. At age of 57 she looks fit and determined as ever. She reached the Round of 16 of the competition in singles by hardly being challenged.   “In Goteborg in 1999 on my premiere I won the title. In the final I beat Larisa FARINA and after that we teamed up to won many medals in doubles together. In Luzern 2002 I clinched silver in singles and doubles at World’s Championships I also won silver in 2004 in Bremen 2006 – gold in Rio 2008 bronze at European in Porec 2009 gold in both singles and doubles. It is a lot of good memories.”   Branka was very successful as player before veteran’s career. She won Yugoslavia Open in 75 and 84. In second appearance she beat Valentina POPOVA who won four gold medals that season at the European Championships. “After I beat her I succeeded against three players from China to clinch the title ” remembered BATINIC.   Her decision to play in Bundesliga cost her a lot she was not the member of a national team any more due some regulations. “I was engaged in the preparation of the Veterans Championships in Zagreb as a member of the Swaythling Club. I “blame” them for this “virus”. They asked me to play in Goteborg I said yes and I liked it. Table tennis is my life I enjoy playing it and this was the opportunity to feel the heat and to be with people I love. I am a coach I have contact with the playing ball every day but I am coaching others I am not in training process.”   Speaking of the people she knows very well is Event Manager in Tampere Sonja GREFBERG member of the ETTU Executive Bard.   “We were room mates for three weeks back in 1986 at the World Grand Prix. I also played three times as a member of European team against Asia…There are just so many nice people I know thanks to table tennis ” explained BATINIC.

94 years old lady started her playing career at age of 74 Inge-Brigitte HERRMANN of Germany is the oldest competitor at the European Veteran Championships in Tampere. She lost her matches against Mireille MIGEOTTE of Belgium and Gisela LANGEN of Germany but she is the most interviued person in the hall. «I love table tennis. It is my special hobby. I started to play at age of 74. At that time I joined the local club to be able to travel to competitions » explained HERRMANN. HERRMANN addmited the traveling is her greatest passion. «Recently I played in China If there was no ping-pong I will never visit that wonderfull country. I also enjoy being with the people who shares the same love for sport. Also table ennis makes me feel helthier.» She still working HERRMANN helps older people to use computers. «Last night I had a nightmare. I dreamed that I lost in straigh games. I was so releifed when I woke up and learn that it was only a dream.»