World and Olympic champion DING Ning (CHN) heads the invitation list for the Seamaster 2016 ITTF Women’s World Cup to be held in Philadelphia USA on 7-9 October 2016. 18 of the 20 players invited to the prestigious event in the USA competed at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and have earned their place at the show piece event through Continental Cup qualification events throughout 2016 plus the current World Champion DING Ning & a wildcard. The state-of-the-art Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University will be the first host of an ITTF World Cup singles event in North America. The United States previously hosted the World Team Cup (1992 – Las Vegas NV) and the World Junior Championship (2007 – Palo Alto CA). Lining up to the Olympic champion in Philadelphia is the most successful player in Women’s World Cup history LIU Shiwen (CHN). The world number one who has won the event four times will have a point to prove after missing out on Olympic singles selection. 2014 Youth Olympic Games bronze medalist and two-time Olympian Lily ZHANG (USA) has been awarded the wildcard and will line up with compatriot WUE Yu on home soil to fight for a medal in front of an expected sellout crowd. 15-year-old Mima ITO (JPN) who is fresh becoming the youngest ever Olympic medalist after leading Japan to the women’s team bronze at Rio 2016 will compete in her first Women’s World Cup. European champion Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) will lead Europe’s charge in the USA. SAMARA will be looking to repeat her silver medal performance in 2012 which is the best ever finish by a European player. Tickets can be bought here: http://www.liacourascenter.com events or by calling +1 800-298-4200. Phone orders are only accepted from 10:00am – 5:00pm ET Monday – Friday. The full list of invited players for the Seamaster 2016 ITTF Women’s World Cup: Liu Shiwen (CHN) – Asian Cup Winner Ding Ning (CHN) – World Champion Feng Tianwei (SIN) – Asian Cup 3rd place Mima Ito (JPN) – Asian Cup 6th place Yu Mengyu (SIN)- Asian Cup 8th place Miu Hirano (JPN) – Asian Cup 5th place Tie Yana (HKG) – Asian Cup 4th place Melek Hu (TUR) – Europe Cup 2nd place Jia Liu (AUT) – Europe Cup 3th place Haeun Yang (KOR) – Asian Cup 9th place Elizabeta Samara (ROU) – Europe Cup 4th place Huajun Jiang (HKG) – Asian Cup 7th place Sabine Winter (GER) – Europe Cup 6th place Yanfei Shen (ESP) – Europe Cup Winner Sofia Polcanova (AUT) – Europe Cup 5th place Lily Zhang (USA) – Wild Card Dina Meshref (EGY) – African Cup Winner Yue Wu (USA) – North American Cup Winner Zhenhua Dederko (AUS) – Oceania Cup Winner Lady Ruano (COL) – Latin American Cup Winner
Youngsters in Luxembourg again
ETTU / ITTF – Europe Eurotalents Project Talent Identification & Selection As a part of the ETTU / ITTF – Europe Eurotalents Project Talent Identification & Selection the 3rd Development Camp for 2014 & 2015 Eurotalents Players in cooperation with Luxembourg/Chinese TT College started today. “We gathered 17 young players. Their 12 coaches are Also with us” said ETTU Development Manager Neven CEGNAR. The main coaches in the camp are: LI Xiadong FENG Zhe ZHENG Chaoying XIA Cheng and Martin OSTERMANN. “We also have eight top sparing partners from china aged between 18 and 22. This is a great opportunuty for our players to make a step forward in their development. Every evening we analize the trainings with Chinese coaches.”
Tomas KONECNY climbed to new heights.
Asarel 2016 ITTF Bulgaria Open The no. 3 seed at the Asarel 2016 ITTF Bulgaria Open Tomas KONECNY won the Men’s Singles title. By beating Frenchman Quentin ROBINOT the no.8 seed in the final (11-9 11-9 11-3 12-10) not only that he achieve a major milestone in his career but also he etch a landmark in the history of sport in the Czech Republic. No player from the eastern European country had ever won an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title. Tomas KONECNY is only the third player from the Czech Republic ever to reach such a final. At the English Open in Kettering in 1997 Petr KORBEL was beaten in the final by Belgium’s Jean-Michel SAIVE; later in 2004 in Santiago Chile the same fate befell Marek KLASEK. He experienced defeat at the hands of Kalinikos KREANGA of Greece. “I feel really amazing right now. It’s the first time I have won on the ITTF World Tour. It’s amazing I can’t believe it. It was quite hard. Quentin is very good so it was hard.” Tomas KONECNY said after beating Quentin Robinot. Yuka ISHIGAKI used her defensive skills to good effect to win the Women’s Singles title. The no.2 seed at the final hurdle she beat colleague Misaki MORIZONO the no.5 seed to arrest to the title (11-5 11-8 11-4 14-12). The top seeds it was success for Alexey LIVENTSOV and Mikhail PAIKOV it was defeat for Maria DOLGIKH and Polina MIKHAILOVA; that was the verdict for Russia in the respective Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles events. At the final hurdle both faced adversaries who had been required to compete in the preliminary rounds and were thus not seeded. LIVENTSOV and PAIKOV overcame Chinese Taipei’s LIAO Cheng-Ting and SUN Chia-Hung (11-5 12-10 6-11 11-8) after DOLGIKH and MIKHAILOVA had experienced defeat at the hands of Japan’s Miyu KATO and Misaki MORIZONO (11-8 11-5 12-10).
35 talents invited to Slovenia’s Otocec
Eurotalents Selection Camp ETTU Eurotalents (TI&S) invited 35 players selected from Pre-Selection Camps 2016 and Eurominichamp’s tornament 2016 in Schiltingheim to Otočec (October 2nd – 9th 2016). The entries should be sent not later 21st of September 2016 to Mrs. Zita Pidl ETTU Project Co-ordinator (zpidl.ettu@gmail.com). 20 boys and 15 girls from 21 countries are invited to Slovenia and the best of them will join the group of 23 players already selected in 2014 and 2015. All of them are the part of the ETTU Eurotalents Development U-15 project. Ondrej KVETON (CZE) Bakir HUSREMOVIC (BIH) Malamatenia PAPADIMITRIOU (GRE) Ignas SISANOVAS (LTU) Sophie CHANG (ENG) Anna HURSEY (WAL) Csenge ADAMIK (HUN) Lucas HALLIN (SWE) Luis MACIEL (POR) Wiktoria WRZOSEK (POL) Patricia SANTOS (POR) Bruna MARCELINO (POR) Camara GABRIELIUS (NED) Bence BALOGH (HUN) Idan TROSMAN (ISR) Yenohatan EITAN (ISR) Nomin BAASAN (SWE) Roko METER (CRO) Bogdan BADEA (ROM) Eduard IONESCU (ROM) Andrei TOMICA (ROM) Mikhail BREDNIKOV (RUS) Vladislav MAKAROV (RUS) Iulian CHIRITA (ROM) Vladislav BANNIKOV (RUS) Jakub GOLDIR (SVK) Daniel BERZOSA (ESP) Dennis LARSSON (SWE) Yaroslav OLESKEVYCH (UKR) Laura ABRAVICIUTE (LTU) Anastasia KOVRIGINA (RUS) Sophie EARLEY (IRL) Nicole ARLIA (ITA) Miriam CARNOVALE (ITA) Laura KAIM (GER) COACHES: -Jože URH national coach and Head coach of Slovenian Training center – head coach -Vesna OJSTERŠEK DRNOVŠEK National coach -Andreja OJSTERŠEK URH Assistant Coach of Slovenian Training Center -Mate LEJO Assistant Coach of Slovenian Training Center -Istvan KORPA (ETTU) -Neven CEGNAR (ETTU)
KRAMER and SCRUTON visited Panagyurishste
2016 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open ETTU President Ronald KRAMER and Secretary General Richard SCRUTON were invited to 2016 ITTF World Tour Asarel Bulgaria Open to see how the tournament is organized. The team of organisers lead by the World Tour Director Tsvetozar HRISTOV also wanted to present to the guests the venue and the hotels they have in Panagyurishte. “Both Mr. KRAMER and Mr. SCRUTON were invited and accepted to be present at the celebration of the “Day of the minеr”. This is celebration and a holiday of the general sponsor of the event Asarel Medet JSC. Asarel Medet is a copper mining company. Its headquarters and the mine are situated in Panagyurishte” explained Director HRISTOV. In the second year Bulgaria Open 2016 gathered 136 players from 23 countries. Organisers have hosted 46 players more compared to 2015. This is an increase of more than 50 percent. “This five day tournament is enthusiastically and professionally organised in a stunning and well equipped venue in the very nice city of Panagyurishte. The cooperation between main sponsor Asarel and the Bulgarian TTA has proven to work very well for table tennis. With this facility and the organisational talent Panagyurishste may well turn into a true table tennis centre in Bulgaria in the coming years” said ETTU President Ronald KRAMER.
ITTF Announces 12 Host Cities for New & Improved 2017 World Tour
The ITTF World Tour will receive a facelift in 2017. The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is excited to announce the 12 cities that will host the new and improved 2017 ITTF World Tour events. The revamped ITTF World Tour will have a new logo new branding and a new structure to better promote table tennis globally. On the announcement ITTF Marketing Director Steve DAINTON stated: “In 2016 we have worked hard to look at ways to push the World Tour product forward with new partners and new conditions the desire to host events has dramatically increased and we are so pleased to see conditions such as prize money increasing as well. We will now push forward to ensure events can grow both in terms of popularity and commercially so that over time we can showcase international table tennis more regularly throughout the year.” The 2017 World Tour will be split into two tiers six ITTF World Tour Platinum events which is the new top tier of the World Tour and six regular ITTF World Tour events. There was an unprecedented amount of bids to be a part of the new ITTF World Tour with the result being a higher prize money pool for all players. The six ITTF World Tour Platinum events will have higher prize money and be of a higher level organisation which will ensure the attendance of the world’s best players resulting in more international exposure for the hosts. The six cities that have won the right to host a 2017 ITTF World Tour Platinum event are: Doha Qatar: 23-26 February 2017 Tokyo Japan: 16-18 June 2017 Chengdu China: 22-25 June 2017 Gold Coast Australia: 29 June – 2 July 2017 Linz Austria: 1- 3 September 2017 Magdeburg Germany 10-12 November 2017 The regular ITTF World Tour events are: Budapest Hungary: 19-22 January 2017 New Delhi India: 16-19 February 2017 Incheon Korea: 20-23 April 2017 Olomouc Czech Republic: 24-27 August 2017 Panagyurishte Bulgaria: 7-10 September 2017 Stockholm Sweden: 16-19 November 2017 Australia & Austria move up to the top World Tour tier for the first time after successfully hosting regular lower-tiered World Tour events. India joins the ITTF World Tour for the first time with New Delhi hosting the breakthrough event in February next year. The 12 events all offer World Tour Standings points which will be used to determine the top 16 players that qualify for the World Tour Grand Finals to be held from 14-17 December 2017 in a location to be determined. Bidding for the 2018 ITTF World Tour will open in November so stay tuned for more information.
ETTU 2016 Coaching Conference in Prague
ETTU / ITTF –Europe Development Program he European Table Tennis Union annual Coaching Conference will be held in Prague (CZE) from Sunday 9th to Tuesday 11th October 2016. On Monday Dr. Med. Danijel BORKOVIC (SLO) will open the Conference with the lecture “Nutrition in Table Tennis”. He will talk about the basic anatomy and physiology of digestive system basis of healthy nutrition and food supplements. In the evening session Ph.D. Makis CHAMALIDIS (FRA) will have the lecture named “Coaching is a Mental Game”. Among various subjects Consultant for the French Tennis Federation since 1997 will explain why Coaches should be much more of a Mental Coach. On Tuesday Anders JOHANSSON (SWE) will highligt the problem that changes might bring. The Welness Hotel Step Prague is the venue of the Coaching Conference. The related documents you can see here
Petrissa SOLJA: The best momnet was when we beat Japan
Rio 2016 The Olympic Games are behind us but phenomenal success of the German team still echoes. One of the creators of the story of success was Petrissa SOLJA the member of the silver medal team in the Women’s Event. You went to Rio with the great ambitions but was it a goal to reach the medal from the very beginning? “It was the dream for me to win the medal and I wished it will be in Team Event. We all knew that our chances lay in Team Event because we were seeded at the position no. three. The expectations were high. The great obstacle was the fact that for all three of us it was the first time that we played at the Olympic Games” explained SOLJA. “Already when we saw the draw we realized we have a great chance to get this medal but we had to play our best.” What is the strongest memory from the tournament? “When we won against Japan. It was the best moment for me. After YIN finished the last ball it was the moment of great relief. We needed full four hours to conclude that match. We were under enormous of pressure and the level of stress was very high. I think I never was that happy like when we beat Japan.” It came as a consolation for the result in Singles Event. “For me the hardest moment was when I lost my first match in singles against the player from North Korea. When I saw the draw I knew it will be very hard. Event to get to the second round seamed as a mission impossible. . I was aware I had to play over the 100 percent to beat her but I could not play like that in first match. I lost against her in two previous occasions. She was too strong for me.” SOLJA mentioned great fans in Rio. “I was supported by the fans.They cheered all of us not only players from Brazil. They were very kind and showed respect for the good game” said SOLJA” The most powerful impression was opening ceremony. It was great everything was fine. I had the chance to see lot of top athletes and it was very interesting for me. Olympics are great experience.” Did you have a chance to see something else beside venues and Village? “I did not have time to go out. I just went to the German house finally to have tasty meal. I was afraid to go sightseeing for security reasons. We were warned it was dangerous.” What you will do now? “For next two weeks I am on holiday. I am at Cyprus and after the break we will start the preparation for European championships and Champions league. I will go to the training army camp for eight weeks until December. I also hope I will receive the wild card for the World Cup. I was not playing at the ITTF Europe Cup because I was injured.” —
Serbia clinched all medals in Singles Events
Balkan U21 Championships Serbia won the “Yoto DRIANOVSKI” Trophy as a best team in overall standings at the Balkan Championships U21 in Niksic Montenegro. In Men’s Singles Event Nikola MARINKOVIC of Serbia beat his compatriot Aleksa GACEV . Bronye also went to Serbia with Nikola STRUGAREVIC and Ivor KATIC. Serbia also booksed all three positioons in Women’s Singles Event. Iyabela LUPULESKU Aneta MAKSUTI CLINCHED GOLD AND SILVER AND Dragana VIGNJEVIC and Tijana JOKIC won gold. In the Men’s Doubles Event Ivor KATIC and Nikola STRUGAREVIC of Serbia clinched the title. In the final they overcame compatriots Aleksa GACEV and Nikola MARINKOVIC. The combination of players coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina Sinisa MARCETIC and Hristijan JOVANOVSKI of FYR Macedonia split the bronze with players from FYR Macedonia Hristijan JOVANOV and Filip KOSTADINOVSKI. Emina HADZIAHMETOVIC of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia beat Serbians pairings Aneta MAKSUTI and Viktoria TRUZINSKI. Bronze went to Serbia and Albania. Tijana JOKIC and Dragana VIGNJEVIC finished third as well as Liridona REXHAJ and Alba XHUPI. In Mixed doubles event Ivor KATIC and Aneta MAKSUTI are new Balkan champions Silver medalists are Nikola MARINKOVIC and Izabela LUPULESKU. Bronze medalists are Aleksa GACEV and Tijana JOKIC of Serbia and Filip RADOVIC of Montenegro and Dragana VIGNJEVIC of Serbia.
OVTCHAROV leads European challenge
Invitation List Released for LIEBHERR 2016 Men’s World Cup With Rio 2016 now just a nice memory the table tennis world looks forward to the Liebherr 2016 ITTF Men’s World Cup to be held in Saarbrucken Germany on 1-3 October 2016. All 20 players invited to the prestigious event in Germany competed at Rio 2016 and have earned their place at the show piece event through Continental Cup qualification events throughout 2016 plus the current World Champion & a wildcard. China’s newly crowned Olympic Champion and Men’s World Cup defending Champion MA Long heads the invitation list as the reigning World Champion together with 2013 Champion XU Xin (CHN) and three time champion 40-year-old Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR). World number five Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) will lead the local German contingent in Saarbrucken alongside Bastin STEGER (GER) the man he won the Rio 2016 team bronze with. Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) who played the tournament of his life to win singles bronze and team silver at Rio 2016 will also be making the trip to Germany. MIZUTANI will be hoping to repeat his victory over XU Xin at Rio 2016 to bring home another medal to Japan. Based on his brilliant performance at Rio 2016 where he became extremely close to beating both Grand Slam Champions MA Long and ZHANG Jike (CHN) JEONG Youngsik (KOR) takes the wildcard place. The full list of invited players for the Liebherr 2016 Men’s World Cup: MA Long (CHN) – World Champion ARUNA Quadri (NGR) – African Cup Winner XU Xin (CHN) – Asian Cup Winner CALDERANO Hugo (BRA) – Latin American Cup Winner FENG Yijun (USA) – North American Cup Winner POWELL David (AUS) – Oceania Cup Winner OVTCHAROV Dimitrij (GER) – European Cup Winner WONG Chun Ting (HKG) – Asian Cup 3rd place (2nd Qualifier) GAO Ning (SIN) – Asian Cup 4th place (3rd Qualifier) MONTEIRO Joao (POR) – European Cup 2nd place (2nd Qualifier) SHIBAEV Alexander (RUS) – European Cup 3rd place (3rd Qualifier) MIZUTANI Jun (JPN) – Asian Cup 5th place LEE Sangsu (KOR) – Asian Cup 6th place KARLSSON Kristian (SWE) – European Cup 4th place SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) – European Cup 5th place FEGERL Stefan (AUT) – European Cup 6th place APOLONIA Tiago (POR) – European Cup 7th place STEGER Bastian (GER) – European Cup 8th place GAUZY Simon (FRA) – European Cup 9th place JEOUNG Youngsik (KOR) – Wildcard
