MERCER: We are all extremely proud that we were part of first European Games The curtains came down for the Table Tennis Event at the inaugural European Games in Azerbaijan’s capitol Baku. The Baku Sports Hall was the venue for the Table Tennis. The Hall was just perfect for the sport whilst the complete staff gave their best in making unforgettable event. Players praised the conditions spectators responded well despite the fact that Azerbaijan is not the country with the richest history in table tennis and fantastic matches put the final stamp on great tournament. Person who was in charge for the seven days events was Sheila MERCER Table Tennis Competition Manager. Asked when the preparations started MERCER answered: “I have been here for 10 months; I came at the beginning of the September but the planning already started a year before that. I had local assistant who started working in January two more local and two more international staff.” As it was the case on every other event volunteers were the main working force in Baku Sport Hall. “We had 89 volunteers working just for table tennis in two shifts. The days were so long here so we had to split them to two shifts. We had 28 international technical officials and 20 more from Azerbaijan who also helped us to run the tournament.” The most challenging moment in the preparations for the event was the venue. “Most challenging was getting the venue ready. When we started it must be redevelop. It took a long time to get the building finished. ” However it was worth waiting. “We had a beautiful venue for the table tennis. I am very please how it has been designed.” The introduction volunteers with the sport were one of the challenges as well. “They are very young mostly students and they have never seen something like that before. It was difficult for them to understand when they got here what is all about.” The table tennis event got nothing but positive reaction from all players and officials. “We can already say that it has been huge success. Usually you have much more time to plan than we had here. In case of Olympic Games and Paralympics you have seven years when the initial planning starts; here we had less then two years. Also it brings us to the country which have not the history of staging anything as major as Games. At the end they did a great job. Also volunteers did a great job they were so enthusiastic so keen. They gain valuable experience for future. And the same goes for us. It has been the first European Games and we are all extremely proud that we were part of it.” For seven days top European players fought for titles in Singles and Teams Event and for the place at the Olympic Games. The winners of the Singles event booked their place for Rio 2016. In Rio will travel Li Jiao of Netherlands and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany. In Men’s Team’s Event Portugal justified their status. Netherlands is most successful nation in Women’s Events.  

Outstanding atmosphere in Baku Sports Hall Players from 35 European countries played at the table tennis events at the 1st European Games in Baku Azerbaijan. Also 25 officials were invited to take part at this prestigious tournament. Three referees 20 umpires and two racket testers from 20 associations were on duty. “A first memorable moment was the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium where the history culture and the fast economic development of Azerbaijan was shown by more than 2000 volunteers. A great spectacular; the stage was set to deliver an outstanding tournament ” said Michael ZWIPP Referee at the 1st European Games. The Baku Sports Hall was completely renovated before the Games and offered excellent conditions for players and officials in table tennis. The best players of Europe provided table tennis of its highest level. Fighting for the medals the Olympic spirit was felt by everyone be present. “Great impressions will be kept in our memories: Best conditions in the Baku Sports Hall enthusiastic spectators professional organization of all logistics perfect support from nearly 100 volunteers straightforward performance from the umpires good sportsmanlike conduct from all athletes and most important fantastic matches during all days of competition. All those elements have contributed to an outstanding atmosphere which was transmitted via TV-broadcasting to many countries in the world.” All umpires appreciated their stay in Azerbaijan. “We valued the outstanding hospitality and friendship of the local people. It was impressive to experience the special culture and development of a modern country. It’s a pity that there was just a short time for sightseeing so it was not easy to say “good bye”! However we learned a lot and we are proud having been part of the 1st European Games ” stated Michael ZWIPP.

Silver from Vladimir SAMSONOV and bronze for KOU Lei Dimitrij OVTCHAROV overcame Vladimir SAMSONOV at the European Championships in Schwechat in 2013 to win his first ever title in Singles at the Old Continent. Tonight after hard and breathtaking battle he repeated the success and won the title at the first ever European Games in Baku 4:3 (10:12 7:11 11;9 11:3 9:11 11:7 11:8). OVTCHAROV booked his place in Rio as well. KOU Lei of Ukraine won the bronze medal.  “After the Team’s Event we went to the German House her in Baku. I took the good look of the medal that girl’s won and their gold gave extra motivation. We had a disappointing team’s event not because we played bad but because of rule that have to be changed. In singles I suffered from pain in my back at the beginning. I was not sure how I will continue…At the end everything fell into its place ” stated OVTCHAROV. More recently SAMSONOV beat OVTCHAROV in Qatar and final in Singles in Baku started with Vladimir in control. “Today we had a very difficult and long match. My friend SAMSONOV also deserved to win it. He pushed me to the limits.” SAMSONOV agreed it was long match. “ It was strange opening game. I had 7:1 then we entered close finish. I won the next game but it is so hard to keep in that pace against OVTCHAROV.  At this point OVTCHAROW won everything he could in Europe. He is reigning European champion Top 16 Champion and European Games winner. In the match for the bronze medal KOU Lei of Ukraine overcame Paul DRINKHALL of Great Britain (11:5 7:11 7:11 5:11 11:5 11:8 20:22). “I was under pressure knowing that I am playing for the medal. I lost opening game but it was crucial when I managed to level the game. My backhand started working. It was a very close match every point was very important and I only won in the final moments. I had to vary my play changing from left to right changing my service changing the way I play.”” explained KOU Lei. By winning the bronze the Ukrainian is the only unseeded player to win a table tennis medal at the Baku 2015 European Games competition. Paul DRINKHALL had a fantastic tournament but at the end he admitted; ”KOU played everything well. He made no easy mistakes you have to play against him on the highest level and it keeps you under constant pressure.”

Li Jiao beat LI Jie to clinch the title in Women’s Singles Event in Baku In the first ever all-Dutch final at the major events Li Jiao beat LI Jie to clinch the gold medal at the European Games in Baku. In addition LI Jiao booked her place for the Olympic Games in Rio 2106. It is going to be her third appearance at the Olympics after Beijing 2008 and London 2012. LI Jie won silver whilst HU Melek of Turkey won bronze. Netherlands concluded their journey to Baku with total of three medals; beside gold and silver in singles they won silver in Team’s Event. In the final duel of the Women’s Singles Event experienced 42-years old LI Jiao dominated 4:0 (13:11 11:5 12:10 11:5).  “Our aim was to secure good result here and we had very strong preparations. In past three weeks I had hard trainings and I dedicated my full time to be ready for the challenge in Baku ” explained LI Jiao who also works as a coach of the men’s team. That role affected her play and results so last month she was completely dedicated only to her game.  The improvement comparing to the performance at the World Championships in China was drastic. “I preformed at my best level. I feel like I am 18 again. I had a little bit shaky start in Baku. It was difficult to overcame Yana NOSKOVA at the beginning but latter everything was easer. “ On her way to the gold LI Jiao also overcame no. 2 seed LIU Jia of Austria and no. 7 seed Petrissa SOLJA of Germany. “The match against LI Jie was mentally strong. We knew each other for 16 years but I had to think about it like it is just another match.” LI Jie also admitted it was mentally difficult. “At the Dutch championships we met each other dozen time. I never managed to beat her before ” said LI Jie. Jie’s way to the final was equally impressive. She overcame no. one seed HAN Ying of Germany. LI was fantastic at the World Championships in China earlier this year when she won the medal with LI Qian in doubles and it seams that her game improved even further.  “I never played against HAN. I was not confident before that game. It was very difficult match.” In the match for the bronze no. 8 seed Turkey’s HU Melek beat the player who made the biggest upset at the Event Slovakia’s Eva ODOROVA 4:1 (12:10 12:10 11:8 11:13 11:7). After two close games HU settled in more safe rhythm but ODOROVA did not want to give up easily. “We do not know each other. I have never played against ODOROVA. I got few tips from the coaches and the players before the match but there is a big difference when you actually play against someone. It took me two games to read her game. In third I felt little bit relieved. ODOROVA changed her tactic in fourth game. I saved two game points and leveled to 10:10 and then I had a match ball. I thought it is the end but I did not put enough of power in my stroke just blocked and it opened the door for ODOROVA. She seized the opportunity and won that set. I am happy that I managed to seal the match after in the next game ” said HU.  HU admitted the most difficult part of the tournament was the great number of the players with defensive style of play. “I am not good against them I do not have enough power. Yesterday I played two matches against LI Qian and Tetyana BILENKO and I injured my shoulder. I made many forehand mistakes earlier today in semis against LI Jiao which is why I lost..”  

Volunteers from 56 countries from all over the World came to Azerbaijan Thousands of the enthusiastic friendly welcoming efficient and always smiling Flamekeepers spread the spirit of the European Games in Baku. Around 12.500 volunteers or Flamekeepers as it is their name here coming from the Azerbaijan but also from 56 countries from all over the World.  They are all under the guidance of Sharon MCMICHAEL Workforce Director Baku 2015 who already worked as a Head of Accreditation and Uniforms – for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  However it is not only the volunteers that Sharon MCMICHAEL is looking after:  “I am looking after planning the attraction the recruitment and the deployment of all the work forces across the games; 2.500 members of staff 20.000 contractors and 12.500 volunteers. I also look after uniforms as a part of the deployment process and the entire accreditation process ” explained Sharon.  Planning for the Games started two years ago.  “I came to Baku in October 2013 and that is when we started the planning. We started with calculating how many volunteers we would need and what skills we would require. We then identified the target market to attract our volunteers from.   A multisport event in Azerbaijan is a relatively new concept so recruiting such a large number of Volunteers had never been tested it was important to get the target market right. In London for example applications were over subscribed as there is a strong culture of volunteering. In our research with the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation we identified a strong target market as 18 to 22 year olds who would be on leave from University during the period of the Games.  Our target market were the people who we felt were most motivated to be volunteers.  “When you see them here they are great. The wonderful thing is that they are very proud of their country they want to be the part on such historic event they want to get skills to help them after university in their future jobs and they want to be a part of the international event . So we identified that group as been a very motivated and very positive group of people and one year before the event we started the process of receiving the applications.”  The team received over 40.000 applications.  ” We have done about 15 000 interviews to deploy 12 500 volunteers. It have been a quite a big logistical operation to get them through interview process. ”  Sharon and her team needed to find which skills perfectly match against all different functions in business.  “We have done probably 110 000 hours of training with volunteers in six months and most of them have been conducted in last three months. We take them through four different types of training. The first type was general training or common role training where we teach them about the European Games about the environment they will working the idea and the history of the Games and how it relates in the European Olympic Committees; we tell them about the clients groups we introduce them to the common themes such as uniforms and accreditations.”  The next phase is more specific.  “We introduce the volunteers to the functions that they will be deployed in. They learn about what they are going to do about the type of service and for most people the final type of training is when we bring them into the venues and show not only what they should do but the basics of the operations in the venue. To make sure they are aware of basic health and safety requirements and emergency exits in the event of any emergency situation. The next type of training is the leadership training. It is for the volunteers who showed great potential and leadership skills and have been engaged as Team Leaders.”  There are not only volunteers from Azerbaijan but also a lot of volunteers from abroad helping in Baku.  “We had applications from 3550 internationals coming for 107 different countries mostly from Russia Britain and Italy. In the end we only had spaces for around 350 international volunteers who were specialists as we wanted the vast majority of the Flamekeepers to be from Azerbaijan.  We had 1800 volunteer applications from Russia 420 from Britain and 300 from Italy. The figures are big and it reflects the fact that these countries have hosted an Olympic or Olympic Winter Games in the past decade. It begins to build the picture of legacy of volunteering that big events leave behind. People have had such a great time they want to come back and to do it again. That is something that I want to leave after this Games. The group of 12 500 trained people that can be and want to be the part of events like Formula one or Islamic Solidarity Games. I believe that the European Games will leave a lasting legacy of talent and enthusiasm for future events” said Sharon MCMICHAEL. 

OVTCHAROV SAMSONOV and KOU LEI joins him In Men’s Singles Event at the first European Games in Baku top seeded Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany booked his place in the semi final but still the tournament was not saved of surprises. OVTCHAROV recorded two straight games victories today; he beat Adrien MATTENET of France before he accounted for Andrej GACINA of Croatia. “Against GACINA I had my best performance in Baku especially the third game that I won at 12:10. I moved very well. I must say the doctors did a great job. I only feel the pain when I put my trousers but I do not have to do that in the match so everything is fine ” explained OVTCHAROV laughing. Tomorrow he will meet Paul DRINKHALL of England. DRINKHALL emerged as a surprise winner after the duel against Marcos FREITAS of Portugal no. 4 seed. “It is going to be very difficult match. Last time he beat me at the Russian Open. He is inconsistent; Paul plays two tournaments well then in four next lose in first round…however through out this tournament he showed impressive performance and that is something that could not be changed for a day ” said OVTCHAROV. Before FREITAS DRINKAHALL beat Bojan TOKIC but after Portugal won gold in Team’s Event victory over world’s no. 10 is big upset. “I beat him last time we played in the Russian Open quarterfinals. Some might say that he is a better player than I am but I would disagree. However what Portugal are doing for the game is great. They won the European championship on home soil last year beating Germany and got the gold here. It is great for table tennis that they are the new kids on the block so to speak.” LIAM PICHFORD also had a chance to book his place in semis but he lost against KOU Lei. “The level at European Games is like the European championships. It’s been a great 12 months for us and I think it’s only a matter of time before we really take off and do something.” Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus overcame Simon GAUZY of France and Tiago APOLONIA of Portugal today. “The duel against Simon was much more difficult. It was 2:2 in games then 10:10 and 11:11…very close game with Simon changing the pace through the match. At some point he was very passive and then he changed but at the end I had a little bit more luck ” explained SAMSONOV who won in six games. Against Apolonia he faced difficulties only in the opening game. “In the opening game he was in the lead 9:7 but I won 11:9. That was the turning point. After that I got complete control ” said SAMSONOV. APOLONIA admitted that he always play hard against Vladimir. “I never beat him. I think I lost last 10 encounters ” said Tiago.

Only one match in the quarterfinal of the Women’s Singles Event at the European Games in Baku went according to seeding Only one match in the quarterfinal of the Women’s Singles Event at the European Games in Baku went according to seeding. In three other matches lower ranked player prevailed and among the casualties were the number one seed as well.  World’s no. 10 and top seeded HAN Ying of Germany suffered by the hands of LI Jie of Netherlands. LI recovered from 2:0 in reverse leveled at 3:3 and eventually won the decisive game. “I felt so tired this morning. I could not get up from my bed. Not only that my body was tired but my mind as well. I thought I have a medal and if I lose it would not be so bad after all. I took me a while to get up but then I forced myself to face the challenge and to give my best. I beat LI Xue of France in the Round of 16 and I found strength to overcame HAN ” explained LI Jie. After two opening games LI gained the control in the match. “I barely made any mistakes. I did not panic just trying to play any ball safe. The major problem was that I play against so many defenders here and I am so tired. But in the third game I felt there is something; I can beat her.” HAN Ying admitted the pressure of being no. one was very strong. “In opening games I played the way we planed. I preferred when the expedite system started but in the third game I lost control. I could not find the answer to her service game. I had big problem finding the tactics ” explained HAN.”I came here as no. one seed and everyone was after me. In addition I put an extra pressure by wanting so much to qualify directly to the Olympic Games.” Eva ODOROVA of Slovakia plays the tournament of her career. So far the best result for player. No. 115 at the World rankings was the quarterfinal of the Mixed Doubles Event at the World Championships in Yokohama in 2009. Today after she beat Renata STRBIKOVA of Czech Republic ODOROVA succeeded against Margaryta PESOTSKA of Ukraine. “I have never played against PESOTSKA before so I study her game from video. Also I talked with few coaches what to do and their advices proved worthy ” explained ODOROVA. ”For the match against STRBIKOVA there was no need for any advice. We knew each other something like forever. From age of 10 we played against each other and at this point the question of motivation and who has a better day is the crucial for victory.” The short time between the matches and long distances between the Village and the venue gave ODOROVA opportunity to see the city between two matches. “I went out to eat something and the rest of the time I spent on massage. I have a problem with my arm and shoulder. I did not want even to practice. I exchanged few balls with Barbora BALAZOVA for a 15 minutes in order to preserve some strength for the quarterfinal match.” There is a big chance we could see the all-Dutch final tomorrow. Netherlands will have two representatives in semis; LI Jiao also booked her place among top 4. She also had incredible journey to the ultimate day. In the morning hours first time after 10 defeats in the row she managed to beat LIU Jia of Austria no. two seed at the tournament. Latter she accounted for Petrissa SOLJA of Germany. Night before the Round of 16 Jiao was sure she would not be able to play but after the mixture of ice cold and hot showers she went to bed and early in the morning she recovered enough to clear her way to the semis. “Against SOLJA I won two opening games and then I started to play faster. I made few mistakes before I asked myself ‘Where are you running?’ I started to play with less pressure more relaxed and regain my control ” explained LI Jiao. SOLJA was disappointed. “Never mind the rankings with her experience LI Jiao was the favorite here. I am disappointed but still there is a gold medal in team’s to make me feel better.” The only player who justified her rankings was HU Melek of Turkey. Seed no. 8 overcame LI Qian of Poland no. 11 seed and it was the hard task since previously LI Qian overcame Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania no. 3 seed. “I was so nervous at the beginning. When won three opening games t put some extra pressure off my shoulders but unfortunately I became too relaxed because LI took the control over the match. I lost next game before I started to feel the pain in my arm. Soon I lost two next games and LI QIAN recovered completely. We started from the very beginning from that point. I knew there is no place for any mistakes any more ” explained HU.