OVTCHAROV wins in straight games despite injuru Thanks to painkillers and strong efforts from the medical team Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was fit enough to continue the competition in the Men’s Singles Event at the European Games in Baku. Pain in the back caused by the demanding season slowed down Dimitrij a little but still top seeded player from Germany left the arena with straight games victory against Dimitrij PROKOPCOV of Czech Republic (14:12 11:6 11:9 11:6). “I was not moving well at the beginning of the match but as it progressed I was felling better and better ” explained OVTCHAROV. ”I took the advantage of the day- off . Also even on the final day in Team’s Event I have not played in singles. It gave me some extra time for recovery.” In next round he will meet Adrien MATTENET again. France beat Germany in semi final but OVTCHAROV overcame MATTENET 3:1. “Two opening games were close but last two were difficult. Under other circumstances free from injury I would not worry about forthcoming match but in this case I have to be cautious. Everything will depend of my shape tomorrow.” MATTENET beat Poland’s WANG Zengyi on his way to the Round of 16. Another favorite is out Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece no. 5 seed suffered by the hands of KOU Lei of Ukraine. Kalinikos KREANGA of Greece is back in great style after severe injury that left him out of the game for six months. Today he beat Romania’s Adrian CRISAN after he overcame Cedric NUYTINCK day before.“I was not happy how I played yesterday. I had easier adversary but I was not at the top of the game. Today against CRISAN I found my game and despite difficulties I really played good ” explained KREANGA. In the Round of 16 KREANGA will meet Andrej GACINA. “I will have to move well for sure. Look at him. He is in perfect shape ” said KREANGA. There was nothing we could add about GACINA’s shape since he destroyed any winning aspirations of Niagol STOYANOV of Italy in very effective way. However as his next adversary GACINA also recovered from recent injury. “Five days before the World Championships I suffered from a tendon rupture. I was back in the training program only 15 days ago. I am still uncertain about my game ” explained GACINA. Member of the title winning Team in Baku Tiago APOLONIA overcame Marc DURAN of Spain. “I watched him yesterday against Dane Jonathan GROTH. He was very good. That is the reason why I was very cautious before the match. I started the duel very focused and that helped me to establish 3;0 lead. After that he changed the tactics a bit narrowed the game hit few very good points but I recovered quick ” explained APOLONIA. Tomorrow he will meet Kristian KARLSSON of Sweden. “He is one of the few top player who I did not play against. I will have to study his matches tonight.” KARLSSON halted the progress of Jean Michel SAIVE. “You do not have opportunity to play against the athlete who is legend in your sport but you have to forget about it when the match starts. I was exciting because I am going to play against the player I was look up in the past before the duel; in the match I was just focused on tactics. I felt comfortable in smashing and I played aggressive ” explained KARLSSON

Poland’s Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA suffered by the hands of Serbia’s player In the Women’s Singles Event at the European Games in Baku few upsets “spiced” the first round but for sure the match that attracted most of the attention was between Eva ODOROVA against Swede Linda BERGSTROM whilst the one between NI Xia LIan and Lisa LONG provided a great food for the media. 51-year-old NI Xia Lian of Luxembourg beat 15-year-old Belgium’s Lisa LUNG . It was the contest between the oldest and the youngest player in the Event. “It may have looked easy but she is much better than I thought. From my view Lisa is a big talent ” said NI.” I always say ‘never say never’. I never imagined to be playing at this age. The federation in Luxembourg has been so good for me. They love me so much.” On the possibility of playing her own children at international events NI said: “My children don’t like to play table tennis professionally because I am always gone. They play only for fun.” Eva ODOROVA of Slovakia was in the arena for hour and 20 minutes. Her match against BERGSTROM 4:2 (12:10 11:13 11:6 15:17 11:8 11:8) lasted so long that Renata STRBIKOVA from Czech Republic came to coach Barbora BALAZOVA since Valentina POPOVA was involved in first match.  “I lost my focus after I won first game. In next I hade a safe lead and then all of the sudden I was in reverse. I needed time to get back in rhythm and right frame of mind ” explained ODOROVA. Speaking about POPOVA the interesting fact is that she returned to Azerbaijan after 31 year. POPOVA was born here before she moved to Slovakia. In terms of results Gabriela FEHER of Serbia was in charge for the biggest upset. Currently ranked at position no. 128 at the World rankings she beat Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA of Poland currently ranked at position no 75. “After three years of struggling with injury finally I won important match. I have been missing so much major competitions. This victory is very important for me ” said FEHER. In the first round of the Men’s Singles Event Admir DURANSPAHIC of Bosnia and Herzegovina overcame TAN Ruiwu of Croatia to create biggest upset in the evening program. “From the very beginning I felt that I want that victory more. I lost opening game but I saw my chance. He was not determined like I was ” explained Admir. The duel between WANG Yang of Slovakia and Aleksandar KARAKASEVIC of Serbia ended in favor of Slovakia’s player but both players suffered from injuries. The stake was even higher comparing the other players. After withdrawal of Timo BOLL the winner of the match gained free passage to the place among best 16. Russia’s Kirill SKACHKOV suffered by the hands of Jean-Michel SAIVE. Gabriela FEHER upset the rankings  “I am like a kid here. I have nothing more to prove. I am not quite sure what players think when they play ‘old SAIVE’ maybe they think it’s easier because I’m getting old but also they know I know how to win.”

“I am keeping my fingers cross for OVTCHAROV in Baku.” Timo Boll has to withdraw from the singles’ event at the European Games in Baku because of the after-effects of a food poisoning. “I’m feeling too flabby ate almost nothing for two days. My circulation is down ” he said in the Athletes Village where he shares a flat with his colleagues of the German men’s team. “I am not even able to move even here in our apartment properly. There is no chance I could play in the physical state I am in”.  He is now focusing on the European Olympic qualification next year from 6 to 10 April in Istanbul Turkey. “I am not worried that I cannot make it to the Olympics. Here in Baku I am now keeping my fingers crossed for Dima that he gets the direct ticket to Rio ” Boll said.  At the European Games the winner of the singles’ event directly qualifies for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Thus Dimitrij OVTCHAROV is the only German representative in men’s singles event. Team-mate Patrick BAUM cannot replace BOLL as this should have already been done on Sunday before the draw. OVTCHAROV’S problems in the lower back (sacroiliac joint) from which he already suffered in the teams’ competition have improved. “Treatment will continue ” explains German men’s head coach Jörg ROSSKOPF. “It is ideal that he can be looked after by the German doctors’ and physios’ team here almost all around the clock.” His current physical condition was not ideal because he had recently played many tournaments but ROSSKOPF assumes “that Dima will play a good tournament here. Whether it can be a very good tournament for him remains to be seen. This will turn out when he has to go through some close seven-games matches”. 

Ronald KRAMER: Apart from the replacement rule we can be very satisfied with the Games Halfway through the table tennis competition in the Baku Sports Hall at the European Games in Baku ETTU President Ronald KRAMER praises the efforts of the organizers in Azerbaijan. Two sets of medals in Men’s and Women’s Teams Event are distributed and it seems that all systems successfully passed the test. “Hosts are doing a very good job here in Azerbaijan staging the first multisport event in their short history. They are a young independent nation and it is not easy to take up the challenge they did. I want to complement the Azerbaijan organizers and the EOC for staging the event here and taking up the challenge on this big event ” stated President KRAMER at the beginning of the interview. Not all sports are present with the top-level athletes in Baku but table tennis is among the ones that came here with all the top European players. “The differences between the sports are large. Some of federations sent juniors whilst others came here to fight to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games with their top players. I can understand that. For a first time we are at such an event. It is something completely new for all European federations. To fit it into the calendar was not an easy task. We have the same problem but for swimming and athletics are probably bigger. It is normal to allow some differences for a first time ” stated ETTU’s President. Speaking of good points of the European Games KRAMER said: “For Europe it is very good to have these Games like Asia Africa and the Americas have it. It adds to our opportunities and it makes our sport more visible to the public. However there are of course also lessons to be learned from this first experience for 2019. We will evaluate the whole tournament. Now we are just halfway in the table tennis and in first quarter of the Games….We will see what could be done better and learned for future. We have four years to implement some necessary changes.” Regarding table tennis President highlighted few points. “The facility is very good; just the right size for our events. There are a lot of details we can talk about but my general feeling is that everything is very well done. However there is one big exception to this: the tournament does not allow the replacements. It has been a subject of which we were talking a lot in building up the event from last quarter of 2014 but one way or another the organizers did not want to allow the replacements. That hit the German team the most here. I am quite sure that they would have progressed further then they did if they would be allowed to have a replacement. Timo BOLL was ill and it was a mistake not to give the team the opportunity to select another player for the game. “ President KRAMER continued: “Unfortunately that is something that is not in our hands and it is one of the lessons learned for 2019 which – and I find this very disappointing – will not be in Netherlands.  In principal the European Games has a good concept that we have to develop further. Most important is to give it a proper place in the calendars. In 2019 some major federations have already set the dates for their biggest events. If you look in that terms I think that in year 2023 you can implement this Games into the calendar on proper way and I am sure we will have the competition that can level other Continental Games with the high level competitors in each sport for that date. “ One of the major points of the big events are the volunteers. “Volunteers are getting better each day. First day was toughest as it is on every major event but the good thing is that for many of them this is not a first experience. Organizers did it very cleverly to take experienced staff especially in volunteering leading positions. The volunteers are very helpful they are enjoying their work and that helps building the whole good atmosphere at the games. Apart from the replacement issue we can be very satisfied with the Games.” As President of the ETTU Ronald Kramer praises the German team – but as a President of the Netherlands TTA may also have regretted that his compatriots lost. “I congratulate the team of Germany with the title at the team’s event. It was very close. You can differ about how it went but in my opinion it all came down to the three or four balls in the doubles. In the third game if they would have fallen on the other side it might be very different ” says President Kramer. The winners in men’s Teams Event are the European champions – Portugal. “Portugal did what they have to do regarding the fact that Germany suffered from the setback with no replacement. On the other side Portugal was also weakened by absence of Joao MONTEIRO. The good news is that we have a new kid on the block. Joao GERALDO showed brave performance. Portugal justified their status. After the title in Portugal at the European Championships last year they presented table tennis at the highest level here once again. They deserved this title and the place in history books as first winners. “ The history book is open and table tennis has a prominent place in it!

European Champions beat France to secure crown at the European Games Portugal justified their status in Europe. Continental Champions clinched the crown at the first European Games in Baku at the Men’s Teams Event. In the final they overcame France after superb performance.  Tiago APOLONIA once again gave his team dream start with the victory over Adrien MATTENET. He concluded the job in straight games but it was not that close as the result predicts.  “We know each other very well. We play together in Saarbrucken in Bundesliga so it was very close match as I expected. Especially two opening games were close. Adrian had game ball in second set. When I won the game it gave extra confidence to finish the match with less tension ” explain APOLONIA.  In case of Marcos FTEITAS even the results shows how close the game was. Against Simon GAUZY he was stretched to full distance.  “In past few years we played to many matches against each other. He improved his game and he is very dangerous player. I won the opening game but when I lost after 8:2 I lost my focus I become nervous and that affected my game further. Luckily I managed to calm down and to end the duel in my favor ” explained Marcos. After full distance match in Doubles France managed to gain another chance to stay in the match. For 19/years old Joao GERALDO who came at the tournament as last minute replacement for Joao MONTEIRO it was perfect opportunity to conclude the match in great style with fantastic finish and victory over MATTENET. “I was little bit nervous like everybody else but I took the best of it. I attacked ” said Joao. APOLONIA added: ”We proved that the success at the European Championships was not accidental. We had magical moments in Lisbon but we succeeded in Baku as well.” French players were very disappointed.  “Maybe tomorrow this silver will look better but now it is hard for us to talk ” said Emmanuel LEBESSON. Simon GAUZY found the strength to highlight the very important moment of the tournament. “After four of five defeats in the row against Greece we finally beat them. It happened in the first round and I think it was turning point in our success.”

Germany played with two players once again Faster then anyone wanted the contest for bronze medal finished in favor of Austria. Still without Timo BOLL absent through illness and with no replacements allowed Germany was forced to enter the field with only two players at the Men’s Team’s Event at the European Games in Baku.  Everything was over after first match in which Daniel HABESOHN beat Patrick BAUM. “It was hard match for everyone. Do not forget that even in this horrible situation Germany beat Sweden and they played very close match against France. Both of their players are better ranked then our players. They are dangerous even under this condition ” explained Robert GARDOS.  Still in four of previous five encounters HABESOHN beat Patrick.  “We had two chances. One was the match between Patrick and Daniel and the other one is doubles for sure. We seized first opportunity ” said GARDOS. But Robert was far from happy. “We had a lot of fans who came here to give us support and what they saw? They gave money to watch the match for bronze medal and saw one singles and one doubles. Probably no one understood what happened down there in the arena.” HABESOHN confirmed it was very awkward situation. “It was strange. What if we lose? And still there were a chance we could. Everyone was nervous. I can say this was the toughest match for me here ” said HABESOHN. “When we saw the draw it worked for us. On top of all OVTCHAROV suffered from back injury.” After hard situation in Lisbon at the European championship when Patrick BAUM’S father had been killed in road accident immediately prior to the tournament Patrick FRANZISKA suffered a leg injury in the first stage of the tournament and spent most of the time on crutches; whilst Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was recovering from extensive dental surgery Germany suffered from bad fate once again. “Austria deserved the medal and that is one part of the story. The other is that the rules have to be changed. This is the worst scenario. This is the example why the current rules are wrong. They need to change it; both at the Olympic and European Games ” said coach Jorg ROSSKOPF. Speaking about the team’s draw ROSKOPFF said that his main intention was to put Dimitrij and Patrick together in Doubles so they can have one strong match more together. However he delivered some good news: “Timo is recovering. I hope he will be on duty on Wednesday in Singles.” BAUM was tired: ”Past two days were very hard and not only mentally demanding. My muscles hurt. I was slow today in two opening games. My service was too much long and I started bad. I played better from the third game but it was to late.”  Dimitrij OVTCHAROV did the math:” In past 6 games we have 6 finals. That is how I feel. In German team we all goes only for gold. We lost last two matches but do not forget that we beat Sweden even with two man.”

HAN Ying SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA won the gold medal Team of Germany enters the history books as first winners of the Women’s Teams Event at the European Games in Baku. In Azerbaijan’s city HAN Ying SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA overcame team of Netherlands to become first ever title winners. In the final which went full distance we saw the table tennis at its best. It started with the fantastic duel between world’s no. 10 HAN Ying and two times European champion LI Jiao. LI won in straight games but it was fantastic match. “I was very nervous before that match under enormous pressure. I wish to play against Jiao again soon; I doubt she will beat me like she did today. For sure it will not be worst than 0:3 ” said HAN. YING added that most of the pressure came from the fact that she plays for the team. “It is much easier when you play in singles. You are on your own. When you play for your team and for your country it brings a lot of pressure. When I lost opening match I was happy that I had a chance to play in the decisive one to contribute to the victory.” SHAN Xiaona overcame LI Jie to put Germany back in game. “Before the start we faced first defeat of HAN at the tournament at that made me very nervous. It was not very confortable situation ” said SHAN. Match of doubles once again proved as crucial for the victory.  “When we won it I knew it is over we will win gold. I was very focused in doubles and I was much better then in next match against LI Jie. We were sure HAN would seal the match. However when you won 3:2 you can easily say every match is crucial ” explained SOLJA. Coach Jie SCHOPP gave overall view: “For us most difficult part was to play in system which is not in use often. We are facing this kind of system only at the Olympics. That is why it was much harder then at the European Championships.” LI Jiao proved she can play at the highest level despite her long breaks from the playing field. “I have not play at the International level since Tokyo last year. That is why I had to have little bit different preparations. I had to play clever I have to outplay my adversary in mind game and that was not easy task. HAN is also very clever player. I always play good against defense and it helped too ” explained Jiao. How the experience as a coach helped you today? “A lot. Now I see things differently. Before I was nervous and I needed a lot of time to come down. Now I realize the adversary is nervous as I am and it is easier to prepare myself ” said LI Jiao.” We played good today but at the end it was so difficult for Britt EERLANDS to beat HAN. ” Coach Elena TIMINA praised her team. “I am sure that the duel between LI Jiao and HAN was the match of the tournament. The quality level was fantastic. Jie was also good against SHAN but other factors also did a work. At 1:1 and 7:7 in the moments when she played very good Jie called for time out. She approached and I asked why. She was playing good. Jie answered” I cannot see anything. Everything is black in front of me.” She was too tired.” TIMINA is sure that was one of the biggest obstacles on their way to gold. “Overall Germany with their three 3:0 victories spent something like 2 5 hours in game. We played 8 5 in last three days. The girls were just tired. Of course first of all congratulations to Germany on their quality and ability to beat all adversaries 3:0. In addition this system does not allowed much tactics. I was forced to put Britt to play decisive match.”

Iveta VACENOVSKA Renata STRBIKOVA and Hana MATELOVA won bronze The bronze medal contest between Czech Republic and Ukraine ended in favor for Czech team. Led by Iveta VACENOVSKA girls put aside yesterday’s defeat against Germany and in great style clinched bronze.  It was Iveta who gave her teammates good start. She overcame Tetyana BILENKO in the opening duel and she was the player to seal the match with the victory over Ganna GAPONOVA. Margaryta PESOTSKA scored the only point for Ukraine against Renata STRBIKOVA whilst Hana MATELOVA and STRBIKOVA overcame Tetyana BILENKO and Ganna GAPONOVA in doubles.  “It is always 50/50 when we play against each other. Recent results shows the same; we beat them at the European Championships in Lisbon and they beat us at the World Championships in Tokyo ” reminded us VACENOVSKA. ”Nevertheless I knew if we play at our best level we do not have to worry. I felt we could win.” Doubles brought important point: ”It was crucial for the victory. With this system you never knows who will play and against who ” said VACENOVSKA. MATELOVA added:” It is very hard to make a tactics when you do not know who will be your adversary. The only thing is certain is doubles.” However VACENOVSKA stated it is not such a bad thing after all: ”To be honest this system works for us in Baku. I have to admit that.”  On their way to the medal rostrum opening was the hardest. “To play against Austria was very difficult for VACENOVSKA. That was the very important match for us ” said MATELOVA. Iveta explained further: ”I live and play for 12 year in Austria. I live in Linz and I had to play against my teammates. In addition we never had won against Austria. I finally changed the course of history.”  In quarters Czech Republic beat France:” We won the medals twice at the European Championships but so far we never beat the team with two players coming from China. With GRUNDISCH they are really powerful.” Speaking about defeat against Germany in semis there was no place for regrets. “They are strong team. Maybe it is little unfair that we lost 3:0 especially losing Doubles since we were in lead in every game…Most important thing is that we get over it. We forgot the defeat and focused ourselves to bronze medal match.”