The Danish Table Tennis Federation is set to host a Career day on November 18th offering insights into building a successful career in the sport. The event will feature workshops lectures and personal stories from prominent figures in the table tennis world. The workshop titled “Making a career plan – where do you want to be in five years?” will be hosted by Linus MERNSTEN and Magnus MALLANDER coaches of the Danish national team. Martin Buch ANDERSEN a rising star in Danish table tennis at just 23 years old will share his journey from starting in the Oberliga three years ago to becoming a player in the 2nd Bundesliga. His talk “My career so far: decisions and turning points ” promises valuable insights for young talents. Former French national team player and professional in the French Pro A Marie MIGOT will provide a unique perspective in her talk “A leap of faith: my life as a professional and French national team player.” Peter ROSENMEIER a two-time Danish Paralympic champion and renowned media personality in Denmark will lead a lecture and workshop on “Dealing with media self-marketing and how to negotiate contracts. Lessons from a life in the limelight.” Rosenmeier’s expertise promises to be particularly insightful for athletes navigating the complexities of media exposure and contract negotiations. The career day is part of an ongoing project by the Danish Table Tennis Federation to educate young athletes about the intricacies of building a career in table tennis. The initiative aims to help athletes visualize a path for themselves beyond their junior years fostering a supportive environment that discourages dropout rates in the sport. Through a combination of personal stories expert advice and interactive sessions the career day endeavors to empower the next generation of table tennis stars and equip them with the tools they need for a long and successful career in the sport.
SF SKK EL Niňo Praha won another thriller
SF SKK EL Niňo Praha advanced to the fourth round of the Europe Cup Men with two victories over Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61. In both legs the Czech team needed the full five matches to overcome the club from Denmark. This time Jiri VRABLIK was the backbone of the team’s success as he defeated Jens LUNDQVIST and Dominykas SAMUOLIS who also suffered at the hands of Tomas KONECNY. “It was a very close match. We had the chance to win 3:0 but then everything came again same close like in the first match in Prague ” said El Niño Praha Sport Director Matthias Landfried. Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 – SF SKK EL Niňo Praha 2-3 Jens LUNDQVIST – Jiri VRABLIK 2-3 (11-9 11-7 8-11 5-11 4-6) Dominykas SAMUOLIS – Tomas KONECNY 1-3 (12-10 9-11 6-11 8-11) Allan BENTSEN – Frantisek ONDERKA 3-2 (8-11 12-14 11-8 11-9 6-2) Jens LUNDQVIST – Tomas KONECNY 3-0 (11-9 13-11 11-8) Dominykas SAMUOLIS – Jiri VRABLIK 1-3 (11-5 9-11 8-11 8-11)
TTC Neu-Ulm kicked off the Champions League season in spectacular fashion
In the first match of the season for the German club in the Champions League Men TTC Neu-Ulm defeated HB Ostrov z.s. in Group B. This marks the second defeat for the Czech team in Stage two following their loss to KS DARTOM BOGORIA Grodzisk Mazowiecki. “The 3-0 win is excellent; all three players performed very well and I can be satisfied. I really liked the atmosphere in the hall; the fans were great. Our goal is to win the entire competition so we came here with a strong lineup. And we can be even stronger for the next matches ” said TTC Neu Ulm coach Dmitry MAZUNOV. Europe’s no. 3 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Continent’s no. 8 Truls MOREGARD and Maksim GREBNEV won all three matches without losing a game. “A lot of big European clubs could learn here how to create the right atmosphere in the Champions League. We had no idea that there would be more than a thousand fans here. The atmosphere is fantastic. I never played against David REITŠPIES but you could see that he was very nervous at first. I gradually started to play my game and I won without any major problems ” said Truls MOREGARD. HB Ostrov z.s. – TTC Neu-Ulm 0-3 Pavel SIRUCEK – Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 0-3 (10-12 6-11 5-11) Davis REITSPIES – Truls MOREGARD 0-3 (10-12 6-11 6-11) Tomas TREGLER – Maksim GREBNEV 0-3 (7-11 10-12 8-11)
TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN in Round 4
Belgium’s TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN progressed to Round 4 of the Europe Cup Men. After a 3-2 win in the opening leg today’s match was less closely contested. ASV Grünwettersbach lost in straight matches. Pär GERELL performed superbly against Timothy FALCONNIER in the opening match before Gabrielius CAMARA and Deni KOZUL engaged in the longest duel of the encounter. The Dutch player prevailed after a full five games. Slovenia’s KOZUL had a chance after he recovered from 0-2 to level but CAMARA withstood the pressure. In the previous leg Rafael TURRINI beat Quentin ROBINOT but tonight the Frenchman avenged the defeat to seal the match. TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN – ASV Grünwettersbach 3-0 Pär GERELL – Timothy FALCONNIER 3-0 (11-5 12-10 11-3) Gabrielius CAMARA – Deni KOZUL 3-2 (11-7 11-8 5-11 9-11 6-3) Quentin ROBINOT – Rafael TURRINI 3-1 (11-8 9-11 11-9 11-9)
GALONJA: ”Every Point Felt Like an Eternity”
After two thrilling long-distance clashes Museo De La Almendra Francisco Morales secured their spot in Round Four of the Europe Cup Women. In the return leg of the Round of 16 the Spanish club emerged victorious in a nail-biting five-match duel against Poland’s Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD. “It was a very close and intense match. The team from Poland changed their lineup to try to beat us 3:1 ” explained Marija GALONJA. Chinese player JIAQI Meng paved the way for success. “In the opening duel my Chinese teammate won 3:0 playing quite well. After that I lost to BILENKO 3:1 and I feel regret again because I was leading in the third game and ended up losing. Patrica SANTOS lost to Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO who played very well. The fourth match was crucial; Meng won against BILENKO in a close match 3-2 6-4 and for me every point felt like an eternity.” GALONJA admitted her heart was beating at 100. “In my last match I think I played very well and entered the game very confidently and it stayed that way until the end. Now we are so happy. We have never come this far in Europe before.” Museo De La Almendra Francisco Morales – Czestochowa Bebetto AZS UJD 3 -2 JIAQI Meng – Alicja LEBEK 3- 0 (12-10 11-8 11-4) Marija GALONJA – Tetyana BILENKO 1-3 (8-11 11-8 8-11 1-11) Patricia SANTOS – Anastasiya DYMYTRENKO 0-3 (10-12 6-11 6-11) JIAQI Meng – Tetyana BILENKO 3-2 (14-12 9-11 11-6 7-11 6-4) Marija GALONJA – Alicja LEBEK 3-0 (11-5 11-3 11-9) GIRBAU VIC T.T. – CSM Constanta 2-3 Airi ABE – Alina ZAHARIA 3-0 (11-5 11-5 11-3) Charlotte CAREY – Elena ZAHARIA 2-3 (9-11 6-11 11-8 11-6 2-6) Camila MOSCOSO – Bianca MEI ROSU 0-3 (8-11 12-14 4-11) Airi ABE – Elena ZAHARIA 3-2 (12-10 11-7 9-11 7-11) Charlotte CAREY – Alina ZAHARIA 0-3 (9-11 5-11 10-12) Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela – MIRÓ Ganxets Reus 3-1 Annamaria ERDELYI – Elvira Fiona RAD 3-0 (11-7 11-5 11-2) Matilde PINTO – Paulina VEGA 0-3 (8-11 10-12 5-11) Ines MATOS – Renata SHYPSHA 3-1 (11-7 11-9 8-11 11-4) Annamaria ERDELYI – Paulina VEGA 3-1 (11-6 14-16 12-10 11-9) The action today continued with the second leg of the duel between Spanish GIRBAU VIC T.T. and Romania’s CSM Constanta which saw the Romanian club progress to the next stage after two wins. It was very similar to the opening leg with the same result. Japan’s Airi ABE remained unbeaten and all three Constanta’s players Elena and Alina ZAHARIA overcame Charlotte CAREY while Bianca MEI ROSU prevailed against Camila MOSCOSO. Portugal’s Clube Ténis de Mesa de Mirandela also recorded a second win in the third stage against MIRÓ Ganxets Reus. Annamaria ERDELYI beat both Elvira Fiona RAD and Paulina VEGA while Ines MATOS prevailed against Renata SHYPSHA. “We expected it would not be as difficult as in the opening leg because they came without their two best players but even so… For me personally it was more challenging than last time since I had to play against Pauline. We know each other very well; we train together here in Mirandela. Now I am so happy that I won both my matches and that we are through to the next round ” said ERDELYI.
Dieter Steffen: A life for table tennis
At the end of September he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and celebrated this event a week later together with his family friends and long-time companions in table tennis. On 1 November Dieter STEFFEN passed away after a short illness at the age of 83. “Dieter STEFFEN was a typical character from the region he was raised and lived in the west of Germany Westphalia: In his whole manner he was not a striker rather a midfield player with a clear view of the facts with an always correct judgment that was balanced and characterized by competence ” says his long-time companion on the DTTB Executive Committee Honorary President Hans Wilhelm GÄB. “Dieter was also a person who dedicated himself to youth work for the European Table Tennis Union and the German Table Tennis Association with an unusual level of commitment over decades. This achievement for our sport was only surpassed by his love for his region with his club TTC Mennighüffen. I worked with him on the DTTB Executive Committee for many years; his death has deeply affected me.” STEFFEN the retired headmaster of a primary school was chairman of “his” TTC Mennighüffen for a remarkable 56 uninterrupted years until 2019 was at the head of the Herford table tennis district for 49 years and also took on responsibility in the highest committees of the DTTB and ETTU – for 24 years each. After two years as a member of the youth committee at the DTTB STEFFEN supported the next generation of players from 1979 to 1997 as an unsalaried national youth manager. For four years until 2001 the Prague-born East Westphalian then continued in his newly appointed position as Vice President Youth of the DTTB. From 1986 to 2010 STEFFEN also represented the DTTB on the ETTU Youth Committee including as Deputy Chairman from 1991 to 2003 and then as Chairman until 2010. He stays with ETTU as Honorary Member. “The youth division was closest to his heart” STEFFEN whose direct straightforward manner always won the respect of his colleagues but also of those who thought differently set the course for many national and international successes of the DTTB’s young players during his time in office. For example he was a major driving force in the development of the national boarding schools in Duisburg and Heidelberg the forerunners of today’s Germany’s national Table Tennis Centre DTTZ in Düsseldorf. “His extraordinary voluntary commitment to the German Table Tennis Association as Federal Youth Director and Vice President Youth lasted more than two decades ” said Heike AHLERT ETTU Acting Deputy President and DTTB Vice President Competitive Sports whose mentor and predecessor in office Steffen at DTTB was in his laudation for the Order of Merit. “Dieter was also involved at European level for over 24 years in the youth division which was always close to his heart.” But Dieter Steffen not only left a lasting mark on the sport of table tennis. As President of the Herford District Sports Association from 2009 to 2020 he also promoted socially relevant topics. Dieter Steffen was always aware of the importance of voluntary service which he himself exemplified like no other. For example he created a volunteer award for sport in the Herford district. ETTU bids farewell to a tireless promoter and developer of our sport and to an endearing person.
Pär GERELL led TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN to victory
In Karlsruhe ASV Grünwettersbach lost the opening leg of the Round of 16 Europe Cup Men against TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN. The club from Belgium was stretched to full distance before succeeding. Pär GERELL won both his matches against Louis PRICE and Deni KOZUL. In the decisive duel Gabrielius CAMARA emerged victoriously against Louis PRICE. On the other side KOZUL overcame CAMARA and Rafael TURRINI beat Quentin ROBINOT. The return leg is scheduled for tomorrow. ASV Grünwettersbach – TTC SOKAH HOBOKEN 2-3 Deni KOZUL – Gabrielius CAMARA 3-0 (11-6 11-7 11-6) Louis PRICE – Pär GERELL 1-3 (9-11 11-5 4-11 4-11) Rafael TURRINI – Quentin ROBINOT 3-1 (12-10 4-11 11-9 11-9) Deni KOZUL – Pär GERELL 0-3 (10-12 6-11 9-11) Louis PRICE – Gabrielius CAMARA 1-3 (9-11 11-6 7-11 8-11)
Superb Performance by HB Ostrov z.s. in Women’s Europe Cup Round of 16
In a dominant display HB Ostrov z.s. delivered a strong performance in the Round of 16 of the Women’s Europe Cup held in Havlickuv Brod. Facing off against Spanish opponents Real Club Tenis De Mesa Linares the Czech team secured victory in straight matches. The trio of Zdena BLASKOVA Tatiana KUKULKOVA and Linda ZADEROVA left no room for doubt about their superiority. The hosts managed to secure victory without dropping a single match. In a close contest that lasted more than two and a half hours Romania’s CSM Constanta overcame Spanish GIRBAU VIC T.T. with a score of 3-2. Japan’s Airi ABE contributed both points for the Spanish side but Charlotte CAREY came close to winning the point on two occasions. However in both matches Elena and Alina ZAHARIA prevailed in close five games. HB Ostrov z.s. – Real Club Tenis De Mesa Linares 3-0 Zdena BLASKOVA – Claudia CARAGEA 3-0 (11-6 11-7 11-8) Tatiana KUKULKOVA – Roxana ISTRATE 3-0 (12-10 11-8 11-9) Linda ZADEROVA – Gloria PANADERO SANTOS 3-1 (11-9 8-11 11-3 11-5) CSM Constanta – GIRBAU VIC T.T. 3-2 Elena ZAHARIA – Charlotte CAREY 3-2 (7-11 11-6 12-10 8-11 6-3) Alina ZAHARIA – Airi ABE 1-3 (2-11 11-8 3-11 6-11) Bianca MEI ROSU – Silvia COLL 3-1 (11-7 11-7 5-11 11-4) Elena ZAHARIA – Airi ABE 0-3 (3-11 11-13 5-11) Alina ZAHARIA – Charlotte CAREY 3-2 (11-8 11-7 10-12 5-11 6-4)
Join the webinar on Para Table Tennis
It is our pleasure to extend an invitation to attend a webinar on Para Table Tennis organised jointly by the European Paralympic Committee in conjunction with ETTU. Our speaker Karen Tonge former Chair of British Para Table Tennis will share her valuable experiences and insights. How to build a high-performance Para Table Tennis programme: Learnings from Great Britain From no medals in Beijing 2008 to seven in Tokyo 2020. Topics include: Introduction to Para Table Tennis. Transition from amateur to professional in sports. Athlete recruitment strategies. Integration of Para events in able-bodied competitions. Who Should Attend? This webinar is ideal for anyone interested in sports development especially in Para table tennis. The strategies and lessons discussed are applicable across various sports. We encourage you to forward this invitation to others in your network who might benefit. When: Wednesday 29 November 17:00 CET Joining Details: Link To Register We look forward to your participation in this informative session.
Tomas KONECNY led SF SKK EL Niňo Praha to victory
In the opening leg of the Round of 16 in the Europe Cup Men SF SKK EL Niňo Praha conquered Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 in Prague. The duel lasted two and a half hours concluding after five matches two of which extended to five games. The beginning hinted at the closely contested match that followed. The match between Jiri VRABLIK and Dominykas SAMUOLIS swung from one side to another before eventually favoring the guests. Tomas KONECNY emerged as the backbone of SF SKK EL Niňo Praha’s success tonight triumphing over Jens LUNDQVIST in the decisive match. Jiri VRABLIK also secured victory against Jens LUNDQVIST. SF SKK EL Niňo Praha – Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 3-2 Jiri VRABLIK – Dominykas SAMUOLIS 2-3 (11-8 5-11 11-5 4-11 2-6) Tomas KONECNY -– Jens LUNDQVIST 3-1 (17-15 10-12 11-5 13-11) Jakub ZELINKA – Allan BENTSEN 0-3 (8-11 9-11 11-13) Jiri VRABLIK – Jens LUNDQVIST 3-2 (6-11 11-8 5-11 11-5 6-5) Tomas KONECNY – Dominykas SAMUOLIS 3-0 (11-6 11-7 11-6)
