The final of the TTBL play off In the final of the Germany’s play off Borussia Düsseldorf will meet 1. FC Saabrücken TT. The new champion will be crowned after just one match on the neutral ground in Frankfurt Fraport Arena on Sunday. The Rhine-Main region is one of the table tennis strongholds in Germany and was already 2013 2014 and 2015 the venue of the Liebherr TTBL final In the semi final of the play off Borussia Düsseldorf beat TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell whilst 1. FC Saabrücken TT overcame TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen. In the interview made by Johannes EICKHOFF BOLL addmited he did not expect to see 1. FC Saabrücken TT in the final. “They are doing excelent job in Saarbrücken. With the support of the Olympic base they developed something very good. But to be honest I had expected to see Ochsenhausen in the final. However the adversaries are not to be underestimated and I do not see us necessarily as favorites in the final ” stated BOLL. The Frankfurt Fraport Arena will be the venue for the final again this year. What memories do you have to the venue? “It’s nice to play at home and the Frankfurt area is indeed still my home. Many familiar faces coming into the hall and the atmosphere is good. I hope it is not so hot now as it was two years ago. “ BOLL said he is fit now and he recovered from the surgery completely. “I am convinced that I am on the right path toward Rio. “ BOLL already clinched two team Olympic medals; silver in Beijing in 2008 and bronze in 2012 in London. Asked about his aspirations in Rio he stated: “When I compete in a tournament I want maximum success.”
Swedish Table Tennis Asociation celebrated 90th aniversary in big style
Eminent guests and TT legends visited Halmstad last weekend The Swedish Table Tennis Association formed in 1926 last weekend celebrated its 90th birthday. Anniversary celebration was hosted at the same time as a Convention on Swedish table tennis development. This convention is held every second year and is one of the most important event for Swedish table tennis. Host city of this event was Halmstad successful host of recently organized European Olympic Games qualifications and also is the host city of the World championships for team in 2018. Many eminent guests and speakers attended the dinner with speeches and gifts for the “birthday child”. Among the guests were ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT ETTU President Ronald KRAMER PAC member Walter RÖNMARK honorary chairman of the Swedish TTA Ulf LÖNNQUIST Ria DAMGREN of the Swedish Olympic Committee vice President of the Swedish Sports Federation Susanne ERLANDSSON and many more. The dinner was hosted by Swedish TTA President and ITTF vice President Petra SÖRLING with Swedish TTA General Secretary Mikael PETERSON. ETTU President Ronald KRAMER states: “Swedish table tennis has a sensational history a promising present and a fantastic future!” During the 90th birthday dinner the Swedish TTA chartered the new “Champions club” which includes former Swedish winners of gold medals at European Championships World Championships and Olympic games. Names as Jörgen PERSSON Ulf CARLSSON LI Fen Marie SVENSSON Thomas von SCHEELE Jan-Ove WALDNER Mikael APPELGREN and Peter KARLSSON are all a part of the “Champions club” plus many more champions from the past. To wind up the dinner and the celebration a table tennis tournament on mini tables where hosted by long time sponsor STIGA. The winner of the tournament was the Swedish national coach for men and former World Champion In doubles from 1985 Ulf CARLSSON. So many memories and such a bright future for Swedish Table Tennis. The 90 year is just the beginning of the Swedish TTA and sends a feeling that many more successful years are to come.
CASL won both title in Croatia again
Croatia’s club Dr CASL won the title in women’s national league again. Unlike women’s League Zagreb created big upset and won Men’s title. Zagreb beat Libertas Marinkolor in the final of the play off. Josip ARBANAS Domagoj MAGLIĆ Tomislav PUCAR Danijel MIJATOVIĆ Jakov TICA won both matches by 4:1. „I want to congratulate our player Arbanas who remained cool-headed during the match in Dubrovnik where the 200 home team’s supporters made real football atmosphere. That kind of atmosphere would be a problem even for more experienced players let alone for a young player “pointed out coach Goran RADANOVIĆ. „We have been preparing for the deciding matches for the entire month. We got it right in key moments the players gave their best and played the tactics that was laid down magnificently. I also have to stress that we managed to win triple national titles this year in the following categories: senior junior and younger cadets and second place with cadets.” Coach KARKOVIĆ also commented on the win: „We made an endeavour that will leave a lasting imprint. We had such extensive preparations that everything was prepared down to the last detail. Then at the actual matches we managed to get the line-up right both times. And the final most important part of the equation was the fact that our players succeeded to remain calm under extreme pressure. We as coaches are really very proud at how they performed”. In the semi final of the women’s play off CASL beat Mladost 4:1 and 4:0 whilst in the final they prevailed against TIS by the same margin. It is their third title in four years and 10th final of the play off. The title was won by Mateja JEGER and Ivana TUBIKANEC already established as national team’s players junior team member Klara CAKOL and very talented Ana ARAPOVIC. First racquet was French star LI Xue. “If we add the four finals of European Superleagues in which we lost in first two occasions and then clinched the title twice the list is more impressive. In addition two years ago both our teams played Mediterranean club Cup and girls clinched gold whilst boys clinched silver. All in all in last seven years we played ten finals in Croatia and six in Europe with eight titles won at home and three at the Old Continent ” explained Manager Martin – Tino CASL.
Russian League: UMMC keeps the lead
After Third Tour of national championships Verkhnaya Pyshma`s side has 15 wins in 16 matches Two main candidates for the national crown UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma and Fakel Gazproma Orenburg won all their five matches in the Third Tour of Russian League held in Slavyansk-na-Kubani. UMMC keeps the lead in general standings with 15 wins out of 16 rounds. Coach Tatiana KUTERGINA gave a chance to all her players but two biggest names Jun MIZUTANI and Alexander SHIBAEV appeared together just in three. UMMC tops Group 2 with 31 point (15-1 score) ahead of KNT Kazan 25 (9-7). Orenburg arrived in Slavyansk-na-Kubani with its two biggest stars Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Vladimir SAMSONOV while Alexey SMIRNOV wasn’t available. Both Fakel Gazproma and Sparta & K have 30 points (14-2) on the top of Group 2. Two 17-year-old players took their places in two best teams Denis IVONIN (Orenburg) and Nikita YARUSHIN (UMMC). YARUSHIN participated in all five rounds contributing with three victories while IVONIN finished with 3-1 individual score.
Serbia clinched gold medals in both Junior singles event in Tivat
Balkan Youth Championships Nikola MARINKOVIC and Dragana VIGNJEVIC clinched gold medals in their respective Junior Singles Events at the Balkan Youth Championships concluded today in Montenegro’s city of Tivat. In the final MARNKOVIC beat his teammate Aleksa GACEV whilst Stefan TODOROV of Bulgaria and Florin DRAGOS OPREA of Romania secured bronze medals. Dragana VIGNJEVIC also beat her teammate Izabela LUPULESKU in the final. Previously they both succeeded against Serbia’s Tijana JOKIC and Sabina SURJAN. Florin OPREA DRAGOS and Stefan TONGHIOIU of Romania are nwe Doubles Champions. They overcame Serbian Romanian combination of Aleksa ADAMOVIĆ and Paul MLADIN at the ultimate hurdle. Aleksa GACEV and Nikola MARINKOVIĆ of Serbia and Stefan TODOROV and Konstantin VATOV of Bulgaria are third. VIGNJEVIC clinched another gold. She succeeded to the highest step at the medal rostrum with JOKIC in Doubles. Andreea CLAPA and Izabela LUPULESKU of Romania and Serbia concluded the competition in second position whilst Ana ALEKSANDRIC and Sabina SURJAN of Serbia as well as Andreea HUDUSAN and Mihaela PLAEASU of Romania are third. Nikola MARINKOVIC and Izabela LUPULESKU of Serbia are new Mixed Doubles champions. Niksa MARTINOVIC and Sabina SURJAN of Serbiaare second and Florin OPREA DRAGOS with Mihaela PLAEASU of Romania are second. Romania’s Stefan TONGHIOIU and Andreea HUDUSAN are third. Dimitrije LEVAJAC of Serbia beat Cristian BOGDAN of Romania in the final of the Cadet Boys Singles Event. Marius RADOI of Romania and Filip RADULOVIC of Montenegro are third. Romania clinched gold and silver in Cadet Girls Singles Event. Tanja PLAJAN and Krisztina VARGA played in the final. Radmila TOMINJAK and Angela MENGER both of Serbia both lost in semis. Cristian BOGDAN and Marius RADOI of Romania won top prize in Cadet Boys Doubles Event. Akos BENKE and Dimitrije LEVAJAC of Serbia are second Nikola CEROVAC and Todor SKELEDIJA of Serbia are third as well as Stefan DOSHEV and Ivan RADKEV of Bulgaria. Tanja PLAJAN and Krisztina VARGA of Romani won gold in Girls event Reka BEZEG and Angela MENGER of Serbia clinched silver. Miroslava ANDRONOVA and Viktoria PETKOVA of Bulgaria and Marija GNJATIC and Alemka HASECIC of Bosnia and Herzegovina are third. The line up in Mixed Doubles is: 1. Marius RADOI and Tanja PLAJAN of Romania 2. Crisitian BOGDAN and Krisztina VARGA of Romania and 3. Stefan DOSHEV and Kalina HRISTOVA of Bulgaria 3. Dimitrije LEVAJAC and Angela Menger of Serbia.
Great success for Romanian and Serbian juniors in Tivat
Balkan Youth Championships Romania clinched gold medals in both Boy’s Events at the Balkan Youth Championships in Tivat. Serbia is most successful team in Junior Girls Team’s Event whilst Bulgaria secured gold in Cadet Girls. In the Junior Boys Teams Event Romania’s Paul MLADIN Stefan TONGHIOIU and Dragos FLORIN OPREA beat Serbia’s Nikola MARINKOVIC Aleksa GACEV Niksa MARTINKOVIC and Nikola MARINKOVIC in the final – 3:1. In the match for the third position Bosnia and Herzegovina overcame Bulgaria 3:0. Albania is fifth Kosovo sixth and Montenegro and FYRO Macedonia are seventh and eighth. Serbia clinched the title in the Junior Girls Team’s Event. Izabela LUPULESKU Tijana JIKIC Sabina SURJAN overcame Mihaela PLAESU Andreaa CLAPA and Andreea HUDUSAN in the final. The standings goes on with Bulgaria Bosna and Herzegovina Kosovo FYRO Macedonia Albania and Montenegro. Romania secured gold in the Cadet Boy’s teams event. Marius RADOI and Cristian BOGDAN beat Montenegro’s Alan JASAROVIC and Filip RADULOVIC in the final. Serbia is third followed by Bulgaria Bosnia and Herzegovina Kosovo FYRO Macedonia and Albania. Bulgaria upset the favorites and won the title in the Cadet Girls Teams’ Event. Ivet ILIEVA and Kalina HRISTOVA overcame Tania PLAIN and Krisztina VARGA on the ultimate stage. Serbia is third Albania fllows with Montenegro Bosnia and Herzegovina and FYRO Macedonia on the list.
Faculty of Kinesiology luanched the University Degree Study Programme in Sports Coaching
The Programe is designed for table tennis coaches and players Faculty of Kinesiology University of Split in cooperation with International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) announces the launching of University Degree Study Programme in Sports Coaching especially designed for table tennis players and coaches. The project’s main aim is to provide a possibility of acquiring a university education level in the field of sports science and coaching (with additional emphasis on table tennis) to a wider table tennis community by using all benefits of modern technologies (such as “online” learning methods) and academic resources that exist within the community. Pending final approval the Programme is scheduled to start in October 2016 at the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Split by enrolment of students for the 2016/17 academic year. “Being the host University for this truly global educational project is both an honor and responsibility for us. Using all benefits of global academic network and modern technologies is an important part of our development strategy and hopefully we will be doing more projects of this kind. With this particular project we are hoping to meet educational needs of international players and coaches that otherwise might be difficult to do in a more traditional educational setting” said Simun ANDJELINOVIC rector of the University of Split. The project started successfully at the University of Split two years ago in the Croatian language for a group of South Eastern European countries in which the same or similar languages are spoken. The project was immediately recognised and supported by the ITTF and twelve students were successfully enrolled. The majority of them were former or active national team level players and one of them is Tamara BOROS a former world’s number 2 who on this occasion said: “Based on my experience this study Programme is a great solution for active players and coaches as it enables them to study while pursuing their sports careers around the world. I am currently working and living in two different countries and thanks to this Programme I am being able to actively study regardless of the fact that due to my professional duties I am frequently on the road. The fact I can choose time for studying that suits me best and arrange time for taking exams with my professors is very important for me. Studying in a traditional classic educational setting would be almost impossible with my current schedule. Of course this model of study requires self-discipline and work ethics to force yourself to find time to study on a constant basis without being physically present in classes but as a former professional athlete I don’t find that to be an extraordinary task. In education like in sport and life itself you have to put certain effort to see good things happen.” Announced launching of the Programme in English language is the project’s second phase in which the project will really become global. Besides the University of Split many other academic institutions worldwide are included in the project by providing lecturers and organisational support to some practical parts of the Programme. Within ITTF structures which have been supporting this project from its beginning one has been well aware of the importance of including athletes and coaches in educational Programmes during the course of their professional careers and immediately thereafter. “ITTF is following the IOC’s recommendations and paying great attention to its “Athlete Career and Education Programme” in order to enable athletes to develop professionally following the conclusion of their sports careers as well as further educating currently active coaches. This also forms part of ITTF DNA [Developing National Associations] as education of coaches is critical to the long term success of any National Association.” said the ITTF president Thomas WEIKERT. One of the main reasons why the ETTU also fully supports this project is that it gives a possibility to coaches to extend their professional knowledge and gain well-rounded skills and proficiency in the field of sports science and coaching. “ETTU’s Executive Board believes that the coaching in Europe can and should get more of our attention and support. Coaching is in the core of the development of our sport. In order to raise the quality of our coaching we have been organising a number of coach education activities/seminars throughout Europe lately and this project nicely supports our well-rounded efforts to achieve that goal. It is surely a big step ahead for education of coaches in our sport. The fact that so many international experts coming from different scientific and professional fields and connected with table tennis will be involved should definitely help this cause” said Ronald KRAMER the President of the ETTU. One of the main aims of the study is also to make quality studying accessible to a wider/global table tennis community. “With this project we have tried to build a model that would enable both players and coaches to actively study regardless of their professional duties in clubs national teams or their current geographical location. I believe this is an optimal way to ensure they have access to high quality education in a place and at a cost that makes sense for them” said Goran MUNIVRANA the member of the ITTF Sports Science and Medical Committee and the project’s manager. General information about the project can be found in the Programme Brochure and all the necessary details in relation to the programme and admission process (application admission requirements deadline for the entries payment of fees etc.) are available on the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Split web page here:
Pontoise believes in its comeback in the TTCLM final
The 2014 TTCLM winner hopes to be able to show its best play in the returning final leg on May 29th in France French champion AS Pontoise Cergy was upset by Eslovs Al Bordtennis in the first final leg of the 2015/16 TTCLM held last Saturday in Sweden but Marcos FREITAS & Company believe in their comeback in the returning match on May 29th. The 2013/14 TTCLM winner Pontoise unexpectedly lost 3:1 (9:5) what led him in very unpleasant situation before the returning leg against the 14th seed in the ongoing TTCLM season. “Of course we are disappointed we lost the first leg in Eslov. While recognizing the victory of Eslov we are also aware that we have not made the match we had to do. But there is a second leg to play and we will do our best to reverse the result in our hall. We have already done it in the past so why not again” stated Christian ADAM Pontoise`s Coach.
Seeding Upsets as China Adds to Impressive Title Haul in Slovenia
China’s Gao Ningning and ZHANG Yuan alongside colleagues Fang Pengfeng and ZHAO Ping were very much the players in form in the Men’s Team events on the concluding day of action Saturday 7th May at the Thermana Lasko 2016 Slovenia Para Open. Both partnerships upset the seeding to emerge victorious in their respective events. The no.3 seeds GAO Ningning and ZHANG Yuan secured the Class 5 title FANG Pengfeng and ZHAO Ping the no.2 seeds emerged successful in Class 3. GAO Ningning and ZHANG Yuan beat the French combination of Maxime THOMAS Florian MERRIEN and Nicolas SAVANT-AIRA the no.2 seeds by two matches to one at the semi-final stage before overcoming the top seeded Turkish partnership of Abdullah OZTURK and Nesim TURAN by a similar margin to claim the title. An impressive performance from GAO Ningning and ZHANG Yuan it was even more impressive from FANG Pengfeng and ZHAO Ping. After overcoming the Czech Republic partnership of Jiri SUCHANEK and Peter SVATOS by two matches to nil in the penultimate round they recorded the same margin of victory against the top seeded German partnership of Tomas BRÜCHLE and Thomas SCHMIDBERGER to arrest the title. Two winners in the Men’s Team event against expectations and there were three more. Germany’s Holger NIKELIS and Switzerland’s Sylvio KELLER emerged as the winners of Class 1 following the withdrawal of Great Britain’s Paul DAVIES and Robert DAVIES. Also against expectations in Class 6 it was the top prize for Croatia’s Pavao JOZIC and Vjekoslav GREGOROVIC; in the group stage of proceedings they had beaten the combination of Thailand’s Rungroj THAINIYOM and Italy’s Raimondo ALECCI by two matches to nil in the final they did exactly the same. A repeat performance by Pavao JOZIC and Vjekoslav GREGOROVIC for Ukraine’s Sergio BOYKO and Yuriy SHCHPEPANSKYY in Class 9 it was a revenge performance. In the group stage they had experienced a two-nil defeat at the hands of the top seeded combination formed by China’s ZHAO Yiqing and Hong Kong’s WONG Chin Yin; in the final they met again and life was very different. The Ukrainians recorded a two-one win. An unexpected outcome in the final; in Class 11 it was an unexpected outcome in the concluding contest in a group organised event. Spain’s Eduardo CUESTA and Austria’s Samuel Von EINEM combined to beat the top seeded pairing of Hungary’s Peter PALOS and Ukraine’s Andrii NAVROTSKYI to claim the top prize. Surprise winners in the remaining Men’s Team event in Lasko the top seeds prevailed. It was gold for Frenchmen Fabien LAMIRAULT and Stéphane MOLLIENS (Class 2) Poland’s Krszysztof ZYLKA and Rafal LIS (Class 4) as it was for Spain’s Alvaro VALERA and Jordi MORALES (Class 7). Also in a likewise manner there was gold for Ukraine’s Viktor DIDUKH and Malksym NIKOLENKO (Class 8) in addition to China’s MA Lin and GE Yang (Class 10). Three titles for China in the Men’s Team event there were six more in the counterpart Women’s Team competition. In the Wheelchair classes it was success for LI Qian XUE Juan and LIU Jing (Class 3) ZHOU Ying and Zhang Miao (Class 4) as well as for ZHANG Bian and Gu Cai (Class 5). Likewise there was success in the Standing Classes. It was gold for MA Jingdian PAN Mengyi WANG Rui (Class 8) XIONG Guiyan and LIU Meng (Class 9) and for YANG Qian and LEI Lina (Class 10). Success as predicted it was the same in Class 6-7 as well as in Class 11 in the Women’s Team event but not in Class 1-2. Competing in Class 1-2 Italy’s Giada ROSSI and Clara PODDA experienced defeat in their concluding contest in a group organised event. They were beaten by the top seeded combination of Russia’s Nadejda PUSHPASHEVA and Israel’s Chagit BrIll; they experienced a two matches to one defeat. However the previous day the partnership formed by Isabelle Lafaye of France and Argentina’s Maria GARONNE had beaten Nadejda PUSHPASHEVA and Israel’s Chagit BRILL by two matches to nil but had then experienced defeat by the same margin in opposition to Giada Rossi and Clara PODDA. Match ratio between the three teams decided; thus it was first place for Giada ROSSI and Clara PODDA (3:2) with Isabelle LAFAYE and Maria GARONNE in second position (2:2) ahead of Nadejda PUSHPASHEVA and Chagit BRILL (2:3). A surprise success; not in Class 6-7 where Kelly Van ZON of the Netherlands and Turkey’s Kubra KORKUT of the Netherland combined to clinch gold nor in Class 11 an event that witnessed success for Poland’s Krystyna SIEMIENIECKA and Dorota NOWACKA. Proceedings concluded in Lasko the next tournament on the Para calendar is the Slovakia Open; play starts in Bratislava on Wednesday 11th May. By: Ian Marshall Courtesy of ITTF
XU Hui sees 50-50 chance for the TTCLM title
Everybody in the Eslovs` team feels proud about their victory (3:1) against Pontoise in the first final leg but coach Peter ANDERSSON warns: “We are only halfway” Eslovs Al Bordtennis achieved one of its biggest ever victories last Saturday defeating AS Pontoise Cergy 3:1 in the first final leg of 2015/16 TTCLM but importance of that accomplishment in the club`s history will depend on the returning match (May 29th in Pontoise). Swedish club has a chance to go down in history as the lowest ranked TTCLM champion starting this season as no. 14 seed. Usualy Chinese XU Hui is a key player for Eslov`s team but this time he was even more than that: in the decisive match he overcame world`s no. 12 Marcos FREITAS in straight games! Although he is not ranked on the World`s ITTF list Coach Peter ANDERSSON stressed for the club`s website that XU showed against Pontoise that “deserves to be among the Top 10 in the world” “Everything is still open. In the returning match both sides will have 50-50 chance” stressed XU Hui who has the best individual TTCLM score (17-4) in the ongoing season. After two matches the score was 1:1 and then Mattias OVERSJO beat WANG Jian Jun in four sets. Swedish player emphasized that he “managed to play his own game thanks to good start”. Coach ANDERSSON warns his players that the 2014 TTCLM champion is able to beat each team in straight games: “We are only halfway. But if repeat this play we are hard to beat”!
