Оn Friday 13th Werner SCHLAGER Academy CEO Martin SÖRÖS got the message from the International Table Tennis Federation ITTF that the Werner Schlager Academy will receive the official Academy-status in the course of their new “International Training Center Network”. Six weeks after the WSA applied it is certain that only two training centers worldwide will get this award. The WSA and the famous China Table Tennis College in Shanghai. The ones who know this outstanding Chinese training center also know how honorable it is for the WSA to be put on the same level by the ITTF.
Anton KALLBERG beat 8 seed YAN An in Stockholm
GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open Success of young European champion Anton KALLBERG of Sweden highlighted the day three at the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open in Stockholm. Against the odds Swede reached the third round of the event. In seven games in the round of 32 KALLBERG overcame no. 8 seed YAN An of China (13-15 11-8 11-13 11-6 11-6 9-11 9-11). Earlier today Anton KÄLLBERG caused an upset of note by overcoming England’s Liam PITCHFORD the no.26 seed (11-6 11-7 12-10 7-11 11-5). Jens LUNDQUIST the player who also require qualifications accounted for Denmark’s Michael MAZE (11-13 6-11 12-10 11-8 11-3 9-11 11-7) in the opening round of the main draw. In next one he beat Soumyajit GHOSH of India (6-11 8-11 6-11 11-8 11-4 7-11). Previously GHOSH accounted for Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia the no.10 seed in a seven games thriller (12-10 11-7 8-11 5-11 6-11 11-4 13-11). Success for Kristian KARLSSON followed. In full seven games he beat Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia the player seeded at the position no. 16 in Stockholm (5-11 11-6 11-8 7-11 11-13 11-9 11-9). In the previous round Swede overcame Japan’s Hiromitsu KASAHARA (11-5 11-9 14-12 9-11 9-11 11-6). The list of close matches went on with the victory for Benjamin BROSSIER of France. He overcame Yuya OSHIMA of Japan (9-11 11-3 11-7 8-11 8-11 17-15 11-6). BROSSIER succeeded after the great victory over Germany’s Patrick Baum the no.20 seed (11-9 12-10 11-9 9-11 11-9). Vasily LAKEEV of Russia joined them after the victory over Ryotaro OGATA of Japan in straight games (11-9 11-9 11-5 12-10). There are only four European players left in the Round of 16 in Women’s Singles Event. Seeded no. 12 Germany’s SHAN Xiaona beat Japan’s Hitomi SATO seeded no. 28 in straight games (10-12 7-11 5-11 9-11) to secure her place in tomorrow’s round. Previously SHAN overcame former European champion Lithuania’s Ruta PASKAUSKIENE. HAN Ying another ace from Germany seeded no. 9 beat Russia’s Yana NOSKOVA on her way to the Round of 16. She also needed only four games (7-11 6-11 7-11 8-11). LI Qian of Poland succeeded against JEON Jihee of Korea (6-11 5-11 13-11 11-4 8-11 7-11).Portugal’s YU Fu needed two mores against Tetyana BILENKO of Ukraine (10-12 11-4 11-9 12-10 5-11 11-7). Earlier today BILENKO was the player to cause the major upset; she beat Singapore’s FENG Tianwei the no.7 seed in a gruelling full distance seven games contest (6-11 11-7 6-11 11-6 6-11 11-9 11-5). There were three further seeds in the lower half of the draw who departed; the nation to suffer the most being Sweden. Both Matilda EKHOLM and Linda BERGSTRÖM bid farewell; Matilda EKHOLM the no.31 seed was beaten by Poland’s Natalia PARTYKA (11-9 11-2 11-5 3-11 12-10); Linda BERGSTRÖM suffered at the hands of Japan’s Miyu KATO (11-6 11-9 11-6 11-6). In Round of 64 Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu the no.29 seed was beaten by Russia’s Yana NOSKOVA (11-7 6-11 7-11 11-5 5-11 11-6 11-8).
Irish men show support for Cancer Research
As the countdown to this weekends Senior 6 Nations Championships continues the Irish men’s team – Gavin MAGUIRE Paul MCCREERY Ashley ROBINSON Ryan FARRELL and National Coach John MURPHY have started an awareness campaign in a bid to raise money for Pink Pong UK and Cancer Research. In 2013 Pink Pong went into partnership with Cancer Research UK with the objective to become the first table tennis based charity to raise both money and awareness of ALL cancer. Since then Pink Pong has branched out reaching all of the home nations including Ireland. This month the Irish men are taking part in ‘Movember’ in a bid to raise awareness and valuable funds for Pink Pong. To support the boys in their bid to reach their £500 target please visit the following link https://www.justgiving.com/Ireland-Table-Tennis/ OR you can text ITTA99 £? to 70070 Be sure to make you way to Lisburn over the weekend to support the Irish teams!
SOLJA contender for Berlin’s Sportswomen of the Year
German table tennis player is among 11 athletes in the race for that award Petrissa SOLJA is recognized as one of the most successful Berlin’s athletes in this year by the panel which organizes the voting for the Sportsmen of the Year in that city. A 21-year-old has united three important achievements during the season: first she won German individual national championships then she took gold medal with German team on European Championships at Yekaterinburg and finally she clinched very first bronze medal for her country at the World Cup in Japan. The election period ends on November 22nd. Other 10 candidates for 2015 Sportswomen are: Marianne BUGGENHAGEN (Disabled Sports / Athletics) Duygu BUGUR (Karate) Julia FISCHER (Athletics Discus) Luise MALZAHN (Judo) Claudia PECHSTEIN (Speed Skating) Lena SCHÖNEBORN (Modern Pentathlon) Verena SCHOTT (Disabled Sports / Swimming) Daniela SCHULTE (Disabled Sports / Swimming) Nora SUBSCHINSKI (Diving) and Karina WINTER (Archery).
OVTCHAROV and SOLJA nominated for 2015 ITTF Star Award
Get ready for a night of dazzling stars at the 2015 ITTF Star Awards in Lisbon Portugal The International Table Tennis Federation announced the nominees for the 2015 Male & Female Table Tennis Stars to be crowned at the 2015 ITTF Star Awards in Lisbon Portugal on 9 December 2015. The 2015 ITTF Star Awards which will be in its third edition will be held at the Lisbon’s emblematic city landmark – Patio da Gale to celebrate the world’s best table tennis players’ achievements in 2015 The nominees in the running for the 2015 Male & Female Table Tennis Star Awards are: Male Table Tennis Star presented by Seamaster as nominated by the ITTF Athletes’ Commission: FAN Zhendong (CHN) – 2015 Asian Champion MA Long (CHN) – 2015 World Champion & 2015 Men’s World Cup Champion Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) – GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals Champion Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) – 2015 European Games Champion 2015 ITTF-European Cup Champion & 2015 ITTF-European Championships Champion Nomination video: https://youtu.be/khkMkpxmbpU Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku as nominated by the ITTF Athletes’ Commission: DING Ning (CHN) – 2015 World Champion Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) – GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals Champion LIU Shiwen (CHN) – 2015 ITTF Women’s World Cup Champion Petrissa SOLJA (GER) – 2015 ITTF Women’s World Cup bronze medalist Nomination video: https://youtu.be/jzI2KZufOEg Upon the nomination world number one Ma Long shared “It’s an honor for me to be nominated this year and I’m glad that my efforts are being seen and recognized by the ITTF. 2015 has been a fruitful year and I hope to keep up with my good performance this year in the future!” Fans can now vote for their star player of 2015 athttp://bit.ly/15StarAwardsVoting. Voting will end on 25 November 2015. Fans’ voting results will be combined with the judging outcome by an expert panel which will include their peers and the media to determine the Table Tennis Stars of 2015! In addition to the Male and Female Table Tennis Stars 6 other awards will be handed in Lisbon: Male Para Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International Table Tennis Star Coach presented by Butterfly Table Tennis Star Point presented by DHS Table Tennis Breakthrough Star presented by TMS International Table Tennis Fair Play Star The nominees for these awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
Stefan FEGERL enters the golden league
Austria’s player admitted the fatherhood changed him Austria’s Stefan FEGERL made a great break through at the LIEBHERR 2015 European Championships earlier in October. He departed Ekaterinburg as the most successful player in the tournament with two gold medals at Men’s Team and Men’s Doubles Events. Austrian champion in Singles in 2010 2011 and 2014 World Cup team runner up in 2015 and bronze medalists in Baku in the Men’s team Event at the European Games Stefan FEGERL also represented Austria twice in the quarterfinals of the World Championships in Team’s Event and in both occasions lost against China. “So far the result in Ekaterinburg is my major achievement. Not only best result for me but by now no one from Austria won two gold medals at the same European Championships ” said FEGERL. Did the success change you? “Now I have more self-confidence. I am able to play in more relaxed style but in the essence I remained the same. My focus is still on my family and hard work ” explained Stefan. What is the reason for the main break through? “It has been a long time since I play on the top level but for a first time in Russia I managed to cope well with the pressure. Four times I played the decisive match and I left the table victoriously. I played better and better match after match and at the end my performance was almost perfect. In the final of the Team Event I had match ball against Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and in decisive fifth match I beat Patrick BAUM 3:0. I have to say that our new coach QIAN Qianli did a great job. For a first time I played at the top level at the tournament; so far I managed to reach top level only in practice hall. In addition I think that fatherhood makes me more mature and focused.” QIAN Qianli led the team to their first title at the European Championships in the history of the tournament which first saw the light of day in 1958. “The Austrian Team has a very good coach and the great team spirit. Everybody is aware of their position and we all fight for each other. Our target is a medal in Team Event in Rio 2016. Is will not be easy but everybody will fight for that dream. I think we will stay in Austria and practice in the Werner SCHLAGER Academy. The conditions here are the best in Europe so we do not need to go to work somewhere else.” FEGERL is married to LI Qiangbing since 2013; they are together for nine years so far. Happy couple has a son – Louis born on 13. August 2013. “My wife is the most important person in my personal and table tennis life. She helps me a lot. She still does a great work at the trainings for me. I think in Europe she is one of the best coaches. She brought so many now-how from China. Her father Mr. LI Xiaodong did a great job teaching her.“ Dedication is the key word. “Our son is now in the kindergarten and we can practice every morning together. In the afternoon mostly LI takes care of Louis; I can practice twice and she takes care of the housework. Every day we make the plan what we must do. It will be impossible if we both are not the table tennis players. She also does great job as a mother. I am very proud that my wife can handle all. After Louis has been born my life really changed. I think only parents can understand that. The priorities now are the child and the family. I think now table tennis is not everything in my life and it gives me space to play more relaxed.” Stefan admitted he has a lot of interests but very little time for it. “I love to play cards golf football chess…but I do not have enough time. I enjoy meetings with my family father mother sister and two brothers ” said Stefan FEGERL.
One More Month Till 2015 ITTF Star Awards
The third edition of the ITTF Star Awards that will be held on 9 December 2015 at the Pátio da Galé in Lisbon Portugal is merely 1 month away. Titles to be crowned at the 2015 ITTF Star Awards: Male Table Tennis Star presented by Seamaster Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku Male Para Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International Table Tennis Star Coach presented by Butterfly Table Tennis Star Point presented by DHS Table Tennis Breakthrough Star presented by TMS International Table Tennis Fair Play Star For more information on the 2015 ITTF Star Awards visit ITTFStarAwards.com!
Timo BOLL extends contract through 2018
Six times individual European champion added two additional years to existing contract with Borussia Dusseldorf Borussia Dusseldorf proudly announced that its best player Timo BOLL has extended his contract with them through 30 June 2018. “Timo BOLL is the most important component of our team. He plays since 2007 for our club and celebrated with Borussia in that time a lot of success. He is our leader our role model and a great personality. We are very happy that we can continue together in the upcoming years” stressed Borussia Düsseldorf Manager Andreas PREUSS speaking for Borussia`s website. “I feel at home in Borussia ” says BOLL. “Our team is one of the greatest clubs in table tennis. We enjoy the highest esteem in the city and our fans. Having ARAG Center Court as a home ground is something special. I want to achieve with our team in the coming years even more. “ A 34-year-old player won 17 trophies with Borussia: three TTCLM titles (2009-2011) one ETTU Cup (2012) seven German Leagues (2008-2012 2014 2015) and six German Cups (2008 2010 2011 2013-2015).
Oleg Matytsin Elected President of International University Sports Federation
By: Ian Marshall ITTF Publications Editor A former member of the European Table Tennis Union’s Youth Committee Russia’s Oleg Matytsin was elected President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) at the General Assembly in Lausanne Switzerland on Sunday 8th November. The 51 year old gained an overwhelming majority; he secured 102 votes as opposed to his rival Frenchman Claude-Louis Gallien the incumbent holder the office since 2011 who secured only 23 votes. He will hold the post for period of four years. “I’m very proud to be elected as the new FISU President I’m fully aware it is a great responsibility for me and my team” said Oleg Matytsin when interviewed by Inside the Games. “We need to establish first our tradition but at the same time we have to continue to be very modern” he added. “Our main task is to involve as much as we can the Continental Federations and the National University Sport Federations in close co-operation with the International Sports Federations but also the international organisations such as UNESCO for instance; we have great resources and great traditions I’m confident we will be successful.” Table tennis is the youngest compulsory sport in the programme of the Summer Universiade but it has a long history within the FISU World University Championships being first introduced the Romanian city of Bucharest in 1971. Notably table tennis was continually included until 2006 in Maribor Slovenia when superseded by the Universiade; a total of 16 editions. Established in the FISU World University Championships in 1995 table tennis was introduced as an optional sport at the Summer Universiade in Fukuoka; the high level of play executed by the Asian teams especially China being a major influence. Ten years later at the 23rd Summer Universiade in Izmir in 2005 table tennis became one of the compulsory sports and has enjoyed that status ever since; in the four most recent editions of the multi-sport gathering – Bangkok (2007) Belgrade (2009) Shenzhen (2011) and Kazan (2013) – table tennis has been acclaimed one of the most spectacular sports on offer. An exalted position for Oleg MATYTSIN but at heart just like Thomas WEIKERT the ITTF President; the new FISU President is a table tennis player at heart. Earlier this year in April at the SportAccord Convention in Sochi Russia; Thomas WEIKERT alongside Judit FARAGO the ITTF Chief Executive Officer was present to meet officials of FISU. At the time Claude-Louis GALLIEN was the FISU President and Oleg MATYTSIN the Deputy President; the outcome was a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two organisations. Formalities over it was then down to serious business; FISU versus the ITTF Oleg MATYTSIN versus Thomas WEIKERT quite rightly the table tennis table took centre stage!
Race to Lisbon continues in Stockholm
GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open The winner one year ago China’s ZHU Yuling defends her Women’s Singles title at the forthcoming GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Swedish Open which commences in Stockholm on Wednesday 11th November. She is one of the three former winners of the event on duty; the others being her colleagues CHEN Meng and LI Xiaoxia. CHEN Meng won in 2013 when she beat LI Xiaodan in the final; six years earlier in 2007 LI Xiaoxia overcame GUO Yan to arrest the title. Presently on the Race to Lisbon Women’s Singles Standings ZHU Yuling is at no.2 (1 050 points); DING Ning is at no.4 (900 points) LIU Shiwen at no.6 (800 points) with CHEN Meng being at no.8 (675 points). Equally Japan’s Ai FUKUHARA who leads the Standings (1 203 points) is the no.4 seed in Stockholm. She is most certainly on the Lisbon invitation list as are her colleagues Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Mima ITO. Kasumi Ishikawa is the no.4 seed Mima ITO is the no.10 seed; in the Women’s Singles Standings Mima ITO is no.3 (1 043 points) Kasumi ISHIKAWA at no.9 (710 points). Also Singapore’s FENG Tianwei the no.7 seed in addition to Germany’s HAN Ying and Korea’s JEON Jihee are undoubtedly Lisbon bound. In Stockholm HAN Ying is the no.9 seed; JEON Jihee who will be appearing in no less than her 17th Tour tournament of the year more than any other player is the no.11 seed. Currently in the Race to Lisbon listings FENG Tianwei and HAN Ying share the no.7 spot (731 points); whilst JEON Jihee is two places higher at no.5 (842 points). A total of 16 players will receive invitations to Lisbon; in reality it is 15 in number one place being allotted to the host association. No Portuguese player is in contention.
