Russia and Romania in the semi final   Russia and Romania joined Ukraine and Germany in the semi final of the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. Reigning champions Germany will meet host nation whilst the other duel is Romania vs. Ukraine.   Russia overcame Portugal the team who played for the first time in the quarterfinal of the Continental Championships. Yana NOSKOVA suffered at the beginning of the match against YU Fu.   “It is not the first time. We meet before and I lost 2:4. Today I had a lead 6:3 in the opening game I won second and third but after 2:1 she changed her tactics she pushed the ball harder and I could not follow ” said NOSKOVA.   Polina MIKHAILOVA won both her matches again.   “Against SHAO Jieni I was nervous. First game was very close. Against YU Fu it was also a mind game. I guess in the battle of the wills I was better ” stated Polina.   Anna TIKHOMIROVA burst into the tears after the match.   “I had only one chance in the match to bring the point to my team. I am so happy I succeeded.”   Romania outplayed Poland. All three players scored but it was Poland who made advantage first. LI Qian overcame Bernadette SZOCS in straight games to give her team dream start.   “I overcame LI Qian in Champions League but I was not feel good today. I had a bad start. It did not make me worry. We have a very good team and I believed we could win at the end. One of the reason for the success of Romania’s table tennis is perfect team spirit ” revealed SZOCS.   In the decisive match Bernadette beat Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA in five games.   “It is first time that I won the full distance match since I become senior player.”   And that victory came in most worthy moment. In previous match LI Qian beat Elizabeta SAMARA to force the fifth game. Elizabeta beat GRZYBOWSKA previously.   “She is very good with the left handers. I was unable to play my game. However at the end it came to the mind game; in fifth set I was just much better in my head. I won 11:8.”   Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO overcame Natalia PARTYKA.   “Tomorrow everything is going to hurt me. I was quite time absent from this high level tournaments. Natalia forced me into very hard rallies.”  

Top seeds won the re-run of last year’s EC final   In the semi final of the Women’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIBEHERR ITTF European Championships will play top seeds Germany and Ukraine. It is the outcome of the first quarterfinal matches in the early afternoon program in Ekaterinburg EXPO today.   In the re-run of the last years final played 11 months earlier in Lisbon Germany repeated the success and beat Austria. Instead of LI Qianbing this time played Sofia POLCANOVA and instead 3:0 it was 3:1 for Germany. It was exactly POLCANOVA who made that difference. POLCANOVA overcame SHAN Xiaona in the opening match.   “We had a lot of respect when we saw the draw last night.  In the preliminary round the teams often not play complete against us. At that early point maybe 70 percent are enough. Then suddenly you get a strong team in quarter finals. In that case it is not easy to stay focused. But we also knew: we are better and we have to win. We were very well prepared. We were surprised that Austria has nominated Amelie at position three. So with a victory by HAN or SHAN and with a victory of Peti we knew that we had a good starting position. “

   After POLCANOVA beat SHAN HAN Ying leveled the match. She overcame LIU Jia. Next in line was the duel between two sisters. Undoubtedly there are no many if any case of sisters playing against each other for the different national teams.Petrissa SOLJA and Amelie SOLJA created history today. It was Petrissa who won.    “We expected difficult match. POLCANOVA justified our thoughts with very good performance at the opening stated Petrissa.” Speaking about my match it was one of the hardest in my life. I played against my sister; it brought a lot of emotions in game. On one side I have my team and my responsibilities I had to win it. I did it but I cannot hide the emotions; at the same time I am very sad. “   HAN Ying justified her status and beat POLCANOVA in fourth game.   “Yesterday the defeat against BALAZOVA came at the right time. Yesterday evening I thought a lot about my game. Today I knew that if I play well I’m going to win both singles. I have prepared well and was not as nervous as last time in Lisboa 2014 ”

 said HAN Ying.   Sabine WINTER celebrated her 23rd birthday today.   “Last year my team gave me the final for my birthday this time it was only the semi-finals. I hope the final will still come.”   Ukraine overcame Czech Republic on their way to the medal rostrum.   Margaryta PESOTSKA beat Hana MATELOVA and Iveta VACENOVSKA to add two more victories to her list at almost impressive tournament for her so far.   “It is not easy to start the game with the thoughts about recent defeat. We lost against Czech Republic at the European Games in Baku; it was again the match for the medal. Knowing that we were under pressure. However all the fears went away when the game started. I felt confident I got the power and my tactics was at the right place. I managed to focus only to game.”   It was another victory that everyone expects from Margaryta PESOTSKA but for sure Ganna GAPONOVA beat the odds.   “Not only that I caused the upset but I surprised myself as well. In Baku I lost against Iveta VACENOVSKA in straight games. Here I thought I might take away a game from her. Crucial thing was that I was not under pressure. She carried the burden of being favorite. I play point for point freely and relaxed.”   Only Tetyana BILENKO suffered. She lost against Dana CECHOVA.     “I should won it but I could not find the game for her today. Her top spin made me hard to smash. My defense suffered and I cannot find usable attack against Dana.”  

Sweden win the Group to progress to the quarters of the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships   After the battle of the epic proportions Austria booked their place in the top eight teams in the Men’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. They accounted for Russia leaving host nation without chance to play for medal. From the top spot in the Group Sweden progressed to the quarters as well.   In the last match in the hall Austria needed five matches to succeed.   “At the beginning of the day we were down because we lost our encounter against Sweden day earlier. That win will bring us to the quarters for sure. We lost after we were 1:0 and 2:1 up. We found ourselves in must –to- do situation. We had to beat both Romania and Russia” explained Stefan FEGERL.   Ovidiu IONESCU had other plans.   “He beat Robert GARDOS in fantastic style. He played really good. That is why I am so proud after all. I managed to “fix” it and to beat him. We succeeded against Romania but after that we had even harder task. Playing against Russia here put enormous pressure on everyone. Robi gave us good start against Kirill SKACHKOV. I never lost against SHIBAEV but this situation was different. In Russia he plays like he is under spell. I am sure that he could win the medal in singles here. Again third match was very important. Daniel HABESOHN brought us back in game. SHIBAEV beat GARDOS so it was me against Kirill in decisive match.”   And that one went on Stefen’s account.   “I set the good tactics. I played close to the table with very good service game. However at the end I think my hart was at the right place.”   Earlier today in the Ekaterinburg Expo Centre Russia caused a major upset by beating Sweden the third seeds who like the host nation had recorded a first day success. On the previous afternoon they had beaten Austria in a full distance five match duel.   Alexander SHIBAEV twice brought his team level and kept hopes alive. He beat Jon PERSSON after Mikhail PAIKOV had been beaten in the opening match of the engagement by Pär GERELL.   Sweden moved ahead by Kristian KARLSSON’s victory over Alexey LIVENTSOV but Alexander SHIBAEV responded he overcame Pär GERELL before Kirill SKACHOV concluded the matters.    “Jon played very well against me but I adapted quickly; I have played against Pär many times before; I am well aware that his service is dangerous” said Alexander SHIBAEV. “My tactic was to focus on each point not to think about the result; just to go one step in the time. At 2:2 I was confident that Kirill SKACHKOV would win. It was not an easy match for him but I was very sure he would succeed.”   Sweden succeeded against Romania ; Kristian KARLSSON overcame Ovidiu IONESCU   Par GERREL beat Hunor SZOCS and Anton KALLBERG succeeded against Andrei FILIMON.  

Seeded no four in their Group Ukraine recorded all three victories   Seeded only at the position no. four in the Group D team of Ukraine booked the place in the quarterfinal of the Women’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. On their way to the best eight teams Ukraine overcame Sweden Netherlands and Portugal. Portugal is second.   Against Netherlands and Sweden they were stretched to full distance.   Last match in the Group they opened well. Matilda EKHOLM suffered against Margaryta PESOTSKA in five games match. Tetyana BILENKO wider the gap with the victory over Christina KALLBERG before Linda BERGSTROM gave Sweden some hope. EKHOLM leveled against BILENKO so at the end PESOTSKA was there to seal the match. At the tournament PESOTSKA was defeated only once – against LI Jie of Netherlands.   Portugal also played full five matches in the last round. LI Jie was at the top of the task Leila OLIVIERA YU Fu and SHAO Jieni took advantage of the fact that they has better team. They all scored against tonight. Portugal also beat Sweden in the first round.

Poland booked second place in Group C in Women’s Teams Event   Russia took the full advantage of home soil. At Ekaterinburg EXPO in the Women’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships Russia upset the order and booked top place in their respective group.  They pushed down favorites Poland and Hungary. Nevertheless Poland at least booked place in the quarters but Hungary finished third.   In the last match in their group Russia overcame Hungary and Poland succeeded against Luxembourg.   the backbone of Russia’s success was Polina MIKHAILOVA. She overcame both Szandra PERGEL and Georgina POTA. POTA was the only player to score for Hungary. She beat Anna TIKHOMIROVA.   In second round Russia beat Luxembourg by three matches to one with NI Xialian the only winner in opposite side. She overcame Anna TIKHOMIROVA in the opening match of the fixture.   Yana NOSKOVA beat Danielle KONSBRUCK Polina MIKHAILOVA used her defensive skills to good effect to overcome Sarah de NUTTE to set the scene for Anna TIKHOMIROVA to conclude matters. She recorded a straight games success against Tessy GONDERINGER.    “We did not expect such a good start but it seems that the whole team is in right shape. Yesterday I beat li Qian and usually I don’t play that well against defenders I tried to play safe; I played well at the recent Czech Open and that has boosted my confidence but I think as whole we are in good shape Yana NOSKOVA and Anna TIKHOMIROVA are playing well.”   Poland beat Hungary before they accounted for Luxembourg. NI Xialian only caused damage whilst Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA Natalia PARTYKA and LI Qian recorded victories.  

No. two seeds won all three matches Romania justified their status and secured the top position in Group B in the Women’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships. They reached quarter-final after three victories whilst Austria joined them with one less.   In the last match in their group Romania overcame France in straight games but all three players were severely tested. Elizabeta SAMARA was stretched to full distance against LI Xue and similar scenario was seen in the matches between Bernadette SZOCS and Carole GRUNDISH and Daniele DODEAN MONTEIRO and XIAN Yiafang.   In previous round Romania beat Austria. After defeats against Andrea TODOROVIC of Serbia in first round and then Sofia POLCANOVA SAMARA finally felt her game improved. She overcame LIU Jia to regain her self confidence.   “I broke the ice finally. It was very difficult for me to play yesterday. I lost against Serbia’s Andrea TODOROVIC because I have never played against her. She got nothing to lose she risked a lot and on the other hand I was under great pressure. I knew I had to win that one. Now I recovered I am in the winning tracks again. I am not so happy with my game against Sofia POLCANOVA but against LIU Jia in the third game at 1:1 I finally settled in the right rhythm.”   Austria beat France and Serbia.   The back bone of their success in the third round victory over Serbia was Sofia POLCANOVA. She overcame Andrea TODODROVIC and Gabriela FEHER. Like in earlier rounds Serbia lost but not without causing minor upset. This time it was Anamarija ERDELJI who succeeded against LI Qianbing.  

Germany concluded the Group stage undefeated   Undefeated in Russia reigning champions team of Germany secured their place among top eight teams in the Women’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR European Championships in Ekaterinburg. On the second day of action in Russia Germany overcame Belarus and Slovakia. Day earlier they prevailed against Czech Republic. Czech team finishes second and they will also play in quarters. In the last Group match the only defeat for Germany came from Barbora BALAZOVA. She overcame HAN Ying in five thrilling games.   “We lost the opening match but we are not surprised. We know it is going to be difficult one. Barbara is in our training center and she practice very often with us. In addition she plays very well against the players with defensive style. However we rather accept the defeat now then in the later stages ” said coach Jie SCHÖPP.   Sabine WINTER beat Eva JURKOVA Petrissa SOLJA received walk over in the match against Lucia TRUKSOVA and HAN beat JURKOVA in the final game.     In the second round earlier today represented by Irene IVANCAN Petrissa SOLJA and Sabine WINTER; Germany overcame the Belarus trio of Daria TRIGOLOS Katsiaryna BARAVOK and Alexandra PRIVALOVA by three matches to nil.    “I am feeling well here in Russia. Most of the difficulties are coming from the time difference. I am little bit sleepy but the things are getting better. Also my game is improving as the Event progressed so I am very satisfied. Yesterday I was not that good but it was enough for the first day ” said Petrissa SOLJA.   Czech Republic also acconted for Belarus after Iveta VACENOVSKA Renata STRBIKOVA Hana MATELOVA beat the Slovak Republic with Barbora BALAZOVA Eva ODOROVA Eva JURKOVA.   That match attracted a lot of attention as old rivals meet once again.    “Recently I played against Eva ODOROVA at the European Games in Baku It was close match as ever. In addition it was usual scenario like every time we meet. We had a slow start and then after third game the real battle develop. This time was not the exception. Unfortunately Eva was better in the finish of the match but she is a big fighter and you can always expects that from her ” said Renata STRBIKOVA.   Iveta VACENOVSKA added:“The great confidence for our victories we got from our team spirit. We know we are strong as a team and no meter if someone lose one match it is not the end of the World. The next teammate could win. ”

Great disappointment for young Croatian team   What a conclusion of matters in the Group D in the Men’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships in Ekaterinbourg. Defeat for Greece at the hands of Belarus a place in the last eight appeared a forlorn hope but then there was salvation the Czech Republic upset the odds by beating fourth seeds Croatia; thus Belarus and Greece each finished the group with two wins apiece for Croatia and the Czech Republic it was one each.   Thus Belarus followed by Greece advanced to the quarter-finals.   Belarus beat Czech Republic yesterday in close five matches encounter but concluded the day with defeat. Croatia’s young team needed four matches to succeed against the favorite. Both Filip ZELJKO and Andrej GACINA accounted for Vladimir SAMSONOV.   Today was the different story. SAMSONOV was stretched to full distance against Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIU but at the end he gave Belarus dream start. Kalinikos KREANGA was the only player to score against Evgueni CHTCHETININE but Gionis PANAGIOTIS suffered against Pavel PLATONOV and Vladimir SAMSONOV.   “Yesterday was very hard day for me. I lost two matches. It was difficult to me to settle into the game against young Filip ZELJKO. I felt tired and sleepy due the time difference. Today it was much better. I struggled a little in the opening match but certainly I had no problem with GIONIS defensive skills in second one. I cannot complain at the beginning I had lot opportunities to practice with the players with such skills ” explained SAMSONOV.   Croatia was so close to the great success for rejuvenated team. Andrej GACINA proved his rankings and quality but today Filip ZELJKO and Tomislav PUCAR could not follow.   “We came here with new team and we did not expect too much. However after yesterday’s victory over Belarus in such superb style we realized how close to the quarters we are. Now I feel much worst knowing that our main chance slipped away in the match against Greece. They won 3:2 but if it had finished other way …”said coach Croatian team Zvonko KORENIC.

OVTCHAROV’s teammates prevailed in five matches duel against Ukraine   Without Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in the last match in the Group stage of the Men’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR European Championships Germany secured place in the quarterfinal. They are at the top of the Group B with surprisingly Poland on position no. two. Spain failed to justified their seeded position and dropped to place no. three.   Germany seeded no. two at the tournament started very well the match of the third round against Ukraine. Knowing that they are already at the leading position in their Group coach Jorg ROSSKOPF gave Dimitrij OVTCHAROV a chance for a short break.   Ruwen FILUS opened the encounter with full distance match against KOU Lei Patric BAUM also went full distance against Oleksandr DIDUKH.   Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO overcame Patrick FRANZISKA in straight games and KOU Lei accounted for BAUM to force the decisive match. It was Ricardo WALTHER who got the chance to enter to the game. On his premiere in Russia Ricardo beat DIDUKH.   “I felt little bit under pressure. After Patrick lost his match I start preparing. At the end I am very happy with my game ” said WALTHER.   Patrick BAUM was not that happy.   “Ukraine lost two matches before us but it did not change the fact they have three very good players. I am not happy with my performance against KOU Lei. After 1:1 I made advantage 9:4 and eventually lost ” said BAUM.   Now is time to focus on second stage.   “The completely new tournament is ahead of us. Best eight teams goes to knock out phase. I might put Portugal and Austria aside but so far I do not see any big favorites for the title. I also do not think a lot about the other teams. It is most important to be focused on our game. If we are at the top of our game no use of thinking about the others. We have five good players” said ROSSKOPF.   Poland beat Spain 3:1 in direct duel for position no. two.

Unlike Men’s Event Women’s was full of surprises   Top seeds at the Women’s Teams Event at the 2015 LIEBHERR ITTF European Championships team of Germany beat Czech Republic in the opening round of the Group Stage but it was Russia who stole the limelight. Russia overcame Poland in four matches and the hero of the day was Polina MIKHAYLOVA.   After LI QIAN overcame Yana NOSKOVA in the opening match Polina took the control. MIKHAYLOVA overcame Natalia PARTYKA in full distance match. Anna TIKHOMIROVA overcame Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA. Once again Polina was on duty against LI QIan. In full five games she overcame favorite and sealed the victory for Russia.   “It seems to me that right now our team is in good condition; we support each other being strong in spirit. Emotions are overwhelming. Today we need to have a rest as tomorrow is a tough day – two games. We need to rejoice over the victory and to start over tomorrow ” said Polina MIKHAYLOVA.    In the same Group C Hungary overcame Luxembourg.   “We have very hard group and we can not allowed any unexpected results. That is why I am very happy now after the victory. We were under pressure. When you play against Luxembourg everyone knows NI Xia Lian will win her two matches so there is no space for mistakes. I played against her recently in Baku and I had no chance. We were focused on other players ” said Georgina POTA.   Nevertheless POTA had a great change to avenge her recent defeat. She went full distance against NI. “With this new balls I can feel her game better. I can control her service much better so I had a good chance today. I am sorry I did not took advantage of 1:1 and 9:6.” POTA overcame Sarah DE NUTTE in the opening match Szandra PARGEL lost against NI in next. Dora MADARASZ prevailed against Egle TAMASAUSKAITE. “In the decisive game Szandra played very good against Sarah but before that there were no option for Dora but to win. Her victory kept us alive.” In Group A Germany lost only one game against Czech Republic. “Czech Republic tried to surprise us with a new tactic – this time without their best player VACENOVSKA.  My team showed a very good and focused performance. Before a tournament you don’t know where you are actually. Our win could be crucial for us to win the group ” said coach Jie SCHÖPP.   Petrisa SOLJA overcame Renata STRBIKOVA in third match.   “I am not happy with my game at the beginning. I needed time to get into the rhythm. STRBIKOVA also plays some unpleasant balls; therefore it was not easy at the beginning. For me and for us it was a great start of the tournament even though I lost the only one set.   Romania beat Serbia. After two years of absence due the maternity reasons Daniela DOEDAN MONTEIRO is back.   “It is my first big match at this level and first victory after two years. It is great feeling to be back. I made two breaks after knee injury and surgery but never for so long. We played very close duel against Serbia and it is good that we won. I missed my little girl. My mother and sister send me pictures of her every five minutes.“   Ukraine overcame Netherlands to prolong the list of surprises. It happened twice in Group D. Sweden also suffered against Portugal. YU Fu was the instrumental of achieving the victory for Portugal side. She beat Matilda EKHOLM and Stina KALLBERG. In the match Ukraine against Netherlands it was more team effort. Margaryta PESOTSKA overcame Rianne VAN DUIN Tetyana BILENKO beat Rianne as well whilst Ganna GAPONOVA overcame Kim VERMAAS.