The TTCL champions play together in China Frenchmen Benjamin BROSSIER and Antoine HACHARD emerged successfully in the qualification stage of the Men’s Doubles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour China Open in Chengdu. French pairings overcame the Austrian partnership of CHEN Weixing and Robert GARDOS (11-4 11-9 9-11 11-2).The combination of Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS and Sweden’s Jens LUNDQVIST accounted for Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan and SUN Chia-Hung to maintain their progress (10-12 11-7 11-8 12-10). However the partnership to attract the attention was that of Germany’s Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in liaison with Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus; they accounted Chinese Taipei’s HUANG Chien-Tu and YANG Tzu-Yi (11-9 11-8 11-9) to continue their progress to the main draw. “We play together sometimes in our club in Russia and we have played together at the European Championships before” said Dimitrij OVTCHAROV; both play for the Russian club Fakel Gazproma Orenburg the winners of this year’s European Champions League.“Vladi is an excellent doubles player so it is a pleasure to play with him; it is good to start with a victory in this event it gives me confidence” added Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. “Also it is good to have Jörgen coaching; helped us a lot.”In the Men’s Singles qualifications currently named at no.142 on the Men’s World Rankings Antoine HACHARD accounted for Korea’s JANG Woojin listed at no.79 (6-11 11-2 12-10 11-9 11-8). Required to play in the qualification stage of proceedings Britt EERLAND of the Netherlands caused the major upsets in the first round of the Under 21 Women’s Singles events. EERLAND defeated Singapore’s Li Ye the no.3 seed recovering from a two games to nil deficit to record a quite stunning full distance five games success by the very minimal margin (10-12 5-11 11-9 11-8 12-10)
Star Studded Field Set to Compete at ITTF World Tour China Open
The world’s best are in Chengdu for the final Super Series of the year A repeat of the epic 2014 Men’s World Cup Final clash between MA Long and ZHANG Jike will not be possible at the GAC Group 2015 World Tour China Open as they have been drawn in the same half. Despite this fans in Chengdu China will be treated to one of the strongest World Tour tournaments in recent history with nine out of the top ten men and eight out of the top ten women all competing in the sixth and final Super Series event of the year.Qualifications for the main draw starts today 5 August 2015 with players battling to join the world’s best players in the main draw which starts Friday 7 August with the medals being handed out on Sunday 9 August! If current World Champion MA Long is to win a record fourth China Open title in a row and sixth overall he will have to overcome players he has had tough battles with in the past. The world number one is due to play FANG Bo whom he defeated earlier in the year in the World Championships final and face his archrival ZHANG Jike in the semi final.“I always enjoy playing in front of my home fans.” stated MA.”It would mean a lot to me to win my sixth China Open title. It won’t be easy as the world’s best players are here but I will try my best to be the champion!” It won’t be just these players threatening MA Long’s quest for a 20th World Tour title. Top stars such as XU Xin FAN Zhendong Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Timo BOLL and Marcos FREITAS will also have their eye on securing the prestigious China Open title.Anticipation is high for the women’s event as well as a rematch of one of the most dramatic World Championships finals in history between DING Ning and LIU Shiwen is on the cards on Sunday. After the draw the world number one stated: “I know everyone is looking forward to watching me play LIU Shiwen again. However this competition is very strong with many top players so I will have to play well just to get to the final as will LIU.” As stated by DING the field here in Chengdu is very strong with ZHU Yuling CHEN Meng FENG Tianwei Ai FUKUHARA Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Mima ITO all looking to make sure that a repeat of the 2015 World Championships final does not come to fruition. 14th stop of the US$3 000 000 GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour the China Open is also the sixth and final Super Series event of the year which is the top tier on the World Tour. The rest of the World Tour events are split into Major series (6 events) and Challenge (11 events). All players will be pushing for Race to Lisbon points in a bid to qualify for the World Tour Grand Finals. The top 16 singles and top eight doubles pairs on the Race to Lisbon Standings will be invited to the prestigious 2015 World Tour Grand Finals to be held in Lisbon Portugal on 10-13 December 2015. The GAC Group 2015 World Tour is offering a record US$3 000 000 in prize money and will also be the most viewed in history with more events shown live throughout the world on television and all the events being shown live on ITTF’s live streaming platform ITTF.com/itTV.
SAMSONOV received the trophy for Most Popular Player
At the ZFTC 2015 Euro-Asia Challenge GARDOS received the Most Valuable Player trophy Since the inaugural meeting in 2009 in Beijing China; on home ground Asia has always prevailed. Last weekend at the ZFTC 2015 Euro-Asia Challenge that record came to a conclusion. Directed by Richard PRAUSE (Germany) the quintet comprising Marcos FREITAS (Portugal) Andrej GACINA (Croatia) Robert GARDOS (Austria) Vladimir SAMOSONOV (Belarus) and Bastian STEGER (Germany) rewrites the history books. They managed to beat Asian team in front of 800 spectators in the Jiang Su Gymnasium 6:4 bringing very first victory for the Old Continent counting matches on Asian soil. In Europe the Old Continent had won in Istanbul in 2009 and in Vendée in 2012. SAMSONOV received the trophy for Most Popular Player and GARDOS received the Most Valuable Player of European Team MA Long received the Most Popular Player and Most Valuable Players of Asian team. ETTU Deputy President Ivo-Goran MUNIVRANA and Roman PLESE accompanied the team at their successful trip. One day before the event begins Both Asia and Europe teams visited the subsidiaries of the Zhangjiagang Freetrade Science and Technology before the officials from CTTA and local government and sports administration had welcome dinner with two teams and the technical officials in Guomao Hotel. Team of Asia and European have played on the new DHS table.
Historic victory for European Table Tennis!
The 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge in Zhangjiagang: Asia – Europe 4:6. GACINA GARDOS and FREITAS brought points in the Day 2 to secure very first victory for the Old Continent on Asian soil Players Vladimir SAMSONOV Marcos FREITAS Robert GARDOS Bastian STEGER and Andrej GACINA as well as coach Richard PRAUSE went down in history today in the City of City of Zhangjiagang China! They managed to beat Asian team on 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge in front of 800 spectators in the Jiang Su Gymnasium 6:4 bringing very first victory for the Old Continent counting matches on Asian soil. European side entered Day 2 with a 3:2 advantage and after three more games it was 6:2! World`s no. 34 Andrej GACINA announced victorious day for the guests defeating no. 14 CHUANG Chih Yuan. If everybody expected his point against Noshad ALAMIYAN yesterday today`s victory against the semi-finalist from 2012 Olympics must be noted as real accomplishment bearing in mind that he did it in straight games against top class opponent. Robert GARDOS wrote down new 3:0 victory this time against Iranian ALAMIYAN. Thus Europe needed just one more point to celebrate. Deciding clash between Hong Kong player TANG Peng (no. 13) and Portuguese Marcos FREITAS was a peak of the drama. After 11:3 in the third set in his favor host had a lot of confidence on his side but guest managed to level on 2:2. But most exciting moments appeared when FREITAS had four match balls in the ultimate chapter. TANG somehow saved all four but Portuguese took next two points to secure big victory for Europe. Only what actual World champion MA Long could do against the 1997 WCH runner-up Vladimir SAMSONOV is to alleviate the loss. World`s no 1 on ITTF World ranking list won in four games. The last point belonged to Asians as GAO Ning defeated Bastian STEGER. Singaporean prevented Europeans to level the biggest victory in their mutual games (Asia won 7:3 three times). Since inaugural meeting 2009 in Beijing Europe won twice on its soil: in 2009 Istanbul (6:5) and 2012 Vendée (6:4). Thus it`s clear why today`s victory is special one bearing in mind that Asia had 6:0 score in previous six games held in China. Overall prize money was 100 000 € in total. European team earned 60 000 € while the Asians left the field with 40 000 €. The 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge: Asia – Europe 4:6 Day 1 August 1st Asia – Europe 1:0 CHUANG Chih Yuan – Bastian STEGER 3:1 (11:3 4:11 11:9 13:11) Asia – Europe 1:1 GAO Ning – Robert GARDOS 0:3 (6:11 6:11 9:11) Asia – Europe 2:1 MA Long – Marcos FREITAS 3:0 (11:7 11:4 11:7) Asia – Europe 2:2 TANG Peng – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (8:11 9:11 11:8 6:11) Asia – Europe 2:3 Noshad ALAMIYAN – Andrej GACINA 1:3 (9:11 12:10 5:11 4:11) Day 2 August 2nd Asia – Europe 2:4 CHUANG Chih-Yuan – Andrej GACINA 0:3 (6:11 7:11 10:12) Asia – Europe 2:5 Noshad ALAMIYAN – Robert GARDOS 0:3 (8:11 8:11 9:11) Asia – Europe 2:6 TANG Peng – Marcos FREITAS 2:3 (11:7 6:11 11:3 6:11 10:12) Asia – Europe 3:6 MA Long – Vladimir SAMSONOV 3:1 (11:9 7:11 11:7 11:8) Asia – Europe 4:6 GAO Ning – Bastian STEGER 3:1 (3:11 11:7 11:6 11:7)
ITTF Announces Perfect Title Sponsor for 2016 World Team TT Championships
Perfect China Company Limited has been announced as the title sponsor of the 2016 ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships to be held on 28th February 2016 to 6th March 2016 at Malawati Stadium Shah Alam Greater Kuala Lumpur. This means the second ever ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships to be held in Malaysia after successfully hosting in 2000 will be officially called the Perfect 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships. At the official signing ceremony held yesterday in Kuala Lumpur the ITTF President Mr Thomas WEIKERT stated: “The ITTF is thrilled to have such a perfect partner as Perfect China Company Limited on board for the 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships. We are looking forward to working with them closely as well as our Table Tennis Association of Malaysia and Malaysia Major Events to make the 2016 World Championships the biggest and best ever!” Established in 1994 Perfect China Company Limited has been a major player in China that specializes in health and nutrition food cosmetics as well as personal care products through its network of over 9000 online & physical stores in China. The ITTF is very pleased to have Malaysia as the 2016 World Table Tennis Championships host as they are no strangers to world-class table tennis events having hosted a memorable World Table Tennis Championships in 2000 Women’s World Cup twice in 2008 and 2010 as well as the World Cadet Challenge in 2003. The Perfect 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships was allocated to Kuala Lumpur in 2013 as a successful bid by the Table Tennis Association of Malaysia more than proving themselves as very high level organisers. In hosting the 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships Malaysia are getting the world biggest table tennis event. The 2015 edition in alone achieved over 450 million people followers around the globe. This includes 330 million watching the event live on TV in 170 countries 10 million unique visitors to the ITTF official website 3 million Facebook followers and 7 million YouTube views from 231 countries and not forgetting the impressive coverage from over 1000 media. The Malaysian public will have even more to cheer about due to the recently approved rule that gives the host of the World Championships the option to be drawn in the Championships Division regardless of their qualification position. Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) have also decided to make use of the opportunity with both its Men’s and Women’s team playing in the Championships Division among the world’s top 24 teams.
Europe leads 3:2 after Day 1
Robert GARDOS Vladimir SAMSONOV and Andrej GACINA provided three points for the Old Continent on the 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge Europe leads after Day 1 on the 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge in the Jiang Su Gymnasium in the City of Zhangjiagang China. Robert GARDOS Vladimir SAMSONOV and Andrej GACINA secured three points for the Old Continent whilst actual World champion MA Long and the semi-finalist of the 2012 Olympic Games CHUANG Chih-Yuan were successful in Asian side. World`s no. 14 CHUANG Chih Yuan brought early lead to the host side beating no. 26 Bastian STEGER in four games. The latest set was fully exciting but German didn`t manage to provide one more set. These two players met also in the opening day of the 2014 Asia-Euro All Stars Challenge as CHUANG prevailed in straight games. Robert GARDOS repeated what he did last year in Zhangjiagang when he overcame GAO Ning in straight sets. The final outcome is almost same: in 2014 GARDOS won 3:0 (11:6 11:6 11:8) now 3:0 (11:6 11:6 11:9). Austrian bronze medalist from 2008 European Championships confirmed that he know how to play against former Asian Cup winner from Singapore. Actual World champion and no. 1 on the ITTF World Ranking List MA Long was too strong for the current European team`s champion from Portugal Marcos FREITAS. Chinese confirmed spectators` expectations in the Jiang Su Gymnasium winning in straight games. Three times individual champion of Old Continent Vladimir SAMSONOV defeated Hong Kong player TANG Peng to level the score. Byelorussian needed four sets against quarter-finalist of the QOROS 2015 World Championships in Suzhou. Finally Andrej GACINA prevailed against Iranian Noshad ALAMIYAN in four games. They played close game in the first two sets but Croat easily took next two to secure 3:2 lead for Europeans after Day 1. Day 1 August 1st Asia – Europe 1:0 CHUANG Chih Yuan – Bastian STEGER 3:1 (11:3 4:11 11:9 13:11) Asia – Europe 1:1 GAO Ning – Robert GARDOS 0:3 (6:11 6:11 9:11) Asia – Europe 2:1 MA Long – Marcos FREITAS 3:0 (11:7 11:4 11:7) Asia – Europe 2:2 TANG Peng – Vladimir SAMSONOV 1:3 (8:11 9:11 11:8 6:11) Asia – Europe 2:3 Noshad ALAMIYAN – Andrej GACINA 1:3 (9:11 12:10 5:11 4:11)
Great showdown starts
The 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge sarts today at 08h00 CET (14h00 CST) in the City of Zhangjiagang China. Bastian STEGER and CHUANG Chih-Yuan will face in the opening match European and Asian stars are determined to show their best on the 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge which starts today at 08h00 CET (14h00 CST) in the Jiang Su Gymnasium in the City of Zhangjiagang China. Altogether ten matches are scheduled for two days (August 1st and 2nd) five each day. It will be the 7th clash on Chinese soil between these two most powerful table tennis continents. Since 2009 when this event was established Europeans managed to beat their biggest rivals twice at home but their coach Richard PRAUSE promised good fight against world champion MA Long & Company. Prize money is 100 000 € in total. Winning team will get 60 000 € while the losers will left the field with 40 000 €. Asian team: 1 MA Long (CHN world`s no. 1) 2 TANG Peng (HKG no. 13) 3 CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE no. 14) 4 GAO Ning (SIN no. 16) 5 Noshad ALAMIYAN (IRI no. 102). Coach: QIN Zhijian (CHN). European team: 1 Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR world`s no. 8) 2 Marcos FREITAS (POR no. 10) 3 Robert GARDOS (AUT no. 23) 4 Bastian STEGER (GER no. 26) 5 Andrej GACINA (CRO no. 34). Coach: Richard PRAUSE (GER) Asia – Europe Day 1 August 1st: CHUANG Chih-Yuan – Bastian STEGER GAO Ning – Robert GARDOS MA Long – Marcos FREITAS TANG Peng – Vladimir SAMSONOV Noshad ALAMIYAN – Andrej GACINA. Asia-Europe Day 2 August 2nd: CHUANG Chih-Yuan – Andrej GACINA Noshad ALAMIYAN – Robert GARDOS TANG Peng – Marcos FREITAS MA Long – Vladimir SAMSONOV GAO Ning – Bastian STEGER.
European stars try to change bad tradition in China
The 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge will be held this weekend in the Zhangjiagang as Asians won all six previous games on their soil Two most powerful continents in the world of table tennis are ready to fight once again in the 2015 Euro-Asia All Stars Challenge. This attractive event will be held in the City of Zhangjiagang this weekend (August 1st and 2nd). In previous six clashes played in Asia (all in China) Europeans have never won. Three times they met in Beijing (2009 – 6:4 2010 – 6:5 2011 – 6:4) once in Tianjin (2012 – 7:3) Qingdao (2013 – 7:3) and Zhangjiagang (2014 – 6:4) The launching edition was held in Beijing in late August of 2009 when Asia led by MA Long and MA Lin beat Europe 6:4. Three months later in the rematch symbolically played in Istanbul – on the cross point of Europe and Asia – The Old Continent managed to win 6:5. The current world’s no. 1 MA Long is coming back in the Asian squad after five years. Three times individual European champion Vladimir SAMSONOV participated in all editions since inaugural one except last year in Zhangjiagang. THE SCHEDULE OF THE 2015 ASIA – EUROPE ALL STARS CHALLENGE Asia – Europe Day 1 August 1st: CHUANG Chih-Yuan (world`s no. 14) – Bastian STEGER (no. 26) GAO Ning (no. 16) – Robert GARDOS (no. 23) MA Long (no. 1) – Marcos FREITAS (no. 10) TANG Peng (no. 13) – Vladimir SAMSONOV (no. 8) Noshad ALAMIYAN (no. 102) – Andrej GACINA (no. 34). Asia-Europe Day 2 August 2nd: CHUANG Chih-Yuan – Andrej GACINA Noshad ALAMIYAN – Robert GARDOS TANG Peng – Marcos FREITAS MA Long – Vladimir SAMSONOV GAO Ning – Bastian STEGER. THE 2014 ASIA – EUROPE ALL STARS CHALLENGE: EUROPE – ASIA 4:6 Europe – Asia Day 1: Robert GARDOS – Jun MIZUTANI 0:3 (9:11 8:11 5:11) Adrian CRISAN – GAO Ning 3:2 (11:9 11:5 7:11 3:11 12:10) Panagiotis GIONIS – XU Xin 0:3 (4:11 5:11 8:11) Bastian STEGER – CHUANG Chih Yuan 0:3 (8:11 6:11 6:11) TAN Riuwu– TANG Peng 3:1 (11:8 8:11 11: 9 11:8). Europe – Asia Day 2: TAN Riuwu– Jun MIZUTANI 1:3 (9:11 8:11 15:13 7:11) Adrian CRISAN – TANG Peng 3:1 (11:8 8:11 12:10 11:5) Panagiotis GIONIS – CHUANG Chih-Yuan 0:3 (9:11 6:11 11:13) Bastian STEGER – XU Xin 0:3 (5:11 6:11 4:11) Robert GARDOS – GAO Ning 3:0 (11:6 11:6 11:8).
Egyptian pair set to play in Halmstad
Omar ASSAR and Dina MESHREF secured their places for the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup The Egyptian pair of Omar ASSAR and Dina MESHREF are the 2015 ITTF-Africa Cup Champions and in turn have qualified for the ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup’s later this year. To clinch the prestigious World Cup spot for the first time ASSAR defeated the 2014 champion and ITTF Male Table Tennis Star Quadri ARUNA (NGR) 11-4 11-4 11-7 6-11 11-7 in a very entertaining final. ASSAR will be very much at home at the Liebherr 2015 ITTF Men’s World Cup; the tournament will be staged later this year in Halmstad Sweden where he lives. Becoming champion in Cameroon meant that MESHREF is off to her third Women’s World Cup which will be staged in Sendai Japan in late October. To clinch the title she defeated her close friend and teammate Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY in the final 11-5 11-7 9-11 12-10 11-6. The ITTF World Cups are amongst the most prestigious events in the world with only the top 18 players qualifying for the event through the continental cups plus the world champion and one wildcard. The Liebherr 2015 Men’s World Cup will be held in Halmstad Sweden on 16-18 October and the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Sendai Japan on 30 October – 1 November. Qualifications for the 2015 ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups: •Current World Champion: MA Long (CHN) DING Ning (CHN) •NN Table Tennis Club 2015 ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) Marcos FREITAS (POR) Panagiotis GIONIS (GRE) LIU Jia (AUT) Petrissa SOLJA (GER) Irene IVANCAN (GER) •GAC Group 2015 Asian Cup: XU Xin (CHN) Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) FENG Tianwei (SIN) LIU Shiwen (CHN) •K-Sports 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup: William HENZELL (AUS) LAY Jian Fang (AUS) •Double Fish 2015 ITTF-North America Cup: Jimmy BUTLER (USA) ZHANG Mo (CAN) •2015 ITTF-Latin America Cup: Gustavo TSUBOI (BRA) Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA) •2015 ITTF-Africa Cup: Omar ASSAR (EGY) Dina MESHREF (EGY)
GAO Ning replaces JUN Mizutani
Japanese forced to withdraw from Asia –Europe All Stars Challenge due to injury Coach QIN Zhijan was forced to make one change in Asian team five days before the 2015 Asia-Euro All Stars Challenge in Zhang Jiagang (China). He replaced Jun MIZUTANI with GAO Ning because of an injury of Japanese player. Singaporean is currently no. 16 on ITTF World Ranking List while MIZUTANI is no. 5. Both know very well the best European players having many encounters against them in Table Tennis Champions League. Asia-Euro All Stars Challenge in Zhang Jiagang (China) will be held on August 1st and 2nd. Five players in each Continental teams will fight for honor and 100.000 Euros in total. Winning team will earn 60.000 whilst losing team will left the field 40.000 Euros richer. New schedule announced after Jun MIZUTANI withdrawal is the next: Asia – Europe Day 1 August 1st CHUANG Chih-Yuan – Bastian STEGER GAO Ning – Robert GARDOS MA Long – Marcos FREITAS TANG Peng – Vladimir SAMSONOV Nshad ALAMIYAN – Andrej GACINA Asia-Europe Day 2 August 2nd CHUANG Chih-Yuan – Andrej GACINA Nshad ALAMIYAN – Robert GARDOS TANG Peng – Marcos FREITAS MA Long – Vladimir SAMSONOV GAO Ning – Bastian STEGER
