Tampere celebrates European champions in 32 events The temperature in already extremely worm Tampere reached the unbelievable heights on the ultimate day at the European Veterans Championships. The battles for top places at the medal rostrum brought the best from already inspired competitors and we witnessed great matches before the curtain came down.  Main favorites in Men’s Singles 40 and 50 events clinched their titles. Dimitry MAZUNOV of Russia and YI Ding of Austria won gold. Of course the final day produced few upsets. Claus PEDERSEN of Denmark had to surrender the crown to Nosratallah SAFAI of Sweden. Branka BATINIC won silver in Doubles but she reached the highest place at the medal rostrum in Singles.  In Men’s Doubles 50 event Yury ILLARIONOV and Igor ROLDUGIN of Russia exceeded the seedings and beat Austria’s YI Ding and Russia’s Aleksei RODIN. The Men’s Doubles 40 category also concluded with surprise. Russia’s Georgii RUBINSHTEIN and Aleksandr SAVELEV beat Henrik VENDELBO of Denmark and Marcus WANEK of Germany. In Women’s 50 Event in Doubles Maria VINTILA TIFACHI of Spain and Maria GAFTEA of Romania succeeded against Branka BATINIC of Croatia and Marion KLUSSMANN of Germany. ALL MEDALISTS AT A GLANCE Men’s 40 Singles – Gold: Dimitry MAZUNOV (RUS). Silver: Saim POLATKIN (TUR). Bronze: Leonid IVANOV (RUS) Henrik VENDELBO (DEN).Final Singles Dimitry MAZUNOV (RUS) – Saim POLATKIN (TUR) 3:1 (2 -9 4 9).Doubles – Gold:  Georgii RUBINSHTEIN Aleksandr SAVELEV (RUS). Silver: Henrik VENDELBO (DEN) Marcus WANEK (GER). Bronze: Thomas OTT (GER) Vahidin OKIC (SWE) Lorestas TRUMPASKUAS (ENG) Dimitry ABRAMENKO (ISR). Final DoublesGeorgii RUBINSHTEIN Aleksandr SAVELEV (RUS) – Henrik VENDELBO (DEN) Marcus WANEK (GER) 3:1 (4 6 -7 4). Women’s 40 Singles – Gold: Cecile OZER (BEL). Silver: Elena CHUNIKHINA (RUS). Bronze: Magali CHARLIER (BEL) Larisa LAVRAKHINA (RUS).Final Singles Cecile OZER (BEL) – Elena CHUNIKHINA (RUS) 3:1 (9 -12 6 4)Doubles – Gold: Elena CHUNIKHINA Larisa LAVRAKHINA (RUS). Silver: Petronela BADUROVA Iveta KUCKOVA (SVK). Bronze: Isabelle GUILBAULT (FRA) Fulya DIKER (TUR) Lena JOHNSSON Katarina AMARK (SWE).Final Doubles Elena CHUNIKHINA Larisa LAVRAKHINA (RUS) – Petronela BADUROVA Iveta KUCKOVA (SVK) 3:2 (8 -11 -9 11 8) Men’s 50 Singles – Gold: YI Ding (AUT). Silver: Carsten EGEHOLT (DEN). Bronze: Miroslav CECAVA (CZE) Matthias BLUHM (GER).Final Singles YI Ding (AUT) – Carsten EGEHOLT (DEN) 3:1 (-9 1 5 9).Doubles – Gold: Yury ILLARIONOV Igor ROLDUGIN (RUS). Silver: YI Ding (AUT) Aleksei RODIN (RUS). Bronze: Carsten EGEHOLT (DEN) Rainer JUNGBLUT (GER) Denis FORBAULT Jean Louis LAMARRE (FRA).Final Doubles Yury ILLARIONOV Igor ROLDUGIN (RUS) – YI Ding (AUT) Aleksei RODIN (RUS) 3:2 (-4 11 -3 7 10). Women’s 50 Singles – Gold: Branka BATINIC (CRO). Silver: Inna TIKHOMIROVA (RUS). Bronze: Maria VINTILA TIFACHI (ESP) Marta DAUBNEROVA (SVK).Final Singles Branka BATINIC (CRO) – Inna TIKHOMIROVA (RUS)  3:0 (8 13 11)Doubles – Gold: Maria VINTILA TIFACHI (ESP) Maria GAFTEA (ROU). Silver: Branka BATINIC (CRO) Marion KLUSSMANN (GER). Bronze: Tatiana KULIEVA Inna TIKHOMIROVA (RUS) Heike BORCHARDT Anka MUTKE (GER).Final Doubles Maria VINTILA TIFACHI (ESP) Maria GAFTEA (ROU) – Branka BATINIC (CRO) Marion KLUSSMANN (GER) 3:1 (-7 4 7 11). Men’s 60 Singles – Gold: Bela FRANK (HUN). Silver: Rein LINDMAE (EST). Bronze: Rolf EBERHARDT (GER) Petr POLAK (CZE)  Final Singles Bela FRANK (HUN) – Rein LINDMAE (EST) 3:2 (9 9 -6 -8 14)Doubles – Gold: Rein LINDMAE (EST) Leonid SEGAL (UKR). Silver: Jurgen HECHT Manfred NIESWAND (GER). Bronze: Eduard KOZLOVSKI Vladimir TUDESOV (RUS) Dieter JURGENS Gerd WERNER (GER).Final Doubles Rein LINDMAE (EST) Leonid SEGAL (UKR) – Jurgen HECHT Manfred NIESWAND (GER) 3:2 (-7 5 -7 9 5). Women’s 60 Singles – Gold: Elle OUN (EST). Silver: Nella MAMLINA (ISR). Bronze: Eliane CHARBONNEAU Hildegard GEORGI (GER).Final Singles Nella MAMLINA (ISR) – Elle OUN (EST) 3:0 (0 0 0)Doubles – Gold: Monika HUSSMANN Gerda KUX SIEBERATH (GER). Silver: Eliane CHARBONNEAU Michelle SEVIN (FRA). Bronze: Christa GEIST Carmen PETRY (GER) Lidija KALININA (LAT) Elena LIVEROVA (RUS).Final Doubles Monika HUSSMANN Gerda KUX SIEBERATH (GER)- Eliane CHARBONNEAU Michelle SEVIN (FRA) 3:2 (9 -7 -8 8 9). Men’s 65 Singles – Gold: Nosratallah SAFAI (SWE). Silver: Goran SKOKSBERG (SWE). Bronze : Claus PEDERSEN (DEN) Milos MATEJICEK (CZE)Final Singles Nosratallah SAFAI (SWE) – Goran SKOKSBERG (SWE) 3:2 (-5 8 -3 9 10)Doubles – Gold: Claus PEDERSEN Nils RAMBERG (DEN). Silver: Matti LAPPALAINEN (FIN) Goran SKOGSBERG (SWE). Bronze: John CLARKE (ENG) Geoff SALTER (SCO) Jaroslav KUCERA Zdenek REMES (CZE).Final Doubles Claus PEDERSEN Nils RAMBERG (DEN) – Matti LAPPALAINEN (FIN) Goran SKOGSBERG (SWE) 3:1 (-10 3 9 6). Women’s 65 Singles – Gold: Istvanee JONYER (HUN). Silver: Larisa ILINSKAIA (RUS). Bronze: Karin FLEMKE (GER) Carol COWIE (ENG). Final SinglesIstvanee JONYER (HUN)- Larisa ILINSKAIA (RUS) 3:2 (-7 -7 10 13 8).Doubles – Gold: Marina KERWAT Ursula KRUGER (GER). Silver: Marjorie DAWSON (ENG) Elke RICHTER (GER). Bronze: Carol COWIE Linda HALES (ENG) Karin FLEMKE Christine LUBBE (GER).Final Doubles Marina KERWAT Ursula KRUGER (GER) – Marjorie DAWSON (ENG) Elke RICHTER (GER) 3:0 (8 4 0) Men’s 70 Singles – Gold: Wolfgang SCHMIDT (GER). Silver: Dimitrije BILIC (GER). Bronze: Istvan SZALAI (HUN) Zdenek SENOHRABEK (CZE).Final SinglesDimitrije BILIC (GER)- Wolfgang SCHMIDT (GER) 3:2 (7 -9 – 8 9 10).Doubles – Gold: Herbert NEUBAUER Wolfgang SCHMIDT (GER). Silver: Roy NORTON Kenneth STONEBRIDGE (ENG). Bronze: Josef MERK Rene THEILLOUT (GER) Leif APPLSKOG Sven Olof KRATZ (SWE).Final Doubles Herbert NEUBAUER Wolfgang SCHMIDT (GER) – Roy NORTON Kenneth STONEBRIDGE (ENG) 3:0 (5 7 9). Women’s 70 Singles – Gold: Jutta BARON (GER). Silver: Ursula KRUGER (GER). Bronze: Karin RAUSCHER (GER) Gizella ZACHER (HUN). Final Singles Jutta BARON (GER) – Ursula KRUGER (GER) 3:2 (13 -5 9 -10 8).Doubles – Gold: Rosi BERG Karin RAUSCHER (GER). Silver: Jutta BARON Gudrun ENGEL (GER). Bronze: Mare KABRITS (EST) Nicole PILLIERE (FRA) Waltraut SANDER (GER) Christa LUBKE (NED).Final Doubles Rosi BERG Karin RAUSCHER (GER) – Jutta BARON Gudrun ENGEL (GER) 3:1 (12 -8 4 9). Men’s 75 Singles – Gold: Horst IFFLAND (SUI). Silver: Dieter LIPPELT (GER). Bronze: Sven Olof KRATZ (SWE) Uwe WIENPRECHT (GER).Final Singles Horst IFFLAND (SUI) – Dieter LIPPELT (GER) 3:2 (-8 8 -8 7 8)Doubles – Gold: Siegfrird LEMKE Uwe WIENPRECHT (GER). Silver: Jan Eric OLOFSSON Bo TORINSSON (SWE). Bronze: Keith POWEL (ENG) Hans WESTLING (SWE) Bernd WITTHAUS (GER) Horst IFFLAND

Crowd just love to watch YI’s matches It is always easy to find where Austria’s YI Ding is playing. In large Expo Center filled with 80 tables and hundred of players on duty at the same time the most crowded area around the box is around the place where Austrian is fighting for points.  Player who competed at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988 and he was also in Sydney in 2000 came in Tampere as crowned World’s Men’s Singles Over 50 champion and winner of the silver medal at the previous edition of the European Championships.  “I am very happy that I have the opportunity to play in Tampere. Finland has special place in my heart. People are very nice here. I used to play many time at the Finlandia open ” said YI Ding.  On his way to the semis YI beat ALDVIK of Sweden ZUEV of Russia LINDMARK and HUSS of Sweden. He lost very few points but said it was not that easy as the results predicts. “The competition in my category is fierce. Swedes and Germas are very strong here.” In the semi final Austrian will play against Miroslav CECAVA of Czech Republic Dane Carsten EGEHOLT meets Matthias BLUHM of Germany.  With Aleksei RODIN of Russia YI is aiming another title in Doubles. In Bremen they clinched bronze whilst in New Zealand at World’s veterans Championships they succeeded to silver. 

Titleholder in Men’s Singles 65 reached semis despite shaky start At last three European Veterans Championships Claus PEDERSEN of Denmark never left the hall without the medal. This year’s edition in Finland’ s Tampere will not be the exception. The titleholder in Men’s over 65 category Dane already booked the pace at the medal rostrum. PEDERSEN will meet Goran SKOGSBERG; Nosratallah SAFAI also of Sweden will meet Milos MATEJCEK of Czech Republic. For little bit shaky start of the competition in the main draw PEDERSEN blaimed lack of table tennis training. Asked about leg injury Claus admitted: “I had little bit to much of tennis training in past few months. I do not play much of table tennis during summer ” said Claus who is active player of tennis in Germany’s Eche Kiel. After opening match in the main draw against Russia’s STOLNIKOV when Claus needed four games to progress further the remained three duels concluded in straight sets. Germany’s RUNGE and HURMANN as well as Austria’s SORGER all lost 3:0. “There are few notable names missing from the top 20 players it should be easier for me this year to win but only recently I started to have trainings three times per week. I needed few wins to restore my confidence here ” said PEDERSEN.

Last year’s silver medalist in perfect shape On his way to the semi final of the Men’s Singles Event at the European Veterans Championships Dimitry MAZUNOV of Russia showed no mercy. All four matches in main draw MAZUNOV concluded in straight games; Finland’s TANHUA Switzerland’s STUMPFECKER Austria’s KRAUS GUNTE and Swede ZETTERSTROM all failed to halt his progress.  Russia’s player won the silver medal at the last Championships. We asked him about the competition in Tampere. “I am not sure. It seams that the competition is not as strong as the last time but it might be the case that I feeling better. It only my second appearance at the Veterans and I am still adjusting to this kind of competitions ” explained MAZUNOV. During the active playing career Dimitriy has clinched the titles at Yugoslavia Italy and Austria Open and reached the place among best 16 at the World Championships.  “ There are many strong players here. Players from Russia Lithuania UK showed very high level of quality.” MAZUNOV is working as a coach in Germany’s Ochsenhausen. “We have very talented young generation of players. We are trying to implement the program which will help European players to narrow the gap with China.” Surprisingly in the quarterfinal MAZUNOV did not play against Finland’s Pasi VALASTI as the seeding predicted. VALASTI faced unexpecting defeat in the second round against French LE PENVEN . LE PENVEN then lost two rounds latter against ZETTERSTROM. In the semi final tomorrow MAZUNOV will meet Henrik VANDELBO of Denmark whilst Leonid IVANOV of Russia will play against Saim POLATKAN of Turkey. 

Representatives of some of Europe’s strongest veterans countries met members of the ETTU Veterans Committee to discuss the possibility of a future European Veterans Team Championship Chairman of the ETTU Veterans Committee Dr Zdenko KRIZ invited the representatives to an informal ‘brain storming’ session at the European Veterans Table Tennis Championship currently taking place in Tampere Finland.   He explained the purpose of the meeting was to invite the views of the representatives of the veterans’ table tennis societies in Europe regarding the desirability and feasibility of holding European Team Championships in the future. Those views would be taken into account and the ETTU Veterans Committee would prepare a report and recommendations for the ETTU Executive Committee. The mood of the meeting was that the players and veterans society would welcome the principle of a European Team Championships given the practicalities and logistics of staging an event were manageable.   There was a general consensus that if it took place it should be linked to the European Veterans Championships. This would mean extending the event by a number of days and possibly losing the mid-week free day. This would of course have financial and administrative issues for organisers and players. A number of ways the team format could operate were considered including two aside teams with singles and a doubles starting in groups then proceeding to knock outs.   The membership of the teams would also need to be clearly defined and the preferred recommendation following discussion was that the players should be from the same country but not necessarily selected by their association. Dr Zdenko KRIZ concluded by thanking the participants and saying that he felt it had been a very positive meeting with a general consensus that team events should be on the agenda in the future also the precise detail needed further consideration.   The ETTU Veterans Committee will now make a series of recommendations to the Executive of the ETTU. Any team event is not likely to occur before 2019   By Susie HUGHES

ETTU President shared his joy of being part of the amazing event and meeting with the old friends   If you ask most of the participants at the European Veterans Championships in Tampere they will tell you the same thing; this event is not only about the competition and result- it is more about friendship and comradery. Even ETTU President Ronald KRAMER learned that this could be the sentimental journey.  “My first objective and reason for my visit to Tampere at the very beginning was to witness for the first time what the Veterans Championships are. I never have seen it before so I was invited to come to see the penultimate and final stages of the Events on Friday and to be part of the medal ceremony on Saturday ” said KRAMER.  However plans changed. The official reception of the City of Tampere on Wednesday did it to be more precise. The highest Finnish Governmental representatives were at the meeting.  “From the time I was working for Ministry and Olympic Committee I have made a very good friends in Finland. They found them and invited them to the reception. One of them is now retired Raija MATTILA former colleague of Harri SYVASALMI Director of Sports in Finish Government. It was the reason for me to come earlier. I was so glad they came and that I had a chance to meet them.” It gave President KRAMER two extra days to enjoy the battles in Expo Center in Tampere. “Now I am very happy that I got this chance. I have never seen before so many people playing table tennis under one roof at the same time. There are 90 tables here in the main hall and more 40 in the training hall and everybody is playing whole day! It is amazing picture. Whether you are the top player or not whether you feel the pain in your leg or arm…everybody keeps on playing enjoys the opportunity to meet old friends. Even we have nice weather this week. I got a lot of energy myself of looking those players. “ Organizers did a great job to make everyone feel confortable.  “It was not an easy task. Having 1.830 people playing in one hall. I love what I see! I saw the picture of an empty hall and even then it looked impressive but with the players it is amazing. ” KRAMER also praised the atmosphere. “I have not heard single complain so far. Also the players are taking everything so easy. I know it is big difference between this event and the Top 16; also I am sure the tension will rise and some of them will get more emotional as we came closer to the final stages but so far they are all relaxed. As I can see we have a wonderful  table tennis festival in Tampere.” In 2017 the EVC will be held in Sweden. The contacts are already underway. However the destiny of the Team’s EVC will be soon on agenda. Last year the system did not meet the expectations.  “It have been the discussed yesterday with the members of the ETTU Veterans Committee. Chair Zdenko KRIZ informed me that they will come up with a proposal to the Executive Board to include a team’s competition. I am quite open to it. Let’s wait and see what the proposal is. If it is feasible if it manageable if we can regulate it in the way it can be called European Championships…There are many details we have to discuss but we have enough time since it will not be in calendar before 2019.” But let’s focus on now and here; the real heat in Tampere is yet to come but even now everybody enjoys a great time in Finland. 

Former player of Yugoslavia still gives her best in the hall From 1999 when she played at her very first Veterans Championships Branka BATINIC of Croatia never missed the medal rostrum in her rich career. Judging by the performance in opening days of the competition at the Women’s Singles and Doubles Events at the European Championships in Tampere hardly that this edition could be the exception. At age of 57 she looks fit and determined as ever. She reached the Round of 16 of the competition in singles by hardly being challenged.   “In Goteborg in 1999 on my premiere I won the title. In the final I beat Larisa FARINA and after that we teamed up to won many medals in doubles together. In Luzern 2002 I clinched silver in singles and doubles at World’s Championships I also won silver in 2004 in Bremen 2006 – gold in Rio 2008 bronze at European in Porec 2009 gold in both singles and doubles. It is a lot of good memories.”   Branka was very successful as player before veteran’s career. She won Yugoslavia Open in 75 and 84. In second appearance she beat Valentina POPOVA who won four gold medals that season at the European Championships. “After I beat her I succeeded against three players from China to clinch the title ” remembered BATINIC.   Her decision to play in Bundesliga cost her a lot she was not the member of a national team any more due some regulations. “I was engaged in the preparation of the Veterans Championships in Zagreb as a member of the Swaythling Club. I “blame” them for this “virus”. They asked me to play in Goteborg I said yes and I liked it. Table tennis is my life I enjoy playing it and this was the opportunity to feel the heat and to be with people I love. I am a coach I have contact with the playing ball every day but I am coaching others I am not in training process.”   Speaking of the people she knows very well is Event Manager in Tampere Sonja GREFBERG member of the ETTU Executive Bard.   “We were room mates for three weeks back in 1986 at the World Grand Prix. I also played three times as a member of European team against Asia…There are just so many nice people I know thanks to table tennis ” explained BATINIC.

94 years old lady started her playing career at age of 74 Inge-Brigitte HERRMANN of Germany is the oldest competitor at the European Veteran Championships in Tampere. She lost her matches against Mireille MIGEOTTE of Belgium and Gisela LANGEN of Germany but she is the most interviued person in the hall. «I love table tennis. It is my special hobby. I started to play at age of 74. At that time I joined the local club to be able to travel to competitions » explained HERRMANN. HERRMANN addmited the traveling is her greatest passion. «Recently I played in China If there was no ping-pong I will never visit that wonderfull country. I also enjoy being with the people who shares the same love for sport. Also table ennis makes me feel helthier.» She still working HERRMANN helps older people to use computers. «Last night I had a nightmare. I dreamed that I lost in straigh games. I was so releifed when I woke up and learn that it was only a dream.»