On behalf of the ETTU-URC Gerhard SCHNABEL ETTU URC – Chairman announced the nominations for the Umpires at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava to be held from 10th to 19th July 2015. Beside 37 Umpires (see here) at the Championships will als On behalf of the ETTU-URC Gerhard SCHNABEL ETTU URC – Chairman announced the nominations for the Umpires at the European Youth Championships in Bratislava to be held from 10th to 19th July 2015. Beside 37 Umpires (see here) at the Championships will also be Referees Petr BOHUMSKY; Deputy Referees Vincent BLANCHARD Maria TSIPOU Pieter VAN DER HAMMEN Karen TONGE Mario RE FRASCHINI; Assistant Referee Matej HAMRAN.
Nice win for Dane Jonathan GROTH in Minsk
Dane Jonathan GROTH overcame no. 14 seed Kohei SAMBE of Japan to reach the Round of 16 at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) in Minsk. GROTH is currently listed at the position no. 88 at the World list whilst Japan’s playe Dane Jonathan GROTH overcame no. 14 seed Kohei SAMBE of Japan to reach the Round of 16 at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open (Challenge) in Minsk. GROTH is currently listed at the position no. 88 at the World list whilst Japan’s player occupies position no. 88. After all-Russia’s duel Kirill SKACHKOV beat Viacheslav BUROV whilst in all Belarus match Pavel PLATONOV prevailed against Evgueni CHTCHETININE. Mehdi BOULOUSSA of France was stretched to full distance in the match against Russia’s Alexey LIVENTSOV; WANG Zengyi of Poland needed just four games against Martrin ALLEGRO of Belgium. Germany’s Ruwen FILUS and Russia’s Grigory VLASOV are also among top 16 players. Quartet of three Russia’s and one Belarus girls reached the Round of 16. Maria DOLGIKH beat Japan’s Yui HAMAMOTO in straight games Anna TIKHOMIROV overcame another Japan’s representative Hina HAYATA whilst Yulia PROKHOROVA overcame Shiho MATSUDAIRA in another Russia vs. Japan duel. Alexandra PRIVALOVA of Belarus accounted for Elena TROSHEVNA of Russia.
Baku 2015 signs TV deals in four more countries
Baku 2015 has extended its global reach after signing agreements with a further five broadcasters in four countries to show the inaugural European Games which will take place between 12-28 June. The latest broadcast agreements are as follows: •Ukraine – Baku 2015 has extended its global reach after signing agreements with a further five broadcasters in four countries to show the inaugural European Games which will take place between 12-28 June. The latest broadcast agreements are as follows: •Ukraine – NTU a national free-to-air public broadcaster which will offer exposure to over 16m households across the country •Georgia – Georgian Public Broadcasting a national free-to-air broadcaster which broadcast the London 2012 Olympic Games •Norway – TV2 a free-to-air broadcaster which recently acquired the rights to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games •Israel – Baku 2015 has agreed a rights share deal between Sport 5 (The Sport Channel) and Sport 1 (Charlton) both of which are leading pay TV sports channels in the country Commenting on these new broadcast announcements Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 said: “The appetite from broadcasters to screen the inaugural European Games continues to grow and we are delighted that sport fans in Ukraine Georgia Norway and Israel will have the chance to watch the world-class athletes competing in Baku this summer. One of our aims has always been to build the brand of the European Games on a global level and these broadcast agreements are a key strategic tool in helping us to successfully deliver that objective. More than 176 million households in Europe will now have access to the European Games providing a 70% market penetration with a minimum average broadcast of close to six hours per day.” These latest agreements are further evidence of the global appeal of the European Games joining broadcast partnerships already signed in the United States Canada Australia China Hong Kong India and across Europe.
Borussia targets two titles in five days
After two turbulent seasons Borussia shows its full strength. The most decorated European club ever after beating Orenburg 3:1 last Sunday in the 1st MECL final leg have a good chance to reach two titles in five days. They will play in the Bundesliga`s After two turbulent seasons Borussia shows its full strength. The most decorated European club ever after beating Orenburg 3:1 last Sunday in the 1st MECL final leg have a good chance to reach two titles in five days. They will play in the Bundesliga`s final against Fulda on May 24th while the ultimate MECL clash will be held five days later in Russian city Orenburg. “it’s the result of my dreams”! stressed Borussia`s manager Andreas PREUSS speaking about the match against Russian champion in front of 1.100 fans in ARAG CenterCourt. “We were a little lucky but this match had everything: World class-Table Tennis absolutely outstanding rallies – one team had to win in the end and I am exuberantly happy that it was us. We did a great step in the right direction – a big Thank you to our fantastic spectators!” Greek Panagiotis GIONIS who added one point on Timo BOLL`s two to secure the victory said about it: “We knew that the third match would be the most important. SMIRNOV is the weakest of the Orenburg team he had to be beaten and then of course we need to depend on Timo (BOLL) to make two points. I was very focused in my match – I could have won 3:0 maybe but okay. This was a big first step now but it will be very difficult in the 2nd leg. We need to be on guard and stay focused.” Coach Danny HEISTER praised all his player: “Of course I hoped for a 3:0 (winks) but `Franz´ (FRANZISKA) had to adjust to the abnormal high level of Dima (OVTCHAROV). The plan was of course that Panos (GIONIS) had to win against SMIRNOV but that has to work out to begin with – so I am very satisfied that he made the point. Timo played extraordinarily well in his 50:50 match against Dima I just tried to stay calm on my chair and show him confidence. I am very glad he won. Those are the matches we work for during the whole season. This was a good first step now we have to stay grounded. We have the final of the German League in front of us at first and after that we fly to Orenburg.” The returning MECL final game will be held on May 29th (13h20 CET) in Orenburg. German champion has a chance to reach the third triple crown in its history bearing in mind that it already took German Cup five months ago.
Grubba Polish Champions 2015 in Warsaw
15-17th may 2015 it’s a special time for table tennis in Poland. Table tennis legends will play against each others in a prestigious tournament. The second edition of GRUBBA Polish Champions will begin on Friday in Warsaw. Table tennis stars children and 15-17th may 2015 it’s a special time for table tennis in Poland. Table tennis legends will play against each others in a prestigious tournament. The second edition of GRUBBA Polish Champions will begin on Friday in Warsaw. Table tennis stars children and Wschodzacy Bialystok Superliga players will take part in memorial of Andrzej GRUBBA the best player in the history of Polish table tennis. All of the ping-pong fans will experience once again the thrill of duels between unforgettable players. In the second such event in Poland and one of the few in Europe will take a part the best of the best among table tennis players: Jörgen PERSSON Jean-Michel SAIVE Lucjan BLASZCZYK and Daniel GORAK. The presence of iconic table tennis players guarantees sport excitement at the highest level. In addition to honoring Andrzej GRUBBA promoters want to show how attractive and entertaining for spectators table tennis can be and popularize this discipline as well in Poland as in all Europe. Andrzej GRUBBA was the best Polish table tennis player. Awarded bronze medals during the World Competition – in 1989 for single play in 1985 for team tournament and in 1987 for double play with Leszek Kucharski. Three times GRUBBA took part in the Olympic Games. He was also a World Cup winner in 1988 and chosen for “Polish Sportpersonality of the year” in 1984.
Russia’s girls in good shape in Belarus
The leading names in the qualification stage of both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open in Minsk remained unbeaten on the first day of action. Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU Ukraine’s Oleksandr DIDUK The leading names in the qualification stage of both the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles events at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Belarus Open in Minsk remained unbeaten on the first day of action. Romania’s Ovidiu IONESCU Ukraine’s Oleksandr DIDUKH and Russia’s Mikhail PAIKOV alongside Frenchman Quentin ROBINOT completed their first stage matches in top place in their respective groups. Denmark’s Kasper STERNBERG listed at no.149 on the current Men’s World Rankings was beaten by Belgium’s Martin ALLEGRO named at no. 326 (11-9 11-4 5-11 11-6 11-6); whilst Croatia’s Frane KOJIC experienced defeat at the hands of Poland’s Konrad KULPA.Presently Frane KOJIC is named at no.221 on the Men’s World Rankings Konrad KULPA is at no.237. It was good day for leading players in the Women’s Singles event. Lithuania’s Ruta PASKAUSKIENE Japan’s Sakura MORI Russia’s Maria DOLGIKH and Korea’s CHOI Hyojoo are on winning path. However in their respective groups few other leaders suffered unexpected defeats. Elizaveta KHLYZOVA of Russia beat JO Yujin of Korea Katsiaryna BARAVOK of Belarus overcame Ekaterina GUSEVA of Russia. Olga KULIKOVA of Russia beat Magdalena SIKORSKA of Poland. SIKORSKA suffered by the hands of Anastasiya GOLUBEVA of Russia as well. Russia’s competitors proved to strong for Lisa LUNG too. Elena ABAIMOVA accounted for Belgium’s player. Milica Nikolic
ITTF & IOC Presidents meet to discuss additional OG gold
Prior to the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships ITTF’s President Mr. Thomas WEIKERT met the International Olympic Committee’s President Dr. Thomas BACH in Lausanne Switzerland. This was the first official meeting between the two Pre Prior to the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships ITTF’s President Mr. Thomas WEIKERT met the International Olympic Committee’s President Dr. Thomas BACH in Lausanne Switzerland. This was the first official meeting between the two Presidents since Mr WEIKERT stepped into office in September 2014. The main topics of conversation between the two German officials were Agenda 2020; ITTF’s Development Program which has now made it the largest International Federation with 222 National Association members; How the IOC and the ITTF can work closer together to achieve common goals. The two Presidents also discussed the possibility of table tennis having mixed doubles or mixed teams as fifth event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in addition to the current lineup of men’s & women’s singles and men’s & women’s teams events. On this proposal ITTF’s President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “We have tried in the past to get the mixed doubles or mixed teams in the table tennis Olympic program. My conversations with President BACH were positive so we hope that we will have a fifth table tennis gold medal added by Tokyo 2020.”
Mats BANDSTIGEN CEO of Stiga Sports AB passes away
Mats BANDSTIGEN the Chief Executive Officer of the world renowned Stiga Sports AB company passed away on Friday 8th May. BANDSTIGEN suffered a heart attack; he was only 46 years old. Mats BANDSTIGEN very much re-established the name of STIGA as a world l Mats BANDSTIGEN the Chief Executive Officer of the world renowned Stiga Sports AB company passed away on Friday 8th May. BANDSTIGEN suffered a heart attack; he was only 46 years old. Mats BANDSTIGEN very much re-established the name of STIGA as a world leader in the sport of table tennis. His father Bengt BANDSTIGEN founded Banda the company who supported Jan-Ove WALDNER in his early career. Later when Stiga having been the market leader in the 1960s faced financial problems he bought the name. In 1999 Mats BANDSTIGEN succeeded his father as the Chief Executive Officer of STIGA Sports AB. Successful in the world of business Mats BANDSTIGEN also enjoyed success as a player especially in junior days; where as Mats ANDERSSON he was very much a major player in the Swedish Junior Team. At the 1983 European Youth Championships alongside Niklas EKERSTAD Johan FALLBY and Thomas von SCHEELE he was a member of the Swedish outfit that won the Cadet Boys’ Team title; he was runner up with Thomas Von SCHEELE in the Cadet Boys’ Doubles event and bronze medallist in the Cadet Boys’ Singles. At the 1985 European Youth Championships he was a member of the gold medal winning Junior Boys’ Team. In 1986 Mats ANDERSSON reached the semi-final stage of the Junior Boys’ Doubles event at the European Youth Championships with Thomas von SCHEELE the player he beat in the final of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event at the Swedish National Championships in 1984 and two years later in the Junior Boys’ Singles final. Mats ANDERSSON retired from international play in 1987 and assumed the name Mats BANDSTIGEN; under his initiative the company becoming major supporters of the International Table Tennis Federation. They were the table suppliers for the 2013 and 2015 World Team Cup competitions they supplied the clothing for the volunteers at the recent Qoros 2015 World Championships whilst supporting the Daily Review and Shot of the Day. He is sadly missed; our thoughts and those of the whole table tennis world are with his family.
Baku 2015 is on track to make sporting history
With exactly one month to go to the inaugural European Games Opening Ceremony Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 has expressed his satisfaction at the progress of preparations for the event. CLEGG said: “One month to go is the latest m With exactly one month to go to the inaugural European Games Opening Ceremony Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 has expressed his satisfaction at the progress of preparations for the event. CLEGG said: “One month to go is the latest milestone on the incredible journey of Baku 2015 the sporting community of Azerbaijan and the European Games as a concept for sport in our continent. What is taking place here on the shores of the Caspian Sea is nothing short of astounding. Most Olympic host cities get seven years to prepare for their Games. Here in Baku we have had just 30 months to deliver the most important new sporting event in the international calendar for almost half a century. The support and vision of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr Ilham ALIYEV the Chair of the Baku 2015 European Games Organising Committee First Lady Mehriban ALIYEVA and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports Mr Azad RAHIMOV has been critical to the success of this project. Together we will ensure that the long-held dream of a multi-sport event for Europe’s finest athletes under the leadership of the President of the European Olympic Committees Mr Patrick HICKEY will become a reality. We knew it was going to be a challenge but the whole team in Baku has risen to the occasion and now with just a month to go I can say that we are on track to make sporting history. There is still work to be done – we all know that – and I have always said that we will need every minute of every day of the 30 months we were given. When Baku was announced as the host city for the European Games there was no blueprint to pull off the shelf no long-term broadcast deals and no commercial partners. Today we have 18 world-class venues broadcast agreements in place covering not only Europe but the whole globe and the support of eight outstanding Official Partners and 11 Official Supporters. Add to that our partnership with UNICEF Baku 2015’s Official Child Rights Organisation and you can see the excitement and power of the brand that the European Games is creating. The Flame Capture Ceremony at Ateshgah gave the world a glimpse of the spectacular events to come and the Journey of the Flame around Azerbaijan’s 60 regions continues to build excitement and anticipation as we head towards the start of the Games on 12 June. Another way in which we have endeavoured to involve and inspire the country has been through our Flamekeeper volunteer programme. Young Azerbaijanis have responded incredibly to this opportunity to participate in this historic moment for their country. During the Games 12 000 Baku 2015 Flamekeepers will take on key roles and will develop friendships skills and experiences that will last a lifetime. We are also seeing enthusiasm for the European Games reflected in the great demand for tickets both for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and for the sporting competitions. Our aim has been to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy Baku 2015 and to achieve that we have put an affordable ticket pricing policy in place which allows children free admission to most venues. In one month’s time we will deliver an Opening Ceremony that is not only fitting and appropriate for our continent but will also mark the start of an event which will provide a lasting legacy for sport in Europe. Baku 2015 will be a defining moment for our host country as well as for our athletes. Everything is now in place for an unforgettable summer of top-level competition and I have no doubt that we will put on a show to make the whole continent proud.”
Azertac to become Official News Agency of Baku 2015
Baku 2015 today announced a partnership with Azertac that will see the media organisation become the Official News Agency of the Baku 2015 European Games which start on 12 June. With a team of over 50 journalists photographers and cameramen providing extensive coverage of the Games Azertac will be the single largest Azerbaijani media organisation at Baku 2015. Its text and photographic content will be available in several languages. In addition Azertac will produce a video news stream which will be available in Azerbaijani. All this content will be available via a dedicated Baku 2015 section on the agency’s website. Azertac will focus its resources on promoting the inaugural European Games to both domestic and international audiences ahead of the Opening Ceremony. This will include weekly features on international and Azerbaijani athletes competing at Baku 2015 as well as editorials promoting local ‘human interest stories’ around the Games.
