The Qoros 2015 World Championships is well on track to be the most followed table tennis event of all time. Over the first five days of competition that started on 26 April not only was the sessions well attended by spectators flooding into Suzhou from a The Qoros 2015 World Championships is well on track to be the most followed table tennis event of all time. Over the first five days of competition that started on 26 April not only was the sessions well attended by spectators flooding into Suzhou from all around the globe total unique viewership in China alone achieved a record 185 727 000 audiences as reported by CCTV. The historic mixed doubles match won by Chinese/Korean pair XU Xin and YANG Haeun recorded the maximum unique viewership of 81 770 000 in the host country. With unprecedented level of efforts on the social media promotion the 2015 World Championships have also achieved Facebook impressions of 7 730 000 and resulted in over 823 302 000 hits on ITTF.com over the six days of event.

ZHANG Jike the no.3 seed suffered defeat at the semi-final stage of the Men’s Singles event at the QOROS 2015 World Championships in Suzhou by Chinese National Team compatriot FANG Bo the no.13 seed. FANG Bo who played at the World Championships for a ZHANG Jike the no.3 seed suffered defeat at the semi-final stage of the Men’s Singles event at the QOROS 2015 World Championships in Suzhou by Chinese National Team compatriot FANG Bo the no.13 seed. FANG Bo who played at the World Championships for a first time won in five games. The winner of the OIympic Games Men’s Singles title had been beaten in the game where FANG dominated. “I think I played better than my level” added FANG Bo. “I think I was lucky to beat Zhang Jike. I made full preparations today and I performed quite well in the match. We are in one team and have training together every day. So we are quite familiar with each other and I know much about him.” Earlier in the day in first semi final  MA Long beat FAN Zhendong. “MA Long is the best table tennis player in the world and he is better than me in all aspects. So I will mainly focus on playing to the best of my ability and fighting for the championship.”  

The Continental Unions agreed to raise funds among the Continents concerning Nepal. The money will be used for table tennis activities in Nepal similar to the activities that were done in Haiti after the earthquake that stroke that country. The Continenta The Continental Unions agreed to raise funds among the Continents concerning Nepal. The money will be used for table tennis activities in Nepal similar to the activities that were done in Haiti after the earthquake that stroke that country. The Continental TT federations donated US$10 000. European TTU Asian TTU donated 2.000 each whilst Africa Latin America North America and Ocenaia donated 1.500 each. In discussion with the Nepal representatives it will be decided what kind of projects they will need the most at this moment. “Nepal is going through very hard times. The need for any kind of help in Nepal is tremendous. I see this contribution as a natural and human gesture to support where you can. The contribution is aimed at helping Nepalese table tennis in restoring the first damages suffered. I am glad all Continental TT federations felt the same ” said President Ronald KRAMER

Timo BOLL the winner of the bronze medal in Men’s Singles Event at the World Championships 2011 in Rotterdam despite brilliant performance failed to repeat the success at the QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships. German player lost against World’ Timo BOLL the winner of the bronze medal in Men’s Singles Event at the World Championships 2011 in Rotterdam despite brilliant performance failed to repeat the success at the QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships. German player lost against World’s no 4 FAN Zhendong in six games (10:12 9:11 11:8 7:11 15:13 7:11). Compering his performance to the one in previous rounds BOLL took it to the next level. He was fast deadly precise but still it was not enough… “Against Chinese players you just had to be better. It is just like that. Chinese players force you to give the best you have. I have doubts I could play much better then I played today. I had chances in two opening games had few nets edges…maybe I am missing a little bit of luck sometimes ” said BOLL. BOLL was in the lead in two opening sets but he managed to convert game point and add the set to his record in the third game. “I need to feel their game before I come at the big tournament. I even play Chinese Super League but it is not enough. In short period of time your hand just lost the feeling for them. Only way is to make chance to practice with Chinese players before the big Championships. That is the only way we can adjust our game and get into the match more relaxed and prepared. Now we are preparing for Chinese play during the match and then it is too late. Maybe I will not need that little luck after all if I would be ready for them. Here it was like against MA Long in Paris. They make a big gap at the beginning and later it is hard to catch them.” Despite Patrick FRANZISKA’S brave effort World’s no. 14 FANG Bo made his way to the medal rostrum tomorrow. Player from Germany currently placed at position no. 56 lost 1:4 (5:11 9:11 11:8 5:11 5:11). “I was two games in reverse in previous round against KOU Lei so I was not afraid when Bo made advantage. The tactics remained the same; I kept on fighting. Already at the closing stage of the second game I played very good and I started to adjust to his rhythm. However I missed ball at 9:9 to easy ” said FRANZISKA. Patrick won third game and started well the next one. “In both fourth and fifth games I had a lead but Bo forced me into errors.” FRANZISKA was close to the medal and that is the fact no one could predict. “I am not happy now but tonight on our dinner with the team I will hopefully realize the scale of success here. I was in the fight for medal and that is a big thing.” Coach Jorg ROSSKOPF has all the reason to be proud of his players. Both BOLL and FRANZISKA reached quarterfinals and both gave their best prior to defeat. “I am very happy. Of course we did not expect Dimitrij OVTCHAROV’s early departure but performance of rest of the team was at the highest level. BOLL played fantastic match. He was unlucky with few balls especially in two opening games. If he managed to take even one of those two games it could be different story ” said ROSSKOPF. ”FRANZISKA was out of the game for more then a four months and he had outstanding tournament here. His game against Marcos FREITAS proved that he might be very consistent. It was very important win.”

World No. 1 DING Ning of China justified her rankings and despite a severe ankle injury clinched the title in the Women’s Singles Event at the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships at the Suzhou International Exhibition Centre. She overcame LIU Shiw World No. 1 DING Ning of China justified her rankings and despite a severe ankle injury clinched the title in the Women’s Singles Event at the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships at the Suzhou International Exhibition Centre. She overcame LIU Shiwen in full seven game thriller to gain her second title in singles and the 11th consecutive title in the event for China. In the second point of the seventh game DING tumbled to the floor clutching her ankle. She was stretching to reach a backhand off a LIU shot fired down the centre when she went over on her right ankle she got the shot back into play but immediately the pain showed on her face when she rolled on the ground. The break lasted for nine minutes before she came back to the game. “I definitely did not want to give up since I had come so far. I just wanted to give out all my strength in this match. Finally I won the match and I feel that it is just like a dream ” said DING. Crowned World champion in Paris in two years earlier the reign of LI Xiaoxia came to an end few hours earlier in the semi final of the event. Occupying the no.3 seeded position in the draw she was beaten by LIU Shiwen the no.2 seed. DING Ning accounted for qualifier MU Zu.

China’s XU Xin and Korea’s YANG Haeun took the crown in mixed doubles event at the QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships. Previously Ivan ANDREADIS (TCH) & Gizella FAKAS (HUN) were the last international mixed doubles pair to win go China’s XU Xin and Korea’s YANG Haeun took the crown in mixed doubles event at the QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships. Previously Ivan ANDREADIS (TCH) & Gizella FAKAS (HUN) were the last international mixed doubles pair to win gold in 1954. They defeated Japanese pairing of Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Maharu YOSHIMURA 4-0 (11-7 11-8 11-4 11-6). XU was knocked out from the Men’s Singles event by his colleague FANG Bo after sustaining a shoulder injury. ” I am glad that our partnership worked out well despite my injury. I am neither a hero nor a warrior but I made sure that I give my best. As long as that is the case I think the outcome matters less compared to the process and efforts. This victory is a result of the combined efforts by me and my partner her performance has been very stable since our first match here in Suzhou and she has improved a lot to help us win against the Japanese in the finals ” the world number two said. Delighted about her first ever World Championship title YANG expressed that “I am really excited that we could win the title. It is definitely an invaluable experience for me and have learnt a lot from this partnership with XU Xin not just in techniques but also in terms of mental strength.” Kasumi ISHIKAWA and Maharu YOSHIMURA are Japan’s first mixed doubles finalists since 1977 which they lost.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) today signed an affiliation agreement to bring the ATTU under the ITTF’s umbrella.  The historic affiliation was signed during the ITTF Board of Directors meeti The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) today signed an affiliation agreement to bring the ATTU under the ITTF’s umbrella.  The historic affiliation was signed during the ITTF Board of Directors meeting which was held during the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships in Suzhou China. Following the signing ITTF’s President Mr Thomas WEIKERT stated: “With this morning’s signing with the Asian Table Tennis Union at the ITTF Board of Director’s Meeting I believe this will signal a new era of co-operation not only between ITTF and ATTU but also personally between Mr CAI Zhenhua and myself and I look forward to working closely with both ATTU and Mr CAI for the development of table tennis worldwide.” Recently the ITTF created a new structure to formally recognize the Continental Federations within it’s structure which allows for greater co-operation in all areas particularly in marketing and development for the benefit of global table tennis. Other decisions from the Board of Director meeting were: – From 1 October 2016 (after Olympics and Paralympics) coaches will have the opportunity to coach between points. Germany tested this at their league matches with positive results and proposed it to the BOD. After some detailed debate was passed. – Currently players under 15 changing nationalities must wait 3 years to represent their new country. In a proposal by the Swiss Federation to be in line with current people movement and migration this was reduced to one year as long as they have not represented the previous country. This was passed unanimously in a spirit of support for our youth. – Currently if a player-pair and coach disagree on a timeout the player has precedence in individual events and the coach in team events. ITTF Rules Committee proposed that the player has precedence in all situations however surprisingly the Athletes Commission spoke against the motion and so the meeting supported the athletes and also voted against.