Borussia Düsseldorf drastically reduced their chances to gain the place in the final of the German play off after Saarbrücken’s shocking victory in the opening leg of the German semi final play off . After exciting weekend 1. FC Saarbrücken TT created top
First ever international TT combined event in Bendigo
The K-Sports 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships first ever international table tennis event that integrates both able-bodied and para table tennis is now underway at the Bendigo Stadium in Australia from 10 – 12 April 2015. Bein The K-Sports 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships first ever international table tennis event that integrates both able-bodied and para table tennis is now underway at the Bendigo Stadium in Australia from 10 – 12 April 2015. Being the first of its kind in the history of international table tennis audiences will be treated to a feast of spectacular table tennis in action at the 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup & Para Table Tennis Championships. Not only will they witness the contention between the region’s best table tennis players to represent the Continent at the 2015 ITTF World Cups later in the year but also see Oceania’s para athletes battling for their places at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Melissa TAPPER (AUS) who competes in both para and able-bodied events shared that “Having the 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup and Para Table Tennis Championships as a combined event is a great stepping stone to the integration of para sport into mainstream sport. It’s important that every athlete’s ability would able to be put on show rather than the disability and I think next year’sITTF-Oceania Cup and Para Table Tennis Championships will showcase it perfectly.” The world number 3 in Para Table Tennis (Class 10) also added “I am very passionate about my sport and becoming the best possible athlete I can I look forward to seeing some of the amazing things to come out of this integration.” Meanwhile the battle at the ITTF-Oceania Cup to fight for a spot at the 2015 ITTF Men’s & Women’s World Cups remains intense. In the men’s singles category William HENZELL (AUS) will be on his eager attempt for his 7th consecutive victory. HENZELL’s compatriot LAY Jianfang will defend her hard earned 2014 title against strong opponents like New Zealand’s LI Chunli and colleague MIAO Miao. The 2015 ITTF-Oceania Cup and Para Table Tennis Championships will be held from 10-12 April 2015 and will see prize money totaling over $25 000AU increasing from $20 000AU at the 2014 edition.
Australia’s Seven Network latest EG broadcast partner
Baku 2015 European Games has signed an agreement with the Seven Network Australia’s most-watched broadcast television platform and the network of the Olympic Games to broadcast the inaugural European Games in June. The Seven Network has committed to bro Baku 2015 European Games has signed an agreement with the Seven Network Australia’s most-watched broadcast television platform and the network of the Olympic Games to broadcast the inaugural European Games in June. The Seven Network has committed to broadcasting daily coverage of the European Games to 8.4 million households in the country. Seven has been Australia’s highest-rated channel since 2007. The deal with Seven Network extends the reach of the European Games to all corners of the globe with deals already signed in the United States Canada China India and the Arab World as well as with a host of European broadcasters. Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 said: “The Seven Network is an established and respected Olympic broadcaster and their commitment to the European Games underlines that this is the most important addition to the international sporting calendar for decades.” With this agreement the Baku 2015 European Games has now announced deals to broadcast the Games in 57 countries. Saul SHTEIN Seven’s Head of Sport added: ”As a network we are determined to bring the biggest events in sports to our audiences in Australia. We see the European Games as a natural fit with our long-term commitment to the Olympic Games and our recent agreement to also broadcast the Paralympic Games. We are honoured to be the network of the first European Games. We are proud of our long partnership with the IOC and the Olympic movement and we look forward to our partnership with Baku 2015.”
YALDIZ: “Fenerbahce aim to repeat all titles”
The recent WECL final established Fenerbahce as the best European club as many experts predicted before the season. They beat twice winner Linz AG Froschberg and lifted the trophy undefeated for the very first time in its history. The ETTU President Ron The recent WECL final established Fenerbahce as the best European club as many experts predicted before the season. They beat twice winner Linz AG Froschberg and lifted the trophy undefeated for the very first time in its history. The ETTU President Ronald KRAMER witnessed the final match in Istanbul and stressed after it: “Fenerbahce did a very good organization. Management was great. Fenerbahce`s table tennis team played very well and deserved the WECL title. My congratulations to them”! The President of Turkish club Aziz YILDIRIM emphasized that “The architect of this success was Gurhan YALDIZ”. That was the good reason to make an interview with Fenerbahce`s Manager… – How do you comment both final games against Linz what was the crucial? “Both games were very difficult but we were the better team than the others winning 10 out of 10″. – How the celebration went after the final was there any special event in Istanbul? “The atmosphere was unbelievable in the hall. Right after we took the Cup we started the celebration including the spectators”. – What is the next goal? “Our next goal is to win all the cups in Turkey and next season in Europe too. We are aware that we have very strong competitors”. – Will Fenerbahce play with same players in the next season? “Let’s wait and see!” – How did you manage to sign WU Yang how hard is to bring one strong Chinese player (actually you have two)? “We are Fenerbahce and recently we have been very successful in European table tennis thus they know we have big targets so they want to play in our team. Some of our competitors call us „Millionaires Club” however it is not only a question of money. Some clubs surely have bigger budgets but our players have a very strong team spirit and they play with love. We agree that we are „Millionaires” in the sense of millions of spectators that we have everywhere in Europe”. – Is there any other sport in Fenerbahce`s family who is the European champion? “Our club has 9 sport branches including Women’s and Men’s teams which doubles it and we have produced a lot of European Champions in volleyball basketball boxing athletics and recently table tennis as you know”.
World Table Tennis Day in Moscow
Moscow celebrated World Table Tennis Day in the GUM (central universal store) close to Red Square. Vice-President of the Russian Olympic Committee Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Table Tennis Federation of Russia Igor LEVITIN Mikhail KUSNIROVIT Moscow celebrated World Table Tennis Day in the GUM (central universal store) close to Red Square. Vice-President of the Russian Olympic Committee Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Table Tennis Federation of Russia Igor LEVITIN Mikhail KUSNIROVITCH and Svetlana FEDOROVA-GRINBERG were among distinguished guests. Members of the Russian National Team Alexey LIVENTSOV Viacheslav BUROV Vasily LAKEEV Maxim CHAPLYGIN Stepan SHAPOSHNIKOV Anna TIKHOMIROVA Elena TROSHNEVA and Yulia PROKHOROVA promoted the game.
MA Long top seed at 2015 World Championships
The seeding list for the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships which will be held in Suzhou China from 26 April to 3 May 2015 has been released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). 310 male and 238 female players from 100 National The seeding list for the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships which will be held in Suzhou China from 26 April to 3 May 2015 has been released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). 310 male and 238 female players from 100 National Federations will be heading to Suzhou in the hope of being crowned the World Table Tennis Champion in front of a capacity crowd. The seeding based on ITTF April’s world ranking sees the Chinese duo of MA Long and DING Ning named as No.1 seeds for the men’s and women’s singles event respectively. DING will be looking to add a second World Championship title to her already impressive medal collection and MA will be desperately seeking his first singles World Championships crown to add to his remarkable haul of 19 ITTF World Tour titles amongst other international titles. Defending champions from two years ago in Paris ZHANG Jike (CHN) and LI Xiaoxia (CHN) will be both seeded three behind teammates XU Xin and LIU Shiwen. Finalists from the GAC Group 2014 World Tour Grand Finals Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) head to Suzhou as the number 5th and 6th seeds hoping to ruin the Chinese party and become the first non Chinese singles champion since Werner SCHLAGER (AUT) in 2003.The challengers to China’s supremacy in the women’s side will be FENG Tianwei (SIN) and Kasumi ISHIKAWA (JPN) who will be the number 4th and 5th seed respectively. ISHIKAWA may be the highest ranked Japanese women but the top players will be all hoping to avoid the 14-year-old sensation Mima ITO (JPN) who will be seeded 13 in Suzhou after shocking the world by winning the German Open last month. While most eyes will be on the top seeds at the 53rd World Table Tennis Championships there are also some interesting stories away from the table tennis superstars. None more interesting than Jean-Michel SAIVE (BEL) who will be competing in an unmatched 24th World Championships with his first Championships being back in 1983 as a 13-year-old. The draw for the top 16 seeds will take place at 14:30 local time on 25 April 2015 at the Suzhou Cultural and Art Center. Qualification to join the top 64 seeded players plus 32 who gain direct entry in the 128 strong main draw begins the next day 26 April in the Suzhou International Expo Centre with the main draw beginning on 28 April 2015. In addition to the singles titles the world’s best table tennis players will also be fighting for the men’s doubles women’s doubles and mixed doubles titles in China.
Borussia counts on team spirit
After four years two top seeded clubs will play again in Men’s European Champions League final and again it will be Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (no. 1) and Borussia Dusseldorf (no. 2). These two clubs are still on these positions since Russian champion debu After four years two top seeded clubs will play again in Men’s European Champions League final and again it will be Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (no. 1) and Borussia Dusseldorf (no. 2). These two clubs are still on these positions since Russian champion debuted in this prestigious competition in 2010/11 season but they just met in the final in the first out of last four editions when the best German club took third consecutive title. Since that Orenburg played in all three finals against three different opponents reaching two (2011/12 against UMMC 2012/13 Chartres) and lost one (Pontoise 2013/14). Everybody in Borussia are happy that they will again fight for the crown especially bearing in mind that they passed through very hard time in the last three seasons (almost each player has been injured in one moment). Last weekend in the second leg of the semi-final they beat Chartres ASTT 3:1 as they did in France. “I’m very glad that we won the game” stressed Coach Danny HEISTER speaking for Borussia`s website. “We played great Timo (BOLL) of course but Patrick (FRANZISKA) has played great all the time as well as Kamal (ACHANTA). Orenburg is still far away; first we have to play against Saarbrücken semi-final of Bundesliga and then stand still in the national championship. But of course we are looking forward to the MECL final. ” Manager Andreas PREUSS praised all players after they secured first final after four years: “We are in the Champions League final and we have achieved a major goal for the season. Orenburg is the favorite because beside OVTCHAROV also SAMSONOV again plays top table tennis but anything is possible. We have a team spirit and perhaps that could make a difference at the end. ” Borussia`s man for special tasks – how PREUSS described Indian Kamal ACHANTA – is looking forward to his first MECL final which will be held on May 8-10th and 29-31st : “It’s my big goal to win the Champions League. I am extremely happy that we are in the final and really have a chance to win the title it is a great final. ”
Baku 2015 EG signs Red Bull as official supporter
Red Bull the world’s leading manufacturer of energy drinks with a presence in 166 countries across the world will bring the company’s unique mix of revitalising beverages and social media expertise to the first ever European Games. Red Bull’s social me Red Bull the world’s leading manufacturer of energy drinks with a presence in 166 countries across the world will bring the company’s unique mix of revitalising beverages and social media expertise to the first ever European Games. Red Bull’s social media channels considered as global leaders in content and social marketing will run a number of social media activations on a regional basis from now until the Games to support Baku 2015. Red Bull will focus their activities around a number of sports that are less well-known in Azerbaijan to help build awareness locally. These sports include Canoe Sprint Beach Volleyball Cycling (Road BMX and Mountain Bike) Beach Soccer 3×3 Basketball and Fencing. Red Bull will provide in-venue spectator entertainment such as providing access to their range of outstanding DJs. Red Bull will also deliver entertainment for athletes in the Athletes Village. Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 said: “Red Bull is a globally recognised brand who will bring their distinctive style to the first ever European Games. They also boast an excellent track record of delivering successful events in Azerbaijan. They join other renowned international and Azerbaijani brands partnering and supporting this exciting addition to the sporting calendar.” Red Bull have experience in organising and promoting events in Azerbaijan most recently in 2014 by hosting the Thre3style world DJ championship final and the Flying Bach adaptation of Johann Sebastian Bach. Both events were the final legs of world tours and were sold out in Baku on multiple nights.
Happy World Table Tennis Day!
From Buenos Aires to Haiti the world is celebrating World Table Tennis Day in its own unique way. Today 6 April 2015 marks the first ever World Table Tennis day which rejoices the sport of table tennis a true sport for all. Over 100 events in more tha From Buenos Aires to Haiti the world is celebrating World Table Tennis Day in its own unique way. Today 6 April 2015 marks the first ever World Table Tennis day which rejoices the sport of table tennis a true sport for all. Over 100 events in more than 50 countries across the world are being held today with one common theme – Table Tennis for Everyone Everywhere! “The response has been amazing! Being the first year we were expecting between 20 and 40 events but there are currently more than 100 in around 50 countries!” stated ITTF Director – Development Program Leandro OLVECH. The showcase event will be staged at the “Obelisco” the most iconic monument in Argentina being located at the 9 de Julio Avenue and considered the widest street in the world. The street will be closed off with a sea of tables being assembled for thousands of people to come and play table tennis and celebrate World Table Tennis Day! Major cities such as Amman Berlin Bombay London Manchester New York Paris Tehran and Zurich are also hosting events as is Suzhou the city that will host the forthcoming QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships. Notably New York will see training for teachers in order to coach their students; in Bombay entrepreneurs will be involved in a special event whilst in Manchester a gathering to integrate immigrant families from the suburbs will be staged. Likewise in Paris Ping Sans Frontieres an organisation that collects equipment to donate to African countries with organise a coach education day. Not to be left out San Salvador the capital of the small Central American country of El Salvador will continue the principles of the Nittaku Dream Building Project in an attempt to involve young people in sport as opposed to being drawn into the gang culture. Meanwhile in Brighton on the south coast of England an attempt will be madeto break the current global record of 139 players competing in a table tennis rally and thus gain a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. “The idea behind this day is to gather table tennis enthusiasts attract people who usually don’t play table tennis promote the love for our sport and ideally engage new players to the practice in the long term” said ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT. So pick up your rackets find a table and play table tennis to celebrate World Table Tennis Day!
Borussia vs. Orenburg top-class MECL final
What a final! Borussia Dusseldorf has joined Fakel Gazproma Orenburg in the 2014/15 Men`s European Champions League final after new 3:1 victory against Chartres ASTT the runner-up from 2012/13. The full ARAG CenterCort witnessed new big success of Timo What a final! Borussia Dusseldorf has joined Fakel Gazproma Orenburg in the 2014/15 Men`s European Champions League final after new 3:1 victory against Chartres ASTT the runner-up from 2012/13. The full ARAG CenterCort witnessed new big success of Timo BOLL & Company. Without GAO Ning French champion had no power to beat ten times European champion. Singaporean was not available in the 1st leg too when Borussia secured big advantage for the second match. But German side knows very well how it looks like when you play without your crucial players suffering because of several injuries in the last three seasons. Timo BOLL again played key role in Borussia`s team defeating both Robert GARDOS (3:1) and Par GERELL (3:0). Swede managed to level after second match as he overcame Patrick FRANZISKA in five games. But when Indian Sharat Kamal ACHANTA (as GAO he missed first leg because of Asian Cup) beat Damien ELOI it was clear that the host side is going to its fourth MECL final in the last seven seasons. Two top seeds Borussia (no. 2) and Orenburg (no. 1) who eliminated Niederosterreich yesterday will meet second time in the MECL final. German champion was better in the 2010/11 season when Russian side debuted in the best club`s competition. All three Orenburg`s players Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Vladimir SAMSONOV and Alexey SMIRNOV are former Borussia`s members. MECL semi-final returning match Borussia Dusseldorf – Chartres ASTT 3:1 (1st leg 3:1) Timo BOLL – Robert GARDOS 3:1 (15:13 11:6 7:11 11:6) Patrick FRANZISKA – Par GERELL 2:3 (7:11 11:7 11:9 8:11 12:14) Sharat Kamal ACHANTA – Damien ELOI 3:0 (11:8 13:11 11:8) Timo BOLL – Par GERELL 3:0 (11:5 11:9 11:8)
