The name of the first finalist in Women’s ETTU Cup is KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg. In Poland host nation representative just justified their supremacy set two weeks earlier. Tagmet scored one point but that was all from the guests. Valentina SABITOV The name of the first finalist in Women’s ETTU Cup is KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg. In Poland host nation representative just justified their supremacy set two weeks earlier. Tagmet scored one point but that was all from the guests. Valentina SABITOVA was the only player in Tagmet’s team strong enough to put adversary under pressure. In five thrilling games she beat Natalia PARTYKA. LI Qian prevailed against Anna BLAZHKO and SABITOVA whilst HAN Ying beat Olga BARANOVA. All duels concluded in straight games. KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg – TMK Tagmet 3:1 LI Qian – Anna BLAZHKO 3:0 (11:6 11:3 11:3) Natalia PARTYKA – Valentina SABITOVA 2:3 (8:11 10:12 11:5 11:8 9:11) HAN Ying – Olga BARANOVA 3:0 (11:7 11:8 12:10) LI Qian – SABITOVA Valentina 3:0 (11:2 11:5 11:2 )
Cautious SALABAEV keeps Orenburg alerted
Although the 2014/15 Men’s European Champions League no. 1 seed has a decent advantage from the 1st semi-final leg its Coach Valery SALABAEV is very careful expecting the rematch which will be held this Friday (13h20 CET) in Orenburg. Russian champion Fa Although the 2014/15 Men’s European Champions League no. 1 seed has a decent advantage from the 1st semi-final leg its Coach Valery SALABAEV is very careful expecting the rematch which will be held this Friday (13h20 CET) in Orenburg. Russian champion Fakel Gazproma beat Wienviertel Niederosterreich 3:1 but after amazing rescue of Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. “The second semifinal match will be as hard as the first one. Every game every rally can be decisive based on the results of both matches” stressed SALABAEV. Stefan FEGERL and HOU Yingchao both had big 2:0 lead against OVTCHAROV but German beat them in five games. Austrian player missed four match balls in total playing the second encounter against the 2013 individual European champion. “In the first semi-final in Wolkersdorf only a few points were missing for a sensation. In Orenburg our team will try to play as well as in Wolkersdorf but Orenburg is the great favorite to reach the final” commented President of the 2008 MECL champion Dr. Johann FRIEDSCHRÖDER. In the other semi-final game Borussia hosts Chartres on Saturday.
Entry date for veterans prolonged to April 15th
The Organizing Committee decided after some discussion to prolong the final entry date for Veterans Championships until April 15th. “We took in consideration this option to make it possible for those who have of some reason missed the final entry date to The Organizing Committee decided after some discussion to prolong the final entry date for Veterans Championships until April 15th. “We took in consideration this option to make it possible for those who have of some reason missed the final entry date to still be able to participate” stated Sonja GREFBERG ETTU Vice President. For the competition in Tampere there are already 1996 registered players and 1801 already paid their participation. Most participants comes from Germany then Sweden Russia England and also from France and Czech Republic.
Baku 2015 EG signs Nestlé Azerbaijan as official supporter
Baku 2015 European Games has signed an agreement with Nestlé Azerbaijan to serve as the Official Confectionery Supplier of this summer’s inaugural event. Under the terms of the deal the world’s largest nutrition company will supply coffee confectionery Baku 2015 European Games has signed an agreement with Nestlé Azerbaijan to serve as the Official Confectionery Supplier of this summer’s inaugural event. Under the terms of the deal the world’s largest nutrition company will supply coffee confectionery and cereal bars which will be made available to spectators at all European Games venues. The Nestlé brands covered by the deal include KIT KAT LION NESTLÉ FITNESS and NESCAFÉ. Mr. Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 said: “Nestlé is a globally recognised brand and will be valuable supplier to the first ever European Games. The company joins other renowned international and Azerbaijani brands partnering with the Games and supporting this exciting addition to the sporting calendar.” Nestlé Azerbaijan becomes the ninth Official Supporter of the Games – joining Azersun Holding Bazarstore McDonald’s Azerbaijan Milla Motorola Solutions NAZ Sitecore and Tickethour.
HE Zhiwen the oldest player with WT title
At the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open in Almeria the host nation’s HE Zhiwen has become the oldest player to secure an ITTF World Tour title. Aged 52 years and 302 days he partnered colleague Carlos MACHADO to success in the Men’s Doubles At the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open in Almeria the host nation’s HE Zhiwen has become the oldest player to secure an ITTF World Tour title. Aged 52 years and 302 days he partnered colleague Carlos MACHADO to success in the Men’s Doubles final. Occupying the no.8 seeded position in the event the duo overcame Russia’s Fedor KUZMIN and Grigory VLASOV the no.4 seeds in a dramatic full distance five games final. Eventually they succeeded on their ninth match point. The Russian duo saved seven match points in the fourth game before holding two match points of their own in the decisive fifth game (11-8 5-11 11-8 16-18 14-12). Success for He Zhiwen the win coming 30 years after what might be regarded as his greatest Men’s Doubles success. Representing China at the World Championships in Gothenburg in 1985 he won Men’s Doubles bronze in partnership with FAN Changmao but quite surprisingly has never ventured beyond the quarter-final stage of a Men’s Doubles event on the ITTF World Tour. Ai FUKUHARA and Misako WAKAMIYA the second seeds overcame top seeded compatriots Miu HIRANO and Mima ITO the defending champions to clinch the Women’s Doubles title (8-11 11-8 10-12 11-4 11-7). It was for Ai FUKUHARA and Misako WAKAMIYA their third ITTF World Tour Women’s Doubles title and fourth final as a partnership. Maharu YOSHIMURA of Japan beat WONG Chun Ting of Hong Kong to secure gold in Men’s Singles Event. In Women’s Singles Event JEON Jihee secured her title in the final duel against Sayaka HIRANO of Japan.
HE Zhiwen and Carlos MACHADO aim title in Doubles
In the Round of 16 of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia proved too strong for top seeded Vladimir SAMSONOV but he was not happy for long. In the quarterfinal SHIBAEV suffered by In the Round of 16 of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia proved too strong for top seeded Vladimir SAMSONOV but he was not happy for long. In the quarterfinal SHIBAEV suffered by the hands of Japan’s Maharu YOSHIMURA in straight games. In the semi final Yoshimura will meet KIM Donghyun of Korea. Kenta MATSUDAIRA of Japan beat Dimitrij PROKOPCOV of Czech Republic and he will meet WONG Chun Ting of Hong Kong. Three Japan’s representatives booked their places in the semi final of the Women’s Singles Event. Yuka ISHIGAKI will meet JEON Jihee of Korea and Sayaka HIRANO will play against compatriot Ai FUKUHARA. DOO Hoi Kem of Hong Kong eliminated top seeded Kasumi ISHIKAWA round earlier but against ISHIGAKI she failed to win even a game. JEON Jihee halted the progress of Georgina POTA of Hungary. She needed five games. In the final of the Men’s Doubles Event the duel between Russia and Spain will decide the winner. Fedor KUZMIN and Grigory VLASOV emerged successful in the final alongside the no.8 seeds the host nation’s HE Zhiwen and Carlos MACHADO. In the penultimate stage Russia’s pairings beat compatriots Alexander SHIBAEV and Alexey SMIRNOV whilst Spaniards succeeded against Kenta MATSUDAIRA and Koki NIWA of Japan. Women’s Doubles Event final will be decided in the duel between Japan’s Miu HIRANO Mima ITO and Ai FUKUHARA Misako WAKAMIYA.
Hard day for Spanish representatives in Almeria
Top seed in the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open Vladimir SAMSONOV reached the third round of the event in Almeria. After thrilling full distance duel against Harald ANDERSSON of Sweden Belarus star inflicted t Top seed in the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open Vladimir SAMSONOV reached the third round of the event in Almeria. After thrilling full distance duel against Harald ANDERSSON of Sweden Belarus star inflicted the pain in the hearts of the host nation supporters by beating HE Zhiwen in straight games. In the match for the quarter final he will meet Russia’s Alexander SHIBAEV. For the place in the last 16 SHIBAEV beat Greek’s Kalinikos KREANGA. Swede Mattias KARLSSON also joined the group of 16 best players. He overcame CHO Eonare of Korea. Dimitrij PROKOPCOV of Czech Republic halted the progress of Paul DRINKHALL of England. Only three European players reached the Round of 16 in Women’s Singles Event. Georgina POTA of Hungary seeded no. five beat Shiho MATSUDAIRA of Japan in five games. In next round she will meet Japan’s Miu HIRANO who overcame Matilda EKHOLM of Sweden. LI Jie of Netherlands halted the progress of Carole GRUNDISH. French Player caused big upset only one round earlier by beating Dora MADARASZ the no.27 seed in five games. In second round LI prevailed in straight games. Tomorrow she will meet Sayaka HIRANO of Japan. Germany’s SHAN Xiaona secured the passage to the Round of 16 after success against Sara RAMIREZ of Spain in five games. For the place in the quarterfinal she will meet Misaki MORIZONO of Japan.
Two trophies for A.S. Pera Athens in A1 division
A.S. Pera Athens once again emerged successfully in the Greek leagues. The club captured two titles in A1 men and women for the season 2014-2015. The events finished on Sunday in Athens. In men’s A.S. Pera garnered 31 points and had only one defeat agai A.S. Pera Athens once again emerged successfully in the Greek leagues. The club captured two titles in A1 men and women for the season 2014-2015. The events finished on Sunday in Athens. In men’s A.S. Pera garnered 31 points and had only one defeat against Ifitos Patron. In the decisive match last Saturday they overcame Ifitos 4-2 in the second leg and secured the first position. Olympiacos ranked 2nd and the team of Patras 3rd in the first year in the top class. Stefan OUAICHE played for Pera last weekend. The presence of the great left-handed France champion in men’s singles in 2014 and runner-up in the same event in 2015 gave more color to this year’s A1. Alongside Mehdi BOULOUSSA from Olympiacos both French international players definitely raised the level of game and added extra prestige of the tournament! Besides OUAICHE key players of Pera were John VLOTINOS (has also the role of the coach) Kostas LAGOGIANNIS and Lefteris MAKRAS while a small part had George LEGGERIS. In women Pera Athens showed its superiority and managed for another year to get title undefeated. For Vlotinos based club played Christina FILI Laura NIKOULAE Georgia ZAVITSANOU and Olga GEORGOPOULOU (the last unbeaten completed the championship) while gave time to participate and the young Elena NTEGIRMENTZIOGLOU. Pera Athens reached 18 championships titles in men’s and 6 in women’s in the history of Greek table tennis. Moreover is the fourth time they celebrated both titles in A1 in the same season! In second place in the women’s A1 category is D.A.O.T. FINAL RANKING A1 MEN 1. Α.S. Pera Athens 31 15-1 63-16 2. Olympiacos 30 14-2 59-14 3. A.S. Ifitos Patras 29 13-3 56-27 4. AO Tatavla 25 9-7 46-38 5. A.S Proodos 22 6-10 42-49 (7-5) 6. A.O. Pefkis 22 6-10 33-53 (5-7 games) 7. G.S. Aris Voulas 21 5-11 28-53 ————————————————– ——————— 8. Filia Orestiadas 20 4-12 27-58 9. OA Chania 16 0-16 18-64 # The 8th and 9th will relegate FINAL RANKING A1 WOMEN 1. A.S. Pera Athens 28 14-0 56-13 2. D.A.O. Taurus 25 11-3 48-21 (26-24) 3. Olympiacos 25 11-3 51-24 (24-26 set) 4. GHREES Edessa 22 8-6 36-33 5. YMCA Thessaloniki 19 5-9 30-40 ————————————————– —————————— 6. Phoenix Piraeus 18 4-10 26-42 7. A.S.E.A. Kavala 17 3-11 22-47 ————————————————– ———————————- 8. P.K.D. Taurus 14 0-14 7-56
OVTCHAROV named as Baku 2015 Ambassador
Baku 2015 European Games has today announced a further two international athletes who will be Ambassadors for this summer’s inaugural event.German table tennis player Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Greek fencer Vassiliki VOUGIOUKA will represent their sports and Baku 2015 European Games has today announced a further two international athletes who will be Ambassadors for this summer’s inaugural event.German table tennis player Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Greek fencer Vassiliki VOUGIOUKA will represent their sports and feature in extensive marketing campaigns in their home countries and on social media to promote the Games. OVTCHAROV is the current world number six and won silver as part of the German men’s table tennis team at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He also won bronze in both the men’s singles and team events at the London 2012 Olympic Games. VOUGIOUKA competes in the sabre discipline and is currently ranked sixth in the world. She won gold at the 2010 Fencing World Cup in Budapest the first ever World Cup victory by a Greek fencer and was a silver medallist at both the 2012 and 2013 European Championships. Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 said: “Being able to welcome further international Athlete Ambassadors of this calibre reflects the importance of this new event on the sporting calendar. I am sure both Dimitrij and Vassiliki will very much enjoy promoting the Games and playing an important role in the development of European sport.” Both athletes join Irish boxer Katie TAYLOR Team GB’s Taekwondo athlete Jade JONES French rhythmic gymnast Kseniya MOUSTAFAEVA Denmark’s canoe sprinter René Holten POULSEN and Serbia’s Basketball 3×3 team of Dušan DOMOVIC BULUT Marko SAVIC Marko ZDERO and Dejan MAJSTOROVIC as Baku 2015 international Athlete Ambassadors. OVTCHAROV 26 said: “The first European Games are a great opportunity to raise the profile of table tennis and for the sport to win new fans. It’s also wonderful to be involved in a new major sporting event which will bring the continent together. I can’t wait for the Games to begin and am looking forward to promoting them in the build-up to the Opening Ceremony.” VOUGIOUKA 28 said: “Fencing is a popular European sport so as a fencer it is a great honour to have been invited to promote the first European Games in Baku. I have been fortunate enough to compete all over the world so I know how sport brings people together and I will do my best to spread the Baku 2015 message in the months ahead.” Dirk SCHIMMELPFENNIG Germany’s Chef de Mission for Baku 2015 said: “Dimitrij’s participation as a Baku 2015 international Athlete Ambassador reflects his support for the European Games. Germany has a strong sporting tradition and the Athlete Ambassador programme will help to generate interest and excitement in the country ahead of Baku 2015.” Spyros CAPRALOS President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and Chair of the EOC Coordination Commission for Baku 2015 said: “I have no doubt that Vassiliki will do a great job of promoting Baku 2015 to build support for all our Greek athletes in Baku this summer. As one of Europe’s best fencers you couldn’t ask for a better ambassador for the first European Games.”
It’s time for new European table tennis era
Werner SCHLAGER Academy CEO Martin SÖRÖS is currently in China travelling trough this great country for business-reasons and with the goal to enlarge the Table Tennis Community in favor for all of us. “On behalf of Werner SCHLAGER Academy and toget Werner SCHLAGER Academy CEO Martin SÖRÖS is currently in China travelling trough this great country for business-reasons and with the goal to enlarge the Table Tennis Community in favor for all of us. “On behalf of Werner SCHLAGER Academy and together with our “Chinese-style“ WSA-Coach CHEN Weixing today we visited the ITTF-Hotspot-Center in Guangzhou to meet Manager JIM Feng and Director Linda ZHANG who is also Executive Vice President of Guangzhou Table Tennis Association“ explained SOROS. SOROS and CHEN Weixing (and he is familiar with all the big table tennis contents in this country) were very impressed by the facilities Guangzhou City and the ITTF-Hotspot in Tianhe Sports Center can provide for the international Table Tennis Community. To enter a building with more than 40 tables for permanent use is very very impressive. “We had a nice a fruitful and very constructive meeting and we agreed a strong and long-term partnership between Werner SCHLAGER Academy and the ITTF Hotspot in Guangzhou. In a first stage we will start the exchange of players and coaches for sessions and seminars in Schwechat and in Guangzhou as well. In summer Guangzhou also has interest to send some hobby-players (perhaps with their parents) to Vienna-Schwechat to spend holidays and training.In the future we also want to push other ITTF-Hotspots all over the world to be ready for more exchanges and cooperations with Guangzhou WSA and ITTF as well.“ ITTF has always strong interest to bring the Centers together and motivate them to cooperate. “In the last years I spoke a lot to Adham SHARARA and the ITTF-Development and Coaching-Department and I think that the time has come to enter a new era and to bring the Table Tennis Community closer together. Furthermore I also talked a lot in the last months to Ronald KRAMER and Richard SCRUTON and we all know that we should try all we can to make the next steps to develop European Table Tennis. Werner SCHLAGER Academy is ready to do his job in this direction and I like the idea from my friends here in Guangzhou to have as soon as possible a Conference of the ITTF-Hotspots whereever on this planet.“ Jim FENG and Linda ZHANG has been a great hosts. “I will do my best hand in hand with ETTU-Authorities and Federations in the next months and years to push all European Centers to cooperate with each other and to stretch and improve the stage for all of us in European Table Tennis Community.“
