Olga BARANOVA didn`t manage to defend her national title in Russia in the championships held in Samara while men`s winner of 2013/14 Alexander SHIBAEV was not here this time. New champions are Alexey SMIRNOV (37 year old) and Yana NOSKOVA (21). The forme Olga BARANOVA didn`t manage to defend her national title in Russia in the championships held in Samara while men`s winner of 2013/14 Alexander SHIBAEV was not here this time. New champions are Alexey SMIRNOV (37 year old) and Yana NOSKOVA (21). The former men`s Europe Top 12 winner SMIRNOV was faced with a big task in the semis being three times one set down against Grigory VLASOV but finally defeated him in seven games. In the battle for the crown he beat Viatcheslav BUROV in five sets. Like men`s champion NOSKOVA had her main exam in the semi-final playing five games against defending champion BARANOVA. The ultimate opponent was Anna TIKHOMIROVA but this match took just four sets. Men`s Singles Semi-final: Alexey SMIRNOV – Grigory VLASOV 4:3 (9:11 11:3 6:11 11:6 6:11 11:6 11:4) Viatcheslav BUROV – Alexey LIVENTSOV 4:3 (9:11 11:7 3:11 7:11 11:9 11:3 12:10). Final: Alexey SMIRNOV – Viatcheslav BUROV 4:1 (11:9 11:9 11:3 7:11 12:10). Women`s Singles Semi-final: Anna TIKHOMIROVA – Yulia PROKHOROVA 4:1 (11:9 9:11 11:8 11:7 11:6) Yana NOSKOVA – Olga BARANOVA 4:1 (11:8 7:11 11:5 11:4 11:3). Final: Yana NOSKOVA – Anna TIKHOMIROVA 4:0 (11:7 11:9 12:10 11:8). Men`s Doubles Final: Vyacheslav BUROV/Vasiliy LAKEEV – Alexey SMIRNOV/Kirill SKACHKOV 3:1 (8:11 12:10 11:7 11:6). Women`s Doubles Final: Yulia PROKHOROVA/Anastasiya VORONOVA – Anna BLAZHKO/Valentina SABITOVA 3:1 (11:5 11:9 9:11 11:8). Mixed Pairs Final: Kirill SKACHKOV/Oxana FADEEVA – Taras MERZLIKIN/Margarita FETYUHINA 3:1 (11:8 9:11 11:9 11:7).
SIRUCEK and MATELOVA on Czech top
Pavel SIRUCEK and Hana MATELOVA are new individual champions of Czech Republic. They replaced on the top Tomas KONECNY and Iveta VACENOVSKA respectively. SIRUCEK needed five games in the final against Frantisek PLACEK who eliminated in the semis defending Pavel SIRUCEK and Hana MATELOVA are new individual champions of Czech Republic. They replaced on the top Tomas KONECNY and Iveta VACENOVSKA respectively. SIRUCEK needed five games in the final against Frantisek PLACEK who eliminated in the semis defending champion KONECNY while MATELOVA overcame VECENOVSKA playing five sets. New champions in the doubles are Tomas KONECNI and Petr DAVID in the men`s event as well as Katerina PENKAVOVA and Lenka HARABASZOVA in women`s. Mixed pair crown went to Ljubomir JANCARIK/Iveta VACENOVSKA. Men`s Singles Quarterfinal: Tomas KONECNY – Jakub KLEPRLIK 4:1 (11:13 11:8 11:8 11:9) Frantisek PLACEK – Jiri VRABLIK 4:1 (6:11 15:13 11:8 11:9 11:6) Lubomir JANCARIK – Petr DAVID 3:4 (11:9 10:12 5:11 11:6 1:11 11:9 9:11) Miroslav HOREJSI – Pavel SIRUCEK 1:4 (11:6 8:11 3:11 6:11 5:11). Semi-final: Tomas KONECNY – Frantisek PLACEK 1:4 (10:12 13:11 9:11 7:11 9:11) Petr DAVID – Pavel SIRUCEK 0:4 (8:11 4:11 8:11 10:12). Final: Frantisek PLACEK – Pavel SIRUCEK 1:4 (11:8 6:11 6:11 6:11 8:11). Women`s Singles Quarterfinal: Iveta VACENOVSKA – Karolina MYNAROVA 4:0 (11:6 11:6 11:5 11:6) Aneta KUCEROVA – Katerina PENKAVOVA 1:4 (10:12 14:12 5:11 5:11 10:12) Hana MATELOVA – Marketa SEVCIKOVA 4:0 (11:9 11:7 11:6 11:7) Lenka HARABASZOVA – Renata STRBIKOVA 1:4 (6:11 7:11 8:11 12:10 6:11). Semi-final: Iveta VACENOVSKA – Katerina PENKAVOVA 4:1 (11:4 9:11 11:5 11:9 11:5) Hana MATELOVA – Renata STRBIKOVA 4:2 (13:11 13:11 11:13 11:7 10:12 11:3). Final: Iveta VACENOVSKA – Hana MATELOVA 1:4 (11:7 7:11 7:11 9:11 3:11). Men`s Doubles Semi-final: Tomas KONECNI/Petr DAVID – Michal BENES/Marek CIHAK 3:1 (11:9 11:7 9:11 14:12) Michal OBESLO/Petr KAUCKY – Tibor PAVLIK/Patrik KLOS 3:0 (11:6 11:7 13:11). Final: Tomas KONECNI/Petr DAVID – Michal OBESLO/Petr KAUCKY 3:2 (5:11 11:7 11:8 9:11 11:9). Women`s Doubles Semi-final: Karolina MYNAROVA/Kristyna STEFCOVA – Kristyna MIKULCOVA/Miroslava SAGLOVA 3:0 (11:8 11:7 11:6) Karin ADAMKOVA/Katerina TOMANOVSKA – Katerina PENKAVOVA/Lenka HARABASZOVA 2:3 (11:7 7:11 9:11 11:8 3:11). Final: Karolina MYNAROVA/Kristyna STEFCOVA – Katerina PENKAVOVA/Lenka HARABASZOVA 1:3 (10:12 11:8 5:11 10:12). Mixed pairs Semi-final: Ljubomir JANCARIK/Iveta VACENOVSKA – Petr DAVID/Lenka HARABASZOVA 3:1 (11:7 11:13 11:6 11:7) Ondrej BAJGER/Tamara TOMANOVA – Marek CIHAK/Katerina CECHOVA 3:1 (7:11 12:10 14:12 11:5). Final: Ljubomir JANCARIK/Iveta VACENOVSKA – Ondrej BAJGER/Tamara TOMANOVA 3:0 (14:12 13:11 11:8).
MUTTI and MOSCONI celebrate in Italy
After many successes in youth level Leonardo MUTTI (19 year old) became a champion of Italy for the very first time. The best European cadet of 2010 defeated Paolo BISI 4:1 in the final of the event which was held in the city of Molfetta. MUTTI absolutel After many successes in youth level Leonardo MUTTI (19 year old) became a champion of Italy for the very first time. The best European cadet of 2010 defeated Paolo BISI 4:1 in the final of the event which was held in the city of Molfetta. MUTTI absolutely deserves the title especially knowing that he managed to eliminate in the semi-final defending champion Niagol STOYANOV in seven games. Last year STOYANOV overcame BISI in the super exciting final. In the women`s final Veronica MOSCONI made a big surprise beating WANG Yu 4:1. WANG was considered as clear favorite. She was a member of golden Italian team which got the title in 2003 European Championships in Courmayeur. Men`s Final: Leonardo MUTTI – Paolo BISI 4:1 Men`s Semi-final: Leonardo MUTTI – Niagol STOYANOV 4:3 Paolo BISI – Mattia CROTTI 4:3 Women`s Final: Veronica MOSCONI – WANG Yu 4:1 Women`s Semi-final: WANG Yu – Debora VIVARELLI 4:0 Veronica MOSCONI – Giorgia PICCOLIN 4:2
DHS unveils TT table for 2015 World Championships
The table tennis table where history will be made on at the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships has been unveiled by Double Happiness (DHS) ahead of the world’s premier table tennis event starting on 26 April in Suzhou China. The speciall The table tennis table where history will be made on at the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships has been unveiled by Double Happiness (DHS) ahead of the world’s premier table tennis event starting on 26 April in Suzhou China. The specially designed table retains the DHS’s classic ‘Rainbow Arch’ design which represents the connection of the five continents at the world’s biggest table tennis event as well as the graceful arcs of the table tennis ball whilst playing. Upon the unveiling of the table ITTF Marketing Director Steve DAINTON stated: “Double Happiness has been one of our biggest supporters over recent years and has always been working with the ITTF for the development and innovation of the sport. It’s great to see a table which takes their traditional “rainbow” design slightly modernized and incorporated with the branding of Suzhou” The polygonal surface of undercarriage makes it different from other rainbow tables while newly designed lighting effects make the table have a unique 3D effect. Each surface of polygon reflecting beautiful but not harsh light greatly improving visual effect without hampering the games an excellent balance between beauty and practicality. The gold undercarriage and the purple table top which were used at the 2013 World Table Tennis Championships in Paris has began to create a brand legacy linked with the World Championships. DHS General Manager Mr LOU commented at the unveiling: “This is thefifth time China has hosted the World Table Tennis Championships. It’s a great honor for an equipment manufacturer to continue providing equipment to World Table Tennis Championships in the homeland of our company. DHS has put a lot of manpower and material resources in developing new tables integrating modern technology with traditional Chineseaesthetics. DHS believes the new tables for World Table Tennis Championships will be the best showcase for top players to display their talent to the world.” Check out mote pictures of the table here: http://bit.ly/1DyhKpr.
Back after 8 years TOKIC in search of an 8th title
It’s been 8 years since Bojan TOKIC last swung his racket at Slovenian National Championships. In 2007 he recorded a 4-2 victory against his old nemesiss Mitja HORVAT to clinch his 7th singles title. In 2015 a whole different challenge awaits. Jan Z It’s been 8 years since Bojan TOKIC last swung his racket at Slovenian National Championships. In 2007 he recorded a 4-2 victory against his old nemesiss Mitja HORVAT to clinch his 7th singles title. In 2015 a whole different challenge awaits. Jan ZIBRAT (22) and Darko JORGIC (16) are the players to watch at this years championships. ZIBRAT a bronze medalist at the 2010 EYC in Instabul has won the title twice in 2012 and 2013 before Uros SLATINSEK broke his reign last year. After a few difficult years ZIBRAT is enjoying a great season this year with AVS Grünwetterscbach which is currently sitting at the top of the standings in 2nd Bundesliga after 14 rounds and is only few wins away from assuring a place in the elite Bundesliga next season. JORGIC is currently ranked 8th in the European Junior Standings and is enjoying great success at the ITTF Junior Circuit having won 3 medals at the recently concluded 2015 Czech Junior&Cadet Open. He’s been the leading force in Slovenia this season and is keen to find out whether his level is anywhere near the one of TOKIC who reached last 16 at the ITTF World Tour Qatar Open last year having beaten ITTF Star of the Year 2014 Quadri ARUNA along the way. TOKIC a two times Olympian and three times a medalist at the European Championships will work over-time this weekend as he’s entered doubles and mixed doubles tournaments as well. In mixed doubles he’ll join forces with Bilijana TODOROVIC who holds a record for most gold medals won at national championships (20 – 6 singles 8 doubles 6 mixed doubles) since Slovenia gained independence in 1991 and is making her own return after 7 years of silence.
Adam PATTANTYUS and Georgina POTA top seeded in Hungary
The 98th Hungarian National Championships will be held form 27th February to 1st March in the Ormai Laszlo Sport Hall (Budapest). Winners will be awarded in 5 categories Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Ada The 98th Hungarian National Championships will be held form 27th February to 1st March in the Ormai Laszlo Sport Hall (Budapest). Winners will be awarded in 5 categories Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Adam PATTANTYUS (winner of 2012) is top seeded in Men’s Singles Daniel KOSIBA is 2nd seeded title holder Janos JAKAB is 3rd in the row and winner of HUN TOP 12 in 2014 Peter FAZEKAS has the 4th position. The highest ranked Hungarian player on the ITTF World Ranking Georgina POTA leads seeding list in Women’s Singles category. 2nd seeded the title holder Dora MADARASZ. In absence of Petra LOVAS Eva BRAUN and Mercedesz NAGYVARADI are in 3rd and 4th position. Peter FAZEKAS and Daniel KOSIBA are top seeded in men’s doubles but winners of 2014 Lindner Adam and Gerold Gabor are also in the field. Champion of last year Szandra PERGEL and Dora MADARASZ have highest seeded position in Women’s Doubles Krisztina AMBRUS and Mercedesz NAGYVARADI observe them in the row. Mixed Doubles category were not held in 2014 ranking order is following: 1. Tamas LAKATOS– Dora MADARASZ 2. Janos JAKAB– Krisztina AMBRUS 3. Adam SZUDI– Szandra PERGEL and Peter FAZEKAS– Timea VARGA Schedule: 27 February – Women’s Doubles and Singles 28 February – Men’s Doubles and Singles 1 March – Mixed Doubles Semi Finals and Finals of Men’s Singles Women’s Singles Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles
OLAH topping the seeding in Helsinki
Finnish Championships will be held this year in capital of Finland Helsinki. Last time competition was in Helsinki 13 years ago. Men´s singles biggest favorite is Benedek OLAH currently number 204 in world ranking. OLAH has won competition 3 times in a Finnish Championships will be held this year in capital of Finland Helsinki. Last time competition was in Helsinki 13 years ago. Men´s singles biggest favorite is Benedek OLAH currently number 204 in world ranking. OLAH has won competition 3 times in a row. In women´s singles winner of last 4 championships Anna KIRICHENKO is injured and can not participate. Number one seeded is player from organizing club Tip-70 Luo YOMO. Also young players Annika LUNDSTRÖM born 2000 and Pihla ERIKSSON born 1999 are among favorites and will fight hard to get their first medals in single competition.
MA Long & Timo BOLL to team up at 2015 WTTC
China’s MA Long and Germany’s Timo BOLL have announced that they will be playing doubles together at the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships to be held in Suzhou China from 26 April to 3 May 2015. MA and BOLL are the first high profil China’s MA Long and Germany’s Timo BOLL have announced that they will be playing doubles together at the Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships to be held in Suzhou China from 26 April to 3 May 2015. MA and BOLL are the first high profile mixed association doubles pair to be entered after the ITTF AGM approved this concept in 2014. After the announcement an excited Timo BOLL stated: “I’m very much looking forward playing doubles with my friend MA Long in Suzhou. At the China Open in Changchun 2 years ago we already had a lot of fun playing side by side. At World Championships in China just 1 year ahead of the Olympics it is a big honor for me to play doubles with MA Long. Our playing styles fit together well. I play with high variable rotation and focus on placement while he plays much more powerful with perfect and hard shots”. Indeed the Chinese world number two and the German former world number one will form a dream pair in Suzhou as their right and left hand combination will complement each other perfectly. 26 year old MA Long who will also be looking to win his maiden singles title in Suzhou added: “I am really happy to have the chance to pair up with Timo again especially for such a prestigious event like the World Championships. We played doubles previously during the World Tour which we won so I’m really looking forward to playing with him in Suzhou this time round.” As stated by the former world number one Timo BOLL the two superstars of international table tennis have played together once before at the GAC Group 2013 World Tour China Open where they became champions. Ever since that moment the world has been talking about them playing together at the World Championships and now in Suzhou they have their wish granted. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT echoed the fans’ anticipation for the fantasy pairing: “When the AGM took the decision that players from different associations were allowed to form doubles pairs we were thinking of such a perfect match like Timo BOLL and MA Long. Such combinations stimulate our sport and beyond all competition strengthen the good international relations between our national associations”. Other interesting mixed association pairs to be on show in Suzhou are: Marcos FREITAS (POR) & Andrej GACINA (CRO) – Winners of the GAC Group 2015 World Tour Qatar Open Tan RUIWU (CRO) & WANG Zeng Yi (POL) – Winners of the 2013 European Championships LIU Jia (AUT) & IVETA Vacenovska (CZE) – Play for the same club in Linz Austria LI Jie (NED) & LI Qian (POL) The full entry list for the 53rd World Table Tennis Championships will be released next week. The Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships will be held at the Suzhou Exhibition Hall in Suzhou China from 26 April to 3 May 2015. There will be five gold medals on offer at the world premier table tennis event: Men’s Singles (holder: ZHANG Jike – China) Women’s Singles (holder: LI Xiaoxia – China) Men’s Doubles (holders: CHUANG Chih-Yuan & Chen Chien-An – Chinese Taipei) Women’s Doubles (holders: GUO Yue & LI Xiaoxia – China) Mixed Doubles (holders: KIM Hyok-Bong & KIM Jong – North Korea). The Qoros 2015 World Table Tennis Championships is expected to be the most viewed table tennis event of all time with record TV audience online viewing social media presence and media accreditations expected in Suzhou.
Baku 2015 EG signs broadcast with Ireland’s Setanta Sports
Baku 2015 European Games has signed an agreement with Setanta Sports to bring coverage of this summer’s inaugural event to Ireland. The deal ensures that Setanta Sports Ireland’s leading premium sports network will broadcast eight hours of Baku 2015 spo Baku 2015 European Games has signed an agreement with Setanta Sports to bring coverage of this summer’s inaugural event to Ireland. The deal ensures that Setanta Sports Ireland’s leading premium sports network will broadcast eight hours of Baku 2015 sporting competitions per day as well as daily highlights. The spectacular Opening and Closing Ceremonies will also be screened. A dedicated team of Setanta journalists will follow Baku 2015 focusing on Irish athletes participating at the Games. Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 said: “I am delighted that Setanta Sports and Baku 2015 have reached an agreement to bring the inaugural European Games to the Irish public. Our aim is to share the European Games with the widest possible audience and we will continue working hard to ensure this.” With this agreement the Baku 2015 European Games has now announced deals to broadcast the Games in 51 countries around the world. Mr Michael O’ROURKE Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Setanta Sports said: “The European Games is a major new fixture on the international sporting calendar and thanks to this agreement Irish sport fans will be able to follow all the action. Setanta Sports is proud to be bringing Baku 2015 to our subscribers and looks forward to broadcasting a great 17 days of competition.” Mr Patrick HICKEY President of the Olympic Council of Ireland added: “The Irish delegation to the Baku 2015 European Games will be a strong one and it’s wonderful that our athletes will be able to count on the support of fans back home thanks to this broadcast agreement. It’s also great news for sport in Ireland as the first European Games will be an inspirational event for our young people and the general public to enjoy.” Setanta Sports reaches over 1.2 million homes in Ireland and is synonymous with premium content from around the world including the English Premier League UEFA Champions League and Europa League the European Rugby Champions Cup Formula 1 The Masters The Open and American sports such as NFL NBA and Nascar.
ITTF Legends take the center stage in Halmstad
The Swedish west coast city of Halmstad is one of these places in the world where good things kind of keep happening. In the coming period 2015-2018 some serious investments into Table Tennis are in the pipeline with a series of ITTF events on the schedu The Swedish west coast city of Halmstad is one of these places in the world where good things kind of keep happening. In the coming period 2015-2018 some serious investments into Table Tennis are in the pipeline with a series of ITTF events on the schedule of attractions starting with the ITTF Legends Tour on Wednesday 4th March and finishing with the ultimate challenge – World Team Table Tennis championships 2018. On Wednesday 4th March the players group of six men – still hungry for competition the pride of winning and a good show – will be led into the court by the “celebrated son of the city” –the Five time World Champion; Jörgen PERSSON who is born and raised in Halmstad. Jörgen a true celebrity and extremely respected honored citizen of Halmstad will in this event make what could be his last competitive career appearance at home in the Halmstad arena. It will not be an easy ride for the hometown hero – far from. Five confirmed players will do their very best to steal the limelight from the tall Swede. That’s the way they are born and breed. Hungry for success and glory the likes of Jean Michel SAIVE – Jean Philippe GATIEN – Jan Ove WALDNER – JIANG Jialiang along with the hard-hitting newcomer Jörg ROSSKOPF makes up the field of six all of them ready to rock in Sweden . Stay tuned on Wednesday March 4 for the ITTF Legends Tour and some serious PING PONG POWER from Halmstad Sweden – the first of plenty more events to come your way from this part of the world. That’s a promise. Prospectus ITTF Legends click on
