Only the top eight names at the 2015 Swedish Junior and Cadet Open part of the Safir International tournament in Örebro gain a direct entry to the main draw so most of the players are already on the duty in Sweden. At the tournament that started today t Only the top eight names at the 2015 Swedish Junior and Cadet Open part of the Safir International tournament in Örebro gain a direct entry to the main draw so most of the players are already on the duty in Sweden. At the tournament that started today the host nation’s Anton KÄLLBERG is the top seed followed by Puerto Rico’s Brian AFANADOR Russia’s Konstantin CHERNOV and Japan’s Masato KAKITSUKA. Romain RUIZ from France and Slovenia’s Darko JORGIC alongside the Japanese duo of Takuto IZUMO and Tomokazu HARIMOTO complete the top eight names. Only Konstantin CHERNOV has won an ITTF Junior Circuit Boys’ Singles title. He succeeded last year in Italy beating Romania’s Cristian PLETEA in the final the player who has won the Boys’ Singles title at the first two ITTF Junior Circuit tournaments of the year but is not present in Örebro. Japan’s Ayane MORITA and Rira ISHIKAWA are the respective top two seeds in the Junior Girls’ Singles event. A total of 94 boys and 62 girls will compete in the ITTF Junior Circuit tournament.
US$3 000 000 ITTF World Tour continues in Qatar
There is no rest for the world’s best table tennis players as they travel from Kuwait City to Doha for the second Super Series event of the year the GAC Group 2015 World Tour Qatar Open. Qualifications for the US$220 000 Qatar Open begins today 17 There is no rest for the world’s best table tennis players as they travel from Kuwait City to Doha for the second Super Series event of the year the GAC Group 2015 World Tour Qatar Open. Qualifications for the US$220 000 Qatar Open begins today 17 February with the main draw starting on Friday 20 February where the top seeds face the lucky few that made it through qualification stage. Olympic bronze medalist Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) is the headline act as he takes part in his first World Tour event of 2015 in Qatar after missing the Kuwait Open with an arm injury. Upon arriving in Doha the 26 year old was in a buoyant mood after his recent win at the ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup a few weeks ago: “I have practiced well over the past two months and have got a lot of confidence from my past few tournaments especially the ITTF-Europe Top 16 Cup. My big goal here is to win my first Super Series title of the year and I think I am well prepared to do so.” “This is a very high level event with top players. If I play great then I will have a good chance to win the title but I need to focus on ball by ball starting in the first round.” OVTCHAROV will need to be at his best to beat rivals such as Marcos FREITAS (POR) CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) and Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) to reach his ultimate goal. FENG Tianwei (SIN) who won three World Tour events in 2014 will be the hot favourite on the women’s side with no Chinese players taking part in the event. The stylish defender SEO Hyowon (KOR) and Georgina POTA (HUN) who had a breakthrough year in 2014 reaching the Women’s World Cup and World Tour Grand Finals semi finals will be FENG’s big threat to the title in Qatar. The 2015 World Tour is offering a record US$3 000 000 in prize money and will also be the most viewed in history with more events shown live throughout the world on television and all the events being shown live on ITTF’s live streaming platform itTV. As was the case in 2014 the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour will be split up into three tiers (highest first): Super (6 events) Major (6 events) Challenge (11 events). The top 16 singles and top 8 doubles pairs on the World Tour Standings will then be invited to the prestigious World Tour Grand Finals at the end of the year the location to be announced later.
1st Championships for European Table Tennis Match Officials
Under authority of Austrian Table Tennis Association URC of the Upper Austrian Table Tennis Association in cooperation with the URC of the Austrian Table Tennis Association will organize 1st Championships for European Table Tennis Match Officials (14th – Under authority of Austrian Table Tennis Association URC of the Upper Austrian Table Tennis Association in cooperation with the URC of the Austrian Table Tennis Association will organize 1st Championships for European Table Tennis Match Officials (14th – 16th August 2015) in Haid / Ansfelden Austria. The competition will be held in Sporthalle der Walter Wimmer Schule. All players must be International Umpires (IU) or National Umpires who have umpired at least two (1 st or 2nd ) league matches in the last 12 months.
Jersey offers excellent TT and great holiday break
The 9th NatWest Jersey Open to be staged at the Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre in St Clement from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th April 2015 is the test event for the huge NatWest Island Games which is being held in our beautiful Island Sat 27 June – Fri 3 The 9th NatWest Jersey Open to be staged at the Geoff Reed Table Tennis Centre in St Clement from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th April 2015 is the test event for the huge NatWest Island Games which is being held in our beautiful Island Sat 27 June – Fri 3 July 2015. “Repeat entries have been coming in thick and fast for our increasingly popular NatWest Jersey Open at Easter part of the ETTA Grand Prix circuit for 2014-15 ” said Craig GASCOYNE Tournament Organiser. “Good Friday sees the team tournaments for men women veterans and juniors giving players something different and an extra day of competitive play.” The tournament is organised as part of the Grand Prix Circuit administered by the English Table Tennis Association which witnesses a series of tournaments held in various locations throughout the United Kingdom. Players compete in “Bands” of ability according to their status. “Saturday and Sunday are the standard Grand Prix format of bands and then open singles events” continued GASCOYNE. “Early booking is highly recommended to get good transport deals either by flying or by ferry; coupled with this we have negotiated an excellent deal with a great hotel next door to our purpose built table tennis centre and also car hire with Avis.” Jersey is a popular holiday destination and April is the perfect time to visit with the Spring flowers in bloom and the weather sunny and warm. “Everyone can therefore enjoy some excellent table tennis and couple it with a holiday break in our beautiful island during Easter which is a perfect time to see the Island at its very best” added GASCOYNE. “Not only this but all events over the three days carry prize money from with a minimum total fund of £ 2 500.00; last year’s Men’s and Women’s Singles Champions Chris DORAN and Emma VICKERS took home just under £1000.00 between them”.
Kuwait Open: HAN and IVANCAN lost in the final
German pair HAN Ying/Irene IVANCAN didn’t` manage to reach Women Doubles Event of GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open (Super) in Kuwait City. They lost in straight games of the final match from Chinese DING Ning/ZHU Yuling 3:0 (11:3 11:6 11:9). German pair HAN Ying/Irene IVANCAN didn’t` manage to reach Women Doubles Event of GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open (Super) in Kuwait City. They lost in straight games of the final match from Chinese DING Ning/ZHU Yuling 3:0 (11:3 11:6 11:9). In the Men Singles Event no. 2 seed MA Long beat top seeded XU Xin in five sets of all-Chinese final – 4:1 (13:11 3:11 11:1 11:7 11:9). World`s no. 3 LI Xiaoxia upset top favorite DING Ning in five sets of Women Singles 4:1 (11:5 11:8 11:4 8:11 11:5). CHIANG Hung-Chieh and HUANG Sheng-Sheng confirmed their no. 1 seeding role beating in the Men Doubles Event final Chinese pair XU Xin and ZHANG Jike playing four games.
FREITAS stretched ZHANG Jike to full distance
Semi-finalists one year ago their best ever finish on the ITTF World Tour the German partnership of HAN Ying and Irene IVANCAN went one step better today. In the penultimate round of the Women’s Doubles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Semi-finalists one year ago their best ever finish on the ITTF World Tour the German partnership of HAN Ying and Irene IVANCAN went one step better today. In the penultimate round of the Women’s Doubles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open occupying the no.6 seeded position in the competition they accounted for Hong Kong’s DOO Hoi Kem and LEE Ho Ching. China dominated proceedings at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event. The top four names on the current Men’s World Rankings entered the arena all four emerged successful. XU Xin followed by ZHANG Jike FAN Zhendong and MA Long; all booked semi-final places. The one player to be tested was Zhang Jike the no.4 seed. He was extended the full seven games distance by Portugal’s Marcos FREITAS the no.6 seed (9-11 11-8 9-11 11-8 9-11 11-6 11-4). Earlier in the day the Hong Kong pair seeded one place higher than the Germans having been in outstanding form. Sensationally they had accounted for China’s LI Xiaoxia and LIU Shiwen the no.2 seeds earlier in the day at the quarter-final stage. HAN Ying and Irene IVANCAN emerged successful in four games (11-7 7-11 12-10 11-9). Thailand’s CHIANG Hung-Chieh and HUANG Sheng-Sheng the top seeds in the Men’s Doubles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open duly booked their place in the final; they accounted for the Korean partnership of JEONG Sangeun and LEE Sangsu but they came perilously close to defeat. Trailing by two games to one they saved match points in the fourth game before eventually emerging successful in a full distance duel (8-11 11-7 11-13 14-12 11-5).At the semi-final stage XU Xin and ZHANG Jike beat colleagues FAN Zhendong and MA Long the no.5 seeds (11-4 11-4 8-11 11-6). At the semi-final stage of the Women’s Singles Event DING Ning plays ZHU Yuling LI Xiaoxia opposes LIU Shiwen
OVTCHAROV hires Jörgen PERSSON as coach
Dima Ovtcharov has extended his coaching team on the way to the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. The reigning European Champion and current world ranked number six will be coached by former World Champion in Singles 1991 and Swedish table tennis lege Dima Ovtcharov has extended his coaching team on the way to the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. The reigning European Champion and current world ranked number six will be coached by former World Champion in Singles 1991 and Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson (48) who will join the coaching team of Dima’s father Michael OVTCHAROV and German national team coach Jörg ROSSKOPF assistance coach ZHU Xiaoyong and physical coach Benjamin SCHMITZ. “It is my goal to move even closer to the Chinese players who are higher ranked in the actual World ranking until the Olympic Games 2016 and to improve my performance that much that I will be able to beat these top players in one of the most important tournaments like Olympic Games. The victory against Chinese World- and Olympic Champion ZHANG Yike in the team final of the previous World Championships in Tokyo last year gives me a lot of self- confidence” this is the reason why the 26 years old German who is actually playing for the Russian Club Fakel Gazprom Orenburg and most successful German Table Tennis Olympic athlete with three medals in Singles and Team competition has chosen Jörgen PERSSON as coach “Especially I want to benefit from his enormous experience his tactical brilliance and mental power” Ovtcharov said. The contact between OVTCHAROV and PERSSON was made by world-famous table tennis company DONIC who is long term sponsor and supplier of both players. The financing will be arranged by OVCHAROV’S sponsor HGHI GmbH a Real Estate Company from Berlin.
Hard times for Europeans in Kuwait
Only few Europeans survived the opening round of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open (Super). The runner-up of last week’s ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Baku Marcos FREITAS succeeded to the round of 16 after victory re Only few Europeans survived the opening round of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open (Super). The runner-up of last week’s ITTF Europe Top 16 Cup in Baku Marcos FREITAS succeeded to the round of 16 after victory recorded against Hugo CALDERANO of Brazil. Another player who competed in Azerbaijan Croatia’s Andrej GACINA also secured his place among top 16 players in Kuwait City. He beat Emmanuel LEBESSON of France. Ricardo WALTHER of Germany overcame Husain AL BAHRANI of Kuwait and Alexey LIVENTSOV of Russia succeeded against CHO Eonrae of Korea to join them. Korea’s 23 year-old JUNG Youngsik who had been required to compete in the preliminary stage of proceedings beat Vladimir SAMSONOV of Belarus the no.7 seed. In the Round of 32 in Women’s Singles Event HAN Ying of Germany beat ZENG Jian of Singapore whilst LIU Jie of Netherlands prevailed against JIANG Huajun of Hong Kong.
WEIKERT steps down as German President
Elected to the office of President of the International Table Tennis Federation officially assuming duties on Monday 1 September 2014 in succession to Adham SHARARA Thomas WEIKERT has announced his resignation as President of the German Table Tennis Ass Elected to the office of President of the International Table Tennis Federation officially assuming duties on Monday 1 September 2014 in succession to Adham SHARARA Thomas WEIKERT has announced his resignation as President of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB). The 53 year-old lawyer will relinquish the role on Tuesday 10 March 2015 after a ten year tenure of office. It is a position he has held since his election on Sunday 12 June 2005 at the General Assembly when becoming the association’s twelfth President. He succeeded Walter GRUNDAHL. “I had hoped to fulfil both functions until the elections in 2017″ said Thomas WEIKERT. “However I saw this step as mandatory to focus only on my role as President of the International Table Tennis Federation.” Both are demanding positions with the past decade having seen Germany the focal point of world class events whilst also being a source of aid for developing countries. Notably the World Team Championships were staged in Bremen in 2006 and in Dortmund in 2012; whilst Stuttgart was the home for the 2009 European Championships. High class events staged and also there have been notable achievements for the German National Teams during the Presidency of Thomas WEIKERT. Outstanding success has been enjoyed at the Olympic Games World Championships and European Championships. Thomas WEIKERT will be succeeded by Michael GEIGER as interim President of the DTTB until elections are held later this year in November. Michael GEIGER 49 years old is currently the DTTB Vice President of Finance.
President ALIYEV received ETTU President
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham ALIYEV has received President of the European Table Tennis Union Ronald KRAMER AzerTag reports. “The government attention to the development of all kinds of sport in Azerbaijan was discussed at the meet President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham ALIYEV has received President of the European Table Tennis Union Ronald KRAMER AzerTag reports. “The government attention to the development of all kinds of sport in Azerbaijan was discussed at the meeting. The importance of continuous work to establish modern sport infrastructure in the capital and the country`s regions was emphasized. The organization of the Europe Top-16 Cup which was held in Baku by the Azerbaijan Table Tennis Federation and the European Table Tennis Union was praised. The parties expressed their confidence that such events would contribute to the expansion of the international cooperation in the field of sports”.
