2015 is set to be a landmark year for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) with a record amount of prize money exposure participation levels as well as development and training programs reaching new heights. The overall prize money at ITTF 2015 is set to be a landmark year for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) with a record amount of prize money exposure participation levels as well as development and training programs reaching new heights. The overall prize money at ITTF events in 2015 hits US$3 570 000 which is the most in the history in a calendar year for the ITTF. The GAC Group 2015 World Tour which will see the world’s best players travel to 22 stops around the world including new events at North Korea and Bulgaria will reach a record prize money pool of US$3 000 000. The rest of the massive prize pool will come from the World Team Cup held in January this year Women’s World Cup and the LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup which will both be held in October. The QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships to be held in Suzhou China on 26 April – 3 May will be the most watched table tennis event of all time with a record TV distribution and online streaming presence expected to see the 150 national associations compete. The ITTF is set to become only the third International Federation to pass 1 000 000 social media fans with only 20 000 more fans across Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube and Weibo needed to reach the milestone. ITTF’s Development and Education program which has gone from strength to strength is set to go to new heights with the inaugural World Table Tennis Day being launched on 6 April 2015 at Mt Everest. At the 2015 AGM the ITTF is lined up to become the number one International Sports Federation in terms of membership reaching 221 with the addition of Sao Tome Principe. This goes a long way achieving one of the ITTF Development Program’s key guiding principles – to have table tennis played in every corner of the world. The tension amongst the players will be high in 2015 as the road to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games starts! The first event the players can earn their golden ticket to Rio is the inaugural European Games in Baku Azerbaijan in June. All these exciting factors plus many more surprises to come makes 2015 definitely a year to get excited about!
SZOCS shows no fear before her premiere
Bernadette SZOCS is the one of most promising players in Europe reaching ten medals in total at the European Youth Championships. Seven out of it were gold but two most precious are singles titles in Istanbul 2010 (cadet) and Kazan 2011 (junior). Until Bernadette SZOCS is the one of most promising players in Europe reaching ten medals in total at the European Youth Championships. Seven out of it were gold but two most precious are singles titles in Istanbul 2010 (cadet) and Kazan 2011 (junior). Until her 18 she won two Romanian National Championships in a row. At the 2010 Olympic Youth Games she reached quarter final. Last year at age of 18 she moved to play in France and this year she qualified for the 2015 NN Table Tennis Club ITTF – Europe Top 16 in Baku. “I am very happy I will play at Top 16 for a first time. I will be ready to prove that my place is among top 16 players in Europe. I am in good shape since I practiced a lot in past few weeks. My last tournament was in Dubai but you can not judge my shape by result there. I was not at my best level. Before Dubai I was injured and missed a good practice for weeks ” said SZOCS. Never mind the premiere challenge or adversaries Bernadette set her goals high – always. “I want to play good. The Top 16 is very important tournament for me and I want to reach the place among top 4 players at the end. I am aware of enormity of that challenge with all stars will play in Baku but I have self confidence. I have many matches in my career against most of the players there. Some I lost some I won. I am not afraid.” One goal is above all. “I want to play good and to give my best at Top 16. If it happens I am sure I can create few surprises and good results. “ Who will be toughest adversaries in Baku? “Right now I think most dangerous players are WU JIaduo Petrissa SOLJA Polina MIKHAILOVA also can create few upsets…”
Egypt secures 11th African Championship team titles
Egypt retained the Men’s and Women’s Team titles by emerging successful on the evening of Sunday at the 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships in Cairo Egypt. The top seeds in both the Men’s and Women’s teams event Egypt accounted Egypt retained the Men’s and Women’s Team titles by emerging successful on the evening of Sunday at the 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships in Cairo Egypt. The top seeds in both the Men’s and Women’s teams event Egypt accounted for Nigeria the second seeds to claim the titles. However they were stretched to the very limit winning both matches by the slightest margins three games to two. In the Women’s Team event it was a memorable recovery that secured the victory. Nigeria made the ideal start with Offiong EDEM beating Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY and Olufunke OSHONAIKE accounting for Dina MESHREF. 19 year old Yousra HELMY came to rescue as she beat Cecilia OFFIONG to spark the fight-back. A ray of hope for the host nation Dina MESHREF returned to form to impart the one and only defeat in the whole event over Offiong EDEM before Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY accounted for Olunfunke OSHONAIKE to complete the recovery and secure the team’s 11thChampionships title. After the victory Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY stated: “The win was special because I have never beaten Funke OSHONIAKE before. In the first match against Offiong EDEM I was a bit nervous and I knew we might likely meet again so I just played my game. I can believe that we could come back and this victory was indeed very special for us as a team.” Meanwhile in the Men’s Team final the hero of the hour for Egypt was El-Sayed LASHIN. Having suffered defeat against the ITTF Male Table Tennis Star Quadri ARUNA in the opening match of the fixture he beat Ojo ONAOLAPO to seal the victory. Earlier Omar ASSAR had leveled matters for Egypt by beating Ojo ONAOLAPO before Ahmed ALI SALEH had given Egypt a two matches to one lead when proving too secure and too experienced for Jide OGIDIOLU. Quadri ARUNA returned to the table he overcame Omar ASSAR to level the match and thus set the stage for the decisive duel between El-Sayed LASHIN and Ojo ONAOLAPO which made history for the 2013 World Team Cup bronze medalists Egypt. The victory was Ahmed ALI SALEH’s 17thAfrican gold medal which is a record. After the match the African legend stated: “I felt very happy winning my 17th gold medals in African tournament and excited that we won the title again in Cairo after the triumph in 2012. It was fantastic for the team and for me winning 17 medals is great.” The ITTF-African Championships continues on Tuesday 27 January with the Mixed Doubles Women’s and Men’s Doubles and the Women’s and Men’s Singles titles up for grabs over the next four days in Cairo Egypt.
Baku 2015 Celebrity Ambassadors support ceremonies performer hopefuls
Baku 2015 European Games Celebrity Ambassadors and Eurovision Song Contest 2011 winners Eldar GASIMOV and Nigar JAMAL made guest appearances at the auditions for Ceremonies Performers on Sunday. The duo addressed performers hoping to earn a role in the B Baku 2015 European Games Celebrity Ambassadors and Eurovision Song Contest 2011 winners Eldar GASIMOV and Nigar JAMAL made guest appearances at the auditions for Ceremonies Performers on Sunday. The duo addressed performers hoping to earn a role in the Baku 2015 Opening and Closing Ceremonies with a short motivational speech highlighting the dedication and preparation required to successfully perform at major international events. Eurovision winner Ms JAMAL said: “Representing your country at a major international event is an incredible feeling and I am delighted that so many young Azerbaijani people will have the opportunity to do so at Baku 2015. As a Celebrity Ambassador it is my duty to encourage more people to get involved with Baku 2015 through initiatives such as the Ceremonies Performer programme and play a part in creating history for our country.” The Baku 2015 Opening Ceremony will be a celebration of traditional Azerbaijani culture that will reflect the host city’s role in modern Europe as well as honouring all the athletes that will be competing. Mr Tom BISIGNANO Senior Producer at Five Currents the company who will produce the Opening and Closing Ceremonies said: “We are trying to create a dream about Azerbaijan and we need you to help us make this dream come true. Come and join us and I promise you a truly unforgettable experience.” Ms Khumar KULUZADE Baku 2015 Ceremonies Performer added: “My audition was an amazing experience and everyone involved was very friendly and smiling all the time. I already feel like I have become a part of one big family and I am looking forward to beginning my training to become a Baku 2015 Ceremonies Performer.” The Baku 2015 Ceremonies team will recruit volunteer performers aged 16 and above who have passion energy and a desire to represent their country in the newly-built National Stadium on Friday 12 June.
Another win for Olimpia Unia Grudziadz
In Poland Olimpia Unia Grudziadz justified their victory recorded a week ago in the first leg. In the second leg of the ETTU Cup quarter final Poland’s club succeeded against Dutch Enjoy&Deploy Taverzo. Experienced Trinko KEEN gave guests good In Poland Olimpia Unia Grudziadz justified their victory recorded a week ago in the first leg. In the second leg of the ETTU Cup quarter final Poland’s club succeeded against Dutch Enjoy&Deploy Taverzo. Experienced Trinko KEEN gave guests good start. He beat young Patryk ZATOWKA. Kaii YOSHIDA leveled with the victory over Olah BENEDEK and Bartosh SUCH beat Rajko GOMERS by same margin – 3:0. Olah fought to make the duel longer and he stretched Patryk to full distance but could not change the course of the match. Olimpia Unia Grudziadz – Enjoy&Deploy Taverzo 3:1 Patryk ZATOWKA – Trinko KEEN 0:3 (7:11 10:12 12:14) Kaii YOSHIDA – Olah BENEDEK 3:0 (11:6 11:8 12:10) Bartosh SUCH – Rajko GOMERS 3:0 (11:5 11:4 11:8) Patryk ZATOWKA – Olah BENEDEK 3:2 (10:12 11:6 11:7 9:11 11:9)
Tarnobrzeg in full speed
After straight matches victories in both legs of the Women’s ETTU Cup quarterfinal KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg progressed to the next round. Unlike the last week this time Polish club succeeded without LI Qian. HAN Ying overcame Lenka HARABASZOVA in After straight matches victories in both legs of the Women’s ETTU Cup quarterfinal KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg progressed to the next round. Unlike the last week this time Polish club succeeded without LI Qian. HAN Ying overcame Lenka HARABASZOVA in easy three games whilst Renata STRBIKOVA needed one more to beat Katerina PENKAVOVA. Only Natalia PARTYKA was forced to go full distance. Shiho ONO put her under pressure but failed to add any point to Hodonin’s account. KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg – SKST Mart Hodonin 3:0 HAN Ying – Lenka HARABASZOVA 3:0 (11:8 11:4 11:4) Natalia PARTYKA – Shiho ONO 3:2 (11:5 10:12 11:3 8:11 11:7) Renáta ŠTRBÍKOVÁ – Katerina PENKAVOVA 3:1 (11:9 11:6 12:14 16:14)
Eslovs by narrow margin shining Angers
It was a close call for Eslovs but Swedish club booked their semi final ticket after thrilling five matches against Istres Tennis de table. Today they were close to farewell from ETTU Cup. Like in the first leg CHEN Jian lost against Robert SVENSSON and It was a close call for Eslovs but Swedish club booked their semi final ticket after thrilling five matches against Istres Tennis de table. Today they were close to farewell from ETTU Cup. Like in the first leg CHEN Jian lost against Robert SVENSSON and in repetition of the opening match XU Hui overcame Alexandre ROBINOT. Once again Antoine HACHARD recorded victory to brought back club in game. CHEN JIAN beat XU and in close five games ROBINOT succeeded in decisive match. Vaillante Angers is also in semis. They overcame Caen TTC much harder than in the opening leg. It was 3:0 in first match whilst in today they were stretched to full distance. Romain LORENTZ put hosts on big pressure by winning opening match and forced Christophe LEGOUT to play five games in the decisive match. LEGOUT beat Jimmy DEVAUX and for third point Jens LUNDQVIST also succeeded against DEVAUX. Stella Sport La Romagne beat GV Hennebont in opening leg of the quarterfinal since they completed last round only few days ago. CHEN Tian Yuan was the back bone of their success with two wins over Kalinikos KREANGA and CHEN Chien-An. Quentin ROBINOT beat Abdel Kader SALIFOU to secure third point.
Metz joins TMK Tagmet in semis
French Metz recorded another straight matches victory over Budaorsi 2I SC to secure passage to the semi final of the Women’s ETTU Cup. Like in Budaors week ago YU Fu Wu Jiaduo and Yunli SHREINER showed no mercy. In Metz YU Fu gave French club good French Metz recorded another straight matches victory over Budaorsi 2I SC to secure passage to the semi final of the Women’s ETTU Cup. Like in Budaors week ago YU Fu Wu Jiaduo and Yunli SHREINER showed no mercy. In Metz YU Fu gave French club good start with 3:0 victory over Szandra PERGEL (11:8 11:5 11:4). In same style WU Jiaduo beat Maria FAZEKAS (11:5 11:7 11:4) whilst Yunli overcame Erika ACKERMANN (11:3 11:6 11:7). Yesterday TMK Tagmet progressed to the semi final after they beat TTC Carinthiawinds Villacher.
Spanish UCAM Cartagena reached semis
Former ETTU Cup champions Spanish UCAM Cartagena secured another semi final in Women’s event. The overcame Russia’s Kazan in straight matches. In the first leg Spanish club also beat their adversaries 3:1. Like a week ago Svetlana MOKHNACHEVA Former ETTU Cup champions Spanish UCAM Cartagena secured another semi final in Women’s event. The overcame Russia’s Kazan in straight matches. In the first leg Spanish club also beat their adversaries 3:1. Like a week ago Svetlana MOKHNACHEVA could not find the game against LI Xiang so it gave Cartagena good start. Just when it seemed we will see another repetition of the last week’s match between Iulia NECULA vs. Antonina SAVELYEVA point went other way. The result was the same 3:2 but this time the winner was NECULA. Ekaterina ERMAKOVA get her chance in Cartagena but Maria XIOA did not let her seized the opportunity. UCAM Cartagena will play against French league leader Metz in the semi final of the event in March. UCAM Cartagena – Kazan 3:0 LI Xiang – Svetlana MOKHNACHEVA 3:1 (11:8 11:7 9:11 11:2) Iulia NECULA – Antonina SAVELYEVA 3:2 (11:9 11:9 8:11 6:11 11:8) Maria XIAO – Ekaterina ERMAKOVA 3:0 (12:10 11:5 11:5)
WECL crown amid Fenerbahce and Linz
Turkish champion Fenerbahce will play its second consecutive Women`s European Champions League final this spring as they eliminated today TTC Berlin Eastside which defended the WECL title. As last week in Germany top seeded club won 3:1 and again Chines Turkish champion Fenerbahce will play its second consecutive Women`s European Champions League final this spring as they eliminated today TTC Berlin Eastside which defended the WECL title. As last week in Germany top seeded club won 3:1 and again Chinese WU Yang was unstoppable for the best two Berlin`s players Georgina POTA and SHAN Xiaona. After WU Yang`s fast victory against Georgina POTA in opening game Berlin was too far to repeat last season`s feat when it managed to beat Fenerbahce in the battle for the crown. SHAN Xiaona had 2:0 9:6 lead against Elisabeta SAMARA but host turned the match to confirm Fenerbahce`s place in the ultimate 2014/15 WECL chapter. There were no real fights after that encounter because everything was clear. However Kristin SILBEREISEN beat her former team mate Irene IVANCAN in straight games while WU was better than SHAN in the clash between two leading players. Fenerbahce didn`t confirm expectations of many experts last year when everybody saw them as a champions. This time they will play against two times WECL champion Linz AG Froschberg for the crown. It will be interesting to see how two unbeaten players WU Yang and LI Xiaodan will react when they meet. First leg will be held on March 13-15th. WECL semi-final leg2 Fenerbahce – TTC Berlin Eastside 3:1 WU Yang – Georgina POTA 3:0 (11:9 11:7 11:5) Elisabeta SAMARA – SHAN Xiaona 3:2 (7:11 7:11 16:14 11:9 12:10) Irene IVANCAN – Kristin SILBEREISEN 0:3 (6:11 9:11 11:13) WU Yang – SHAN Xiaona 3:1 (4:11 11:8 11:8 11:7)
