Hungarian Table Tennis Association and the BVSC Budapest TT Club invites young players to participate at the 20th International Open Table Tennis Competition in memory of János MOLNÁR. Organizer is BVSC Budapest TT Club and the tournament will be held in Hungarian Table Tennis Association and the BVSC Budapest TT Club invites young players to participate at the 20th International Open Table Tennis Competition in memory of János MOLNÁR. Organizer is BVSC Budapest TT Club and the tournament will be held in BVSC Table Tennis Hall in Budapest from 5th to 8th February. The entries are still open for the Junior Boys’ Singles (born after 1.1.1997.) Cadet Boys’ Singles (born after 1.1.2000.) Mini Cadet Boys’ Singles (age Group No. 1 born after 1.1.2002. age Group No. 2 born between 1.1.2003. and 31.12.2003; age Group No. 3 born after 1.1.2004.) The competition is open to all National Associations Regional Delegations and Clubs. After the final the medal ceremony and tombola will take place. Closing date for entries is 23rd January 2015. The draw is scheduled for 30th January 2015. Find here prospectus and entry form  

Baku 2015 European Games has today announced that some of Azerbaijan’s most popular entertainers will become Celebrity Ambassadors for this summer’s inaugural event. The names of 13 stars from the world of music television and entertainment were revealed Baku 2015 European Games has today announced that some of Azerbaijan’s most popular entertainers will become Celebrity Ambassadors for this summer’s inaugural event. The names of 13 stars from the world of music television and entertainment were revealed at a launch event at the Mugham Center in Baku on Tuesday afternoon. They include singers Tunzala AGHAYEVA Miri YUSIF ROYA and Eurovision winners Eldar GASIMOV and Nigar JAMAL comedians Bahram BAGHIRZADE Rafael and Joshqun and Tahir and Jabir IMANOV and musician DJ Shock. Well-known presenters Murad DADASHOV and Ilkin HASANI will also take part. Mr Azad RAHIMOV Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sports and Chief Executive Officer of Baku 2015 said: “I am delighted to celebrate 150 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the first European Games with the support of these fantastic celebrities as official ambassadors of the Games. “I am sure that our Celebrity Ambassadors will generate great excitement with the young people of Azerbaijan and encourage more people to get involved with the Games. The programme will allow Baku 2015 to reach a range of audiences in Azerbaijan and Europe using the Celebrity Ambassadors’ star appeal and popularity to share messages about the event which begins on 12 June.Participants will help to promote the Games by visiting Baku 2015 venues taking part in countdown events supporting campaigns and using their own social media channels to reach millions of followers. Speaking at the launch event singer Ms Tunzala AGHAYEVA said: “Whenever I am on stage I give everything to make it a great performance. In June it will be Azerbaijan putting on an unforgettable show for the whole of Europe to enjoy. As a Baku 2015 Celebrity Ambassador I will be working to encourage people to get involved with Baku 2015 through initiatives such as the volunteer programme and play a part in creating history for our country.” Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 added: “This announcement is the next step in expanding our ambassador programme and continues the great momentum we are generating as we continue our preparations to deliver a spectacular sporting event.“I would like to thank all of our Celebrity Ambassadors for their support and we look forward to working with them to help promote Baku 2015 in the coming months.”

China justified their exalted status by winning the Men’s and Women’s event at the 2015 World Team Cup in Dubai. Men’s team in the first stage of the competition had recorded three-nil wins on both visits to the table; in the last eight and the penultimat China justified their exalted status by winning the Men’s and Women’s event at the 2015 World Team Cup in Dubai. Men’s team in the first stage of the competition had recorded three-nil wins on both visits to the table; in the last eight and the penultimate round it had been the same verdict. At the final hurdle there was no break with tradition a three matches to nil win was recorded against Austria the seventh seeds. FAN Zhendong settled any Chinese nerves by beating Daniel HABESOHN in the opening exchange before ZHANG Jike extended the advantage. He overcame Robert GARDOS. Proceedings came to a conclusion with the doubles combination of XU Xin and ZHANG Jike accounting for Stefan FEGERL and Daniel HABESOHN. “We met in the group stage and in the final” said Robert GARDOS when reflecting on his contest against ZHANG Jike. “He’s really very strong I played well but he just played better; it was almost like the situation during the Tokyo World Championships there I had match points against him but somehow he just came back to win the match.” Defeat in the final but runners up spot was a most satisfactory finish for the Austrians. They are only the third European country ever to reach the Men’s Team final. Sweden won in 1990 when the tournament was first staged whilst being the runners up in 1991 and 1994. In 1995 Germany finished in the silver medal position. Notably since 2007 when the tournament returned to the international calendar no European team has reached the final. “We are happy; this is the best result that we ever had in the World Team Cup” added Daniel HABESOHN. “We are growing as a team but China is definitely too strong for us at the moment.” An improving team it was a fact which Zhang Jike acknowledged. “Austria played well and they managed to make us struggle I am sure they will get stronger in the future and make us struggle more” said the reigning Olympic and World champion. “It was good to play a different team in the final; we are good friends with the Austrians so it is always nice to play against them.” Good friends certainly they are no strangers to each other; they met in both stages of the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Championships and in both stages of the 2015 World Team Cup. Women’s Team of China recorded straight matches victory in the final. Unquestionably the score-line did not reflect the effort made by DPR Korea in what was a closely contested final. The opening two encounters were both decided in full distance five games duels. LIU Shiwen staved off a brave recovery by RI Mi Gyong to emerge successful by the very narrowest of margins before ZHU Yuling had to dig deep into her mental reserves to overcome the defensive skills of RI Myong Sun. Two close matches the doubles was less tense; DING Ning entered the fray to partner LIU Shiwen the duo quickly established a harmony to their play. A straight games win over KIM Hye Song and RI Mi Gyong was the end result.

China booked their place in the final of the Men’s Event at the ITTF 2015 World Team Cup after success against Chinese Taipei. In the ultimate stage they will meet Austria. Austria seeded at position no. seven upset the favorites and European Champions. China booked their place in the final of the Men’s Event at the ITTF 2015 World Team Cup after success against Chinese Taipei. In the ultimate stage they will meet Austria. Austria seeded at position no. seven upset the favorites and European Champions. Team that won title in Lisbon few months ago suffered straight matches defeat against Austria. Marcos FREITAS Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO failed to produce the game that will stop Robert GARDOS Stefan FEGERL and Daniel HABESOHN. It was the history repeated since GARDOS and HABESOHN with experienced CHEN Weixing beat Portugal on their home soil in September in Group stages of the European Championships. Tonight GARDOS gave Austria good start with the victory over APOLONIA whilst FREITAS suffered by the hands of HABESOHN. China will play against DPR Korea in the final of the Women’s Event as well. Reigning champions overcame Singapore whilst Korea beat Japan. It is the eighth time in nine editions of the tournament that China has reached the final of the Women’s event at the World Team Cup. ZHU Yuling gave China the perfect start in their semi-final contest against Singapore. She beat FENG Tianwei to set China en route to a three-nil success. DING Ning overcame Isabelle Siyun LI before joining forces with LIU Shiwen to secure a doubles success in opposition to FENG Tianwei and YU Mengyu. At the Asian Games in Incheon in late September 2014 at the semi-final stage of the Women’s Team event China beat DPR Korea by three matches to nil.

Even before the start of the semi final duels at the Men’s Event at the ITTF World Team Cup in Dubai one thing is certain – we will have Asia vs. Europe in the final. In penultimate stage China will face Taipei whilst Portugal will play again Even before the start of the semi final duels at the Men’s Event at the ITTF World Team Cup in Dubai one thing is certain – we will have Asia vs. Europe in the final. In penultimate stage China will face Taipei whilst Portugal will play against Austria. European crowned champions Portugal seeded no. five overcame no. three seeds Japan. Marcos FREITAS beat Yuto MURAMATSU and Masataka MORIZONO whilst Joao MONTEIRO in the decisive match beat MURAMATSU. Austria secured their place after victory over Germany. Ruwen FILUS Steffen MENGEL and Bastian STEGER failed to put Stefen FEGERL Robert GARDOS and Daniel HABESOHN under severe pressure. China Singapore DPR Korea and Japan secured at least bronze in the Women’s event at the World Team Cup. Those four teams booked their place in the semi final. In quarters China’s LIU Shiwen CHENG Meng and DING Ning beat Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA Adina DIACONU and Camelia POSTOACA in straight matches. Reigning champions will meet Singapore. Tianwei and YU Mengyu and Isabelle Siyun LI were stretched to full distance against Hong Kong. In the lower half of the draw Korea succeeded against Germany. European team had a good start; in the first match of the fixture Kristin SILBEREISEN beat KIM Hye Song. However RI Myong Sun had remained unbeaten accounting for both Petrissa SOLJA and Sabine WINTER. Japan beat Brazil in straight matches.

Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA’s rise to stardom has reached new heights as he was crowned the Male Table Tennis Star and Table Tennis Star Point winner at the Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards. Seven awards were handed out at the prestigious ITTF Star Awar Nigeria’s Quadri ARUNA’s rise to stardom has reached new heights as he was crowned the Male Table Tennis Star and Table Tennis Star Point winner at the Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards. Seven awards were handed out at the prestigious ITTF Star Awards which took place last evening at the base of the world’s tallest building to recognize the achievements of athletes and coaches in 2014. The two most eyed awards of the night the Male and Female Table Tennis Stars were decided by 60 000 public votes from all around the globe combined with the judging results of an expert panel. The expert panel consisted of a representative from the ITTF Athletes Commission the ITTF Para Division the ITTF President and four members of the international media. ARUNA fended off tough competition from world number one XU Xin (CHN) Youth Olympic Champion FAN Zhendong (CHN) and European Team Championships gold medalist Marcos FREITAS (POR) to win the distinguished title presented by Ping Pong Dubai. The African Cup champion who started the year as world number 237 and ended it at number 30 which is the highest ever for an African player stated: “This is the best day of my career and my life. I feel so great to be the winner in the midst of the world’s superstars. This award means the world to me.” ARUNA’s amazing point against ZHANG Jike (CHN) at the LIEBHERR 2014 ITTF Star Awards also won the hearts of more than one-third of the voters to be named the Star Point of the year. Favorite for the award world number one DING Ning (CHN) took home the Female Table Tennis Star award presented by Nittaku to add on to her vast trophy collection. The two-time Women’s World Cup winner stated: “We had a great evening in Dubai. Thanks ITTF and all the people who are helped made me who I am today. Thank you to my coach my team and all my fans for supporting me.” In the Para Table Tennis category the Male Para Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue went to Spain’s Alvaro VALERA while Croatia’s Sandra PAOVIC won the Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International. “I am happy and proud to win this big award tonight. It’s really great to be back in table tennis again!” shared the 31-year old Croatian who successfully made her return to the table tennis scene after her life threatening crash in 2009. During the spectacular ceremony Portugal’s Pedro RUFINO was awarded the first ever Table Tennis Star Coach title presented by Butterfly for his outstanding achievements in helping the Portuguese National Team win the 2014 European Team Championships as well as the Portuguese players improvements in the world rankings. In addition to these a special Fair Play Star award was also handed out to LIU Jia (AUT) to award her act of Fair Play during the 2014 ITTF Women’s World Cup. At 11-all in the crucial sixth game her opponent LI Xiaoxia executed a top spin slicing the faintest of edges not seen by the umpire who then awarded the point to LIU to which LIU immediately advised the official that the ball had touched. Full list of ITTF Star Awards winners: Male Table Tennis Star presented by Ping Pong Dubai: Quadri ARUNA (Nigeria) Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku: DING Ning (China) Male Para Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue: Alvaro VALERA (Spain) Female Para Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International: Sandra PAOVIC (Croatia) Table Tennis Star Coach presented by Butterfly: Pedro RUFINO (Portugal) Table Tennis Star Point presented by DHS: Quadri ARUNA (Nigeria) Fair Play Star: LIU Jia (Austria)

The world’s best table tennis players have put away their suits and dresses from the ITTF Star Awards and picked up their rackets for the beginning of the 2015 ITTF World Team Cup starting today in Dubai. The biennial event invites the top 12 teams The world’s best table tennis players have put away their suits and dresses from the ITTF Star Awards and picked up their rackets for the beginning of the 2015 ITTF World Team Cup starting today in Dubai. The biennial event invites the top 12 teams which are made up of six continental teams who qualified as champions of their respective Continental Championships an additional five teams who finished highest positions at the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships plus one team from the host nation United Arab Emirates. Defending champions China are the favorites in both the men’s and women’s to retain the title but world number one XU Xin is wary of the emerging Portuguese team: “Potentially Portugal will be strong ” he said. “Germany had won the European Championships many times but last year Portugal won so this means something has changed.” China’s five-man squad consists of the top four players from the current world rankings making them the front-runners in the event but XU said the favorite’s tag comes with responsibility. “As long as you are playing on behalf of China you are always under pressure ” he said. “We have won many times and could still feel the pressure not only in games but also in our trainings. That makes us try harder to win the title.” Along with Portugal Egypt who made a fairytale run to the semi finals in 2013 will be looking for another strong performance along with Germany and Japan. Newly crowned 2014 ITTF Female Table Tennis Star and world number one DING Ning will lead the Chinese women’s team’s quest for gold. This task will not be easy with Singapore Japan and Romania all vying to cause an upset. The playing system at the World Team Cup is the same as the team event of the Olympic Games. Each team selects three players that plays in two singles matches then doubles followed by reverse singles with the first team to win three games winning the match. The first stage of the competition is a round robin with the 12 teams being split into four groups of three. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout quarter finals.