Baku 2015 European Games has teamed up with Motorola Solutions as the Official Radio Communications Supporter of next year’s historic sporting event. As part of the agreement Motorola Solutions aleading provider of mission-critical communication solutio Baku 2015 European Games has teamed up with Motorola Solutions as the Official Radio Communications Supporter of next year’s historic sporting event. As part of the agreement Motorola Solutions aleading provider of mission-critical communication solutions and services for public safety and commercial customers will deliver digital radio services to Baku 2015 to help ensure the smooth and effective communication and coordination of the event. Mr Simon CLEGG Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015 said: “This is an important agreement which will see Motorola Solutions use their extensive expertise and experience to support Baku 2015. It is vital that we are able to maintain regular high-quality communication between ourselves at Games time and Motorola Solutions will play an important role in ensuring this as together we work towards the successful delivery of the historic first European Games.” Mr Axel RETTIG MSSSI Vice President of Eastern Europe Russia and Central Asia at Motorola Solutions said: “Motorola Solutions has a long history of successfully delivering reliable communication solutions for large international sporting events. We are honoured to become an OfficialSupporter of Baku 2015 and we look forward to working with them over the coming months.” The agreement means Motorola Solutions becomes the fifth Official Supporter of Baku 2015 after McDonald’s Azerbaijan Tickethour Milla and Sitecore. Mr Charlie WIJERATNA Commercial Director of Baku 2015 said: “Adding another great brand name to our roster of Official Partners and Supporters is an important endorsement of the Baku 2015 project. We are very pleased with the development of the commercial programme and have now announced a total of 11 Official Partners and Supporters with more to come in the next few weeks.” Motorola Solutions is a radio solutions supplier to public safety and commercial enterprises around the world with a heritage of over 85 years serving a mission-critical customer base. Customers in over 120 countries trust Motorola Solutions’ expertise in this field. The company has successfully implemented communication solutions at major sporting events including many Olympic Games and major soccer tournaments around the world.
A silver trophy to pass the EC baton
Russia’s city of Yekaterinburg was in the centre of all the table tennis maps last week. Beside elite tournament GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open Yekaterinburg was the place for the meetings at the highest level. Next Eur Russia’s city of Yekaterinburg was in the centre of all the table tennis maps last week. Beside elite tournament GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open Yekaterinburg was the place for the meetings at the highest level. Next European Championships (2015) will be held in that city and once again highest ETTU representatives ETTU President Ronald KRAMER and ETTU Secretary General Richard SCRUTON visited Russia. Always ready to go one step further in the name of the host city Alexander ZAKHAROV presented one innovation. “Alexander ZAKHAROV the leading man behind UMMC in Yekaterinburg has taken the initiative of producing a silver cup with the ETTU logo on it to donate to ETTU. In a meeting with representatives of the Table Tennis Federation of Russia (TTFR) UMMC and ETTU’s President it was decided that this cup will be awarded to the host Association of the European Championships which will hold and display it during the European Championships. At the closing ceremony of the EC the Cup will be presented to the next organising Association” announced President KRAMER. The official presentation of the Cup that honours the organisers of the European Championships took place on Sunday in Yekaterinburg. “Mrs. Yana ZAKHAROVA officially and publicly presented this cup to me and I handed it over to the President of the Board of Trustees of TTFR Mr. Igor LEVITIN. Next year it will pass on to the Hungarian TTA and so on. So each organising Association will have it for one year similar to the Egypt Cup in ITTF. Every year it will be engraved with the country’s name and the year of the Championship. So the first engraving will read: 2015 Russia. It was decided to call this cup the President’s Cup ” explained President KRAMER.
The 2nd ITTF Star Awards will be held in Dubai
The Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards will be held at the Armani Hotel in Dubai on 7 January 2015. The Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards is the second edition of the annual year-ending table tennis awards and it promises to be even more spectacular that the inaugura The Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards will be held at the Armani Hotel in Dubai on 7 January 2015. The Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards is the second edition of the annual year-ending table tennis awards and it promises to be even more spectacular that the inaugural edition in 2014. TheDubai2014 ITTF Star Awards will be held prior to the 2015 ITTF World Team Cup and will recognise and celebrate the stars of table tennis the players and coaches who have made table tennis their passion and career. It will be an evening of glitz and glamour as athletes dress up in their finest to attend. ITTF Marketing Director Steve DAINTON stated: “After a successful inauguration in Dubai of the 2013 Star Awards we are heading back to what will be even bigger and better for the 2014 version. Thanks to the support of Dubai and all sponsors who helped us to grow this concept so that we can recognize the best table tennis players on the globe.” Will OSCROFT Marketing and Communications Director at Falcon and Associates which facilitated the emirate’s sponsorship of Dubai 2014 ITTF Star Awards said: “In addition to Dubai’s support of the Chinese National Table Tennis Team we contribute to the game’s development at grassroots level through community initiative Ping Pong Dubai. Role models are key to this growth inspiring budding youngsters to become the best they can be which is why we are proud to be part of an event celebrating the individuals who have not only lit up table tennis in 2014 but who are also making a tremendous contribution to the future of the sport.” Amongst the returning sponsors are Ping Pong Dubai Nittaku Tinsue and Stag International. The 2014 edition will include two new awards. The Table Tennis Star Coach and the Fair Play Star which is established and funded by the prize money stripped from ZHANG Jike at the LIEBHERR 2014 Men’s World Cup to reward an act of Fair Play in the 2014 season. The seven ITTF Star Awards that will be on offer in Dubai are: Male Table Tennis Star presented by Ping Pong Dubai Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku Para Male Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue Para Female Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International Table Tennis Star Point Table Tennis Star Coach Fair Play Star The nominees for the awards will be announced shortly so make sure you keep an eye onITTFStarAwards.comand not miss out.
Linz calls young players on Easter weekend
15th Austrian Sparkasse Youth Championships 2015 & Linz – Upper – Austria Challenge Trophy will be held on Easter-Weekend (3. – 6. April 2015). It is a tournament for young players. It is open for National Teams Regional Teams and Club Teams. T 15th Austrian Sparkasse Youth Championships 2015 & Linz – Upper – Austria Challenge Trophy will be held on Easter-Weekend (3. – 6. April 2015). It is a tournament for young players. It is open for National Teams Regional Teams and Club Teams. The game system with the combination of Championships and Challenge Trophy gives equal opportunity for top players as well as some weaker. In the Team Event all positions will be played. “We expect many participants from all parts of Europe as well as from other continents. Please send your application as soon as possible the only way we can guarantee the desired hotel accommodation. We look forward to receiving your application – but still one request: Give them Invitation to friendly clubs and associations continue ” said Günther RENNER Tournament Manager. More information here: General Information Registration form or: www.froschberg.at or Franz OBERMAYER E-Mail: youth.championships@froschberg.at
NIWA breaks DRINKHALL’s dream
GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open at Ekaterinburg final showdown sawthe best 2011 world`s junior defeating the best 2008 European junior in Men`s Singles ultimate round: Koki NIWA (Japan) – Paul DRINKHALL (Englalnd) 4:1 (12: GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open at Ekaterinburg final showdown sawthe best 2011 world`s junior defeating the best 2008 European junior in Men`s Singles ultimate round: Koki NIWA (Japan) – Paul DRINKHALL (Englalnd) 4:1 (12:14 11:8 11:5 11:7 11:7). In the semis the Englishman who won 2014 Pro Tour in Almeria beat actual individual champion of Old Continent and no. 1 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in seven games while NIWA defeated his compatriot and no. 2 seed Jun MIZUTANI in straight games. In all-Japanese final of Women`s Singles event Kasumi ISHIKAWA was better than Ai FUKUHARA after exciting seven games (last one 15:13). FUKUHARA beat SHAN Xiaona in six sets of the semis and it was the last representative of Europe. German women previously eliminated three Japanese players in a row. Men`s Doubles champions are TANG Peng and WONG Chun Ting from Hong Kong. They surpassed in the final host pair Fedor KUZMIN and Grigory VLASOV. Russians won opening set but top seeds took next three. One more final was reserved for Japanese players. Sayaka HIRANO and Kasumi ISHIKAWA overcame Miyu MAEDA and Hitomi SATO in Women`s Doubles event.
OVTCHAROV vs DRINKHALL for the final
Two European players will meet tomorrow in the semi-final of GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open at Ekaterinburg: no. 1 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) and Paul DRINKHALL (England). The winner is going to fight with one Japa Two European players will meet tomorrow in the semi-final of GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open at Ekaterinburg: no. 1 seed Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Germany) and Paul DRINKHALL (England). The winner is going to fight with one Japanese representative either no. 2 seed Jun MIZUTANI or Koki NIWA. German defeated Kenta MATSUDAIRA from Japan in five games while Englishman showed impressive comeback against Portuguese Marcos FREITAS who easily won first two sets but lost next four: DRINKHALL – FREITAS 4:2 (3:11 4:11 13:11 11:7 14:12 12:10). Three players from Japan and SHAN Xiaona (Germany) reached semi-final of Women`s Singles event: Kasumi ISHIKAWA – Hina HAYATA SHAN Xiaona – Ai FUKUHARA. It could say that Japanese representatives are destiny for German woman in Eketarinburg bearing in mind that SHAN all her games played against opponents from that country: Round of 32 – Miyu MAEDA (4:0) Round of 16 – Miyu KATO (4:2) quarter-final – Yui HAMAMOTO (4:1). Men`s Doubles final will be held tomorrow as Russians Fedor KUZMIN and Grigory VLASOV will try to surprise top seeded pair from Hong Kong TANG Peng and WONG Chun Ting. Host players beat Kenta MATSUDAIRA and Koki NIWA in straight games of the semis. The best European pair in Women`s Doubles event are Katrzyna GRZYBOWSKA and Natalia PARTYKA from Poland. They played narrow semi-final clash against Japanese Miyu MAEDA and Hitomi SATO but lost after five games.
Russian Open: golden Portuguese trio in best 16
European team`s champions Marcos FREITAS Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO won their games Men`s Singles event in opening day on 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open at Ekaterinburg. The biggest disappointment for the host fans came from European team`s champions Marcos FREITAS Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO won their games Men`s Singles event in opening day on 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open at Ekaterinburg. The biggest disappointment for the host fans came from last year`s runner up Alexander SHIBAEV who was beaten in his very first encounter. Top seed in Men`s Singles event Dimitrij OVTCHAROV beat host Aleksei ARTEMKIN in straight games of Round of 64 and after that defeated young Frenchman Simon GAUZY in six games. Tomorrow in Round of 16 he will meet Grigory VLASOV unique Russian who survived after first two rounds. VLASOV was better than Japanese Mizuki OIKAWA and his compatriot Kirill SKACHKOV twice in six sets. Five more Europeans will continue their path tomorrow in singles event two Englishmen Paul DRINKHAL and Liam PITCHFORD and golden Portuguese trio Marcos FREITAS Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO who won recent 2014 TMS European Teams Championships in Lisbon. In the Round of 16 the biggest task will have MONTEIRO who plays against no. 2 seed Japanese Jun MIZUTANI. Last season`s runner up Alexander SHIBAEV was beaten by young Japanese Kenta TAZOVE in six games of opening round. Six representatives of Old Continent reached Round of 16 in Women`s Singles event: Kristin SILBEREISEN Carole GRUNDISCH Polina MIKHAILOVA SHAN Xiona Yana NOSKOVA and Petrissa SOLJA. Due to defeats of Irene IVANCAN and WU Jiaduo it was not perfect day for Germans. Two Russian and two French pairs progressed in Men`s Doubles quarter final. Host country will surely have one representative in the semis because Grigory VLASOV and Fedor KUZMIN will play against Alexey LIVENTSOV and Mikhail PAIKOV. Top seeded women`s pair SHAN Xiaona and Petrissa SOLJA were eliminated in opening round by Miyu MAEDA and Hitomi SATO. Japanese players will meet host Maria DOLGIKH and Polina MIKHAILOVA. Irene IVANCAN and Kristin SILBEREISEN (Germany) are playing today against Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA and Natalia PARTYKA (Poland).
Bundesliga works for a new record
Hamburg`s O2 World Arena could be the witness of new Bundesliga`s record next February when Borussia Dusseldorf will host Fulda Maberzell in the remake of 2013/14 national league final. Organizers of this event are hoping that these two clubs will attrac Hamburg`s O2 World Arena could be the witness of new Bundesliga`s record next February when Borussia Dusseldorf will host Fulda Maberzell in the remake of 2013/14 national league final. Organizers of this event are hoping that these two clubs will attract over 4 500 people which is the highest attendance in Bundesliga since 2007 clash between Dusseldorf`s side and TTC Frickenhausen. Defending champion Borussia usually plays his game at ARAG Centre Court in Dusseldorf but this time Timo BOLL & Company will compete in the place where Hamburg Freezers (Ice Hockey) and HSV Hamburg (handball) host their opponents. Battle with Fulda will be held on February 27th (20h00 CET) gathering five actual or former German national team members: Timo BOLL Patrick FRANZISKA (Borussia) Patrick BAUM Christian SUSS and Ruwen FILUS. BAUM and SUSS reached several major trophies playing in Borussia`s line-up alongside BOLL including three Men`s European Champions League titles in a row. Alexander Otto Sport Foundation prepares one more unique event in the same package with Bundesliga game. On same day 500 children disabled and non-disabled will have an opportunity to meet sport stars. Actually it was the main reason why Borussia is invited to play in Hamburg: to inspire youth to enjoy in table tennis.
Day of joy for host supporters in Ekaterinburg
Most of the Russia’s representatives required to play qualifications at GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open took full advantage of playing on home soil. After two days of matches in opening stage ten host nation players booke Most of the Russia’s representatives required to play qualifications at GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Airports of Regions Russian Open took full advantage of playing on home soil. After two days of matches in opening stage ten host nation players booked their places in the main draw of the Men’s Singles Event. In Group one Mikhail PAIKOV secured leading place with two victories. On the same winning tracks were Vasily LAKEEV Fedor KUZMIN Viacheslav BUROV Andre BAIBULDIN. From position no. two more players joined them Aleksei ARTEMKIN Alexander MAKAROV Viatcheslav KRIVOSHEEV Vildan GADIEV and Vitalii MURZIN. A first appearance on the ITTF World Tour; not only for the player but surely for the country as well Uzbekistan’s Elmurod HOLIKOV made the best possible start to his new found career. In his opening match he beat the host nation’s Ilya BEREZIN in six games. In the qualification stages of the Women’s singles event the highest ranked player on duty in the opening stage Poland’s Natalia PARTYKA secured the place in the main draw after two straight games wins. On the same way were Kristin SILBEREISEN of Germany Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA of Poland and Yana NOSKOVA of Russia.
ZHANG Jike’s prize money goes to Fair Play Award
The prize money that was withheld from the winner ZHANG Jike (CHN) at the LIEBHERR 2014 Men’s World Cup for kicking sponsorship surrounds will go towards promoting fair play in table tennis. ZHANG Jike was deprived of his $45 000 prize money for kic The prize money that was withheld from the winner ZHANG Jike (CHN) at the LIEBHERR 2014 Men’s World Cup for kicking sponsorship surrounds will go towards promoting fair play in table tennis. ZHANG Jike was deprived of his $45 000 prize money for kicking two sponsorship surrounds part of the playing equipment during his celebration after defeating compatriot MA Long 4-3 to secure his second Men’s World Cup crown in Dusseldorf Germany. The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Executive Committee proposes that the fine will go towards funding an annual Fair Play award to reward players for their good will on and off the table tennis court. ITTF President Thomas WEIKERT stated: “The ITTF encourages all players to show strong emotions when playing table tennis. Unfortunately ZHANG Jike showed destructive and negative emotion after his Men’s World Cup victory which left the competition jury no option but to fine him or to disqualify him which would have had the consequence not only losing the prize money but also the title and the ranking points. We are glad that we kept his title as it was a brilliant performance by the Olympic champion. It is good that the ITTF to be able to reinvest the money that ZHANG Jike was fined into rewarding fair play amongst our players with an annual Fair Play award.” The man sanctioned ZHANG Jike was also pleased that his prize money was going to a good cause: “I am happy that the money will be offered to a Fair Play award. This will give a good example to the younger players.” The details for the Fair Play award is still being discussed but an announcement is due shortly.
