The conclusion of the Groups stages in Women’s Teams Event at the TMS European Championships in Lisbon was very dramatic. In two groups the three teams were equal in terms of wins. In Group D Czech Republic Belarus and Sweden all three concluded the fi The conclusion of the Groups stages in Women’s Teams Event at the TMS European Championships in Lisbon was very dramatic. In two groups the three teams were equal in terms of wins. In Group D Czech Republic Belarus and Sweden all three concluded the first phase with two wins each. However at the end Sweden had better ratio better in individual matches 5:4 Belarus was second 4:4 and Czech Republic after thrilling five matches duel against Belarus lost their position for quarters. They beat Ukraine 3:2 but it was not enough for place among best eight. However Sweden was in charge for the greatest upset. They are first and they did it in great style. Today Sweden beat Belarus in four matches. LI Fen and Matilda EKHOLM were the driving force behind the success. “Even for me was the big surprise to beat Viktoria PAVLOVICH. No one could expect 3:0 victory ” admitted EKHOLM.”I moved very well and I was patient. That is something I learned in the Werner SCHLAGER Academy. I have a chance now to play against the players with the defensive style so I gained experience that helped me. I learned to wait for the right ball for the right moment before I attack.” In Group C in last round Hungary overcame Luxembourg 3:1 to secure the leading position. Netherlands concluded with the same points as well as Russia and at the end games ratio was decisive thing. Georgina POTA lost against LI Xia Lian before she beat Sarah DE NUTTE in the fourth match. “It was very important game for us. Our goal was to reach the quarterfinal and now we are happy we did it ” said POTA. ”Last time I played against Sarah I won but was down in the final game so I know how dangerous she can play.” Dutch team also needed four matches to seal their path to quarters. LI Jie won both her matches against Polina MIKHAYLOVA and Maria DOLGIKH. Top seeds Germany is safely through after three wins in their Group followed by Austria. “We are on the right track. Even without HAN today we won. I lost against HU Melek very close game but the most important thing is that we won the match at the end ” said Sabine WINTER who overcame Ipek KARAHAN in the fourth match .In Group B Poland is at the top with Romania at the second position. Poland beat Spain whilst Romania succeeded against Portugal. Like Germany Poland is unbeaten in three rounds. “We are second now in the Group but we regained our confidence. Today I was focused 100 percent in the match. I am extremely happy because I beat FU Yu. For a first time I played against her and I was worried at the beginning ” said Elizabeta SAMARA.

Defending champions team of Germany recorded straight match victory against France in the Women’s Teams Event on the opening day of the competition at the 2014 TMS European Team Championships in Lisbon. They recorded another victory against Austria in s Defending champions team of Germany recorded straight match victory against France in the Women’s Teams Event on the opening day of the competition at the 2014 TMS European Team Championships in Lisbon. They recorded another victory against Austria in second round but for sure it was Poland who stole the headlines for today. They overcame Portugal and Romania. Petrissa SOLJA admitted she was nervous at the beginning.” It is always like that with first match. Especially it is hard for us since we are here to defend our title. The pressure affected my game but I found the rhythm to win eventually. I made some easy mistakes at the beginning before I succeeded against Laura GASNIER. In the full distance encounter that lasted 43 minutes SHAN Xiaona was under severe pressure against Carole GRUNDISCH but after the opening victory Germany was in the driving seats. HAN Ying recorded straight games win against LI Xue. Host nation stretched Poland to full distance with the dream start given by FU Yu. FU overcame Katarzyna GRZYBOWSKA and she also succeeded against Natalia PARTYKA but Poland proved as better team. PARTYKA GRZYBOWSKA and LI Qian all scored at the end of the match. “It is difficult to play against hosts especially at the beginning of the tournament. They have very good team so they put us under pressure. At the end only small things decided the winner. In our case the fact that we have three equally strong players gave us advantage “ explained coach Michal DZIUBANSKI. Coach said Poland is in Lisbon to make as much surprises as possible. “We have our goal and our dream. So far I can only tell we are here to make some upsets. Still I cannot make any promises. There are 10 – 12 teams here with great chances to reach the medal rostrum. Certainly we will look for our chances for success.” And they continued in the same rhythm. Poland beat Romania in straight matches in second round. The last team to conclude the round one in Championships division was Hungary. They overcame Netherlands in thrilling encounter. Georgina POTA was the driving force of the team. She overcame Britt EERLAND and LI Jie in decisive match. It was 16:14 in fifth game for Hungarian player. “I can not feel my arm after this. I had to be very patient against LI. I have to build the point wait for right moment and only when I am safe I can try to score. Otherwise I have to go all over again. It was very close game with 50/50 chances for success. At some point LI “read” my tactics so I had to change it. I had to play less aggressive and to wait..” explained Georgina POTA. In the second round Netherlands beat Luxembourg the team that already suffered against Russia. Portugal beat Spain to return into the game for top two spots in the Group.  

Tomorrow on Thursday MEO Arena will be the venue for the ETTU Women in table tennis Forum. Hosted  by Ronald KRAMER ETTU President and Beatrice ROMANESCU Women’s Co-ordinator in ETTU the meeting will start at 9 am in Press Conference room. “Everybody Tomorrow on Thursday MEO Arena will be the venue for the ETTU Women in table tennis Forum. Hosted  by Ronald KRAMER ETTU President and Beatrice ROMANESCU Women’s Co-ordinator in ETTU the meeting will start at 9 am in Press Conference room. “Everybody is welcome. It is going to be open meeting and I am expecting the subject will rise a big discussion. We are looking forward all kind of suggestions because we are searching for the best action plan in order to improve women sport. We need to find the way to open women sport to media and to attract the sponsor” said ROMANESCU.

Spain was in the charge for the biggest upset at the Men’s Teams Event at the 2014 TMS European Championships in Lisbon. Seeded at the position no. three in their Group Spain beat silver medalists from the last European championships Greece. The best ch Spain was in the charge for the biggest upset at the Men’s Teams Event at the 2014 TMS European Championships in Lisbon. Seeded at the position no. three in their Group Spain beat silver medalists from the last European championships Greece. The best chance they had was to overcome their adversaries in three matches and they took it in great style. The opportunity occurred when Carlos MACHADO beat Kalinikos KREANGA. Greek star had 8:3 in decisive game but he failed to convert his lead into victory. “Then everything went our way ” explained Jesus CANTERO.”HE ZHI Wen never lost against Panagiotis GIONIS and Marc DURAN had good chance against Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIOU. We could not let KREANGA play against HE and MACHADO never beat GIONIS so after MACHADO overcame Kalinikos we saw our opportunity. “ It was big blow for the Greek team which made the outcome in the Group completely open. France was forced to go three full distance matches against Slovakia as a great overture for the very interesting second day of the competition. Simon GAUZY beat Lubomir PISTEJ Adrien MATTENET overcame Peter SEREDA and Emmnauel LEBESSON succeeded against BAI HE. “Each game was very close but we expected it. Maybe not by rankings but for sure by their game Slovakia’s players are very dangerous. They put us under pressure; we had to play for each ball to reduce mistakes…” said MATTENET. Tomorrow France will meet Greece. “Like we did it at each big tournament in past few years. Last time we played against each other for the place in best 16 in Tokyo at the World Championships in 2011 and at the European Championships they beat us in the match for quarterfinal. Definitely we know it is going to be hard match.” In Group A titleholder Germany with Timo BOLL but without players on position no. one and three Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Patrick BAUM beat Austria. Austria’s Robert GARDOS shined tonight but his skills were insufficient for bigger upset. “GARDOS is a good player but we still have a better team ” stated Coach Jorg ROSSKOPF. GARDOS beat Patrick FRANZISKA and even forced BOLL to stay for 4 games in the fourth match. “We are missing our players but the one we have here are good enough to keep us on winning tracks with the same goals as we had few days ago.” Dimitrij OVTCHAROV will come late night tomorrow so he will not be in the line up for the matches against Hungary and Portugal. “Even after group stages he will be here just as a substitute. It will be hard to put him into fire for quarters or semis especially after he was without the training for a whole week. He had surgery and his not ready for such big event.” Host nation succeeded against Hungary in straight matches. Marcos FREITAS Tiago APOLONIA and Joao MONTEIRO gave home crowd good reason to leave the hall happy. “Thank them for great support. We have good team we had good results in past few years and this is the crown of our recent success. With such wonderful crowd I hope we will reach the medal here ” said APOLONIA. Belarus beat Italy led by extraordinary Vladimir SAMSONOV whilst Russia beat Romania. “CRISAN played very good today but Romania needed more to beat us. It was not enough ” said Alexander SHIBAEV.

Year ago Germany clinched both titles in the team’s Event in Austria’s Schwechat at the European Championships. In the Women’s Teams Event Romania lost their encounter in the ultimate stage for a third time in the row and in three previous occasions they Year ago Germany clinched both titles in the team’s Event in Austria’s Schwechat at the European Championships. In the Women’s Teams Event Romania lost their encounter in the ultimate stage for a third time in the row and in three previous occasions they never have been closer. Before the start of this year’s TMS European Championships in Lisbon Elizabeta SAMARA radiate with optimism. “We are ready for this European Championships. We are all in good shape. Team is well prepared for this event and I can say we are very excited. We had preparations in Romania in our center in Buzau for a week and we had time to correct all what was missing ” stated SAMARA. Beside European’s no. 3 player in Romania’s team are also Daniela DODEAN MONTEIRO Bernedatte SZOCS Camelia POSTOACA and Irina CIOBANU. In the first stage of the Event they will face Poland Spain and Portugal. “Every European Championships is difficult no matter who is your opponent. YU Fu is playing for Portugal team she is very dangerous player. Not to mention they are hosts. Poland is also tough adversary to beat Spain… I cannot say anything yet we will see there. We are waiting for the matches!” Of course the team’s expectation goes beyond group stages. “We are aiming for medal for sure. Many years before we were so close to get gold! And we hope this year is our year! Beside us Germany Nederlands are the biggest favorites but we will fight! And we must not forget Hungary and Belarus. All in all it is going to be very interesting Championships.”

Tiago APOLONIA was unable to be with his teammates on the final preparations for the forthcoming TMS European Team Championships in Lisbon due his yesterdays’ Bundesliga match Borussia Düsseldorf vs. FC Saarbrücken. FC Saarbrücken eventually suffered the Tiago APOLONIA was unable to be with his teammates on the final preparations for the forthcoming TMS European Team Championships in Lisbon due his yesterdays’ Bundesliga match Borussia Düsseldorf vs. FC Saarbrücken. FC Saarbrücken eventually suffered the defeat but APOLONIA was not in line up. Today he was on his way to Lisbon to join his team. “I could not have the preparation together with my team because I had a Bundesliga game ” stated APOLONIA. “I am in a good shape. So far it has been a really good start of the season for me.” Portugal is in the group with the title holders Germany Austria and Hungary. “Our group is really strong. In my opinion the strongest group in the European Championships. Having Germany in same Group is tough challenge. Austria and Hungary both are really good teams. It will not be easy.” But Portugal has one advantage this time – they will play at home soil. “To play at home is good. It will be very nice to share good moments with all our families friends and fans! Table tennis in Portugal is getting bigger and bigger and will be good to see lot of people supporting us.” The real beauty will be the duel against Germany. “It is going to be good match but our first game is against Hungary therefore my focus is at the moment just on that game. It is important to start good the tournament.” In the team will be APOLONIA Marcos FREITAS Joao GERALDO and Diogo CHEN. FREITAS and APLONIA are currently listed at positions no. 4 and no. 7 in Europe and both are among top 20 at the World Rankings. It seams like perfect timing to have European championships in Portugal. “Yes! And also because as I said before the table tennis in Portugal is getting bigger and bigger. I am sure we will have huge support in the hall. A lot of people is following and supporting us.” APOLONIA is happy with his current shape. “The Bundesliga started long time ago and I am already in good form. It is the strongest most professional and competitive league in Europe.”    

One blow follows another for a German team in the ultimate moments before the start of the Championships in Portugal. Patrick BAUM has to withdraw from the TMS European Championships because of the sudden death of his father. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV is still One blow follows another for a German team in the ultimate moments before the start of the Championships in Portugal. Patrick BAUM has to withdraw from the TMS European Championships because of the sudden death of his father. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV is still in Germany and did not fly with the rest of the team this afternoon. Dima might follow later. He had all 4 wisdom teeth removed last week and the sutures have to be removed. So currently it’s only 3 of them: Timo BOLL Patrick FRANZISKA and Steffen MENGEL. Because of the new EC regulations a late registration is not possible. Men’s head coach Jörg ROSSKOPF said: “Even without our numbers 1 and 3 we will try and defend the title because we still have a good team with BOLL FRANZISKA and MENGEL. But we have a tough group and no substitute. For my players the situation has completely changed. It will not be easy to cope with that”. German ladies’ team is complete but will arrive later this evening with a huge delay. Their plane from Düsseldorf could not start on time this afternoon.