Germany the leading name in both the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events at the forthcoming TMS European Championships in Lisbon will have very tough job from the very beginning of the Championships. In both disciplines they are the top seeds but of cour Germany the leading name in both the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events at the forthcoming TMS European Championships in Lisbon will have very tough job from the very beginning of the Championships. In both disciplines they are the top seeds but of course eyes are focused very much on the host nation Portugal. That is why the Group A will be under spotlight from September 24th. Germany will meet host nation Portugal in the opening stage of the Men’s Event. That is the outcome of the draw held today in Lisbon with the help of Ricardo ROBERTO first Portuguese player ever to win medal at European Youth Championships. In Group A top seed last year’s winner Germany will play against Portugal Austria and Hungary. Last year in Schwechat Portugal was 7th Austria 9th whilst Hungary was 4th in Challenge division – 16th overall. In Group B Greece the team that won first ever Team’s medal at European championships last year will have to repeat great performance in Portugal in order to beat France Spain and Slovakia. Last October backspin player with a lethal forehand top spin Panagiotis GIONIS led Greece to a sensational silver medal in the Men’s Team event at the Liebherr European Championships. In Group C bronze medal winners from Austria Belarus will need the fantastic skills of Vladimir SAMSONOV to face a great challenge from Sweden Italy and Poland. In Group D Russia will play against Croatia Romania and Czech Republic. In Men’s Challenge Division in Group E are: Ukraine Lithuania Denmark Latvia. Group F consist of: Slovenia Switzerland Bulgaria and Ireland. Group G: England Turkey Luxembourg and Finland. H: Serbia Belgium Estonia Norway. There are two Groups in Men’s Standard Division. In I will play: Israel Wales Azerbaijan Iceland and Malta. In Group J are: Netherlands Montenegro Cyprus Scotland and San Marino. In Women’s Championships Division top seeded team of Germany will meet Austria France and Turkey in the first phase. Silver medalists from Austria team of Romania will play against Poland Spain and Portugal. The duel between Spain and Portugal will certainly add extra suspense in this group. Russia the bronze medal winner will meet Hungary Luxembourg and Netherlands in Group C. In Group D another bronze medalist Czech Republic will play against Belarus Sweden and Ukraine. In Challenge Division in Group E are: England Wales Lithuania and Azerbaijan. F: Croatia Denmark Greece Scotland. G: Serbia Slovenia Switzerland Finland. H: Slovakia Italy Bulgaria Norway. In Women’s Standard Division are: Israel Belgium Montenegro Kosovo and Malta. At the TMS European Championships the final results and placements for each team will be used as qualifications for 2015 European Games which will be held in Baku (Azerbaijan). Top 14 teams from Championship division will be directly qualified together with the winner of Challenge division and host – Azerbaijan Table Tennis Association. All qualified Associations must have respective NOC´s confirmation for participation before and NOT later than March 1st 2015. Click here to read/download the official draw
China partnership takes gold in Nanjing
Top seeds and favourites for gold the Chinese partnership of FAN Zhendong and LIU Gaoyang won the Team event at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games .On the evening of Saturday 23rd August in the Wutaishan Gymasium they beat the second seeded Japanese p Top seeds and favourites for gold the Chinese partnership of FAN Zhendong and LIU Gaoyang won the Team event at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games .On the evening of Saturday 23rd August in the Wutaishan Gymasium they beat the second seeded Japanese pairing of Yuto MURAMATSU and Miyu KATO by two matches to nil. Thus it was mission accomplished. FAN Zhendong and LIU Gaoyang added the Team title to the respective Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles crowns donned three days earlier. Furthermore never at any stage did they lose a single match. At the final hurdle Liu GAOYANG bear Miyu KATO (11-3 11-9 11-9); FAN Zhendong overcame YUTO Muramatsu (10-12 14-12 11-5 11-5). “I’m pleased with my performance today; this morning I played positively from my backhand and I maintained that policy in the final” said LIU Gaoyang. “I felt confident before the match I wasn’t nervous and now I’m really happy I’ve achieved my goals.” Success for Liu Gaoyang was followed with success for FAN Zhendong but it was hard fought success; the crowd willed their hero to victory. Yuto MURAMATSU won the first game; then led 7-5 in the second. YAN Sen the Chinese National Team coach sitting courtside called “Time Out” but at 10-7 FAN Zhendong faced three game points. History shows that FAN Zhendong proceeded to save those two crucial points and then took control. It was a pressure situation; great credit must go to FAN Zhendong for the way he controlled his emotions; there was no hint of panic. Two silver medals for Yuto MURAMATSU; for Miyu KATO it was a happy ending to the tournament. Three days previously she had left the arena distraught on the concluding day she left full of smiles; she owned a precious gold medal. However nothing could detract from the superb performance afforded by FAN Zhendong and LIU Gaoyang; they were a class apart.
Asian teams in quest for gold in Nanjing
In the semi final of the 2014 Second Youth Olympic Games China will meet Thailand whilst Hong Kong will play against Japan. Sweden’s Elias RANEFUR and Israel’s Nicole TROSMAN concluded the group stage of proceedings in the Team event at the Nanjing 2014 In the semi final of the 2014 Second Youth Olympic Games China will meet Thailand whilst Hong Kong will play against Japan. Sweden’s Elias RANEFUR and Israel’s Nicole TROSMAN concluded the group stage of proceedings in the Team event at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games at position no. two but they upset the order merit as matters commenced in the morning of Friday. The no.13 seeds named Europe 2; one day earlier they had won the crucial doubles contest against the United States pairing of Krishnateja AVVARI and Lily ZHANG to secure their place in the main draw. Today Europe 2 beat the Latin America 1 partnership of Brazil’s Hugo CALDERANO and Uruguay’s Maria Pia LORENZOTTI the no.5 seeds in the first round to book their place in the last eight. Unfortunately they lost their quarterfinal match against Japan. Earlier Japan the no.2 seeds overcame France the no.9 seeds. Miyu KATO beat Audrey ZARIF before Yuto MURAMATSU ended matters by accounting for Can AKKUZU. In Round of 16 Hong Kong the no.3 seed recorded a two matches to nil success against Poland the no.14 seeds. Doo Hoi KEM beat Natalia BAJOR HUNG Ka Tak defeated Patryk ZATOWKA. In quarters they overcame Croatia. One round earlier Croatian duo of Tomislav PUCAR and Lea RAKOVAC the no.6 seeds beat the partnership of Portugal’s Diogo CHEN and Romania’s Adina DIACONU; the no.8 seeds. Thailand combination of Padasak TANVIRIYAVECHAKUL and Tamolwan KHETKHUAN the no.12 seeds had remained unbeaten in their group finishing ahead of the Croatian partnership formed by Tomislav PUCAR and Lea RAKOVAC the no.6 seeds. In the opening round they caused Europe more pain; they recorded a two-one victory against the German duo of Kilian ORT and WAN Yuan the no.11 seeds. Chinese Taipei pairing of YANG Heng-Wei and CHIU Ssu-Hua the no.4 seeds beat Belgium the no.8 seeds with Lisa LUNG and Martin ALLEGRO to secure a two-nil win. A convincing win; it was the same for Korea against the Czech Republic the no.10 seeds. PARK Seri beat Kristyna STEFCOVA with KIM Mihhyeok accounting for David REITSPIES.
Challenge Jean-Michel SAIVE and “Beat the Best”
myTischtennis.de and STIGA are going to present an unusual event called “Beat The Best”. In this competition one player gets the opportunity to challenge Jean-Michel SAIVE in quite unusual games that have something to do with table tennis. Jea myTischtennis.de and STIGA are going to present an unusual event called “Beat The Best”. In this competition one player gets the opportunity to challenge Jean-Michel SAIVE in quite unusual games that have something to do with table tennis. Jean-Michel SAIVE is a great fighter humorous entertainer and a living legend: For three decades now Jean-Michel has been enhancing the table tennis scene and he still wants more. The 44-year-old Belgian inexhaustibly competes in international tournaments and has won the Belgian championships 25 times since 1985. So it’s not surprising that the former leader of the world ranking is anything but afraid of a more unusual competition: Jean-Michael SAIVE is prepared to compete against one myTischtennis user – and that in an exceptional way. The myTischtennis desk together with their partner STIGA is looking for courageous players who always wanted to take on an absolute superstar. In ‘Beat The Best’ the candidate will of course not compete with Jean-Michel SAIVE in table tennis itself but in games which have something to do with table tennis the bat or the ball. Whether it is target shooting with a table tennis ball round the table ‘against oneself’ or to be questioned about former world champions – the chance to win depends on how multi-talented someone is. The points one can reach increase by each game so that the players can change tack even later on. If the myTischtennis candidate wins he will rejoice at a complete STIGA gear – and of course the honor to have beaten an idol. You want to take it up with Jean-Michel SAIVE? Take your chance and apply by the 30th September via beat-the-best@mytischtennis.de! In which form you apply is up to you. No matter if it’s a video or a text accentuated by photos – the more comprehensive your application is the greater are your chances to be selected by the myTischtennis users to be the one who will compete against Jean-Michel SAIVE. Show us why you are able to beat Jean-Michel SAIVE!
Orenburg aims to return on top
After five European finals in last five seasons and three titles (ETTU Cup 2010 MECL 2012 and 2013) on its account Fakel Gazproma Orenburg doesn’t need to say what its goal is going to be in the next edition which starts on September 5th. They didn`t r After five European finals in last five seasons and three titles (ETTU Cup 2010 MECL 2012 and 2013) on its account Fakel Gazproma Orenburg doesn’t need to say what its goal is going to be in the next edition which starts on September 5th. They didn`t reached their aim in previous season being unexpectedly defeated by French AS Pontoise Cergy and that is the reason why they are now so motivated. Everyone in the club believes that the same victorious trio Vladimir SAMSONOV Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Alexey SMIRNOV is able to provide third MECL title to Orenburg. As no. 1 seed and main candidate for the crown Russian team is again posted in Group A this time alongside reigning champion AS Pontoise Cergy (France no. 6 seed) newcomer Olimpia-Unia Grudziadz (Poland 12) and Roskilde Bordtennis BTK61 (Denmark 13) which returns on the main European club`s stage. Two out of four teams from each of four groups will reach quarter final whilst third placed will continue in ETTU Cup. “I think it’s positive that there will be a normal number of participants in this season – 16 teams. It means each team will play the same number of matches at the group stage – Valeriy SALABAEV head coach of Fakel Gazproma said -. Two teams represent Poland in the competition and it shows the rise of table tennis in this country. We’ll have to compete with the reigning winner – French AS Pontoise Cergy TT the team we lost the final match against”. Orenburg`s Vice-President Victor ANDREEV chief coach of Fakel Gazproma stressed that his side has the hardest possible company in the first stage: “Our group is the strongest according to the draw. The staff to the Polish club is impressive; it’s represented by Japanese a naturalized Chinese and a Taiwanese players. World superstar Michael MAZE is the leader of the Danish club. The French club kept the same champion staff. We expect to have a very tense fight for the two places to reach the play-off. We are aimed at winning in our group and coming out on top”. Orenburg is full of experience and trophies even in the individual competition. They have actual European champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Dimitrij OVTCHAROV three times single`s gold medalist from ECH and 1997 World`s vice-champion Vladimir SAMSONOV and former Euro Top 12 winner Alexey SMIRNOV. All they gained more than 20 MECL titles in total from deferent clubs.
FAN Zhendong moves closer to goal
World number three FAN Zhendong (CHN) is halfway to achieving his goal of winning consecutive Youth Olympic and Olympic golds after becoming the men’s Youth Olympic Games singles champion today in Nanjing China. The senior world number three teen World number three FAN Zhendong (CHN) is halfway to achieving his goal of winning consecutive Youth Olympic and Olympic golds after becoming the men’s Youth Olympic Games singles champion today in Nanjing China. The senior world number three teenage sensation beat Yuto MURAMATSU (JPN) who was the only defender in the competition 11-8 9-11 9-11 11-8 11-5 11-4 to become the second Youth Olympic Champion. FAN who is already an ITTF World Team Champion stated after the match: “This was an amazing victory for me. I am extremely proud. I now need to work very hard to achieve my goal of Rio 2016 gold. This would be a dream come true to be the first ever player to have both Youth Olympic and Olympic gold medals and I think I can do it! The Youth Olympic Games have been a once in a lifetime experience. I have really enjoyed it. I am very lucky to be here.” It was double gold for China as LIU Gaoyang clinched the women’s title by defeating the number one seed DOO Hoi Kem (HKG) 11-6 11-5 6-11 11-1 11-3 in front of a crowd in excess of 4 000. LIU who won silver at last years ITTF World Junior Championship stated: “I’ve been under a lot of pressure here in Nanjing and winning today is more a sense of relief than anything else. I was very proud standing up on the podium singing the Chinese National anthem. It is a real boost to my career.” There was history made in both the men’s and women’s bronze medal play offs with Latin America and North America winning their first ever table tennis Olympic medals which portrays the global strength of Table Tennis. Brazil’s Hugo CALDERANO defeated YANG Heng-Wei (TPE) 11-9 11-8 11-9 9-11 9-11 12-10 to win the men’s bronze to confirm rise of the Latin American continent. The 18-year-old from Rio de Janiro stated: “I am so happy it was a very hard match. I can’t explain how emotional and proud I am to win the first ever table tennis Olympic medal for Latin America. I hope my successful can help push table tennis in the continent even further.” United States Lily ZHANG was equally excited about her 10-12 11-9 12-10 9-11 11-9 11-8 victory over KATO Miyu (JPN) to win the groundbreaking bronze medal: “I wanted this medal so much not just for me but for my country. I had to keep myself calm before the match and try not to think about it too much. I was even more determined to win the medal as my roommate came home last night with a silver. I feel like I am floating I am that ecstatic.” Focus now turns to the mixed teams event which consists of one boy and one girl who have qualified for the singles event. Teams can be composed of players from different NOCs where only boy or girl qualified in singles. The mixed teams gold medal match will be played on Saturday 23 August 2014.
Media accreditation form for ETC in Lisbon
The media representatives who want to attend the forthcoming TMS European Teams Championships that will be held from 24th to 28th September can use the accreditation form posted here . The official draw for the TMS European Teams Championships is schedule The media representatives who want to attend the forthcoming TMS European Teams Championships that will be held from 24th to 28th September can use the accreditation form posted here . The official draw for the TMS European Teams Championships is scheduled for August 24th in Lisbon (11 CET – 10 GMT).
H.W. GÄB how to lose and win in modesty
A long and distinguished career which started in the years when Europe was recovering from the ravages of World War Two the name of Hans Wilhelm GÄB is synonymous with table tennis in Germany especially with the renowned Düsseldorf Club the city of his A long and distinguished career which started in the years when Europe was recovering from the ravages of World War Two the name of Hans Wilhelm GÄB is synonymous with table tennis in Germany especially with the renowned Düsseldorf Club the city of his birth. Winner of national titles a player of international stature he combined sport with a successful career in the car industry. Over the years he has gained the deserved respect of all; one of the major reasons being his strong belief in fair play a quality which he has passed on to the modern generation. “Learn to lose and win in modesty” is the motto of Hans Wilhelm GÄB; he speaks to Sheri CIOROSLAN in her Countdown Series to mark the concluding 100 days of the Adham SHARARA presidency. Day 13 August 19 Germany’s Hans Wilhelm GÄB Provided ITTF the Model for TMS “Our game has to become even more understandable and visible for regular sport fans.” – How did you get involved in table tennis? “My father in 1948 managed to find an old ball and a rotten table tennis net at a time when Germany was totally down and destroyed after World War II. We started to play in the kitchen with simple wooden bats with no covering. In 1949 I joined a Club in Düsseldorf with nine members. It was the start of Borussia Düsseldorf currently Timo BOLL’S Club. It has dominated German table tennis since 1960″. – What do you think it will take for TT to be in the Top 5 IN all we do? “Our game has to become even more understandable and visible for regular sport fans. Starting with a service that opens the game and good rallies instead of preparing a deadly third ball. Thus we need to keep losing the “Ping-Pong” image”. – Can you comment on the special ties you have with Adham SHARARA? “I met him in the late eighties when I was European Table Tennis Union President as well as Continental Vice President of the ITTF for Europe. I was impressed by his eloquence his sharp mind and his competence in analyzing complex matters”. – What do you think have been Adham’s most meaningful contributions to the sport / the ITTF? “He has moved table tennis into the modern world had the courage for creative solutions established our sport as a significant member of the Olympic family and made table tennis an interesting factor for TV stations. After the famous founder Montagu who as a communist used table tennis sometimes for political reasons Adham has been the most effective and strong leader our sport has ever had”. Thank you Mr. GÄB. President SHARARA deeply appreciates your friendship as well. He added this tribute to you: “The first person I consulted when I was seriously considering running for a VP position on the ITTF EC in 1993 was Hans Wilhelm GÄB. At that time he was the President of the ETTU and also the reformer of the German TTA. I consulted him and received his support to run for the ITTF Marketing VP position which had to be created by the AGM. He explained to me how marketing worked in the German TTA (DTTB) and how it was done through TMG the marketing arm of the association. This of course gave birth to the idea of creating TMS under the same model of TMG. In 1993 the new VP position was not created but I was elected to the ITTF’s EC in 1995 and started the steps to create TMS. I have the highest respect and admiration for Mr. GÄB who has served his club his region his country and his continent in table tennis for such a long time. If it were not for personal family circumstances that led Mr. GÄB to resign his ETTU presidency he would have been the natural successor to Mr. OGIMURA as ITTF President”. Thank you President SHARARA for sharing that historical perspective about Mr. GÄB. It’s especially timely information with Germany’s Thomas WEIKERT’s assumption of the ITTF presidency taking place in just a few weeks on September 1.
Europeans without medals at YOG
All four Europeans at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games were denied of medals in the quarterfinal of their respective events. To the semi final of the men’s and women’s event progressed Asian and South American representatives. In the final will play FAN Zhend All four Europeans at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games were denied of medals in the quarterfinal of their respective events. To the semi final of the men’s and women’s event progressed Asian and South American representatives. In the final will play FAN Zhendong of China and Yuto MURAMATSU of Japan in men’s and DOO Hoi Kem of Hong Kong vs. LIU Gaoyang of China in women’s. In semis FAN Zhendong beat YANG Heng-Wei of Taipei whilst MURAMATSU overcame Hugo CALDERON of Brazil. Previously YANG Heng-Wei succeeded against Kilian ORT of Germany in straight games (11:5 11:9 11:8 11:8). CALDERANO beat Patryk ZATOWKA of Poland in full distance duel (13:11 7:11 11:4 4:11 11:4 10:12 11:6). In women’s singles event in semis DOO Hoi Kem of Hong Kong beat Lily ZHANG of USA whilst LIU Gaoyang overcame Miyu KATO of Japan. In quarters DOO Hoi Kem overcame Romania’s Adina DIACONU 4:1 (6:11 11:9 11:7 11:3 11:6). KATO beat Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia by same margin (12:10 7:11 11:8 11:6 11:8).
Eurotalents Project report from the EYC
During the European Youth Championships the members of the ETTU Development Body spent 4 working days in Riva del Garda. “Our goal at this championship was to compile a list of the best cadets in Europe but also to form a proposal for nominations of youn During the European Youth Championships the members of the ETTU Development Body spent 4 working days in Riva del Garda. “Our goal at this championship was to compile a list of the best cadets in Europe but also to form a proposal for nominations of younger juniors who could be candidates for being included on the list 21&Under. Mario AMIZIC Richard PRAUSE and I attended the championship. I used the aforementioned 4 days to promote and further explain our Eurotalents program and I am proud to say that during those 4 days I have attended a total of 17 meetings with various delegations and individuals with the above-mentioned goal in mind ” said Eurotalents Development Manager prof. Neven CEGNAR . Nominated players will be entitled to directly take part in the Selection Camp in Saarbrucken (October 5-October 12 2014).
