57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships commence on Friday 11th July and in next 10 days almost 2000 matches are scheduled in fantastic venue in Baltera Expo Fair in Rival del Garda. In Italy 39 countries confirmed their participation in Junior Boys 57th STERILGARDA European Youth Championships commence on Friday 11th July and in next 10 days almost 2000 matches are scheduled in fantastic venue in Baltera Expo Fair in Rival del Garda. In Italy 39 countries confirmed their participation in Junior Boys’ Team Event and 32 nations at the Junior Girls’ list. In Cadet Boys’ Team event 42 countries are listed and in Cadet Girls 36. 14 titles will be granted – junior and cadet boy’s and girl’s teams single doubles mixed doubles. It’ll be a tough but glamorous event at Baltera Expo Fair in Rival del Garda. Approximately 550 players will participate in the event. They will be accompanied by 200 coaches managers physiotherapists. Around 300 registered personnel including 100 referees and umpires media and table tennis companies’ representatives 80 OC staff and 40 volunteers. In Juniors Boys Team Event in Group A last year’s runner up France will meet Denmark Portugal and England. In Group B reigning champions Italy is seeded at position no. 4. At the top of the Group B is Sweden followed by Croatia and Slovakia. Hungary topping the Group C. They will play against Russia Poland and Belgium. Czech Republic is the leading nation in Group D with Germany Switzerland and Netherlands. In Junior Girls Team Event runner up from Ostrava last year Germany is at the top of Group A. They will face Croatia Israel and Sweden in the first phase. In Group B Russia leads the line up alongside hosts Netherlands and Turkey. France is at the top of Group B with Poland bronze medalists from Ostrava Serbia and Slovakia. Reigning champions Romania is in Group D with Czech Republic Belarus and Hungary. In Cadet Boys Team Event bronze medalists from Czech Republic Romania is in Group A with Italy reigning champions from Ostrava Czech team and Belarus. In Group B another bronze medalist France is at the top. Poland Turkey and Austria will try to stop them in first stage. In Group C Russia is at position no. 1. Sweden Poland and Portugal are in the same group. In Group D Moldova at top position will face opposition from adversaries from Germany Denmark and Slovenia. In Cadet Girls Team Event winners from Ostrava Romania is at the top of group A followed by Czech Republic Turkey and Bulgaria. In Group B are Russia Sweden Poland and Austria. In Group C are Serbia Belarus Belgium and Portugal and in Group D are France Germany Spain and Italy. The events will be televised live by ETTU TV powered by Laola1.tv worldwide. The upcoming STERILGARDA European Table Tennis Youth Championships will feature an outstanding novelty. The Italian Table Tennis Association and the Garda Trentino organisation decided to set-up an exciting “Fun Zone” destined to be a great place to get familiar with this massive event. With the huge 10-day tournament running in the Baltera Expo-fair’s pavillons all day long the “Fun Zone” situated in central Piazza Battisti will be a superb tourist attraction and much more.
Women’s World Cup heads to Europe for the first time
Linz Austria has won the right to host the 2014 ITTF Women’s World Cup which is one of the most prestigious events on the ITTF calendar. The 2014 edition of the Women’s World Cup will take place at the Sportpark Lissfeld on 17-19 October 201 Linz Austria has won the right to host the 2014 ITTF Women’s World Cup which is one of the most prestigious events on the ITTF calendar. The 2014 edition of the Women’s World Cup will take place at the Sportpark Lissfeld on 17-19 October 2014. Linz will have the honour of hosting the first ever Women’s World Cup outside Asia where it has been traditionally held every year since it’s inception in 1996. On the historic announcement ITTF’s CEO Judit FARAGO stated: “The ITTF is very pleased to allocate the 2014 Women’s World Cup to the Austrian Table Tennis Association who are very experienced organisers and have a rich tradition in table tennis. The ITTF will make history with the Women’s World Cup this year as it is hosted first time outside Asia. Hopefully it will give further motivation to the top European players to challenge their Asian and global rivals.” The ITTF Women’s World Cup involves the world’s best 20 players that have qualified for the event through their Continental Cup’s held over the past six months. Linz is no stranger to hosting big events as they hosted the 2009 ITTF World Team Cup which was a huge success. One person that will be more excited than most about the world title event heading to Linz is world number 10 LIU Jia (AUT). The Austrian was among the first one to qualify for the Women’s World Cup back in February by winning the DHS Europe Cup the qualification tournament in Europe. This will be the 9th time that 32 year old has played in the Women’s World Cup and her home crowd will be cheering her towards her first ever World Cup medal. The players that have qualified through their Continental Cups and will compete for Women’s World Cup glory are: DHS 2014 Europe Cup: LI Jiao (NED) LIU Jia (AUT) Viktoria PAVLOVICH (BLR) GAC 2014 Honda Asian Cup: DING Ning (CHN) LI Xiaoxia (CHN) & YU Mengyu (SIN) K-Sport 2014 ITTF-Oceania Cup: LAY Jianfang (AUS) 2014 ITTF-Latin America Cup: Caroline KUMAHARA (BRA) 2014 ITTF-Africa Cup: Dina MESHREF (EGY) 2014 ITTF-North America Cup: ZHANG Mo (CAN) Invitations for the additional places to make up the 20 will be based on the September 2014 world ranking on those who participated in the Continental Cups but did not gain an automatic qualification position. The LIEBHERR Men’s World Cup will be held the following week in Düsseldorf Germany on 24-26 October 2014.
OUAICHE and BOULOUSSA in Olympiacos and Pera
For the first time in the history of Greek table tennis French athlete will fight in the A1 club championships! Two international players from the former silver World champions and golden European champions will come to Athens to strengthen the the For the first time in the history of Greek table tennis French athlete will fight in the A1 club championships! Two international players from the former silver World champions and golden European champions will come to Athens to strengthen the the main title’s contenders.The reigning Greek champion Olympiacos acquired 19 yea-old Mehdi BOULOUSSA whilst the runners up A.S. Pera signed with the 21 year old champion of France in men’ s singles 2014 Stephane OUAICHE. Those were certainly the most important transfers announced by the Greek table tennis federation. Reigning Greek champion in men’ s singles Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU moved from Pera to Olympiacos whilst the finalist in the same event Ioannis VLOTINOS will play in Pera National champion in women’s singles Maria CHRISTOFORAKI signed for Olympiacos and the winner of 2013 Cyprus Open Georgia ZAVITSANOU moved to Pera. Portuguese Enio MENTES set a very good course last year in A1 with the Olympicos. The Greek championship played at weekends in the specific gym and not in hall with the seats with the new players will gain more quality and become more exciting.
Turkish Fenerbahce starts from the top
In Women’s European Champions League last year’s runners up Turkish Fenerbahce SC is the top seed like a season earlier. Strong line up with international stars WU Yang Viktoria PAVLOVICH Elizabeta SAMARA WEN Jia Irene IVANCAN and Yana NOSKOVA gath In Women’s European Champions League last year’s runners up Turkish Fenerbahce SC is the top seed like a season earlier. Strong line up with international stars WU Yang Viktoria PAVLOVICH Elizabeta SAMARA WEN Jia Irene IVANCAN and Yana NOSKOVA gathered 8103 points for the list. At the position no. two is Linz AG Froschberg with LIU Jia Sofia POLCANOVA LI Xiaodan Iveta VACENOVSKA Camelia POSTOACA and SHENG Dandan. One place below is the ECL champion. Germany’s TTC Berlin Eastside (7533) occupies spot no. three. For German club will play SHAN Xiaona Petrissa SOLJA Georgina POTA Kristin SILBEREISEN Ankita DAS and Irina PALINA. KTS Spar Zamek Tarnobrzeg is at position no. four. For last season’s semifinalists will play: HAN Ying Natalia PARTYKA Renata STRBIKOVA LI Qian Kinga STEFANSKA Roksana ZALOMSKA and Leila OLIVEIRA. SVNÖ STRÖCK (7190) is in game again with another international mix: Daniela DODEAN-MONTEIRO Matilda EKHOLM Tetyana BILENKO Dora MADARASZ Tamolwan KHETKHUAN and Lea RAKOVAC. Austria’s representatives won the ETTU Cup last year. French Metz TT is one place below (7019). They count on: YU Fu WU Jiaduo Laura GASNIER Yunli SCHREINER Alexia NGUYEN and Charlène LESTIENNE. Only France and Hungary has two representing clubs. Hungary’s Szekszard AC (6925) with LI Fen Petra LOVAS NIE Wei Kata TOTH Mirella MADACKI and Alexa SZVITACS is seeded no. 6.Last season’s ETTU Cup runner ups French LYS-LEZ-LANNOY (6739) is one place below with YANG Xiaoxin SZOCS Bernadette Kelly SIBLEY Agnès LE LANNIC Cassandra DELADRIERE and Marine ZIMMER. Postas Sport Egyesulet (6579) is the last club at the list of eight top European clubs: LI Jiao Krisztina AMBRUS Rita KERTAI Eva BRAUN Mercedesz NAGYVARADI Timea Csilla PETERMAN-VARGA. The draw for t he WECL will be held on July 18th.
Cartagena on the run for another title
In Women’s ETTU Cup will play 31 clubs. Among top 8 seeds there are three Russia’s and two Spanish clubs. The Spanish UCAM Cartagena TM (6572) is the top seed. SHEN Yanfei Maria XIAO ZHU Fang Iulia NECULA LI Xiang and Carmen SOLICHERO will fight for t In Women’s ETTU Cup will play 31 clubs. Among top 8 seeds there are three Russia’s and two Spanish clubs. The Spanish UCAM Cartagena TM (6572) is the top seed. SHEN Yanfei Maria XIAO ZHU Fang Iulia NECULA LI Xiang and Carmen SOLICHERO will fight for third title for their club in rich history of ETTU Cup. Austria’s TTC Carinthiawinds Villacher (6319) is at the position no. two. Amelie SOLJA LI Qiangbing Ganna FARLADANSKA Bettina FEUERABEND Tjasa KELIH and Julia YE are on the club’s line up. Budaörsi 2I Sport Club (5862) is at the position no. 3 of the seeding with Szandra PERGEL Cornelia MOLNAR Maria FAZEKAS Krisztina SZVITAN Erika ACKERMANN and Timea VASS. Russia’s TMK Tagmet (5738) will count on Anna BLAZHKO Olga BARANOVA Valentina SABITOVA Valeria BELOVOL Viktoria MARTINOVA and Svetlana MALUGINA. In the round of 16 also directly progressed Turkey’s Bursa BBK (5535) Spanish CTT Balaguer Villart Logistic (5438) Russia’s TTC Kazan (5383) and SKNT Luch-Vladimir (5226). From Round 2 will start French ALCL TT Grand – Quevilly (4982) Serbia’s Novi Sad (4912) Spanish Cajasur Priego TM (4901) Portugal’s GDDCSD Juncal (4782) Turkish Tigem SC – Ankara (4779) and Istanbul BBSK (4702) Luxembourg’s DT Rued (4048) and Swiss TTC Neuhausen (4023). Club’s that will start their journey from the first round are; Dutch Dozy Den Helder Noordkop (3913) Norway’s Fokus BTK (3642) Montenegro’s Buducnost (3626) England’s Draycott And Long Eaton (3614) Spanish Irun Leka Enea (3528) and Falcons Sabadell AE (3434) Romania’s ACS Dumbravita (3222) Russia’s UMMC Junior (3200) Spanish CTDM Linares(1762) Italian ASD Tennistavolo Norbello(1706) Portugal’s GDCDP Madalena (1683) Cyprus’ Acropolis Youth Club (1369) BiH Perucica Foca (1076) Cyprus’ AS Polemidia and Portugal’s GDD Toledos. Last season winners is SVS STROCK and runners up Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole but both clubs will compete in WECL this season. The draw for the WETTU will be held on July 18th.
French Istres lead the pack in ETTU Cup
French Istres Tennis De Table topping the seeding list for the Men’s ETTU Cup season 2014/15. With 5944 points CHEN Jian Alexandre ROBINOT Thiago MONTEIRO Antoine HACHARD Romain NICOP and Eric MASSON will be at the top of the draw in the Round French Istres Tennis De Table topping the seeding list for the Men’s ETTU Cup season 2014/15. With 5944 points CHEN Jian Alexandre ROBINOT Thiago MONTEIRO Antoine HACHARD Romain NICOP and Eric MASSON will be at the top of the draw in the Round of 16 when the event reaches ultimate knock out phase. Last year Istres reached the 4th round of the competition. Two places below are also reserved from French representatives. Stella Sport La Romagne with 5733 points occupies position no. two whilst Caen TTC with 5367 is third at that list. Top three names in Stella Sport La Romagne are CHEN Tianyuan Abdel Kader SALIFOU and Brice OLLIVIER whilst Romain LORENTZ Zoltan FEJER-KONNERTH and Jakub KLEPRLIK lead the Caen side. In the round of 16 directly progressed El Nino EHW from Prague (5340) with BAI He David REITSPIES Antonin GAVLAS and Kristan KOBES Hungarian CVSE-Swietelsky-Wewalka (5315) with Daniel KOSIBA Peter FAZEKAS and Nandor ECSEKI Dutch Enjoy & Deploy Taverzo (5260) with Trinko KEEN KANG Donghoon Benedek OLAH and Rajko GOMMERS Ukraine’s TTSC Nord (4978) with Oleksandr DIDUKH Ievgen PRYSHCHEPA LI Yang YANG Ce and Oleg FILENKO. Ukraine will also have second representative in top 16 – Fortune (4913) with Ivan KATKOV Dmytro PYSAR Vitaliy LYEVSHYN Denys KALACHEVSKYI and Petro KIM. The list of 8 clubs which will play from Round 2 in group stage starts with Russia’s TTSC Elem (4784). At the list are also Cajasur Priego T.M. (4784) Italian TT Amatori Sterilgarda (4600) Croatian STK Libertas Marinkolor (4582) Turkey’s Istanbul BBSK (4357) Luxembourg’s DT Diddeleng (4242) Russia’s Svyazist UFA(3877) and Serbia’s Banat Zrenjanin (3671). In the opening round will play: Belgium’s Logis Auderghem TT (3648) Luxembourg’s DT Etzella Ettelbruck (3594) Spanish – DKV Borges VALL (3343) Romania’s CS Pristavu Campulung (3260) Portugal’s Grupo Desportivo Dos Toledos (3241) Belgium’s Sokah Hoboken (2982) Norway’s Fokus BTK (2850) Romania’s CS Mioveni (2766) Luxembourg’s DT Echternach (2570) Belgium’s TT Vedrinamur (2432) Slovenia’s NTK Ilirija (1530) Italian ASD Marcozzi Cagliari(1419) Spanish Irun Leka Enea (1408) Turkish TED Sports Club (1360) and Turk Telekom Ankara Spor Kulubu (1289) Portugal’s Grupo Desp. do Centro Soc. do Juncal (1128) Cyprus’ Goodgate Etha Engomi (759) and Luxembourg’s DT Union Letzebuerg.
Plastic balls in use on European events
First European Championships that will launch new plastic balls is European Veterans Team Championships in Spanish Almeria at the beginning of the September. Three weeks latter 2014 European Teams Championships in Lisbon will also introduce new balls wh First European Championships that will launch new plastic balls is European Veterans Team Championships in Spanish Almeria at the beginning of the September. Three weeks latter 2014 European Teams Championships in Lisbon will also introduce new balls whilst first event for youth with new balls will be in October – Europe Youth Top-10 in Tours in France At the STERILGARDA European Youth Championships in Riva del Garda youth from Old Continent will still play with old balls. The Championships starts next week. Plastic balls will be used at all events sanctioned by the International Table Tennis Federation with immediate effect as and from Tuesday 1st July 2014. However in order to facilitate the change as smoothly as possible celluloid balls will be used at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and at four ITTF Junior Circuit events taking place after 1st July 2014 but before the commencement of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games. The four tournaments all part of the ITTF Junior Circuit where exceptionally celluloid balls may be used between Tuesday 1st July and Friday 15th August are as follows: 2014 Korean Junior and Cadet Open: Wednesday – Sunday 27th July 2014 Hong Kong Junior and Cadet Open: Wednesday 6th – Sunday 10th August 2014 Guatemala Junior and Cadet Open: Wednesday 6th – Saturday 9th August 2014 El Salvador Junior and Cadet Open: Tuesday 12th – Friday 15th August International Tournaments After Tuesday 1st July 2014 plastic balls will be used in the following events: World Championships World Junior Championships World Cups (Men’s Women’s and World Team Cup) World Tour events including the World Tour Grand Finals World Junior Circuit events including the World Junior Circuit Finals (except for the four specified tournament in 2014) World Cadet Challenge ITTF-Continental Championships and ITTF-Continental Cups Olympic Games including qualification tournaments Youth Olympic Games including qualification tournaments (except 2014 Youth Olympic Games) All the other tournament organisers may use any ITTF approved balls plastic or celluloid.
Richard SCRUTON reflects on the 2012 Olympics
COUNTDOWN 60 DAYS Seeking a well thought out answer to a problem that may occur in the table tennis hall as tensions rise; a qualified repost from the Referee on duty is required to bring calm to the proceedings. Need to know who opened the batting for th COUNTDOWN 60 DAYS Seeking a well thought out answer to a problem that may occur in the table tennis hall as tensions rise; a qualified repost from the Referee on duty is required to bring calm to the proceedings. Need to know who opened the batting for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club when they played the Marylebone Cricket Club in late August and early September 1955; the man who is highly respected for his qualities as a Referee will be able to tell you that it was Brian CLOSE and Frank LOWSON. Such qualities calm organizational skills and meticulous record keeping made Richard SCRUTON the man who has the results stored of every tournament where he has been the Referee the ideal choice as the Table Tennis Manager for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He speaks to Sheri CIOROSLAN in her 100 days countdown of the ITTF Presidency of Adham SHARARA. ETTU General Secretary Richard Scruton Reflects on the 2012 Olympics for ITTF web site Yesterday the Countdown visited with Raul CALIN who is the ITTF’s Events and Olympic Games Expert. Today the Countdown revisits the 2012 Olympics through the eyes of the Table Tennis Manager in London. What a life-changing experience you must have had being the Table Tennis Manager at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. What was the selection process in which you were chosen? As the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) 2012 Table Tennis Manager it was an opportunity to make a contribution to the sport at the highest level. Organising and managing the Olympic and Paralympic Table Tennis competitions was my best experience in Table Tennis and I will always be grateful to my predecessors particularly Neil HARWOOD (Sydney in 2000) Georgios SELINIOTAKIS (Athens in 2004) and YAO Zhenxu (Beijing in 2008) for their help and guidance. Having been referee of the Olympic Table Tennis competition at Athens 2004 I had some knowledge of Olympic competition and procedures to add to many years organising competitions at all levels. When London was awarded the Games in 2005 I wanted to be the 2012 Table Tennis Manager. Directing an ITTF World Tour event (I had been the referee of the very first ITTF Pro Tour in the 1990s) and another international competition in 2009 gave me the confidence to be ready for full-time LOCOG employment in early 2010. I had used my time in Athens talking at length with the ITTF Technical Delegates Messrs. Harwood and Yao gaining from their experiences and as a LOCOG employee I spent 4 weeks prior to and during the Beijing Olympic Games learning observing and asking questions. Mr Yao and his staff were particularly helpful and I wrote copious notes almost a book. I returned from Beijing with a problem. How could I maintain the standard set in Beijing? I understood from Richard McAFEE who served in that same position at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta that there is a manual that very clearly sets outs timelines objectives formats etc. Assuming that was the same case for you in what areas did you have some latitude to put a unique “stamp” on the presentation of the sport? And how did you do so? Yes there are IOC manuals procedures timetables and more. But the Sport Managers did not spend their time engrossed in books. Knowledge of Organising Committee (OCOG) workings working with LOCOG personnel from many other delivery and functional areas possessing documentation from past Games event organising experience sport knowledge (knowing your sport and its needs) standing up for your sport team building skills these were key components to delivering a successful Games. I spent much time putting together my team. I recruited Sheila MERCER. She was a professional event organiser in London and had 30 years of experience working at the Wimbledon tennis championships with the referee team. That was my best move. We had to deliver Olympic and Paralympic competitions at the same level as Beijing. That included a great field of play high standard back-of-house lounge training and warm-up facilities to ensure satisfied athletes and coaches well-trained and polite volunteers professionalism and commitment throughout our team. It took some time to get our field of play look and design as we wished but thanks to Double Happiness Shanghai ITTF President Adham SHARARA Neil HARWOOD and the LOCOG Look team we were successful. Sheila and I spent many hours usually weekends selecting and training the volunteers. I had seen the Beijing volunteers in action. Volunteers make a difference and our team of volunteers young and old from every possible background did themselves proud. But it was the Table Tennis Sport Presentation team who made the Games even more memorable and gave the capacity crowds an experience to remember. I had been asked in 2010 if we were willing to try some new ideas and we worked together to ensure the use of theatrical lighting theatrical and musical expertise and announcers connecting with the audience at all times giving us that extra momentum and buzz. Table Tennis was the place to be there were queues to get any spare tickets. I had met Jonny COWAN one of our two announcers/emcees in Glasgow in 2009 and I recommended him for Table Tennis. Jonny created a magical atmosphere for everyone within the seating bowl. Looking forward to the 2016 Olympic Games what “transfer of knowledge” role will you play? I wrote the obligatory post-Games report and have had meetings with my Rio 2016 successor at the World Championships in Paris and Tokyo. As an Olympic Technical Delegate for Rio 2016 I hope I can pass on my experience as Rio prepares and plans for 2016. Professionally you have moved
45 nations in the action at ETTTC in Lisbon
MEO Arena in Lisbon (Portugal) will be the venue of the 2014 European Table Tennis Teams Championships from 24th to 28th September. So far 44 countries are listed for each Men’s and Women’s Events. According to preliminary entries 43 countries will have MEO Arena in Lisbon (Portugal) will be the venue of the 2014 European Table Tennis Teams Championships from 24th to 28th September. So far 44 countries are listed for each Men’s and Women’s Events. According to preliminary entries 43 countries will have representatives in both events whilst Cyprus will have Men’s team and Wales will have Women’s team only. The dead line for final on-line form is August 15th 2014. Germany is the reigning champion in both events. In Portugal there will be a Championship Division with 16 teams a Challenge Division with 16 teams and all other remaining teams will play in the Standard Division. All matches will be determined by the best of 5 games. Most important 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. In the MEO Arena the championships will be played at 16 competition tables. There will be 18 tables for practice also at MEO Arena. The draw for the team events will be held on August 24th at the Hotel Tivoli Oriente at 10:00 am. The ETTU Congress will take place on September 26th at the same place.
Angers goals in Europe remain high
In Group C of the Men’s Champions League are UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma Saarbrücken TT Vaillante Angers TT and Sten marketing HB Ostrov. Last season French club reached the highest position in ECL ever by playing in the semi final. However this year they c In Group C of the Men’s Champions League are UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma Saarbrücken TT Vaillante Angers TT and Sten marketing HB Ostrov. Last season French club reached the highest position in ECL ever by playing in the semi final. However this year they can not count on Panagiotis GIONIS’ brilliant performance since he moved to Borussia Dusseldorf. “Many teams are coming from Germany and Russia so even before the draw we were sure we will have a Russian club in our group. – said Christophe LEGOUT. – We will start directly with a big one UMMC for our first match even before the start the French League. Our hopes lay in matches against Germany and Czech Republic clubs. We have to be strong to beat Saarbrucken where the French number 1 Adrien MATTENET is now playing and the club from Czech Republic but I hope we can manage it”. The goals remain high. “Despite very tough draw our goal is to reach the quarter final and we are already happy to welcome famous players in Angers” said Christophe LEGOUT.
