On the opening day of play at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour German Open Portugal’s Joao GERALDO was the player who created biggest upset in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles Event. In Magdeburg Joao GERALDO upset the pecking order by secu On the opening day of play at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour German Open Portugal’s Joao GERALDO was the player who created biggest upset in the qualification stage of the Men’s Singles Event. In Magdeburg Joao GERALDO upset the pecking order by securing first place in his group listed at no.252 on the current Men’s World Rankings he accounted for Italy’s Leonardo MUTTI named at no.201 (12-10 11-7 11-9 11-9) before causing the biggest shock of the day. He overcame Korea’s SEO Hyundeok current globally listed at no.76; impressively the 18 year old won in six games (5-11 4-11 17-15 11-1 12-10 11-6). SEO Hyundeok in June 2011 beat ZHANG Jike in the Men’s Singles event at the Volkswagen China Open in Shenzhen just six weeks after the Chinese star had been crowned World champion in Rotterdam. Such is the talent of SEO Hyundeok. Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia and Ganna GAPONOVA of Ukraine are the only two top seeded players in their respective groups in the qualifications of the Women’s Singles Event who suffered defeats in the opening round. Roksana ZALOMSKA of Poland beat Russia’s player in full distance duel whilst LI Qiangbing overcame GAPONOVA in five games.
Players ready for action at the German Open
The world’s best table tennis players have arrived in Magdeburg Germany for the next installment of the GAC Group 2014 World Tour Super Series. The German Open which is the 3rd Super Series event of the year begins today with the qualification ro The world’s best table tennis players have arrived in Magdeburg Germany for the next installment of the GAC Group 2014 World Tour Super Series. The German Open which is the 3rd Super Series event of the year begins today with the qualification rounds. A total of 291 players from 41 countries will be fighting it out for the $200 000 prize money on offer and valuable World Tour standing points which will qualify them for the 1-million-dollar World Tour Grand Finals. Former world number one and four-time German Open champion Timo BOLL (GER) who is again the star attraction in his home event stated: “For us players such a big tournament on home soil is always a highlight. I hope that once again I will do well here at the German Open. Heading towards the World Championships the German Open is a real rehearsal for me my only international tournament.” The weight of the German expectation will be shared with Olympic bronze medalist Dimitrij OVTCHAROV who will be desperate to do one better than his silver medal at last year’s German Open. The big success story of the GAC Group 2013 World Tour Masato SHIONO (JPN) is feeling optimistic about his chances in Magdeburg despite having to play double-Olympic silver medalist and number one seed WANG Hao (CHN) in the second round: “It is a tough draw but I am looking forward to it ” stated SHIONO who has rocketed up in the world rankings since shocking the world by winning the Japan Open last year. “WANG Hao is a living legend so it will be an honour to play against him but I will be playing to win!” concluded the 27-year-old defensive player. 2013 Korean Open Champion SEO Hyowon (KOR) is the favorite on the women’s side. The 26-year-old will be pushed all the way by a stellar field led by 2009 German Open Champion and Olympic team silver medalist Sayaka HIRANO (JPN). In addition to the men’s and women’s singles events the table tennis fans will be cramming into the GETEC-Arena Magdeburg to watch the world’s best men’s and women’s doubles pairs battling for the gold medals on offer. The qualification rounds run for two days (26-27 March) with the main draw commencing on Friday 28 March until the finals on Sunday 30 March. The GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour consists of 22 events in 22 countries with the world’s best table tennis players battling out for a record USD2 739 700 of prize money and entry to the World Tour Grand Final later in the year. The World Tour is separated into three tiers (highest first): Super (6 events) Major (5 events) Challenge (11 events). The higher the series the more prize money World ranking points World Tour ranking points and higher quality of competition on offer.
Road to Rio 2016 starts in Baku
The road to the Table Tennis event at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games will start at the 2015 European Games in Baku which will qualify one man and one woman the winner of both singles events. Table tennis made its debut in the Olympic Games in 198 The road to the Table Tennis event at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games will start at the 2015 European Games in Baku which will qualify one man and one woman the winner of both singles events. Table tennis made its debut in the Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul and has been a regular and popular fixture ever since. After the successful London Games table tennis was promoted in the IOC group review system with only eight Summer Olympic sports ahead of table tennis. ITTF’s CEO Judit FARAGO stated: “Compared to the last system some changes were implemented to simplify the selection process to make it easier to understand and to ensure that the best players participate at the Continental Qualification Tournament. From now on I am sure that most of the players focus on their dream some of them to become Olympian first time in Rio and for a few maybe one day to step in the footpath of the big trio J-M. SAIVE Z. PRIMORAC J. PERSSON who all made history by playing at seven Olympic Games between 1988 and 2012. “ The 172 positions available in Rio 86 for men and 86 for women will be allocated over 12 months of intense qualification for the players to join table tennis folklore and become Olympians. There will be four table tennis gold medals on offer at Rio 2016; men’s singles women’s singles men’s teams and women’s teams. The men’s and women’s singles events will be contested by between 64 to 70 players with a maximum of two per National Olympic Committee (NOC) which will be made up by the below qualification methods: 40 Continental qualification places with a maximum of two (2) athletes per NOC qualified. These 40 positions are composed of: 6 from Africa 11 from Asia 11 for Europe 6 from Latin America 3 for North America and 3 for Oceania 22 ITTF Olympic Singles Ranking not to exceed an overall maximum of two (2) athletes per NOC 1 Tripartite Commission Invitation place 1 Host Country place The 16 men’s and women’s teams are made up by three players per team. The highest ranked team from each continent (six teams) that has already two qualified players for the singles event secures direct qualification. The remaining 10 positions are composed of the 9 highest ranked teams that have two players qualified for the singles. If less than 9 countries have two players already qualified the next best teams with one player qualified secures their spot in Rio. The 10th team quota will be allocated to the host nation if not yet qualified through the team selection process. It is up to the NOC to choose the additional player/players to join the singles players in the team event. The table tennis event at Rio 2016 will be held in Riocentro similar to the ExCel at London 2012 which is a big and open convention center and hall three will be dedicated for table tennis holding up to 6 000 people and creating an electric atmosphere.
MA Long and DING Ning win Asian Cup
MA Long (CHN) and DING Ning (CHN) have won the respective Men’s and Women’s titles at the GAC Honda 2014 Asian Cup concluded in the city of Wuhan on Saturday 22 March 2014. The GAC Honda 2014 Asian Cup is the Asian continental qualification MA Long (CHN) and DING Ning (CHN) have won the respective Men’s and Women’s titles at the GAC Honda 2014 Asian Cup concluded in the city of Wuhan on Saturday 22 March 2014. The GAC Honda 2014 Asian Cup is the Asian continental qualification for the Men’s and Women’s ITTF World Cups later in the year with the top three placed players gaining direct qualification to the prestigious events. At the Men’s final on Saturday MA Long beat Chinese National Team compatriot 17-year-old Fan Zhendong in an enthralling seven games duel (11-9 11-8 9-11 11-6 7-11 9-11 11-8). MA Long has now won the title four times twice as many as his nearest rivals. His past victories were in Sapporo in 2008 Hangzhou in 2009 and Changsha in 2011. As the current World Champion ZHANG Jike (CHN) gains direct entry into the ITTF World Cup and only two players per county can participate FAN Zhendong misses out on qualification to the LIEBHERR 2014 Men’s World Cup to be held in Düsseldorf Germany on 24 to 26 October 2014. In the Women’s final DING Ning got revenge over LI Xiaoxia who beat DING on her way to the recent Olympic and World Championships crowns. DING prevailed in six games (11-9 8-11 11-9 11-6 7-11 11-6) to win the Asian Cup for the first time in her career. Japan’s Jun MITZUTANI secured third place in the Men’s Singles event against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chien-An (11-5 4-11 11-6 11-7 13-11) while Singapore’s YU Mengyu accounted for DPR Korea’s RI Myong Sun to secure the bronze medal (5-11 11-5 9-11 4-11 11-5 13-11 11-3). Apart from FAN Zhendong for reasons explained above the finalists and bronze medalists are directly qualified for the ITTF World Cups together with the winners of the DHS 2014 Europe Cup LI Jiao (NED) LIU Jia (AUT) PAVLOVICH Viktoria (BLR) OVTCHAROV Dimitrij (GER) FREITAS Marcos (POR) MAZE Michael (DEN). The DHS 2014 Europe Cup was held in Lausanne Switzerland from 7 to 9 February 2014. All eyes now turn to the third Super Series of the GAC Group 2014 World Tour in Magdeburg Germany which starts on Wednesday 26 March 2014 to Sunday 30 March 2014.
Rares SIPOS is new Cadets’ number one
European rankings in March bring few changes among top 10 players. David REITSPIES of Czech Republic holds the top of the Junior Boys but Adam SZUDI of Hungary replaced Kilian ORT of Germany on position no. two. Germany’s player is third. Diogo CHEN of P European rankings in March bring few changes among top 10 players. David REITSPIES of Czech Republic holds the top of the Junior Boys but Adam SZUDI of Hungary replaced Kilian ORT of Germany on position no. two. Germany’s player is third. Diogo CHEN of Portugal progressed from position no. 7 to 5. Nina MITTELHAM of Germany is at the top of the Junior Girls Rankings this month again. Adina DIACONU of Romania is second. Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia is at position no. three whilst WAN Yuan of Germany moved to Top 10 club whilst Nicole TROSMAN of Israel progressed from place no. 21 to 11. In Boys Category Rares SIPOS of Romania is new no. one. Nolan GIVONE of France moved down to second position and Cristian PLETEA of Romania is third. Adina is at the top of Cadet Rankings Lisa LUNG of Belgium is placed at position no. two. Daria TRIGOLOS of Belarus moved from position no. 9 to no. 4 whilst Leili MOSTAFAVI of France progressed from place no. 18 to 6.
SVS STRÖCK comes to the point
SVS STRÖCK is in the final of the Women’s ETTU Cup. In penultimate stage team from Schwechat overcame another Austrian representative Leistungszentrum Linz Froschberg. In the final SVS STRÖCK will meet Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole. Like few week SVS STRÖCK is in the final of the Women’s ETTU Cup. In penultimate stage team from Schwechat overcame another Austrian representative Leistungszentrum Linz Froschberg. In the final SVS STRÖCK will meet Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole. Like few weeks earlier SVS STRÖCK concluded the match in three wins. LI Fen beat LIU Juan in straight games. Petra LOVAS succeeded against Kristyna STEFCOVA by same margin. The only open match was between Tetyana BILENKO and Camelia POSTOACA. Romanian player stretched BILENKO to full distance but after 12:10 in fourth game POSTOACA won only one point in decisive set. SVS Strock – Leistungszentrum Linz Froschberg 3:0 LI Fen – LIU Juan 3:0 (11:4 11:8 11:5) Tetyana BILENKO – Camelia POSTOACA 3:2 (8:11 11:3 9:11 12:10 11:1) Petra LOVAS – Kristyna STEFCOVA 3:0 (11:2 11:5 11:7)
Fifth title for PAPAGEORGIOU first for CHRISTOFORAKI
The 66th National Championship of Greece held last weekend in the STAG Area of Peace and Friendship Stadium concluded with the victories of established and new champions. Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU captured the title in men’s singles for the sixth time overall The 66th National Championship of Greece held last weekend in the STAG Area of Peace and Friendship Stadium concluded with the victories of established and new champions. Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU captured the title in men’s singles for the sixth time overall and fifth time in the row demonstrating that he remains dominant in the country in individual events. Maria CHRISTOFORAKI emerged victoriously in Greece for the first time in her career and marched in the footsteps of her mother Katerina SPANOU (general secretary today in H.T.T.F.) who had reached the same title in 1982 and 1984! In men’s doubles new champions are Tasos RINIOTIS and George KONSTANTINOPOULOS whilst in women’s doubles Laura NICULAE and Christina FILI defended the title. The National Championship provided spectacle and excitement for the friends of table tennis and was dedicated to the memory of Damon DAMIANIDIS former curator of Pera Athens club and board of Greek federation. In men’s singles PAPAGEORGIOU justified his rankings and avenged the defeats against John VLOTINOS in three successive finals. In the fifth final with the record man holder of National Championships (14 titles in men’ singles) was very strong and won by 4-0. Additional he made a unique achievement. In the fifth consecutive gold from 2010 to today should always set 4-0 to end even having different opponent each time. In semifinals PAPAGEORGIOU recorded very difficult victory against Tasos RINIOTIS 4-2 will in quarter finals won against Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS 4-0. VLOTINOS great athlete who remains in good condition at 43 years excluded Kostas LAGOGIANNIS 4-2 in semifinals and Georgios KONSTANTINOPOULOS 4-1 in quarter finals In the women’s singles Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Katerina TOLIOU were the main favorites. The first has an all around game the second has defense style of play and both recorded one of the most exciting finals in recent years with many balls and patience. CHRISTOFORAKI made less mistakes and won 4-2 after 1 hour and 5 minutes! The champion had very difficult task in the quarter finals by defeating Filia EMIRI 4-3 while in the semifinals scored a great victory with 4-1 against last year’s champion of Greece Christina FILI. TOLIOU defeated Olga GEORGOPOULOU 4-1 in the quarterfinals and Eleni GEORGIADI 4-0 in the semifinals. FINALS Men’s singles: Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU-John VLOTINOS 4-0 (11-4 11-4 11-5 11-9) Women’s singles: Maria CHRISTOFORAKI-Katerina TOLIOU 4-2 (7-11 11-9 6-11 11-8 11-5 11-9) Men’s doubles: George KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Tasos RINIOTI-Kostas LAGOGIANNIS/Lefteris MAKRAS 3-1 (5-11 11-9 13-11 12-10) Women’s doubles: Laura NICOULAE/Christina FILI-Georgia ZAVITSANOU/Olga GEORGOPOULOU (11-9 11-7 11-7). MEDALS Men’s singles: 1. Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU (A.S. Pera Athens) 2. John VLOTINOS (City Eagles) 3. Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiakos) – . Kostas LAGOGIANNIS (Pera Athens) Women’s singles: 1. Maria CHRISTOFORAKI (O.E.A. Edessa) 2. Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus) 3. Christina FILI (Pera Athens) – . Eleni GEORGIADOU (YMCA Thessaloniki) Men’s doubles: 1. George KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Tasos RINIOTIS (A.O. Amfitheas/Olympiakos) 2. Kostas LAGOGIANNIS/Lefteris MAKRAS (Pera Athens) 3. Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/John VLOTINOS (Pera Athens/City Eagles) – . Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS/George KANASIS (A.O. Amfitheas/A.O. Pefkis) Women’s doubles: 1. Laura NICOULAE/Christina FILI (A.S. Pera Athens) 2. Georgia ZAVITSANOU/Olga GEORGOPOULOU (Olympiakos/Pera Athens) 3. Filia EMIRI/Niki BRISKOLA (Athena Magoufanas) – . Alice KIOUFI/Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus)
ETTU President visited FITET headquarter in Rome
On 21st March ETTU President Ronald kRAMER and FITET President Franco SCIANNIMANICO signed the agreement for the European Youth Championships in Riva del Garda in July 2014. Ronald KRAMER during his first visit to the Italian TT federation was informed On 21st March ETTU President Ronald kRAMER and FITET President Franco SCIANNIMANICO signed the agreement for the European Youth Championships in Riva del Garda in July 2014. Ronald KRAMER during his first visit to the Italian TT federation was informed of the preparations of these championships (Riva de Garda ITA 11-20 July 2014) and was pleased that a title sponsor was found. FITET President Franco SCIANNIMANICO expressed his support for the new Executive Board and ETTU’s President in bringing ETTU back to order after the difficult period it had been going through last year. He is convinced that the new approach of cooperation in ETTU will help Europe to strenghten its role in table tennis worldwide. During the visit both Presidents (Ronald KRAMER is also President of the Netherlands TTA) also exchanged views on the development of table tennis at national level.
Countdown to German Open in Magdeburg
The last Super Series tournament before the start of the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Table Tennis Championships (28 April – 5 May) will be held in Magdeburg. GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour German Open starts on Wednesday and will be most important test for the s The last Super Series tournament before the start of the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Table Tennis Championships (28 April – 5 May) will be held in Magdeburg. GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour German Open starts on Wednesday and will be most important test for the starts before the big gathering in Asia. “It will be real testing for all the participants. I hope I will play at the highest level already at German open. I prefer to be ready there instead to travel to Japan with any question mark. It is always very important tournament for me ” said Timo BOLL. Nearly 300 male and female players from 41 nations are listed for this year’s edition from China to Peru. Eight -time world champion and three -time Olympic finalist in singles WANG Hao from China is at that list as well as Taiwan’s reigning double world champions CHEN Chien-An/CHUANG Chih -Yuan . The men’s seeding at the German Open is led by WANG Hao followed by Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Timo BOLL. Japan will be represented Jun MIZUTANI ( World ranking: 11) and Koki NIWA (15). The highest ranked player in Wopmen’s Singles Event is SEO Hyowon of South Korea. For germany will play HAN Ying and ex- European Champion WU Jiaduo. Belarus players Vladimir SAMSONOV and Viktoria PAVLOVICH will play European Champion Li Fen from Sweden will be present alongside crowd’s favorite name / Michael MAZE. The German Open by numbers 49 Edition of the German Open Participants: 292 male and female players from 41 nations 25 German: 13 men and 12 women Men’s Singles: 1 WANG Hao ( CHN) 2 Dimitrij OVTCHAROV 3 Timo BOLL 10 Bastian STEGER 11 Patrick BAUM 26 Patrick FRANZISKA Women’s Singles : 1 Hyowon SEO (KOR ) 2 LI Jiao (NED) 4 HAN Ying 11 WU Jiaduo 13 SHAN Xiaona 18 Kristin SILBERAISEN 22 Petrissa SOLJA Prize money: 140 000 U.S. dollars (about 100 000 euros ) Single: 17 000 (12 000) double: $ 5 000 (3 600) A total of 46 referees from eleven nations
Lyssois Lille Metropole in the final
Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole progressed to the final of the Women´s ETTU Cup. In the second leg of the penultimate stage French club repeated the success made two weeks ago in Czech Republic and beat SKST Mart Hodonin by same score 3:1. YANG Xiao Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole progressed to the final of the Women´s ETTU Cup. In the second leg of the penultimate stage French club repeated the success made two weeks ago in Czech Republic and beat SKST Mart Hodonin by same score 3:1. YANG Xiao Xin was the back bone of team’s success with two victories over Lenka HARABASZOVA and Katerina PENKAVOVA. Agnès LE LANNIC beat Kristyna MIKULCOVA whilst PENKAKOVA was the only player to score for the guests’ club. She overcame young Bernadette SZOCS. In the final Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole will meet the winner of duel between SVS STRÖCK and ASKÖ Leistungszentrum Linz Forschberg. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday. Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole (FRA)- SKST Mart Hodonin (CZE) 3 : 1 YANG Xiao Xin – HARABASZOVA Lenka 3 : 1 (11:7 11:7 9:11 11:6) SZOCS Bernadette – PENKAVOVA Katerina 1 : 3 (9:11 11:9 8:11 7:11) LE LANNIC Agnès – MIKULCOVA Kristyna 3 : 1 (11:4 11:5 5:11 11:5) YANG Xiao Xin – PENKAVOVA Katerina 3 : 1 (11:8 9:11 11:4 11:3)
