Тhe National Championship this weekend attracts all the attention of friends of table tennis in Greece. The event will take part in STAG area of Peace and Friendship Stadium and gathers most of the big names of country. In men singles the reigning champio Тhe National Championship this weekend attracts all the attention of friends of table tennis in Greece. The event will take part in STAG area of Peace and Friendship Stadium and gathers most of the big names of country. In men singles the reigning champion Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU is the favorite number 1. He will face the challenge from Kostas LAGOGIANNIS Tasos RINIOTIS Lefteris MAKRAS Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS and the many times champion in the recent past Ioannis VLOTINOS. At the event will be Ntaniel TSIOKAS former international player. In women singles Laura NIKOULAE four times champion is the first name of the event. Number 2 is the current champion Christina FILI. The international players Filareti EXARCHOU (champion 2012) Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Katerina TOLIOU will also aim the gold medal. In singles will play 37 men and 22 women. As it was the case for many years in recent past Kallinikos KREANGA Panagiotis GIONIS will not play while other significant absences are also those of Dimitris PAPADIMITRIOU Giorgos FRAGOULIS and Aggelina PAPADAKI. In doubles event are listed 16 pairs in men and 9 in women. As the most strong are Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Ioannis VLOTINOS Kostas LAGOGIANNIS/Lefteris MAKRAS and Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Tasos RINIOTIS in men and Laura NIKOULAE/Christina FILI Filareti EXARCHOU/Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Katerina TOLIOU/Aliki KIOUFI in women. Former champions (Men’s singles and Women’s singles) 2003-2004 Ioannis VLOTINOS Christina FILI 2004-2005 Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU Laura NIKOULAE 2005-2006 Ioannis VLOTINOS Laura NIKOULAE 2006-2007 Ioannis VLOTINOS Archontoula VOLAKAKI 2007-2008 Ioannis VLOTINOS Christina FILI 2008-2009 Ioannis VLOTINOS Katerina NTOULAKI 2009-2010 Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU Christina FILI 2010-2011 Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU Katerina NTOULAKI 2011-2012 Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU Filareti EXARCHOU 2012-2013 Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU Christina FILI
All-German duel Saarbrucken-Ochsenhausen
In the final of the Men’s ETTU Cup two German clubs will decide who will be the winner of this season’s edition of the competition. Saarbrucken will play against LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen. In Saarbrucken German team recovered from 1:3 defeat from the opening In the final of the Men’s ETTU Cup two German clubs will decide who will be the winner of this season’s edition of the competition. Saarbrucken will play against LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen. In Saarbrucken German team recovered from 1:3 defeat from the opening leg of the ETTU Cup and with straight matches victory against Stella Sport La Romagne secured the place in the ultimate stage of the competition. At home soil Saarbrucken won by 3:0 but the path to the final was not easy. Tiago APOLONIA was stretched to full distance against Brice OLLIVIER. He won the decisive set by 12:10. Bastian STEGER also won CHEN Tian Yuan by narrow margin. He needed five games as well. Only Bojan TOKIC recorded straight games victory against Abdel Kader SALIFOU. LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen confirmed the dominance set two weeks ago in Austria. Once again they succeeded but this time they had to play four matches. Zolt PETE gave guests the lead after he beat Kirill SKACHKOV. However it did not last for long. RYU Seung Min beat Lehel DEMETER and leveled before Simon GAUZY succeeded and put Ochsenhausen into winning mode. Dominique PLATTNER stretched French young player to full distance but failed to halt the progress of German club toward final. Kirill SKACHKOV was also forced to go full distance against DEMETER; once again team from Germany scored. 2013/14 Men`s ETTU Cup semi-final leg2 Saarbrucken – Stella Sport La Romagne 3:0 Tiago APOLONIA – Brice OLLIVIER Brice 3:2 (11:5 5:11 6:11 11:7 12:10) Bastian STEGER – CHEN Tian Yuan 3:2 (6:11 11:1 10:12 11:2 11:6) Bojan TOKIC – Abdel Kader SALIFOU 3:0 (11:7 12:10 11:2) Liebherr Ochsenhausen – Walter Wels 3:1 Kirill SKACHKOV – Zolt PETÖ 0:3 (3:11 4:11 8:11) RYU Seung Min – Lehel DEMETER 3:1 (11:4 13:11 8:11 11:2) Simon GAUZY – Dominique PLATTNER 3:2 (10:12 11:7 11:7 8:11 14:12) Kirill SKACHKOV – Lehel DEMETER 3:2 (7:11 5:11 11:5 11:8 11:8)
Pontoise allez! Angers chapeau!
AS Pontoise Cergy reached its first ever Men`s European Champions League final beating again 3:0 Vaillante Angers (6:0 in aggregate) in all-French semi-final this time playing at home. ADAM`s family must be very proud to become just third club from thei AS Pontoise Cergy reached its first ever Men`s European Champions League final beating again 3:0 Vaillante Angers (6:0 in aggregate) in all-French semi-final this time playing at home. ADAM`s family must be very proud to become just third club from their country playing MECL final after Caen (1999) and Chartres (2013). Now they can celebrate and wait April 11th to see who will be their ultimate rival reigning champion Orenburg or UMMC who has 3:2 advantage from the first leg. As both side agreed earlier everything was decided in first clash in Angers where Pontoise won 3:0 losing just four sets. Angers played that night without its best player Panagiotis GIONIS who was in the line-up tonight but not fully recovered. WANG Jian Jun defeated Greek in four games of opening encounter. Host had 4:1 lead in each set but lost first one missing three set balls. The most exciting moment was one in late fourth set when guest saved three out of four match-balls. WANG converted fourth one into the win securing the MECL final for his club. Chinese is looking forward to his first MECL final after 2010 when he was a member of Charlerori (Belgium side was beaten by Borussia). Kristian KARLSSON overcame Jens LUNDQVIST in five games. Pontoise`s player made his crucial steps when he first took three points in a row in fifth set (3:5 6:5) and after that coming from 6:6 to 10:7. In the last match Marcos FREITAS beat Michel MARTINEZ in four sets. It was the third clash between these two clubs this season. Pontoise won all three (4:0 in Pro A league) whilst Angers couldn`t won any set. 2013/14 Men`s ECL semi-final leg2 AS Pontoise – Vaillante Angers 3:0 WANG Jian Jun – Panagiotis GIONIS 3:1 (14:16 11:7 11:8 11:9) Kristian KARLSSON – Jens LUNDQVIST 3:2 (11:5 7:11 11:2 7:11 11:7) Marcos FREITAS – Michel MARTINEZ 3:1 (11:7 8:11 11:5 11:6)
Saarbrucken in focus
Stella Sport La Romagne is the only club who managed to save the points at home soil two weeks ago in the first leg of the ETTU Cup semi final. They beat Germany’s Saarbrucken in four matches. Bastian STEGER was the only player who scored for guests. In Stella Sport La Romagne is the only club who managed to save the points at home soil two weeks ago in the first leg of the ETTU Cup semi final. They beat Germany’s Saarbrucken in four matches. Bastian STEGER was the only player who scored for guests. In other matches CHEN Tianyuan beat Bojan TOKIC and STEGER whilst Abdel Kader SALIFOU overcame Tiago APOLONIA. Unlike Saarbrucken LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen already secured very valuable advantage. Against Austria’s Walter Wels LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen recorded straight matches victory. Liam PITCHFORD RYU Seung Min and Simon GAUZY lost only one game in matches against Dominique PLATTNER Zolt PETE and Lehel DEMETER. That looks like very good base for the success before the start of the second leg scheduled for this Friday in Biberach In Women’s ETTU Cup semi final both guests teams clinched victories in the first leg. Leistungszentrum Linz Forschberg suffered against SVS STRÖCK. Camelia POSTOACA lost against Daniela DODEAN LIU Yuan suffered by the hands of European Champion LI Fen and Kristyna STEFCOVA lost against Tatjana BILENKO. Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole beat SKST Mart Hodonin in Czech Republic. YANG Xiao Xin scored twice against Lenka HARABASZOVA and Katerina PENKAVOVA. Katerina PENKAVOVA was the only one who scored in Czechs team whilst Agnes LE LANNIC beat Kristyna MIKULCOVA.
Two top-quality semis live on ETTU TV powered by Laola1.tv
Two top quality table tennis matches from the Champions League and ETTU Cup will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on ETTU TV powered by LAOLA1.tv this weekend as the excitement continues to build in all of the competitions! ETTU Champions League Men – AS Two top quality table tennis matches from the Champions League and ETTU Cup will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on ETTU TV powered by LAOLA1.tv this weekend as the excitement continues to build in all of the competitions! ETTU Champions League Men – AS Pontoise Cergy vs Vaillante Sports Angers TT| 21.03.2014 19:30 CET AS Pontoise Cergy find themselves in an excellent position to become the first team to reach the final this season after they easily won 3-0 in the 1st leg. Angers have had no luck against their opponents so far this season after recently being hammered 4-0 in the league as well. It is therefore going to be a massive challenge for Angers to get into the final. It was a lot tighter than the 3-0 scoreline reveals in the first leg however and this may give the away side hopes of getting that all-important 3-0 scoreline. A better set ratio than their opponents with this 3-0 win will also secure them a place in the final. Regardless of the outcome of this match one thing is certain; we will be treated to an extremely exciting and high quality evening of table tennis action. Join the coverage at 19:30 CET on Friday night to find out if the home team will win here. Full matches from the 1st leg here ETTU Cup Women – SVS Ströck – Leistungszentrum Linz Froschberg| 24.03.2014 19:00 CET The 2nd match of the weekend takes place on Monday evening and comes from the ETTU Cup. It is an all-Austrian tie as SVS Ströck welcome their Linz-based counterparts for a match which will decide which of these two teams progresses to the final. The home team come into this match with a 3-0 lead in the bag after a very easy win in the first leg and progression to the final is all but certain. Tune in at 19:00 CET LIVE and FREE on Monday night to see if Leistungszentrum Linz Froschberg can get a win against SVS Ströck or whether the home side will to cruise to the final in style here.
ITTF Legends Tour to make its debut in May
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced the newest addition to its calendar the ITTF Legends Tour. The ITTF Legends Tour will give table tennis fans across the globe another opportunity to watch the greats battle it out once more on th The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced the newest addition to its calendar the ITTF Legends Tour. The ITTF Legends Tour will give table tennis fans across the globe another opportunity to watch the greats battle it out once more on the world stage. Signed up for the historic tour are the best of the best: Sweden’s Olympic Champion Jan-Ove WALDNER compatriots Jörgen PERSSON and Mikael APPELGREN China’s JIANG Jialiang Belgium’s Jean-Michel SAIVE and Frenchman Jean-Philippe GATIEN. The first stop of the newly founded ITTF Legends Tour will be Jemeppe-sur-Meuse a region of the Belgian city of Seraing situated in province of Liège on Wednesday 7th May 2014. “The reaction to the Legends Tour has been outstanding much higher than I expected” said a delighted Philippe SAIVE whose company Philippe Saive Management is the visionary behind the tour. – I anticipate that we will be sold out in Seraing. Now the task is to sell the Legends Tour worldwide; we need to find organisers and sponsors also we need to organise a schedule; arranging the schedule might well prove the most difficult task of all.” Former world number one Jean-Michel SAIVE who is remarkably still playing at the highest level at 44-years-old stated: “This event is going to be very popular in the table tennis world. There will be one Olympic Champion four World Champions five former world number ones and four European Champions so the history of our sport will be behind just one table. It will be magic.” Frenchman Jean-Philippe GATIEN who beat Jean-Michel SAIVE in the 1993 World Championship final added: “I’m very glad and honored to be part of the ITTF Legends Tour. I hope that the table tennis fans all over the word will as happy as I am to meet my old friends and opponents.” “Expect the unexpected” which is the mantra of Olympic Champion Jan-Ove Waldner will be surely be the theme of the ITTF Legends Tour so don’t miss out! follow the ITTF Legends Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ittflegendstour. Legends’ short profiles Jan-Ove WALDNER: Olympic champion 1992 World champion 1989 1997 World cup 1990 European champion 1996 TOP 12 1984 1986 1988 1989 1993 1995 1996; World team champion 1989 1991 1993 2000; Olympic silver medalist 2000 Vice-world champion 1987 1991; Former world number 1 Jorgen PERSSON: World champion 1991 European champion 1996 TOP 12 1992 World vice- champion 19989 World vice- champion doubles 1997 Olympic semi-finalist 2000 2008. World team champion 1989 1991 1993 2000 Former world number 1. Jean-Michel SAIVE: Vice-world champion 1993 European champion 1994 Top 12 1994 World vice- champion team 2001 World cup runner-up 1994. Former world number 1 JIANG Jialiang: World champion 1985 1987 Asian champion 1986 World Cup winner 1984 World champion team 1983 1985 1987 World vice-champion in doubles 1983 Former world number 1. Jean-Philippe GATIEN: World champion 1993 World Cup 1994 Top 12 1997 Olympic silver medalist 1992 European champion doubles 2000 Olympic bronze medalist doubles 2000 European team champion 1994 1998 Former world number 1 Mikael APPELGREN: European champion 1982 1988 1990 World champion team 1989 1991 1993 World champion doubles 1985 Europe top 12 1982 1990 World cup 1983
Superleague: three times lucky for Dr CASL
In the third attempt Croatia’s DR Casl finally clinched the title in the European Superleague. After the club have reached final in two previous seasons this time they concluded the competition unbeaten. DR CASL showed no mercy in both legs of the final In the third attempt Croatia’s DR Casl finally clinched the title in the European Superleague. After the club have reached final in two previous seasons this time they concluded the competition unbeaten. DR CASL showed no mercy in both legs of the final match against Celldömölku. In Hungary they succeeded in seven matches; whilst at the home soil DR CASL needed one match more to seal the duel. DR CASL becomes the first club from Croatia to win the title in the Superleague. Team from Zagreb dominated. Jia Zeng won all three points in singles and one in doubles whilst Tomislav JAPEC and Ronald REDZEP added one each to overall victory.
Angers to salvage some pride
This Friday who is the first finalist of 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League will be known but taking into account the result of first semi-final match it`s not hard to predict the winner. In all-French semis Pontoise expect Angers after beat them This Friday who is the first finalist of 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League will be known but taking into account the result of first semi-final match it`s not hard to predict the winner. In all-French semis Pontoise expect Angers after beat them away 3:0 (9:4) while second finalist will be decided in all-Russian clash Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – UMMC (April 11th UMMC won 3:2 1st leg). “We lost 3:0 winning just four sets in total so now we are just expecting to have a nice match in Pontoise” says Angers` president Gerard SARAZIN. In the first leg Angers played without its best player Panagiotis GIONIS who reached two medals on 2013 LIEBHERR European Championships in Schwechat. Greek is still not fully recovered. “We would like to have our leader Panagiotis GIONIS but sure he will be not at 100% after his right knee injury” explains SARAZIN. The semi-final is the best MECL achievements ever for both sides. In last Pro A league round Pontoise (occupies 2nd place) beat Istres 4:1 whilst Angers(4th place) lost from defending national champion Chartres in five games. Pontoise recently defeated Angers 4:0 in domestic championship. “We will try to win one match to play our best table tennis and hope we`ll be luckier than in Angers. Our season in European Champions League was so good and after the match we could say good luck to Pontoise for the final” concluded SARAZIN. First semi-final game (March 7th) Vaillante Angers – AS Pontoise Cergy 0:3 Jens LUNDQVIST – WANG Jian Jun 2:3 (11:9 12:10 8:11 10:12 11:13) Michel MARTINEZ – Marcos FREITAS 2:3 (8:11 11:8 11:8 7:11 9:11) Benjamin BROSSIER – Kristian KARLSSON 0:3 (11:13 8:11 2:11)
Two weeks remaining to bid for 2015 World Tour event
There is just two weeks remaining to bid to host a GAC Group ITTF World Tour event in 2015. The bids close on 1 April 2014 with many strong cities and countries already bidding to host a stop on the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour. The ITTF World TourR There is just two weeks remaining to bid to host a GAC Group ITTF World Tour event in 2015. The bids close on 1 April 2014 with many strong cities and countries already bidding to host a stop on the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour. The ITTF World Tour is the biggest table tennis tour on the planet with the best table tennis players in the world battling for millions of dollars in prize money in all corners of the globe. ITTF Marketing Director Steve DAINTON stated: “We have some great bids already but we anticipate many more! We look forward to continue working with our long time organisers newer organisers and welcoming new cities and countries to bid for these prestigious and commercially growing events.We believe this bid process will attract a growing number of larger cities around the world and ensure the ITTF World Tour events continue to grow and prosper as a commercially attractive sporting product one that any city in the world should be actively looking to host.” The GAC Group 2015 World Tour will comprise of 3 tiers: • Super Series x 6 events • Major Series x 6 events • Challenge Series x multiple events The higher the tier the more exposure available for your city/country more prize money more world ranking and World Tour standing points and higher quality of competition on offer. The GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour is one of the hottest properties on the Table Tennis calendar as it promises millions of TV and online viewership extensive media coverage and attractive commercial rights for any city/country looking to host the event. The ITTF World Tour (formally Pro Tour) was formed in 1996 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. In 2013 there were 1393 players from 83 countries playing in 19 events. During the ITTF World Tour players accumulate World Tour standing points with the top 16 male and female players being invited to the one-million-dollar ITTF World Tour Grand Finals. For any other questions or queries please contact ITTF’s Promotion Manager Matt POUND at mpound@ittfmail.com.
England eye promotion back to top level of world game
Both England squads have competed in Division Two of the World Team Championships since their last appearances in the top flight – at the 1997 competition in Manchester. However a vastly improved and youthful-looking England team are hopeful of com Both England squads have competed in Division Two of the World Team Championships since their last appearances in the top flight – at the 1997 competition in Manchester. However a vastly improved and youthful-looking England team are hopeful of completing a double promotion campaign in East Asia this time around. England’s men now led by 20-year-old Liam PITCHFORD who burst into the world’s top 100 this season will feature as the top seeds in Group G where they will face Slovakia Turkey Thailand Congo Brazzaville and Israel. Two years ago in the Westfalenhallen Dortmund (GER) PITCHFORD alongside Paul DRINKHALL Andrew BAGGALEY and Daniel REED comfortably won their group but fell to a Sharath Kamal ACHANTA-inspired India 3-1 to deny the quartet of a place in the top division. PITCHFORD (wr 54) DRINKHALL (135) and BAGGALEY (153) will this time be joined by 18-year-old Sam WALKER (245) as they look to go one step further in Tokyo this spring. Their toughest group opponents will come in the forms of Slovakia (Thomas KEINATH 100 and Lubomir PISTEJ 145) and Turkey (LI Ahmet 63 and Bora VANG 73) while they could face the Czech Republic (Dimitrij PROKOPCOV 82) India (ACHANTA 54) or Egypt (Omar ASSAR 78) in crucial play-off fixtures during the latter stages. England’s women have made just one change from the side that competed in Germany in 2012 with Tin-Tin HO (wr 243) replacing Jessica DAWSON. Drawn in Group F the English girls will also be top seeds as they face Lithuania Malaysia Wales Colombia and Israel on their campaign for a promotion to the Championships Division. Although Joanna DRINKHALL (124) Kelly SIBLEY (146) and Hannah HICKS (345) suffered defeats to both India and Italy in Dortmund they will fancy their chances in Tokyo with Lithuania’s Ruta PASKAUSKIENE (104) the only player in Group F ranked higher than either DRINKHALL or SIBLEY. Like the men their biggest challenge will come from the other Division Two top seeds; Thailand Brazil and India – should their paths cross in the play-offs. England’s no. 1 and 2 DRINKHALL and SIBLEY will hope to avenge their respective defeats to Mouma Das and expunge the memories of the side’s 3-2 loss in the groups which proved decisive in the girls’ hopes last time out.
