ZHANG Jike (CHN) and LI Xiaoxia (CHN) have been crowned the first ever Male and Female Table Tennis Stars at a glamorous evening at the Raffles Hotel in Dubai. Organised in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council, the inaugural “2013 ITTF Star Awa, ZHANG Jike (CHN) and LI Xiaoxia (CHN) have been crowned the first ever Male and Female Table Tennis Stars at a glamorous evening at the Raffles Hotel in Dubai. Organised in cooperation with the Dubai Sports Council, the inaugural “2013 ITTF Star Awards Driven by GAC Motor” attracted the who’s who of the table tennis world, and was an event of glitz and glamour. Current Olympic Champion ZHANG Jike, who successfully defended his World Championship gold in 2013, stated when receiving the “2013 ITTF Male Table Tennis Star sponsored by Ping Pong Dubai” trophy: “It is a very big honour to win this award”. “Sorry that I have won both the awards tonight!” exclaimed ZHANG, referring to his other win Fan’s Table Tennis Star Award. “This award does not belong to me, it belongs to all the table tennis people across the globe. Lets all keep on playing this sport we love, and I look forward to more success in the future.” The first ever “2013 Female Table Tennis Star presented by Vision Magazine Dubai”, LI Xiaoxia, who added the 2013 World Championship gold to her Olympic gold she won in London 2012 stated: “Thank you everyone for their support, especially Chinese table tennis. I am very honored to win this prestigious award, especially as it is the first one in history. I will try my best in the future to bring more success.” The Male and Female Table Tennis Star were nominated by the ITTF Athlete’s Commission and the winners were selected the ITTF Star Awards Selection Commission which comprised of a representative from the ITTF Athlete’s Commission, ITTF Para Division and the ITTF President Adham SHARARA. China’s MA Lin capped off a memorable 2013 by becoming the “2013 Para Male Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue”, after beating a stellar field of nominees. An emotional Anna-Carin AHLQUIST (SWE), who was unbeaten since she won the London 2012 Paralympics, was crowned the “2013 Para Female Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International”.The 2013 Para Table Tennis Stars were nominated by the ITTF Para Division, and the ITTF Star Awards Selection Commission then chose the deserving winners. Current world number ones MA Long (CHN) and LIU Shiwen (CHN) were taken by surprise when the ITTF Star Award’s title partner GAC Motor handed over keys to two brand new cars, the Trumpchi GA3, after ending the year as the World Number 1 out of 300 million people who play the game. Over 80,000 people flocked to ITTF.com/StarAwards to vote for the ITTF Fan’s Table Tennis Star players to determine who was the most popular table tennis players on earth. ZHANG Jike (CHN) added to his trophy collection by becoming the “2013 Fan’s Male Table Tennis Star presented by TMS International”, while team mate and world number one LIU Shiwen’s (CHN) legion of international fans ensured that she was the “2013 Fan’s Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku”. In addition to awarding the world’s best players for their achievements in 2013, the “2013 ITTF Star Awards Driven by GAC Motor” also raised $246,000 for ITTF’s corporate social responsibility program, Dream Building, which will be used for Para Table Tennis, Development and Junior Table Tennis initiatives. Full list of ITTF Star Award Winners Male Table Tennis Star presented by Ping Pong Dubai – ZHANG Jike, China Female Table Tennis Star presented by Vision Magazine Dubai – LI Xiaoxia, China Para Male Table Tennis Star presented by Tinsue – MA Lin, China Para Female Table Tennis Star presented by Stag International – Anna-Carin AHLQUIST, Sweden Fan’s Male Table Tennis Star presented by TMS International – ZHANG Jike, China Fan’s Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku – LIU Shiwen, China Table Tennis Star Rally presented by TMS International – Timo BOLL, Germany, at 2013 World Table Tennis Championships

In the semi finals of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals MA Long meets KIM Minseok, XU Xin confronts FAN Zhendong. Success for XU Xin in Hangzhou at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event and it was the , In the semi finals of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals MA Long meets KIM Minseok, XU Xin confronts FAN Zhendong. Success for XU Xin in Hangzhou at the quarter-final stage of the Men’s Singles event and it was the same in Dubai; he ended the spirited run of Frenchman Abdel-Kader SALIFOU. XU Xin beat Abdel-Kader SALIFOU in straight games. FAN Zhendong beat Chinese National Team colleague, WANG Hao in five games; Wang Hao never able to find the form that had seen him secure the title in both 2003 and 2006. Olympic champion and World champion but never the Men’s Singles winner at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals; that honour still eludes China’s Zhang Jike. He was beaten in the quarter-finals by compatriot MA Long. Ma Long won in seven games. In Women’s Doubles Event FENG Tianwei and YU Mengyu, the defending champions, suffered a defeat. They were beaten by the German partnership of Zhenqi BARTHEL and SHAN Xiaona of Germany. At the semi-final stage they meet the Chinese Taipei partnership of CHENG I-Ching and HUANG Yi-Hua, the Women’s Doubles silver medallists at the GAC Group 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Hangzhou; at the quarter-final stage they ousted Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA and Amelie SOLJA (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9). Winners in Hangzhou in December 2012, Singapore’s GAO Ning and LI Hu retained their Men’s Doubles title by emerging successful at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals. They beat the Chinese Taipei partnership of CHIANG Hung-Chieh and HUANG Sheng-Sheng in a dramatic seven games final.

Frenchman Simon GAUZY won Under 21 Men’s Singles title at the US$ 1,000,000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai. He emerged victorious in one of the most intensely contested competitions in the history of the tournament. Simon GAUZY poste, Frenchman Simon GAUZY won Under 21 Men’s Singles title at the US$ 1,000,000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai. He emerged victorious in one of the most intensely contested competitions in the history of the tournament. Simon GAUZY posted a six games win against Patrick FRANZISKA and in so doing deprived the German star of becoming the only player ever to have won the title in consecutive editions. One day earlier in the match which brought the group stage to a conclusion, Simon GAUZY had suffered defeat against Patrick FRANZISKA; the result was reversed and for the Frenchman, it was a landmark of note. Proceedings concluded on the evening of the second day of play as status predicted. In Women’s Singles Event the top two seeds, the top two players on the current World Rankings, emerged successful. DING Ning beat Chinese National Team compatriot LI Xiaoxia in seven games, before in one game less, LIU Shiwen followed the example set by her colleague, to record success against Viktoria PAVLOVICH of. Currently on the Women’s World Rankings, LIU Shiwen is listed at no.1, DING Ning is at no.2.

The 4th International Slovak Open Malacky will be held in March (14th–16th) in Sporthall Malina 30 km from Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. The competition is open for entry of all National Associations, Regional Delegations and Clubs. On the pro, The 4th International Slovak Open Malacky will be held in March (14th–16th) in Sporthall Malina 30 km from Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia. The competition is open for entry of all National Associations, Regional Delegations and Clubs. On the program are 12 Events: Mini mini cadet boy´s team, Mini mini cadet girl’s team, Mini mini cadet boy’s singles Mini mini cadet girl’s singles, Mini mini cadet boy’s doubles, Mini mini cadet girl’s doubles, Mini cadet boy’s team, Mini cadet girl’s team, Mini cadet boy’s singles, Mini cadet girl’s singles, Mini cadet boy’s doubles and Mini cadet girl’s doubles The organizers are Slovak Table Tennis Association and the MSK Malacky.

At the US$ 1,000,000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai on the evening of Thursday 9th January 2014 once again the reigning European champion, the German star Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was beaten by KIM Minseok in the Men’s Singles event. The 2, At the US$ 1,000,000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai on the evening of Thursday 9th January 2014 once again the reigning European champion, the German star Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was beaten by KIM Minseok in the Men’s Singles event. The 21 year old Korean won in seven games to book his place in the quarter-finals, the round he reached in 2012 in Hangzhou. “I could not concentrate at all. Around the table was so much unrest. That got me totally out of rhythm,” stated OVTCHAROV National coach Jörg ROSSKOPF added, “Dima has played a very long time at highest level constantly. Eventually, something like this had to happen once.” Frenchman, Abdel-Kader SALIFOU beat Brazil’s Cazuo MATSUMOTO in four straight games in the confrontation between the Challenge Series GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles winners. Ma Long beat Kazuhiro CHAN, ZHANG Jike defeated Taku TAKAKIWA and Wang Hao ended the hopes of Koki NIWA. XU Xin accounted for Chinese Taipei’s CHUANG Chih-Yuan, FAN Zhendong eventually overcame Canada’s Eugene WANG At the quarter-final stage, in the upper half of the draw MA Long meets ZHANG Jike and KIM Minseok confronts Masato SHIONO; in the lower half XU Xin opposes Adbel-Kader SAIFOU, FAN Zhendong faces WANG Hao. Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus overcame Chinese Taipei’s CHENG I-Ching in four straight games. At the quarter-final stage of affairs, in the top half of the draw DING Ning meets FENG Tianwei, ZHU Yuling opposes LI Xiaoxia; in the lower half Viktoria PAVLOVICH meets ZHAO Yan. JEON Jihee confronts LIU Shiwen. The winner in Hangzhou in December 2012, Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA progressed to the penultimate stage of the Under 21 Men’s Singles Event. In his opening contest he was beaten in his opening group stage match by Singapore’s WU Zhikang in six games, but he beat Chinese Taipei’s HUNG Tzu-Hsiang and Frenchman Simon GAUZY Earlier Simon Gauzy had beaten HUNG Tzu-Hsiang in five games and WU Zhikiang in four straight games. Simon GAUZY, Patrick FRANZISKA and WU Zhikang all finished with two wins and one defeat apiece.Games ratio between the three concerned decided the outcome. It was first place for Simon GAUZY (6:4) followed by Patrick FRANZISKA (6:6) and WU Zhikang (4:6). GAUZY and FRANZISKA progressed to the main draw. At the semi-final stage of the Under 21 Men’s Singles event Masataka MORIZONO meets Patrick FRANZISKA, Simon GAUZY opposes CHEN Feng. NG Wing Nam, the top seed in the Under 21 Women’s Singles event had suffered defeat against Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA in six games, before recovering to beat Japan’s Shiho MATSUDAIRA in a close seven games duel. LIN Ye had overcome Sofia POLCANOVA. In her concluding match, Sofia POLCANOVA accounted for the luckless Shiho MATSUDAIRA in sixth games; thus Ng Wing Nam, Lin Ye and Sofia Polcanova finished with two wins apiece. Therefore, games ratio between the three players with two wins in the group determined the outcome. First place went to Lin Ye (7:5), second position to Ng Wing Nam (6:7) with Sofia Polcanova (5:7) in third place and the player to miss out. For Petrissa SOLJA, who had beaten YANG Haeun in the opening match in the group a day that had started with so much promise ended in disappointment. She lost against LEE Ho Ching and Yui HAMAMOTO. In the penultimate round LIN Ye meets Yui HAMAMOTO, NG Wing Nam meets YANG Haeun.  

In the first round of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC GROUP 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany will face KIM Minseok of Korea. That is the outcome of the draw held today in Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Bur Duba, In the first round of the Men’s Singles Event at the GAC GROUP 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany will face KIM Minseok of Korea. That is the outcome of the draw held today in Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Bur Dubai. European champion and Olympic bronze medalist will play against young Korean who won Under 21 Men’s Singles title at 2011 World Tour Grand Finals. Abdel-Kader SALIFOU of France will meet Brazil’s Cazuo MATSUMOTO. MATSUMOTO is ranked at position no 86, whilst SALIFOU occupies position no. 103. In Women’s Singles Event European champion from 2010 and 2012, Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus will play against CHENG I-Ching of Taipei. CHENG was runner – up with Huang Yi Hwa in Women’s Doubles Event at GAC Group 2012 Grand Finals. Elizabeta SAMARA of Romania will meet seeded no two LIU Shiwen of China. It will be re run of the final of the Women’s World Cup played in 2012. SAMARA is the only European player ever to reach the ultimate stage of this event, and she was beaten by LIU Shiwen. LIU has won the Women’s World Cup on all three appearances (2009, 2012, 2013); she has never lost a match in the competition LI Jiao of Netherlands, the most experienced player on the field in the Women’s Singles Event, will play against JEON Jihee of Korea. Double European champion from 2007 and 2011 is no. 8 seed in Dubai, whilst JEON is 13th. Maria DOLGIKH of Russia will play against FENG Tianwei of Singapore. In men’s Doubles Event Robert GARDOS and Daniel HABESOHN of Austria will play against KIM Minseok and SEO Hyundeok of Korea, whilst Kristian KARLSSON and Mattias KARLSSON will meet Alexey LIVENTSOV and Mikhail PAIKOV of Russia. In Women’s Doubles Event Dutch pairings Linda CREEMERS and LI Jiao will meet PARK Youngsook and YANG Haeun of Korea. BARTHEL Zhenqi and SHAN Xiaona of Germany will play against FENG Tianwei and YU Mengyu of Singapore. Sofia POLCANOVA and Amelie SOLJA of Austria will face no. two seeds CHENG I-Ching and HUANG Yi-Hua of Taipei.

Maxim SHMYREV (RUS) completed a hat-trick of titles from the World Championship of Ping Pong after another thrilling weekend of action from Alexandra Palace, London. The Russian, who won the title in Las Vegas 2011 before also emerging victorious from the, Maxim SHMYREV (RUS) completed a hat-trick of titles from the World Championship of Ping Pong after another thrilling weekend of action from Alexandra Palace, London. The Russian, who won the title in Las Vegas 2011 before also emerging victorious from the inaugural tournament at ‘Ally Pally’ last year, was dominant on the table once again as he raced to yet more success under the Sky Sports cameras. His superior speed and table prowess helped him to see off American, and former Olympic Doubles silver medalist, Ilija LUPULESKU 3-0 (15-8, 15-7, 15-12) in the final to secure his unprecedented treble. After receiving the $20,000 first prize, SHMYREV said: “I am delighted! I had hoped I could defend my title again and it was really difficult this year. I am often fighting with myself in my life and this was a new challenge for me, the level of players this year was higher than last year and a lot of players are playing very, very well.” The triple Champion also mentioned how much he is looking forward to returning to London, especially in front of the boisterous 600+ crowd at Alexandra Palace: “I hope to be back to defend the title next year. I love London and I love sandpaper ping pong.” It wasn’t all about the Russian at the weekend though as a quartet of British players made the quarter-finals, with former English international, Andrew RUSHTON, picking up a cool $5,000 for making the semi-finals where he lost to LUPULESKU 2-0 (15-6, 15-10). There was also success for Chris Doran and Andrew BAGGALEY, who both made the last eight, while Scotsman and Grand Prix regular, Gavin RUMGAY, proved a tough opponent for SHMYREV before falling to a 2-1 (15-12, 12-15, 15-5) quarter-final defeat.