In the Under 15 Girls’ event at the ORLEN European Youth Championships there was significant shuffling of standings among teams during the Group stage. Very few teams managed to justify their initial standings resulting in unexpected outcomes and surprises. In Group A France represented by Gaetane BLED Leana HOCHART and Nina GUO ZHENG recorded three flawless victories establishing themselves as the leaders. However Portugal failed to live up to their second-place position. Surprisingly Moldova ranked only fourth in the group secured a spot in the Round of 16 by defeating both Slovakia and Portugal. Group B followed a similar pattern. Germany featuring Koharu ITAGAKI Josephina NEUMANN Loreana MORSCH and Lisa Sophie WANG dominated the opening stage with three consecutive 3-0 victories. However Ukraine upset the expected order and defeated Poland and Israel moving from the third position to the second. In Group C Spain with Isabel CONCHILLO Maria BERZOSA and Irina GIMENO FONT emerged successful at the top of the group. They pushed the leaders Czechia down to the second spot. Spain achieved a perfect record with three wins while Czechia fell short with one less victory. The same scenario unfolded in Group D. Romania represented by Andreea JIFCU Andreea BAIASU and Vivien TAMAS moved from the second spot to claim the leading position in the group. Hungary despite losing their top position managed to secure the second spot and advance to the Round of 16. Â
U15 Boys: Ukraine upsets the favorites Poland safe and Slovakia in by fractions
On the second day of play in Gliwice at the ORLEN European Youth Championships during the Group stage in the Under 15 Boys’ event Ukraine was the only team to upset the rankings and secure their place directly in the knockout stage from the position no. three in their group. Ukraine pulled off upsets against the favorites Poland and Germany won their spots as it was expected and Hungary and Slovakia advanced by the narrowest of margins. Ukraine’s team consisting of Yehor BORSHCHEVSKYI Nazarii SOLODKYI Vadim SOLTYS and Onufrii HOIAN were initially seeded at position no. 3 in Group A. However they managed to win all three matches against the top-seeded teams from Austria Czechia and Serbia. Austria despite losing their opening match recovered and advanced to the Round of 16 with two wins. Czechia finishing third in the group still has two chances in the playoff matches to reach the Round of 16 while Serbia as the fourth-placed team has one more opportunity in a clash with the winner of the group from level 2 teams. In Group B the results followed the rankings. Poland and Romania progressed to the knockout stage. Poland’s team consisting of Patryk ZYWORONEK Mateusz SAKOWICS Kacper PERKOWSKI and Aleks PAKULA faced their biggest challenge against Romania the second-placed team in the group. Romania lost in a thrilling five-match encounter but secured their spot in the Round of 16 after wins over England and Bulgaria. Similarly to Poland Romania recorded straight-match wins. England beat Bulgaria to secure the third position in the group. In Group C Germany faced pressure from France but managed to prevail in a five-match contest and secure the top position. The German team featuring Matej HASPEL Noah HERSEL Tom WIENKE and Friedrich KUEHN VON BURGSDORFF finished first. France secured the second position as both teams won their matches against Sweden and Israel in straight sets. Sweden finished third after a victory over Israel. The last round in Group D brought the most exciting match. In two days three out of six clashes concluded in five matches and the decision about the second spot in the group was determined in the last moment. In the final match the top-seeded team Slovakia faced Spain who finished fourth in the group to compete for a place in the Round of 16. Despite Spain’s spirited and enthusiastic performance resulting in a 3-2 win they did not secure the second position in the group. Based on game ratios Slovakia moved forward with a win over Hungary (3-2) Belgium (3-0) and a defeat against Spain (2-3). Hungary finished first in the group with one defeat and wins over Belgium (3-0) and Spain (3-2). Spain beat Slovakia (3-2) and Belgium (3-1). The winners of Group D Hungary are represented by Zoltan VARGA and Mark GERGELY.
Under 15 Ukraine’s team caused the big upset in the opening round in Katowice
Team Ukraine consisting of Yehor BORSHCHEVSKYI Nazarii SOLODKYI and Onufrii HOIAN created a major upset in the Under 15 Boys’ event at the ORLEN European Youth Championships. They overcame the top-seeded team from Austria in a closely contested five-match duel. SOLODKYI won both of his matches against Petr HODINA and Julian RZIHAUSCHEK while BORSHCHEVSKYI added another victory to the scoreline by defeating HODINA as well. In the second round Ukraine achieved a straight-match victory over Serbia. Â
Milosz REDZIMSKI: “It’s a big challenge to play in front of my parents and grandparents”
The Under 19 Boys team of Poland last year’s runners-up in Belgrade have the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd at the ORLEN European Youth Championships in Gliwice. The team’s leader Milosz REDZIMSKI talked about the good and challenging aspects of being under the spotlight in a big Arena at home. “It is so nice to be at home and have supporters in the stands but at some points it is not so easy when you look around and see parents and grandparents above you…” said REDZIMSKI who won the title in Under 21 European championships in Sarajevo earlier this year. Within less than a month Milosz is playing in a big tournament at home for the second time. Two weeks ago Poland played at the European Games. “It makes me doubt the advantages of playing on home soil. We did not win the match in Krakow. After that I was not very happy with my performances at the preparation camp. However it would worry me if it were the opposite. Usually when I don’t play well in the preparation it proves that I have a successful tournament ” said REDZIMSKI. Poland is in a group with Israel Belgium and Italy. In the opening round they already overcame Israel 3-1. The match lasted longer after Mateusz ZALEWSKI failed to close the duel against Eitay SHUSHAN at 2-0 and 10-6. He lost 2-3. “Later I beat SHUSHAN 3-0 so we restored the order ” said REDZIMSKI. “In the next round we will play against Belgium and I think they are the toughest adversary in our group.”
Europan Under 21 champion Hana ARAPOVIC on duty in Gliwice Arena
The opening day of the ORLEN European Youth Championships brought fierce battles and upsets from the very beginning. In Gliwice well-known young aces are on duty but there are also many rejuvenated teams. There is no doubt that we are looking forward to the next 10 exciting days of play. Croatia led by the Under 21 European Champion from Sarajevo Hana ARAPOVIC commenced their journey in Gliwice successfully. In the opening round of the Under 19 Girls’ event Hana Dora COSIC and Zrinka REBIC overcame Moldova in straight matches. Unlike Croatia France the leading team in Group D had to play a full five matches against Ukraine. Hana has had a very busy year so far. After clinching the crown in Sarajevo ARPOVIC reached the quarterfinals at the WTT tournament in Montenegro and went to Durban South Africa. “It was my first World Championships and it was a very nice experience for me. I lost in the first round but I think it is important that I felt the atmosphere of such a big event. I did not feel the pressure ” said Hana ARAPOVIC. When asked about her goals in Gliwice ARAPOVIC remained reserved. “We finished seventh last year in the team event and I do not want to think too far ahead. We take it match by match. We have Dora COSIC who is now eligible to play for Croatia after playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina. I think we have a very good team ” said ARPOVIC who is playing her last year in the Under 19 category. Hana returned to Poland after her recent participation at the European Games. Three weeks ago she played in nearby Krakow. In the round of 32 ARAPOVIC lost to Hana MATELOVA 3-4 after being up 3-1. “All the games were close but her experience prevailed in crucial moments ” said Hana who will continue her career this season in Weil am Rhein Germany. Â
The next generation on test in Gliwice
The Orlen 2023 European Youth Championships commenced this Friday in Gliwice Poland. After July 23rd we will have 14 new champions in the Under 19 and Under 15 boys’ and girls’ categories. The Championships start with the team events in Arena Gliwice while the individual events are scheduled from July 19th. In the Under 19 Boys’ event title holders Romania France Germany and Belgium top their respective groups. Runners-up from 2022 Poland is in a group with Belgium. Romania is led by last year’s singles and doubles champion Eduard IONESCU. Two weeks ago Eduard showed his strength in a more fierce competition at the European Games where he beat Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany to reach the quarterfinals of the Singles Event in Krakow. Iulian CHIRITA is also on the team. He won gold in the Under 15 Mixed Doubles event last year in Belgrade. Darius MOVILEANU clinched gold last year with IONESCU. For France will play Hugo DESCHAMPS Flavien COTON Thibault PORET and Alexis KOURAICHI. The host nation seeded at the position no. 4 will be represented by Mateusz ZALEWSKI Mateusz ZELENGOWSKI Alan KULCZYCKI Michal GAWLAS and Milosz REDZIMSKI. Silver medalists from Belgrade 2022 Romania’s girls are also at the top of the Under 19 Girls’ Group A while Germany title holders Poland and France are the leaders in Groups B C and D respectively. For Romania Elena ZAHARIA Ioana SINGEORZAN Bianca MEI ROSU Evelyn UNGVARI and Oana STRUNA will be playing. Germany is represented by Mia GRIESEL Naomi PRANJKOVIC Eireen KALAITZIDOU and Lea LACHENMAYER. Last year’s singles winner Annett KAUFMANN will not play. Poland is seeded at the position no. 3 represented by Zuzanna WIELGOS Anna BRZYSKA Natalia BOGDANOWICZ Ilona SZTWIERTNIA and Wiktoria WROBEL. In the Under 15 Boys’ event Austria Poland Germany and Slovakia are at the top of their respective groups of four. France and Sweden were last year’s winners and runners-up. In the Under 15 Girls’ event France Germany Czechia and Hungary lead groups A B C and D respectively. Romania clinched the title in Belgrade last year in that category.
Dr. László ORMAI passed away at the age of 92
Dr. László ORMAI the founder of the Statisztika PSC Table Tennis Club and honorary vice president of MOATSZ passed away at the age of 92.  It is perhaps not an exaggeration to state that László ORMAI was the most influential club leader in the incredibly rich history of Hungarian table tennis. He received his degree from the University of Economics in 1954 and had previously played for the BEAC football team while also strengthening the table tennis team of the University of Economics. After graduating as an economist he became an employee of the Central Statistical Office (KSH). In 1958 he founded the women’s table tennis department at KSH which ten years later won the national team championship. His team went on to win 40 Hungarian national championships. His team became the most successful in the world winning the Champions Cup for Club Teams 25 times. He trained specialized coaches at the University of Physical Education and later became the head coach of the women’s national team and the leader of the coaching committee. He published a professional book on table tennis education. He served as the president and honorary president of the Hungarian Coaches Association. He indirectly initiated the Olympic pension for coaches the Elite Coach Program and the Master Coach Award. He is highly respected in both domestic and international sports. In addition to his unparalleled successes in statistics László ORMAI was also involved in the founding of the Hungarian Coaches Association. The table tennis hall at Marczibányi square which is considered the home of Statisztika PSC officially bears his name since 2020. Among his numerous awards are the Hungarian Sports Award the Hungarian Olympic Committee’s Lifetime Achievement Award the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic the ETTU Order of Honor and the Hungarian Olympic Committee Lifetime Achievement Award for Women’s Sports.
Cyprus hosted a successful ETTU NAAP training camp
The Cyprus Table Tennis Association in collaboration with the ETTU National Association Assistance program recently hosted a highly successful training camp in Cyprus. Under coach Marc CLOSSET’s (BEL) guidance young table tennis players gathered in the mountains of Agros from June 21st to 27th for an immersive experience. The training camp aimed to empower and develop young athletes. The event brought together 37 boys and 5 girls representing diverse skill levels. Throughout the camp participants were exposed to a comprehensive training regimen encompassing various activities and game aspects: multi-ball training service practice technique footwork exercises and physical conditioning. The success of the training camp can be attributed to the strong collaboration and coordination among the coaching staff. The Cyprus Association worked closely with the renowned National Coach Adrian SIMION and coaches Penelope SAVVA and Popi DROUSIOTI to ensure a well-rounded and enriching experience for the participants. The culmination of the camp was marked by the visible progress and happiness of the young athletes. Witnessing their development and witnessing the smiles on their faces after their week of hard work brought a sense of fulfilment to Marc CLOSSET. He expressed his satisfaction stating “After the last training when I saw the look of all these young people happy to have evolved/progressed… during the week… I was also happy.” The Cyprus Table Tennis Federation under the leadership of President Mr. GEORGIOU played a crucial role in organizing and supporting the training camp. Mr. GEORGIOU’s dedication to the development and promotion of table tennis in Cyprus and beyond has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the sport. About ETTU National Association Assistance Program The ETTU National Association Assistance program collaborates with national associations to support the growth and development of table tennis in various countries. Through training camps coaching expertise and international collaboration the program aims to empower young players and elevate the standard of table tennis in Europe.
Borussia Düsseldorf Wins the Liebherr TTBL Final
Borussia Düsseldorf clinched their 33rd German club championship in front of their home crowd. The record champions secured a 3-1 victory in the Liebherr TTBL Final against 1. FC Saarbrücken TT at Castello in Düsseldorf captivating an audience of 2 700 enthusiastic spectators. In the Champions League final Düsseldorf and Saarbrücken had crossed paths before with a narrow victory for Saarbrücken in the spring after the home and away matches as well as the Golden Match securing their first TTCLM (Table Tennis Champions League Men) triumph in club history. Patrick FRANZISKA played a key role back then and he once again took center stage in the Liebherr TTBL Final although this time as the narrowly defeated player. In a match that had spectators on the edge of their seats Franziska initially led 2-0 against Anton KÄLLBERG and later in the deciding set with scores of 8-3 and 10-8. Saarbrücken had their sights set on victory. However KÄLLBERG managed to secure a 3-2 victory (7-11 7-11 11-9 11-6 12-10) putting Borussia on the path to victory. Following KÄLLBERG’S opening victory Dang Qiu followed up with a 3-1 win (11-8 11-1 10-12 11-1) against Darko JORGIC giving the Düsseldorf fans hope for a perfect afternoon. In the third match Timo BOLL made his comeback after nearly a five-month forced break due to a shoulder injury but he couldn’t secure the crucial victory for the title. The German table tennis legend suffered a 1-3 defeat (6-11 11-8 9-11 9-11) against Takuya JIN. “It’s a team sport and in the end we won ” summarized BOLL celebrating his 13th German team championship. “I’m very proud of the team. Anton and Dang put on a great performance. Overall I’m satisfied with our team effort and also with my body for enduring the strain.” With the score at 1-2 Saarbrücken briefly harbored hopes of winning their second German championship after their triumph in 2020. However KÄLLBERG carried the confidence from his opening victory into the top singles match against JORGIC sealing the title fight with a 3-0 win (11-8 12-10 11-9). “We had a very good season ” said Borussia coach Danny Heister reflecting on the championship and the team’s finals appearances in the Champions League and German Table Tennis Cup. “We set up the team exactly as we wanted. I am very happy about the title although it all still needs to sink in.” Borussia Düsseldorf – 1. FC Saarbrücken TT 3:1 Anton KÄLLBERG – Patrick FRANZISKA 3:2 (7:11 7:11 11:9 11:6 12:10) Dang QIU – Darko JORGIC 3:1 (11:8 11:1 10:12 11:1) Timo BOLL – Takuya JIN 1:3 (6:11 11:8 9:11 9:11) Anton KÄLLBERG – Darko JORGIC 3:0 (11:8 12:10 11:9)
HAN Ying and Darko JORGIC topping the July Rankings
At the top of the European Rankings in July are HAN Ying of Germany and Darko JORGIC of Slovenia. Besides the seniors’ category you can also find the complete rankings for the remaining 12 categories here. The events included in the July Rankings are the European Games (including the Singles and Teams events) Europe Under 13 Championships (also featuring the Singles and Teams events) European Teams Qualifications in Osijek (which was missing in the June rankings) North Europe Under 15 Singles and Teams Events and the WR Extraction from July 4th 2023. JORGIC replaced QIU Dang of Germany at the top position with QIU dropping to the second position. Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany remained at position number three. Silver medalist from Krakow Marcos FREITAS of Portugal moved up eight positions to reach the fourth position. Truls MOREGARDH of Sweden is fifth followed by the LEBRUN brothers. The winner of the European Games Singles Event Felix is ranked sixth while the bronze medalist Alexis is seventh. Swede Kristian KARLSSON dropped to the eighth position and Patrick FRANZISKA of Germany is now ninth. Andrej GACINA of Croatia holds the tenth position. Han YING remains the number one in the Women’s Singles Rankings just like in June. Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria retained her second position while the winner of the European Games Singles Event Bernadette SZOCS of Romania is now ranked third. Nina MITTELHAM of Germany is fourth; YUAN Yia Nan of France is in the fifth position followed by Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA in sixth. YANG Xiaoxin of Monaco climbed 13 places to secure the seventh spot. SHAO Jieni and YU Fu of Portugal are ranked eighth and ninth respectively while Natalia BAJOR of Poland moved up 13 positions to reach the top 10. In the Under 21 rankings Truls MOREGARD Felix and Alexis LEBRUN occupy the top three positions. In the Women’s Rankings Prithiuka PAVADE of France Hana ARAPOVIC of Croatia and Camille LUTZ of France remain in the top three positions.
