Seven years ago in 2006, the Egyptian capital city of Cairo was the host; now from Sunday 1st to Sunday 8th December 2013, the city of Rabat, now well established as host on the ITTF World Tour will welcome young talented players from the four corners of , Seven years ago in 2006, the Egyptian capital city of Cairo was the host; now from Sunday 1st to Sunday 8th December 2013, the city of Rabat, now well established as host on the ITTF World Tour will welcome young talented players from the four corners of the world. The ITTF 2013 World Junior Table Tennis Championships will feature the seven World Junior Title events: Boys’ Team, Girls’ Team, Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles events. A total of 19 boys’ and 19 girls’ teams qualify from the continental quotas plus Morocco as the host. In addition to those players participating in the team events, 14 extra players are invited compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The criteria for selection is the Under 18 World Ranking list issued on Thursday 5th September 2013. Should any invitations not be accepted the player next on the ranking will be invited. Entry Forms should be returned by Friday 4th October 2013.

Germany’s 20 year-old Sabine WINTER won the title in the Women’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series in Minsk. Japan’s 32 year old Kaii YOSHIDA won the Men’s Singles title. In the final, WINTER, , Germany’s 20 year-old Sabine WINTER won the title in the Women’s Singles Event at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series in Minsk. Japan’s 32 year old Kaii YOSHIDA won the Men’s Singles title. In the final, WINTER, the no.4 seed, overcame the host nation’s Alexandra PRIVALOVA, the no.3 seed (11:5, 11:8, 7:11, 11;4, 12:10). WINTER was born in Bad Soden and now lives in Düsseldorf and plays for SV DJK Kolbermoor in the German Bundesliga. WINTER’s previous best was in Olomouc at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Czech Open, when she was beaten in the third round by Hungary’s Georgina POTA. At the final hurdle of the Men’s Singles event Kaii YOSHIDA, the top seed, beat colleague Kohei SAMBE (11:3, 11:9, 11:3, 11:7). One day earlier in Minsk, Kohei SAMBE had won the Under 21 Men’s Singles title.  

Mateja JEGER will say goodbye to the junior category tournaments at home soil in great style. In front of home crowd in Croatia, the host nation’s 18 year old JEGER completed the hat-trick by adding the Team’s Event title to the Junior Girls’ Singles and , Mateja JEGER will say goodbye to the junior category tournaments at home soil in great style. In front of home crowd in Croatia, the host nation’s 18 year old JEGER completed the hat-trick by adding the Team’s Event title to the Junior Girls’ Singles and the Junior Girls’ Doubles titles won in previous days. At the Croatian Junior and Cadet Open in Varazdin, JEGER alongside Dorina SREBRNJAK and Paula MARKATI beat Romania at the final hurdle. In the final JEGER suffered by the hands of Adina DIACONU in the opening match, before Dorina SREBRNJAK beat Bernadett BALINT and Bianca CRISAN in the third match of the fixture defeated Paula MARKATI. JEGER in the fourth match of the contest overcame BALINT and DIACONU lost against SREBRNJAK. In the semi final Croatia A recorded a three-one win over France and Romania beat Italy. In Cadet Teams Event final, Russian duo of Maria TAYLAKOVA and Valeria SHCHERBATYKH overcome the Italian partnership of Cristiana DUMITRACHE and Marcella DELASA by three matches to two. At the quarter-final stage Russia had beaten Croatia A (Matea OMBLA, Klara CAKOL) by three matches to one before recording victory by the same margin against France (Lelli MOSTAFAVI, Lucie GAUTHIER); whilst Italy had beaten Norway (Rebekka CARLSEN, Ilka DOVAL) three-one and Serbia three-two (Izabella LUPULESKU, Sabina SURJAN). Similary to Girls Event, in the Junior Boys’ Singles event for Hungary Adam SZUDI securing gold; on the fourth day of play there was further gold for Hungary. Led by Adam SZUDI with Nandor ECSEKI and Bence MAJOROS in support, the Junior Boys’ Team title was clinched; the trio in impressive form after a testing semi-final duel against Croatia. In the final a three-nil win was recorded against the Italian outfit comprising Jordy PICCOLIN, Luca MARCATO and Luca BRESSAN. In the Cadet Boys’ Team competition it was the top prize for Romania ‘A’ with Cristian PLETEA and Rares SIPOS. At the final hurdle they recorded a three matches to one victory over Slovenia with the one match to go astray being the doubles with Tilen CVETKO and Peter HRIBAR overcoming Cristian PLETEA and Rares SIPOS. At the semi-final stage Romania ‘A’ accounted for Italy (Matteo MUTTI, Daniele PINTO, Carlo ROSSI) by three matches to nil, having recorded the same margin of victory against Croatia ‘A’ in the quarter-finals (Matija HRELEC, Martin PETROVIC, Josip ARBANAS). Meanwhile, at the same stages, Slovenia had beaten the Slovak Republic ‘A’ (Tibor SPANIK, Jakub ZELINKA) three-nil in the semi-finals and the Czech Republic (Jiri MARTINKO, Ondrej LAPCIK) three-two at the quarter-final stage.  

The 20 players invited to compete in the LIEBHERR 2013 ITTF Men’s World Cup, to be held in Verviers, Belgium on 25-27 September 2013, has been announced by the International Table Tennis Federation. The world’s best male Table Tennis players r, The 20 players invited to compete in the LIEBHERR 2013 ITTF Men’s World Cup, to be held in Verviers, Belgium on 25-27 September 2013, has been announced by the International Table Tennis Federation. The world’s best male Table Tennis players representing each continent battled through qualification for the past 5 months to gain a ticket into one of the most prestigious table tennis event on the planet. Apart from the reigning ITTF World Champion, who gains direct qualification, and one wildcard selected by the ITTF, the only way to gain access into this exclusive event is to qualify through the ITTF Continental Cups, with a different quota allocated to each continent based on the ITTF World Ranking. The hottest player in world table tennis right now, ZHANG Jike (CHN), will go into the Men’s World Cup looking to create history, by being the first man to win 2 World Championships (2011 & 2013), Olympic gold (2012) and a World Cup in a row. Such is the 24-year-old’s success that he is in a world of his own, which he recently stated himself: “I don’t have any idols. I never had any idols in any field. I am my own idol.” Can he live up to his own expectations in Verviers to secure the historic gold? The Olympic & World Champion will face a barrage of competition from Europe, in particular Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR) who know how to win the Men’s World Cup, after clinching gold 3 times. “I can’t wait to play in the Men’s World Cup again,” stated the 37 year old. “It is always special to play in Belgium, the country where I played 8 years long for La Villette Charleroi, where me and my family have so many friends, the country where our kids are born. It will be a dream come true to add the 4th gold!” The local crowd will be flocking to the Hall du Paire to get a glimpse of local living legend Jean-Michal SAIVE who is competing in his 19th Men’s World Cup, which could be possible his last. A thrilled SAIVE stated: “I’m so excited to play a 19th world cup, the fact that it will be in my country, in front of my fans, the fans that supported me over my 30 years of career. I’ve been called “the fighter” all my career, it will not change during this event, and who knows, in front of all my country I will maybe be able to make a miracle and win a dream title. I already know that it will be a huge and important success for table tennis in Belgium and that’s the most important thing.” With the best table tennis players in the world taking part in the Men’s World Cup, at least 16 TV networks, with a reach of over 110 countries will be broadcasting it live or delayed: Eurosport (Worldwide), One World Sport (USA & Caribbean), Skynet (Myanmar), TDM (Macau), Starhub (Singapore), I-Cable (Hong Kong), GMM Grammy (Thailand), GDTV (China), CCTV (China), Al Jazeera Sports (MENA), ELTA (Taiwan), Astro (Malaysia), Foxsports (Australia), Perform – News (Worldwide), Fox Sports Asia – News (Asia), EBU – News (EBU Members). In the first phase of this three-day event, players that are seeded 9 to 20 compete in four groups of three players. The players finishing in first place in each of the four groups advance to the second phase, where they join the top eight seeded players. In the second phase which also consist of group matches, players finishing in first and second places in each of the four groups progresses to the quarterfinals where the knockout begins until we have the ITTF World Cup Champion. THE FULL LIST OF THE MEN HEADING TO VERVIERS ARE: ZHANG Jike (CHN) World Champion; LASHIN El-Sayed (EGY) African Cup Winner; XU Xin (CHN) Asian Cup Winner; MONTEIRO Thiago (BRA) Latin American Cup Winner; HO Andre (CAN) North American Cup Winner; HENZELL William (AUS) Oceania Cup Winner; CHUANG Chih-Yuan (TPE) Asian Cup 3rd place; ALAMIYAN Noshad (IRI) Asian Cup 4th place; TANG Peng (HKG) Asian Cup 5th place; KIM Hyok Bong (PRK) Asian Cup 6th place; CHEN Chien-An (TPE) Asian Cup 7th place; JIANG Tianyi (HKG) Asian Cup 8th place; YANG Zi (SIN) Asian Cup 9th/10th place; ACHANTA Sharath Kamal (IND) Asian Cup 9th/10th place; BOLL Timo (GER) Europe (QF WTTC) BAUM Patrick (GER) Europe (QF WTTC) SAMSONOV Vladimir (BLR) Europe, FREITAS Marcos (POR) Europe (last 16 WTTC;) SAIVE Jean Michel (BEL) Host player; OVTCHAROV Dimitrij (GER) Wild card.  

At the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series Linda CREEMERS, the no.6 seed, accounted for Serbia’s Anamarija ERDELJI (6:11, 11:9, 11:8, 13:11, 11:8) and thus progressed to the semi-final stage of a Women’s Singles even, At the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series Linda CREEMERS, the no.6 seed, accounted for Serbia’s Anamarija ERDELJI (6:11, 11:9, 11:8, 13:11, 11:8) and thus progressed to the semi-final stage of a Women’s Singles event on the ITTF World Tour for the second time in her career. That was the biggest upset of the quarterfinal stage where we also saw three close calls in remaining matches. The close calls were experienced by Russia’s Polina MIKHAILOVA, Germany’s Sabine WINTER and the host nation’s Alexandra PRIVALOVA. Polina Mikhailova, the top seed, beat Japan’s Eka SO, the no.5 seed, by the very narrowest of margins (11:6, 9:11, 8:11, 8:11, 11:4, 11:7, 11:9), whilst Alexandra PRIVALOVA, the no.3 seed, was extended. She needed the full seven games to beat Korean qualifier LEE Eunhye (11:8, 8:11, 8:11, 11:9, 11:8, 11:13, 11:3) as did Germany’s Sabine WINTER, the no.4 seed, by Russia’s Maria DOLGIKH, the no.8 seed (16:15, 11:4, 9:11, 4:11, 5:11, 11:9, 11:3) In men’s Singles Event Evgueni CHTCHETININE of Belarus beat Admir DURANSPAHIC of Bosnia and Herzegovina in straight games (11:3,11:3,11:3,11:4), whilst Vasily LAKEEV needed seven to overcame Grigory VLASOV in all-Russia’s duel (6:11,11:6,7:11,11:4,11:7,8:11,7:11). In the semi final CHTCHETININE will meet Japan’s Kaii YOSHIDA whilst LAKEEV will play against Kohei SAMBE also of Japan.

Carl AHLANDER JOHANSSON inflicted the pain in the heart of host nation supporters. He was the man who caused the biggest first round Men’s Singles upset at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series. Sweden’s play, Carl AHLANDER JOHANSSON inflicted the pain in the heart of host nation supporters. He was the man who caused the biggest first round Men’s Singles upset at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour, Belarus Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series. Sweden’s player; the 17 year old ousted the host nation’s more experienced 38 year old Vitaly NEKHVEDOVICH, the no.9 seed. Furthermore, the Swedish teenager succeeded in four straight games (11:8, 11:4, 11:8, 11:9). It was a most impressive performance by the teenager, who earlier this year reached the quarter-final stage of the Junior Boys’ Singles event at the Swedish Junior and Cadet Open. Vadim YARASHENKA, 17 years old, listed at no.871 on the current Men’s World Rankings, beat Japan’s Asuka SAKAI, named at no.191 and the no.12 seed in Minsk; furthermore, like Carl AHLANDER-JOHANSSON, he succeeded in four straight games (13:11, 11:6, 11:8, 11:7). Meanwhile, for the elite names, there were no great problems in the opening round of proceedings. Italy’s Mihai BOBOCICA, the no.2 seed, ousted Scotland’s Craig HOWIESON (11:4, 11:3, 11:9, 12:10); whilst Abdel Kader SALIFOU of France, the no.4 seed, ended the hopes of Japan’s Tomo MIYAZAKI (9:11, 7:11, 11:7, 11:9, 11:6, 11:3). In Women’s Singles Event top seed Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia prevailed against Stephanie LOEUILLETTE of France (12:14, 9:11, 12:10, 11:6, 11:5, 11:9) to reach Round of 16, whilst Anmaria ERDELJI of Serbia beat Russia’s Daria CHERNOVA (11:8, 6:11, 6:11, 7:11, 9:11).

Hungary’s Adam SZUDI clinched the title at the Croatia Junior and Cadet Open in Varazdin. The no. 3 seed, the 17 year old won the Junior Boys’ Singles title overcoming Belgium’s Martin ALLEGRO, the no.5 seed at the final hurdle. Mateja JEGER was the host , Hungary’s Adam SZUDI clinched the title at the Croatia Junior and Cadet Open in Varazdin. The no. 3 seed, the 17 year old won the Junior Boys’ Singles title overcoming Belgium’s Martin ALLEGRO, the no.5 seed at the final hurdle. Mateja JEGER was the host nation’s heroine. She won the Junior Girls’ Singles title after earlier in the day having partnered colleague, Lea RAKOVAC to Junior Girls’ Doubles success. Occupying the third seeded position in the Junior Girls’ Singles event, she overcame Slovenia’s Zala VERONIK, the no.12 seed, in the quarter-finals (11:4, 6:11, 11:9, 9:11, 11:9, 12:14, 11:4), before ending the hopes of Romania’s Arina SINGEORZAN, the no.8 seed (5:11, 11:4, 11:5, 11:8, 7:11, 11:7) in the semi-final to book a place in the gold medal contest. At the final hurdle she accounted for Russia’s Valeria SHCHERBATYKH to clinch gold (12:10, 10:12, 11:5, 11:9, 12:10). It was for Mateja JEGER her second ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles title, her previous success was one year ago in Tata when she succeeded in Hungary, one year later she succeeded in Varazdin. In the final Adam SZUDI succeeded in five games (3:11, 11:9, 11:8, 11:5, 11:5) to collect the second ITTF Junior Boys’ Singles title of his career; in 2012 he won in Velenje when he struck gold at the Slovenian Junior and Cadet Open. In the round of the last eight, Adam SZUDI beat Tomislav PUCAR by the narrowest of margins in a tense full distance seven games duel (11:4, 9:11, 6:11, 11:4, 11:8, 7:11, 12:10), before rather more comfortably defeating Nador ECSEKI in the penultimate round (11:3, 11:5, 12:10, 8:11, 11:7). The bronze medal for Nandor ECSEKI in the Junior Boys’ Singles event, in the Junior Boys’ Doubles in harness with colleague Bence MAJOROS it was gold. Tomislav PUCAR who partnered Filip ZELJKO was forced to withdraw from the final through injury; the match was awarded to Nandor ECSEKI and Bence MAJOROS; thus Hungary completed the second day of play with two gold medals, honour maintained.