Great tragedy struck table tennis and Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole. The death of Valeria BORZA was a great tragedy. It affected all but the club must to carry on. Next challenge for them is the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup.  How is the atmosphere, Great tragedy struck table tennis and Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole. The death of Valeria BORZA was a great tragedy. It affected all but the club must to carry on. Next challenge for them is the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup.  How is the atmosphere in the club? “Our players and the whole club are very affected by the recent death of Valéria BORZA. that will make the matches against Tyumen even more difficult in psychological point,” said Manager Franck SEYNHAEVE. In previous round at the end of the year Club Pongiste Lyssois Lille Metropole beat Italian USD Tennistavolo Zeus. “The match against Zeus was difficult in spite of our victory by 3-0. The first match was the most important. YANG Xiaoxin played at the very top to win against TIAN Jing 3-2.” It is the third time that the club will reach quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup. “We hope we will make it to the semis. Tyumen played in European champions League this season and it speaks for itself. So we do not expect easy duel. On the other side, we hope we will get to the semi final of the ETTU Cup for a second time.” French club is currently second in Pro A.

Crowned champion of the Men’s Under 21 Event at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai Simon GAUZY will lead the team of Liebherr Ochsenhausen at the forthcoming duel of the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup. The German club concluded Europea, Crowned champion of the Men’s Under 21 Event at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai Simon GAUZY will lead the team of Liebherr Ochsenhausen at the forthcoming duel of the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup. The German club concluded European Champions legue Group Stage at the position no. 3, thus they will continue their journey in European competition in ETTU Cup. “ECL season was disappointing for us but we also had no luck with the draw. Though Kirill SKACHKOV’S was injured, we tried all against Angers in the second round but at the end we unfortunately failed,” said TTF club President Kristijan PEJINOVIC. Now they will meet Spanish Cajasur Priego. “We never played against Priego before. Unfortunately we still cannot count on Kirill but the other players are in a good shape. Liam PITCHFORD played very well the last months and significantly came up in ITTF Ranking. Simon GAUZY won the U21 title on the World Tour Grand Finals last week. We will have a very hard week with three games in six days in front of us und we will try all to preserve our chance in Priego to come up to semifinals. This time we feel that we have nothing to lose because of our bad luck with injured players and look at the ETTU Cup as a chance.”

Germany’s Saarbrucken concluded first part of the season at the third position in the Group B in European Champions League. Now they moved to ETTU Cup. In the quarterfinal Bastian STEGER, Bojan TOKIC, Tiago APOLONIA…will meet Polish Dartom Bogoria Grodzis, Germany’s Saarbrucken concluded first part of the season at the third position in the Group B in European Champions League. Now they moved to ETTU Cup. In the quarterfinal Bastian STEGER, Bojan TOKIC, Tiago APOLONIA…will meet Polish Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. “We are not very happy with the outcome of the ECL and I think that our chances are much bigger now in ETTU Cup. We never played against team from Poland, but with names such as OH Sang Eun, GORAK and FLORAS we are pretty aware what we can expect in our duel. OH is experienced top world class player,” stated coach Slobodan GRUJIC. After shaky start of the season, Saarbrucken found good rhythm. “We had a bad start in German Bundesleague, but after recent victories we are candidates for the play off. That was our goal at the beginning. That position also gives us confidence for forthcoming duels in ETTU Cup.” Speaking about goals, GRUJIC pointed that the club aims semi final of the ETTU Cup.

In the third Round of the Men’s ETTU Cup Stella Sport La Romagne beat Belgium’s Auderghem in four matches.  KOU Lei was the only player who scored against French club, whilst CHEN Tian Yuan and Brice OLLIVIER secured three points for victory. “The match w, In the third Round of the Men’s ETTU Cup Stella Sport La Romagne beat Belgium’s Auderghem in four matches.  KOU Lei was the only player who scored against French club, whilst CHEN Tian Yuan and Brice OLLIVIER secured three points for victory. “The match was very difficult for us. It is not easy to play in Belgium. Their spectators and fans are very enthusiastic and playing in that atmosphere is real challenge. We are very happy that we won,” said coach Coutolleau FABRICE. In next round, in the quarterfinal, club will meet Swedish side Eslov. “We never played against each other before, but the goal is the same. We never reached semi final of the ETTU Cup before, and we want it now.” Stella Sport La Romagne is currently well placed in French Pro A. “Our team is currently third in the Championship behind Chartres and Pontoise, our player SALIFOU comes from the grand finale of the Pro Tour and I think we have the qualities to be able to beat the Swedish team.”

From European Champions League, Swedish Eslovs will move to ETTU Cup. They concluded the first part of the season at the fourth position in their respective Group, and now in the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup will meet French La Romagne. “The previous half, From European Champions League, Swedish Eslovs will move to ETTU Cup. They concluded the first part of the season at the fourth position in their respective Group, and now in the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup will meet French La Romagne. “The previous half of the season in the ECL was tough for us. we played against some very strong opposition. However, Robert SVENSSON has been in particularly good form managing to record some world class victories against Bastian STEGER (WR 23), Tiago APOLONIA (WR 35). He led the team to victory in the final match before Christmas in Eslöv against UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma beating both Joao MONTEIRO (WR 81) and Alexander SHIBAEV (WR 40), with the help of Kasper STERNBERG who had an impressive win over Grigory VLASOV (WR 105). Mattias ÖVERSJÖ also recorded a big victory in the away leg against UMMC over Alexander Shibaev,” said Manager Naomi OWEN. After matches against UMMC Verkhnaya Pyshma, Saarbrucken and As Pontoise Cergy, next adversaries will come from La Romagne. “We have not played against La Romagne before but they are clearly a good team, they are currently sitting joint third in the top league in France. We are expecting it to be a tough match but of course we believe we can win especially in Eslöv in front of a home crowd.” The club is currently in joint second position in the Swedish League and they are defending champions. “We are looking to regain the title again this season. Our goal as a club is to win every match and the ETTU CUP is no exception, I believe if we play well we can go far in the competition,” promised Naomi OWEN. The Swedish team was just reinforced with the signing of Michael MAZE. “I have just signed a contract for the rest of the season with Esløv Tabletennis club in Sweden. Looking forward to help them win the Swedish championship and to play with my new team mates. I am well underway back after a long hip injury, practice is great and I enjoy every day of training. Right now focus is on improving the quality of my play so I can compete in European top 12 in February and hopefully win some matches for my new club,” said MAZE.  European CHAMPION from 2009 made short appearance at the European Championships last year in Austria. He was forced to return to arena in order to preserve his place at the rankings. However, his long recovery after latest hip surgery is finally over.

In straight matches ALCL Tennis de Table Grand-Quevilly beat Turkish Bursa Büyüksehir Belediyespor Külübü and progressed to the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup. “The Round three showed the weakness of the Turkish young team. Only in the first match between S, In straight matches ALCL Tennis de Table Grand-Quevilly beat Turkish Bursa Büyüksehir Belediyespor Külübü and progressed to the quarterfinal of the ETTU Cup. “The Round three showed the weakness of the Turkish young team. Only in the first match between Stephanie LOUEILLETTE and Remzi SIBEL we experienced difficulties. It was close game, but at the end Sibel took only one game,” said Manager Philippe BARBARAY. In the quarterfinal club from France will meet Austria’s Leistungszentrum Linz Forschberg. “I think that the odds are equal since the both clubs are much leveled. It will be very interesting duel. We already played against each other in the past and we were better.” Speaking about the goals, Manager Philippe BARBARAY pointed: “Our goal in this season regarding the ETTU Cup is to reach the semi-final because it will be difficult to beat another Austrian team. It will be impossible to defeat SVS Ströck to reach the final.” LI Xue has to recover her strength. Stephanie LOEUILLETTE was injured and unavailable for 10 days. Marina BERHO will return. In French Pro A team is currently fourth at the standings. “Our goal is to be among top 5 clubs in France.”

In Donetsk, SKST Mart Hodonin will have very tough task in the quarterfinal of the Women’s ETTU Cup. Ukraine’s club already beat Russia’s Evromost Kuban 3:1 in third round and now is ready for the next challenge. In previous round Ganna FARLADANSKA, Iryna, In Donetsk, SKST Mart Hodonin will have very tough task in the quarterfinal of the Women’s ETTU Cup. Ukraine’s club already beat Russia’s Evromost Kuban 3:1 in third round and now is ready for the next challenge. In previous round Ganna FARLADANSKA, Iryna MOTSYK and Anastasia RYBKA showed very good performance. “Currently we hold the top of the standings in Ukraine’s league,” said Manager Mykola SOKOLOV. The club is on the right track and they hope they will defend the title. So far they clinched four titles in Ukraine’s league and won four national Cups. “We never have played against Hodonin before, but we are aware of their qualities. The chances are 50/50. However our ambitions are very high. We are preparing well for this quarterfinal, but we also aim the title in the ETTU Cup.“  

Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki overcame STK Dr. Casl in Round four of the Men’s ETTU Cup at the end of 2013. Daniel GORAK, OH Sang Eun and Pawel FERTIKOWSKI proved too strong for the Croatia’s side. “The match against CASL was not easy for us. After t, Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki overcame STK Dr. Casl in Round four of the Men’s ETTU Cup at the end of 2013. Daniel GORAK, OH Sang Eun and Pawel FERTIKOWSKI proved too strong for the Croatia’s side. “The match against CASL was not easy for us. After the victory of Daniel GORAK against WANG Zhen in the second game OH Sang Eun had bad start against Tomislav JAPEC. He was two games to null in reverse and it was the most difficult moment in the whole match,” explained Manager Tomasz REDZIMSKI. “I knew that in the contest of No 3players chances were equal so the OH’s victory over JAPEC, eventually, was really important. OH showed bravery and perseverance which gave him the victory 3-2. At the end, the decisive moments were the duels of top players in both teams. WANG lost both encounters, so CASL had no chances.” Now Polish club will meet Saarbricken from Germany. “We have not played against the team from Saarbricken yet. I always look forward to the match with an opponent from Germany. They has a good league, and Saarbricken is a strong team. Playing in the ETTU Cup is an opportunity for us to fight for victory with the strongest clubs in Europe, so the quarter-finals of Saarbricken is a great chance for us.” . In the first round of the Polish Superliga Bogoria beat two of their biggest rivals in the competition for Polish Championship and now they are on 2nd place at the standings. “ETTU Cup and Superliga are the most important club competition for us this season. We have one goal: we want to win.”