Germany’s TTC Zugbrucke Grenzau already succeeded in two rounds of the ETTU Cup. In Round 3 they beat Istres Tennis de Table and in previous Olimpia Unia Grudziadz suffered by the hands of Andrej GACINA, Tomas PAVELKA, Lubomir JANCARIK and Masaki YOSHIDA., Germany’s TTC Zugbrucke Grenzau already succeeded in two rounds of the ETTU Cup. In Round 3 they beat Istres Tennis de Table and in previous Olimpia Unia Grudziadz suffered by the hands of Andrej GACINA, Tomas PAVELKA, Lubomir JANCARIK and Masaki YOSHIDA. “We recorded 3:0 and 3:1 victories as a proof that out team is in good shape. With great optimism we awaits the duel against Walter Wels in the quarter final, but we know it will be quite difficult,“ explained Manager Manfred GSTETTNER. GACINA showed great shape this season, so he is the main source of the optimism for the team. “Our players are in a good condition. In the German Bundesleague we are ranked at position no. 4 currently. We beat Düsseldorf in the last match in the Bundesliga 3:2 – and GACINA overcame Timo BOLL!” In German Cup TTC Zugbrucke Grenzau concluded the competition at the position no. 3. “We would be happy if we could get the same result in the ETTU Cup,” said GSTETTNER and added.” But it also can be better position.”
Titles defended at World Tour Grand Finals
The Chinese pair of XU Xin and LIU Shiwen are $104,000 richer each after they clinched gold at the 1-million-dollar GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai. XU Xin defended the title that he won in Hangzhou a year ago, defeating good friend a, The Chinese pair of XU Xin and LIU Shiwen are $104,000 richer each after they clinched gold at the 1-million-dollar GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Dubai. XU Xin defended the title that he won in Hangzhou a year ago, defeating good friend and world number one MA Long in a gripping match 11-8, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 4-11, 11-5, to win the most lucrative table tennis event on earth. XU Xin, who also won the Men’s World Cup in 2013 stated: “My team mates and I have worked very hard in 2013, so it is very satisfying to win the final tournament of the 2013 season. I have played MA Long a lot, and he has beaten me more times than I have beaten him, so it is good to get one over him,” smiled the world number two. World number one LIU Shiwen rewrote history in the women’s final by winning the gold for the third year in a row, the first player, male or female, that has achieved this feat. On each of those occasions, her opponent was Ding Ning, who has now lost in 4 finals and have never won this prestigious tournament. On this occasion LIU Shiwen only needed six games to defeat DING Ning 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 4-11, 11-7. LIU Shiwen, who picked up the “Fan’s Female Table Tennis Star presented by Nittaku” award last night stated: “I’m very pleased and honored now to have won the event three times. DING Ning and myself are on a similar level; it was a really tough match, so I am thrilled to have won.” Singapore’s GAO Ning and LI Hu retained their Men’s Doubles title by beating the Chinese Taipei partnership of CHIANG Hung-Chieh and HUANG Sheng-Sheng in a dramatic seven games final 6-11, 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9. The Singapore pair are only the second pair since the Grand Finals were inaugurated in 1996 to achieve the feat of consecutive men’s doubles gold. Newly crowned ITTF “Female Table Tennis Star presented Vision Magazine Dubai” LI Xiaoxia paired up with DING Ning to cruise to victory in the Women’s Doubles final. The Chinese pair blew away opponents CHEN I-Ching (TPE) and Huang Yi-Hua (TPE) 11-8, 11-2, 11-1, 11-7 to stand on top of the podium. Simon GAUZY (FRA) won an all European Under-21 Men’s Final against defending champion Patrick FRANZISKA (GER) 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12 to prove himself as a future star. 7th seed YIN Le (SIN) caused a big upset in the Under-21 Women’s Singles final defeating the number one seed and heavy favorite NG Wing Nam (HKG) 11-9, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6. The GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Final saw the highest-ranked 16 men and 16 women from the 19 World Tour events battle it out for 1 million dollars, which is the biggest table tennis prize purse in the world.
ZHANG Jike biggest winner in Dubai
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
Zhenqi BARTHEL and SHAN Xiaona in semis in Dubai
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.
DR CASL facing enormous challenge
In the Round three of the Women’s ETTU Cup Croatia’s STK Dr. Casl beat Italian side ASD Tennis Tavolo Norbello after five matches. Despite tight game the match ended in favor of favorites. “Duel against Norbello met the expectations. Before the duel we kn, In the Round three of the Women’s ETTU Cup Croatia’s STK Dr. Casl beat Italian side ASD Tennis Tavolo Norbello after five matches. Despite tight game the match ended in favor of favorites. “Duel against Norbello met the expectations. Before the duel we knew that our players are stronger then Angelika PAPADAKI and Marina CONCIAURO and that Nikoleta STEFANOVA is better than Lea RAKOVAC and Suncica VUGRINEC. It was all about the match between Zhenqi BARTHEL and Nikoleta STEFANOVA,” explained Manager Tino CASL. That was the most interesting clash, but not the decisive one. “BARTHEL took two opening games and then STEFANOVA recovered to level the match and eventually won it. Latter it proved that the breaking point was the match between VUGRINEC and CONCIAURO. It was close: 12:10, 11:9, 11:9. However it gave the opportunity to youngest player in the field Lea to seal the victory.” Now the club will play against Austria’s SVS Ströck. “With Chinese player from Sweden, Romanian, Hungarian and Belarus players they are international giants. We know them very well. Last year they beat us twice in the European Champions League. In Schwechat it was 1:3 and in Zagreb 2:3. They are still the favorites, and this season even bigger. With European champion on their side, our victory will be great surprise. However it will not stop us from fighting. The draw was ruthless. We will play against the biggest favorites for the title in ETTU Cup this season. But they have to beat us first. ” In Croatia’s League DR CASL is currently placed at position no. two. “We lost only one match against Mladost 3:4 and we are looking forward next week’s match against the same adversaries. Girls are in good shape. They have been working with national team, whilst BARTHEL had good preparations in Germany for the World Tour Grand Final in Dubai. “
Simon GAUZY won Under 21 Men’s Singles in Dubai
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.
Malacky calls mini cadets (14th-16th March)
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.
PAVLOVICH and SALIFOU in the quarters in Dubai
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.
Berlin wants more than one trophy
TTC Berlin Eastside probably plays its historical season, hunting all three possible titles. One of them already has – German Cup – taken last weekend at Baiersbronn. In Bundesliga things are going in good way (8-0 score) while in Women’s European Champio, TTC Berlin Eastside probably plays its historical season, hunting all three possible titles. One of them already has – German Cup – taken last weekend at Baiersbronn. In Bundesliga things are going in good way (8-0 score) while in Women’s European Champions League big challenge knocks on their door: reigning WECL champion Linz AG Froschberg is arriving to Berlin to play 1st semi final leg (January 17th, 19h15 CET). Women’s German Cup was reestablished after three decades and Berlinbeat TTG Bingen in final 3:1. SHAN Xiaona took two points, Irene IVANCAN one, while Georgina POTA lost opening game against DING Yaping “Our dream for this season is to win all three titles and German Cup is one of this”, says Berlin’s coach Irina PALINA. “With injured Yanhua, was for us easier to win semifinal and SHAN with her very gut form against defense made two points against both number one in Böblingen and Bingen. I hope in the WECL semifinal against Linz we will again representative us like a team and everyone will try to do the best and fight till the end. Which team is better we will see in three weeks”. Ultimate group stage game in WECL, against SVS STROCK, was fully exciting. In one moment lookedlive German side lost all its chances, but Georgina POTA managed to beat actual European champion LI Fen in five sets, saving one match ball. Berlin won 3:2
Great mood and hard work in Luxembourg
Luxembourg hosted first Eurokids camp in 2014. The Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation was the organizer in cooperation with Chinese Table Tennis Association and Chinese Table Tennis College and supported by the ETTU, ITTF and TIBHAR Chinese Table Tennis A, Luxembourg hosted first Eurokids camp in 2014. The Luxembourg Table Tennis Federation was the organizer in cooperation with Chinese Table Tennis Association and Chinese Table Tennis College and supported by the ETTU, ITTF and TIBHAR Chinese Table Tennis Association and the Table Tennis School of Shanghai appointed two coaches and they came with the Chinese young sparring partners. The European support came from Eurokids Head Coach Branka BATINIC and two other top European coaches, LIU Jiayi of England and LIU Liping of Germany. Among the coaches were also Veronika PAVLOVICH one of the best European female table Tennis and now head Coach for Belarus Cadet and Juniors team. “All coaches were active and involved within the training sessions. They were all very happy about the level, intensity and the way the camp has been run. We had a small Magic Show one evening for the participations and coaches, we also went sightseeing one morning with tour guides into Luxembourg City. We had two seminars with Chinese head Coach on two evenings with the subject on “How to become a good Player”. At the end we had a tournament,” explained BATINIC In the Boys Singles Event Chinese players showed the most and among Europeans the best were Cristian CHIRITA of Moldova, followed by Laurens DEVOS of Belgium and Valentin HENIN of Belarus. In Girls Singles Event Anastasiya KOLISH of Russia shined. Second and third were Krisztina VAGRA of Romania and Anna WEGRZYN of Poland. The Girls tournament winner Anastasiya said: “This is really good camp and all the practice was excellent. We worked for 6 hours each day. I am glad that the Chinese could attend I had a chance to practice with them. My wish is to play one day against the top Chinese women”.
