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.
SHMYREV completes hat-trick at WCPP
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.
Berlin clinched the Women’s German Cup
TTC Berlin Eastside is the German Cup champion. In the final of the Final Four tournament in Baiersbronn (Baden- Württemberg), the Bundesliga leaders beat TTG Bingen / Münster- Sarmsheim 3-1. SHAN Xiaona , Georgina POTA, Kristin SILBEREISEN and Irene IVAN, TTC Berlin Eastside is the German Cup champion. In the final of the Final Four tournament in Baiersbronn (Baden- Württemberg), the Bundesliga leaders beat TTG Bingen / Münster- Sarmsheim 3-1. SHAN Xiaona , Georgina POTA, Kristin SILBEREISEN and Irene IVANCAN were unstoppable in the Final Four in Baiersbronn. After the semi-final win against SV Böblingen the Bundesliga leaders won the final against TTG Bingen / Münster- Sarmsheim 3-1. SHAN Xiaona secured two points, the third went on Irene IVANCAN’s account. DING Yaping beat Georgina POTA in the opening match, but it did not stop Berlin’s side. “This was a great finale. We wanted to get at least two titles from three competitions in this season. The Cup gives us a little bit of security” Kristin SILBEREISEN said. SHAN added . “I’ve felt pressure. The first year in the new club is not easy. I have had a good head today, had prepared well. In the second single match in the final I really wanted to win to avoid a fifth single,” said the runner up in Women’s Singles Event at the European Championships. Next goal is European Champions League. The team of coach Irina PALINA is already in the semifinals. Final TTG Bingen/Münster-Sarmsheim – TTC Berlin Eastside 1:3 – DING Yaping – Georgina POTA 3:2 (-8,7,-6,6,6); Hana MATELOVA – SHAN Xiaona 1:3 (9,-7,-7,-4); Britt EERLAND – Irene IVANCAN 0:3 (-8,-5,-7); DING Yaping – SHAN Xiaona 1:3 (-6,-7,6,-9). Semi-finals TTC Berlin Eastside – SV Böblingen 3:1 – SHAN Xiaona – Anja SCHUH 3:0 (4,6,6); Georgina POTA – Qianhong GOTSCH 0:3 (-6,-6,-9) Kristin SILBEREISEN – Alexandra URBAN 3:0 (9,6,1) SHAN Xiaona – Qianhong GOTSCH 3:0 (10,6,8). TTG Bingen/Münster-Sarmsheim – TV Busenbach 3:1 – DING Yaping – Tanja KRÄMER 3:1 (-7,13,12,2); Dana CECHOVA – Jessica GÖBEL 2:3 (4,4,-6,-8,-4); Hana MATELOVA – Theresa KRAFT 3:0 (5,8,7); DING Yaping – Jessica GÖBEL 3:1 (-15,4,7,5).
European trio faces enormous task
LI Jiao, Viktoria PAVLOVICH and Elizabeta SAMARA are the leading European names at the forthcoming US$ 1,000,000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, to be staged in Dubai from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th January 2014. So far all the odds are agai, LI Jiao, Viktoria PAVLOVICH and Elizabeta SAMARA are the leading European names at the forthcoming US$ 1,000,000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, to be staged in Dubai from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th January 2014. So far all the odds are against them. From 1996, when the first Event has been staged, never non-Asian player has won the Women’s Singles Event title. In Dubai in the Women’s Singles event, Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus is the no. 6 seed, LI Jiao of the Netherlands in the no. 8 seed with Romania’s Elizabeta SAMARA being one place lower, she is the no. 9 seed. At the European Championships LI Jiao secured the Women’s Singles title in Belgrade in 2007 and in Gdansk in 2011; whilst Viktoria PAVLOVICH succeeded in Ostrava in 2010 and in Herning in 2012. At the European Championships in Stuttgart and in Herning, SAMARA won the Women’s Doubles event with colleague Daniela DODEAN. In Dubai, it will be no less than the seventh appearance in the Grand Finals for Viktoria PAVLOVICH, for Elizabeta SAMARA her fifth; whilst for LI Jiao she will be on duty for the fourth time; for Linda CREEMERS, she will be on debut. Dutch player will play with LI in Women’s Doubles Event. Top seed in Women’s Singles Event is DING Ning of China followed by compatriots LIU Shiwen, LI Xiaoxia and Korea’s SEO Hyowon. FENG Tianwei of Singapore is listed at position no. 5. In Doubles Event leading names are China’s DING Ning and LI Xiaoxia, whilst BARTHEL Zhenqi and SHAN Xiaona are placed at the position no. 3, Linda CREEMERS and LI Jiao are fifth on the list and Sofia POLCANOVA and Amelie SOLJA of Austria are 8th
GAO Ning replaced YAN An in Dubai
China’s YAN An has withdrawn from the forthcoming US$ 1.000.000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals to be staged in Dubai from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th January 2014; he will be replaced by Singapore’s GAO Ning. The Men’s Doubles defending champ, China’s YAN An has withdrawn from the forthcoming US$ 1.000.000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals to be staged in Dubai from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th January 2014; he will be replaced by Singapore’s GAO Ning. The Men’s Doubles defending champion with LI Hu and the top seeded pair GAO Ning will be the no.16 seed in the Men’s Singles competition. Top seeded is MA Long of China World’s no. one player, whilst the European challenge is lead by Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany listed at position no. 6 in December. In November OVTCHAROV reached his career high by hitting position no. 5. He is Men’s Singles bronze medallist at London 2012 Olympic Games and European Champion 2013 in Austria. This will be Dima’s 6th appearance at the ITTF Pro World Tour Grand Finals. In Men’s singles Event Old Continent will have another representative – Abdel Kader SALIFOU of France, World’s no. 103. In 2013 French player won GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles titles in Cairo, Zagreb and Rabat; the result was that for the first time in his career he traversed the one hundred mark on the World Rankings. One year ago in December 2012, he stood at no.163; in November 2013 he climbed to no.99. Now, in December 2013, he is just below the waterline at no.103. Ma Long has the chance to become the most successful World Tour Grand Final player of all time if he wins in Dubai. At this moment he stands at the top of the list of winners with three titles at the ITTF Pro World Tour Grand Finals. MA won it in 2011, 2009 and 2008 and equals WANG Liqin’s record (2004, 2000 and 1998). Last year in Hangzhou XU Xin of China clinched the title. He is third seed in Dubai.
Dusseldorf defended the Cup
Borussia Dusseldorf is the winner of the Germany’s LIEBHERR Cup 2013/2014. In the final 3 200 spectators at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart enjoyed the match between TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell and Borussia – 3:1. It is the 22nd Cup success in the Dü Borussia Dusseldorf is the winner of the Germany’s LIEBHERR Cup 2013/2014. In the final 3 200 spectators at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart enjoyed the match between TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell and Borussia – 3:1. It is the 22nd Cup success in the Düsseldorf club’s history. It was the re-run of the last year’s final. At that time Borussia prevailed 3-0. Already in the semifinals against the TTC Grenzau Timo BOLL had significant role in the success of Borussia Düsseldorf with two wins. And in the final the record holder by number of European champion titles once again showed his class. Timo BOLL said: “I had four serious matches against four strong players. Also good friends of mine. That was not easy. Importantly we were able to win once again.” Coach Danny HEISTER said at the beginning of the weekend that the season is started only now. “Today was a good start for us. Our entire team has shown this weekend what is to be expected this season.” Final Borussia Dusseldorf – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda Maberzell 3:1 – Patrick BAUM – WANG Xi 2:3 (7 -7 -6.7 -11); Timo BOLL – Patrick FRANZISKA 3:1 (-8 2 9 9); Sharath Kamal ACHANTA – Ruwen FILUS 3:1 (7.8 -6.6); BOLL – WANG 3:1 (7.6 -8.9) Semi-finals Borussia Dusseldorf – TTC Grenzau 3:1 – Timo BOLL – Masaki YOSHIDA 3:0 (6 8 4); Patrick BAUM – Andrej GACINA 0:3 (-11 -9 -8); Sharat Kamal ACHANTA – Lubomir JANCARIK 3:0 (4 6 7); BOLL – GACINA 3:0 (9 9 3.) TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen – TTC RhönSprudel Fulda Maberzell 0:3 – RYU Seung Min – Patrick FRANZISKA 0:3 (-9 -11 -11); Simon GAUZY – Ruwen FILUS 1:3 (-7 12 -9 -5); Liam PITCHFORD – WANG Xi 2:3 (-5 9 12 -7 -9). Quarter-finals TTC Grenzau – TTC Hagen 3-0 – Andrej GACINA – Maharu YOSHIMURA 3:1 (-8 8 4 7); Masaki YOSHIDA – Jonathan GROTH 3-0 (10 8 7); Lubomir JANCARIK – Ovidiu IONECSU 3:1 (5 7 -9.5). TTC matec Frickenhausen – TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen 2:3 – Koki NIWA – Simon GAUZY 3:0 (9 8 8); Wang YANG – RYU Seung Min 0:3 (-6 -10 -4); Steffen MENGEL – Liam PITCHFORD 0:3 (-6 -7 -5); NIWA – RYU 3:1 (-7 7 13 6); WANG – GAUZY 2:3 (-3 8 -4.6 -9). Borussia Dusseldorf – Post SV 3:0 Mühlhausen – Patrick BAUM – Bohumil VOZICKY 3:0 (8 10 5); Timo BOLL – Mattis BURGIS 3:0 (5 3 7); Sharat Kamal ACHANTA – Michal BARDON 3-0 (10 6 9). TTC RhönSprudel Fulda Maberzell – TTC Schwalbenberg Neustadt 3:1- Patrick FRANZISKA – Frane KOJIC 3:0 (7 5 7); WANG – Benedikt DUDA 2:3 (-8 7 -9 -10.3 -10); Ruwen FILUS – Jakub DYJAS 3:0 (7 4 7); WANG – KOJIC 3:0 (8 5 6).
Hans GIESECKE passes away
It is with great sadness that the death of Hans GIESECKE is announced. He was 81 years old and passed away on Sunday 29th December 2013 following a short period of illness. Recently he fell ill when on holiday in Namibia he was admitted to a local hospit It is with great sadness that the death of Hans GIESECKE is announced. He was 81 years old and passed away on Sunday 29th December 2013 following a short period of illness. Recently he fell ill when on holiday in Namibia he was admitted to a local hospital before being transferred to a hospital in his home town of Bremen. Hans GIESECKE was one of the long-standing top officials of international and German table tennis sport. With great success GIESECKE was the Head of the National Police School in Bremen. GIESECKE was elected Honorary Treasurer of the International Table Tennis Federation in 1985 a position he occupied until 1999 the role being entitled Executive Vice President (Finance) from 1995. After 14 years of unstinting service in 1999 he was elected a Personal Honorary Member of the International Table Tennis Federation and in 2000 was appointed to the ITTF President’s Advisory Council. In the European Table Tennis Union GIESECKE was the Chair of the Umpires and Referees Committee from 1972 to 1976. In Germany he was the President of the Table Tennis Association of Lower Saxony in 1979 being awarded the accolade of the Honorary President when relinquishing office in 1996 to succeed Walter GRÜNDAHLS as President of the German Table Tennis Association. It was position he held until 1999 in 2000 he was appropriately made an Honorary Member of the German Table Tennis Association. Our condolences to his family; Hans GIESECKE is sadly missed.
Three German clubs in METC quarters
Three clubs from Germany in ETTU Cup quarters In the quarterfinal of the Men’s ETTU Cup best four clubs from previous rounds will face European Champions League representatives. Teams from position no. three in their respective groups will move to the ET Three clubs from Germany in ETTU Cup quarters In the quarterfinal of the Men’s ETTU Cup best four clubs from previous rounds will face European Champions League representatives. Teams from position no. three in their respective groups will move to the ETTU Cup. Germany’s Saarbrucken will play against Polish Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki. In 4th round club from Poland beat Croatia’s DR CASL. Eslov Al. will meet Stella sport la Romagne. French club beat Logis Auderghem TT from Belgium. Another representative from Germany Ochsenhausen will play against Cajasur Priego TM. Spanish club beat TTC Magistral. Germany’s Grenzau will meet Walter Wels . TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau overcame Istres TT. Click here to read/download the draw
Youth European Olympic Qualification Tournament in Hodonin
The Czech Table Tennis Federation under the authority will be the organizer of the Youth European Olympic Qualification Tournament from 9th to 11th February. The tournament is open to all European National Olympic Committees (NOC) which must enter the pl The Czech Table Tennis Federation under the authority will be the organizer of the Youth European Olympic Qualification Tournament from 9th to 11th February. The tournament is open to all European National Olympic Committees (NOC) which must enter the players through the ETTU member Associations concerned. All players shall be eligible to represent their NOC in the Olympic Games according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and ITTF regulations. Only players born between January 01 1996 and December 31 1999 may be eligible for participation in 2014 YOG. For this Qualifying Tournament each NOC may enter up to 1 boy and 1 girl. In case an association has already qualified one boy and/or one girl they are no longer allowed to enter the boys and/or the girls category The Qualification will be played in Sports hall TEZA in Hodonin Click here to read/download the official documents
Chartres disqualified from Men’s ECL!
The draw for final rounds of Men`s European Champions League held today had absolutely unexpected turn. French champion Chartres AS TT who showed an impressive 4-0 (12-0) score in group stage was disqualified because it turned out that its best player The draw for final rounds of Men`s European Champions League held today had absolutely unexpected turn. French champion Chartres AS TT who showed an impressive 4-0 (12-0) score in group stage was disqualified because it turned out that its best player GAO Ning played in the Chinese League A between 25th and 29th September. According to the regulations French club is disqualified from all ETTU club cup competitions in the current season. Third placed club from Chartres` group (D) Borussia Dusseldorf was included in the draw. So MECL quarter final pairs are: Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (Russia) – Borussia Dusseldorf (Germany) UMMC (Russia) – Hennebont (France) Pontoise Cergy (France) – Werder Bremen (Germany) Angers (France) – Niederosterreich (Austria). The first matches will be held on January 17-19th and second legs are on 24-26th January. Ironically Chartres was the club which showed the most in group stage. “Super 3G” – GAO GARDOS and GERELL – beat twice 3:0 Borussia and Niederosterreich. On the other side ten times European champion Borussia was the biggest disappointment having all four defeats. It was very first time that Timo BOLL had no any victory in group stage (he had 0-2 score). Possible rivals in the semi final (7-9 March 21-23rd March) if better ranked seeds win: Orenburg – UMMC Werder – Niederosterreich. The finals are planned for May 16-18th and May 30th – June 1st). Orenburg plays for third consecutive win achievement that already has Borussia (2009-11).
