Roko TOSIC, the no.7 seed exceeded his rankings and reached semi final of the Men’s Singles Event at the 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series. In front of the home crowd in the quarters he overcame Germany’s Benedikt DUDA. For t, Roko TOSIC, the no.7 seed exceeded his rankings and reached semi final of the Men’s Singles Event at the 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series. In front of the home crowd in the quarters he overcame Germany’s Benedikt DUDA. For the place in the final he will play against Jon PERSSON of Sweden who overcame Jonathan GROTH of Denmark in seven games. However DUDA did not left the field without great fight. He recovered from 0:3, leveled, but failed to stay at the same course. Abdel-Kader SALIFOU of France, the no.6 seed progressed to the penultimate stage after victory over Lubomir PISTEJ of Slovakia. His adversary in tomorrow’s semis will be Janos JAKAB of Hungary. Janos also needed seven games to book his place among best 4. Two Korean and two European players will fight for the place in the final tomorrow in the Women’s Singles Event. Slovak Republic’s Barbora BALAZOVA stretched Swede Matilda EKHOLM to full distance in the quarterfinal, but in the decisive game, Matilda showed she can cope with pressure. In another full distance match Croatia’s Lea RAKOVAC, the no.13 seed who already overcame Alexandra PRIVALOVA of Belarus, the no.6 seed, failed to produce another upset. Korea’s KANG Haneul prevailed after 10:12 in the seventh game. Her compatriot LEE Dasom accounted for Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria. Polina MIKHAILOVA of Russia beat Germany’s Nina MITTELHAM and ended her fantastic run in Zagreb. Previously, winner of the Cadet Girls’ Singles title at the European Youth Championships in Kazan in 2011, MITTELHAM was the player to cause the biggest upset in the second round. Occupying the no.15 seeded position in the draw, she accounted for Russia’s Yana NOSKOVA, the no.3 seed in five games Thomas LE BRETON of France clinched the title in U21 Boy’s Singles Event. he beat his compatriot Mehdi BOULOUSSA in five games in final. Sofia POLCANOVA secured the title in U21 Girls Event. She beat Barbora BALAZOVA in straight games in the final.
Froschberg Linz wants more titles
After the amazing season just concluded, Linz AG Froschberg wants nothing more than confirmation of European and national title. But, the biggest domestic rival SVS STROCK and some other Women’s ECL participants have the highest possible aims too. Linz`s , After the amazing season just concluded, Linz AG Froschberg wants nothing more than confirmation of European and national title. But, the biggest domestic rival SVS STROCK and some other Women’s ECL participants have the highest possible aims too. Linz`s manager Gunther RENNER recalls that his club – now 14 times national champion and 2009 and 2013 WECL winner – has not been considered as one of two favorites last WECL season, being no.3 seed, behind 2011/12 finalists, Berlin Eastside and SVS STROCK. “We are very satisfied with last season, especially with our second WECL title. In the group stage everything has worked smoothly until the last round in Berlin. After 3:1 home win against Germans we wanted to confirm top spot prior the knock out phase, but we missed it. However, we went to the semis where Budaorsi 2i SC surprisingly eliminated reigning champion Berlin”. RENNER emphasizes that Froschberg would beat SVS STROCK no matter in which line-up they play, but he agrees that his team had much easier job than it expected (Schwechat`s club played without DODEAN and LI). After 3:1 away win in first final leg at Hungary, Linz`s girls were faced with totally unexpected challenge in the rematch. “The ultimate clash brought us a huge interest of our supporters and media. Over 500 fans were inside Linz Sportpark Lissfeld, despite live coverage on LAOLA1 and ORF Sport. Everyone expected that LIU Jia & Company will do it easily, but things turned out quite differently”. Hungarians managed to lead 2:0 and after SOLJA moved us to 1:2, MADARASZ won 11:0 the opening set against LIU Jia. The hall was very quiet, only a few still believed in success. LIU somehow turned the match and prevent big sensation. Linz manager is looking forward to new WECL season. “With the new regulations which guarantee the best of the best teams, we should have the very exciting season. It means that everyone can beat everyone. You can just imagine how hard could be to win WECL which have Linz AG Froschberg with LIU Jia, Iveta VACENOVSKA, Petrissa SOLJA and Sofia POLCANOVA, Berlin Eastside with SHAN Xiaona, Irene IVANCAN, Georgina POTA and Kristine SILBEREISEN, SVS STROCK with Daniela DODEAN, Petra LOVAS and LI Fen, KTS Zamek Tarnobrzeg with LI Qian, HAN Ying, Margaryta PESOTSKA and JIA Jun, Fenerbahce with SAMARA, PAVLOVIC and HU Melek… But, of course, clubs like St. Quentin, Foto Prix or Cartagena, Evromost could be hot candidates, knowing that some clubs have not yet revealed their cards. We look forward to best WECL season ever, with big and exciting games and aim to defend the title. But, I repeat: the competition will be fierce and full of surprises”..
Children in power at the Academy
For the second time after 2011, the Werner SCHLAGER Academy in Schwechat organizes the “World Hopes-Week” in collaboration with the ITTF and the Butterfly. From 9 to 16 June, the WSA (and thus Schwechat) turns into a madhouse. 60 children from, For the second time after 2011, the Werner SCHLAGER Academy in Schwechat organizes the “World Hopes-Week” in collaboration with the ITTF and the Butterfly. From 9 to 16 June, the WSA (and thus Schwechat) turns into a madhouse. 60 children from 35 countries, all born in 2001 or 2002 will participate in a training week in the WSA and finish this with a tournament. The peculiarity of the Hopes Week: It serves the world federation, the WSA, clubs and outfitters around the world as incomparable show of the world’s biggest talents on the condition that each nation must not be more than one girl and one boy to be nominated as the frame of the event would otherwise been blown up. All continents are represented in the Werner SCHLAGER Academy, including major table tennis nations like Hong Kong, France, Singapore, Sweden and the Czech Republic, but also table tennis growth markets and developing countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, USA, Thailand, Lebanon or Jordan. This unique course is guided by the WSA-coaching team with head coaches Mario AMIZIC, Richard PRAUSE and Dirk WAGNER. All WSA coaches as the former number two in the singles world ranking Tamara BOROS, the former number 11 in the world Aya UMEMURA, Dmitry LEVENKO, Mathias HABESOHN or Provas MONDAL will take care of the kids together with the staff of the ITTF. Even so-called “educational sessions” will be performed as part of the Hopes Week. Among others, Werner SCHLAGER, SVS STRÖCK star Daniela DODEAN, China’s world-class coach LI Xiaodong and ITTF Development Director Mikael ANDERSSON will pass on their experiences to the 11 – 12 year old children. The accompaniment around the “heroes of tomorrow” is huge. Coaches, parents, grandparents and friends accompany the kids and cause that the Werner SCHLAGER Academy (fortunately) once again reaches its capacity limit.
Bad day for favorites in Zagreb
At the 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series, top seed in the Men’s Singles Event, as well as defending champion in Women’s Singles are out after first day of the play in the main draw. Andrej GACINA of Croatia suffered by the ha, At the 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series, top seed in the Men’s Singles Event, as well as defending champion in Women’s Singles are out after first day of the play in the main draw. Andrej GACINA of Croatia suffered by the hands of French player Thomas LE BRETON in six games in the Round of 32. However Croatia still has two representatives in the Round of 16. Roko TOSIC and Luka FUCEC progressed to the next stage. Roko overcame Ewort OOSTWOUDER of Netherlands, whilst Luka succeeded against Michal BARDON of Slovakia. In Round of 32 at the Women’s Singles Event Young Lea RAKOVAC of Croatia was under severe pressure in the duel against Margarita FETUKHINA of Russia, World’s no. 244. She stretched Lea to full distance before RAKOVAC prevailed. It was same dramatic scenario in the match between Szandra PERGEL of Hungary and KANG Haneul of Korea. After seven games the last year’s champion departed the venue defeated. Generally it was very bad day for Hungarian players. At the bottom half of the draw, Georgina POTA suffered by the hands of Antonina SAVELYEVA of Russia in another seven games match and Sofia POLCANOVA of Austria beat Rita KERTAI.
SAMARA and FILIMON looking for hat-trick
The total of 19 pairings will participate at the 2013 ROMSTAL European Mixed Doubles Championships in Buzau. The competition starts on Friday June 14th and it will last until June 16th. Last years champions Elizabeta SAMARA and Andrei FILIMON will be look, The total of 19 pairings will participate at the 2013 ROMSTAL European Mixed Doubles Championships in Buzau. The competition starts on Friday June 14th and it will last until June 16th. Last years champions Elizabeta SAMARA and Andrei FILIMON will be looking for hat – trick. They clinched the titles in Istanbul 2011 and in Buzau 2012. Host nation will have very strong line up of candidates for the medal. At the list are also: Hunor SZOCS and Camelia POSTOACA, Constantin CIOTI and Iulia NECULA, Ovidiu IONESCU and Bernadette SZOCS, Lucian MUNTEANU and Cristina HIRICI. Belarus is established as a regular participant, but this time they are coming with the younger team: Pavel PLATONOV and Alexandra PRIVALOVA, Kiryl BARABANOV and Katsiaryna BARAVOK. For Czech Republic will play Antonin GAVLAS and Renata STRBIKOVA, Michal OBESLO and Hana MATELOVA. Italy will be represented by Alessandro BACIOCCHI and Giorgia PICCOLIN, whilst Andrey BAYBULDIN and Mariia BYKOVA, Maxim EFROYKIN and Anastasia GOLUBEVA are coming from Russia. Turkey had champions in 2010 in Subotica when Marko JEVTOVIC of Serbia and HU Melek of Turkey clinched the title. This year they are count on Gençay MENGE and Ipek KARAHAN, Safa AVCI and Sanem Ezgi SAHIN and Huseyin DURMAZ and Damla UZEL. Slovakia’s answer to the challenge is also strong – Lubomir PISTEJ and Barbora BALAZOVA will play in Buzau. Serbia’s Lithuanian powerful combination KARAKASEVIC, PASKAUSKAINE is not in game any more, but Uros GORDIC and Marija GALONJA and Zoltan PETE and Aleksandra RADONJIC will try to cover the gap next week. Montenegro will also has participants, the winner of the Games of Small States held recently in Luxembourg Irfan CEKIC is coming with Ivana DALOVIC. Click here to check final entries and time schedule
Looking forward busy October
LIEBHERR 2013 European Table Tennis Championships will be staged from 4th – 13th of October 2013 in the Multiversum and the Werner SCHLAGER Academy in Schwechat, Austria. This year, both, Team’s and Individual Events are on program. In team events there w, LIEBHERR 2013 European Table Tennis Championships will be staged from 4th – 13th of October 2013 in the Multiversum and the Werner SCHLAGER Academy in Schwechat, Austria. This year, both, Team’s and Individual Events are on program. In team events there will be a Championship Division with 12 teams, a Challenge Division is with 12 teams and all other remaining teams are in the Standard Division. Reigning European Champions are: in Men’s Team Event Germany, in Women’s Team Netherlands, Men’s Singles Timo BOLL of Germany, Women’s Singles Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus, Men’s Doubles: Robert GARDOS/Daniel HABESOHN (AUT), Women’s DoubleS: Daniela DODEAN/Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU) The draw for the team events will be held on September 4th, 2013 at the Multiversum at 11:00 am. The draw for the individual events will be held during the first days of the Championships in the press conference room in the venue – exact time will be published in due time. The ETTU Congress will take place on 5th of October 2013. Click here to read/download the official documents
Greek players in good shape in Zagreb
The favorites at the 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series, had a surprisingly shaky start in the Men’s Singles Qualifications, whilst the situation in Women’s Event is more expected. Borna KOVAC of Croatia suffered close defeat, The favorites at the 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series, had a surprisingly shaky start in the Men’s Singles Qualifications, whilst the situation in Women’s Event is more expected. Borna KOVAC of Croatia suffered close defeat in the opening round against Dane Tobias RASMUSSEN. Danish player secured top place in Group 2 by beating Ludvig PERSOLJA of Austria as well. In the top Group in the qualifications Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of Greece beat Koean HAGERAATS of Netherlands. In the same group the highest ranked player on duty in qualifications Mehdi BOULOUSSA of France succeeded against Greek player. Giorgos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of Greece, also only seeded at position no. three in Group 3 concluded the day at the top position. He overcame Claus NIELSEN of Denmark and suffered by the hands of Dominik HABESOHN of Austria. David VORCNIK of Austria also exceeded the rankings and overcame Lars RONNEBERG of Norway, Aliaksandr KHANIN of belarus beat Boris MIHAILOVIC of Serbia, whilst Ilija MAJSTOROVIC of Serbia beat Felipe OLIVARES of Chile, seeded no. 1 in his group. First upset in Women’s Singles Qualification is coming from the Group 6. Antonina SAVELYEVA of Russia clinched top position by beating Theresa KRAFT of Germany, Marija GALONJA of Serbia and Nika VERONIKA of Slovenia. Sarah BERGE of France and Chantal MANTZ also secured top positions in their respective groups.
Polish league: third match will decide
Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Olimpia-Unia Grudziądz will battle for the polish national team championship on Thursday. After two matches the play-off score is tied 1:1. In Wschodzący Białystok Superliga both teams confirmed great shape after rec, Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Olimpia-Unia Grudziądz will battle for the polish national team championship on Thursday. After two matches the play-off score is tied 1:1. In Wschodzący Białystok Superliga both teams confirmed great shape after recently finished ETTU Cup. Dartom Bogoria was runner-up and Olimpia-Unia achieved bronze medal and was the only team which has overcome the title winner – UMMC Ekaterinburg. Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Grudziądz are now playing for the polish national team championship. In Grudziądz the host beat title holder Bogoria 3:1. Two points scored Chinese Taipei’s HUANG Sheng-Sheng, one – Bartosz SUCH. For guests one point delivered Daniel GÓRAK. However, second match in Grodzisk Mazowiecki was dominated by Dartom Bogoria which won in straight games 3:0. GÓRAK, Paweł FERTIKOWSKI (who beat Christian SUSS in Champions League and TAN Ruiwu in ETTU Cup final this season) and Robert FLORAS together took care of scoring points. Third, decisive match will be played on Thursday, June 6th at 17.30 also in Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Dartom Bogoria is looking for fifth gold medal in club history while Olimpia-Unia’s goal is third title of best polish team. The game will be broadcasted live on polish national sport TV – TVP Sport and on the website www.sport.tvp.pl. “We have to focus only on our job and play our best games in this season. We will be ready to play at higher level than in secong match” said Dartom Bogoria’s coach Tomasz REDZIMSKI. “We need to stay calm and do not make nervous moves. We will cool down and prepare for third match. Both teams level is really very similar and day shape will be decisive on Thursday. But Bogoria is still the favourite, so the pressure is on our opponent now” , admitted Bartosz SUCH. For more information visit www.superliga.com.pl. FINAL SCORES Olimpia-Unia Grudziądz – Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki 3:1 HUANG Sheng-Sheng – Robert FLORAS 3:1 (8-11, 11-5, 13-11, 11-6) Tomislav KOLAREK – Daniel GÓRAK 0:3 (6-11, 5-11, 3-11) Bartosz SUCH – HE Zhi Wen 3:1 (11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-7) HUANG Sheng-Sheng – Daniel GÓRAK 3:2 (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12) Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Olimpia-Unia Grudziądz 3:0 Daniel GÓRAK – HUANG Sheng-Sheng 3:1 (11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5) Paweł FERTIKOWSKI – Bartosz SUCH 3:2 (11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 12-14, 11-8) Robert FLORAS – Tomislav KOLAREK 3:1 (11-7, 11-1, 3-11, 11-5) Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Olimpia-Unia Grudziądz (June 6th, 17.30)
Unbeaten Mostar reached the title in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In the final of the play off in Bosnia and Herzegovina Mostar beat Mladost and clinched the title. It is their second crown this season since they already succeded in the national Cup. Dragutin SURBEK Jr brought the opening point to the Mostar after victo, In the final of the play off in Bosnia and Herzegovina Mostar beat Mladost and clinched the title. It is their second crown this season since they already succeded in the national Cup. Dragutin SURBEK Jr brought the opening point to the Mostar after victory over Amar NEZIC, whilst Ivan BOBAS gave his team further lead with victory over Mirza DIZDAREVIC. Armin ALICIC and Edin KONJIC played close match. Armin had match ball in the fifth game, but KONJIC won the duel 15:13. Dragutin SURBEK was the back bone of Mostar’s success. In doubles with Mirza HADZIJAHIC, Dragutin overcame easily DIZDAREVIC and KONJIC and finally succeded in the fifth match against DIZDAREVIC. It was great succeess for the young coach Danijel BEREZOVSKI as well. STK Mostar – STK Mladost Zenica 4:1 Dragutin ŠURBEK – Amar NEZIĆ 3:0 (13:11, 11:8, 11:7) Ivan BOBAŠ – Mirza DIZDAREVIĆ 3:1 (11:8, 5:11, 11:7, 11:8) Armin ALIČIĆ – Edin KONJIĆ 2:3 (10:12, 8:11, 11:7, 11:1, 13:15) Dragutin ŠUBREK/Mirza HADŽIJAHIĆ – Mirza DIZDAREVIĆ/Edin KONJIĆ 3:0 (11:6, 11:7, 11:5) Dragutin ŠURBEK – Mirza DIZDAREVIĆ 3:1 (11:4, 7:11, 11:3, 11:6).
Euro-Africa Challenge returns to Zagreb
Once again Croatia will host the Euro Africa Challenge Event. The 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open starts tomorrow in Croatia’s capitol. World’s no 1 Andrej GACINA of Croatia lead the elite in Men’s Singles Event, whilst that position in the Women’s draw, Once again Croatia will host the Euro Africa Challenge Event. The 2013 ITTF World Tour, Zagreb Open starts tomorrow in Croatia’s capitol. World’s no 1 Andrej GACINA of Croatia lead the elite in Men’s Singles Event, whilst that position in the Women’s draw belongs to Sweden’s Matilda EKHOLM. Seeded no. two in Men’s Event is Alexander SHIBAEV of Russia, followed by his compatriot Fedor KUZMIN, Dane Jonathan GROTH and Russia’s Vasily LAKEEV. In Women’s event Hungary’s Szandra PERGEL defends her Women’s Singles title, but she is seeded only at fourth position behind Matilda colleague Georgina POTA and Russia’s Yana NOSKOVA. A total of 202 players from 30 national associations have enrolled for the Zagreb Open, 75 are women.
