16/01/2012 – Six weeks after the conclusion of the ground-breaking Qatar Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup the UN’s Wilfried LEMKE the Aspire Academy and the city of Doha are united once again in the pursuit of peace by using sport as the ve 16/01/2012 – Six weeks after the conclusion of the ground-breaking Qatar Peace and Sport Table Tennis Cup the UN’s Wilfried LEMKE the Aspire Academy and the city of Doha are united once again in the pursuit of peace by using sport as the vehicle to achieve harmony. Named the UNOSDP (United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace) 2012 Youth Leadership Camp the 10 day pilot project that is set to run until the 19th January is enabling 30 young participants 18 male and 12 females to deliver sport-based social programmes and invoke major changes in their communities. The International Table Tennis Federation’s Deputy Executive Director-Development Leandro OLVECH will be contributing to the project which has a specially designed curriculum to address such matters as health gender disability education and peace whilst encouraging the students to adapt to real life situations for the benefit of their communities. Wilfried LEMKE Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace Said:”The United Nations has long understood the unique power of sport for change; but for change to happen strong leadership is needed. The UNOSDP 2012 Youth Leadership Camp provides concrete and practical leadership skills from some of the best leaders and experts in the field in a truly collaborative spirit; this ensures that the lessons learned will guide these young leaders in their future endeavours. This pilot is a new starting point for the young beneficiaries of the programme we want to give them now the opportunities they did not get before.” The participants have been selected from nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Palestinian Territory. Furthermore four young people from Qatar who have been identified by the Reach Out to Asia organisation have been invited; thus enabling cultural differences to be appreciated. Initiated by the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace the project in Doha is being organised in co-operation with the Canadian based international organisation “Right To Play” and the Doha based Aspire Zone Foundation.Nine sports organisations which include the International Table Tennis Federation are involved; notably GIZ a body who supports the German Government in the area of international co-operation and education is present as is the well-known Liverpool Football Cub from England. All supporting organisations are sending experts to Doha or making donations in kind. (courtesy ITTF)
2012 European Olympic Qualification’s prospectus and entry form
2012 ETTU Handbook available now
End-of-year 2011 European Junior and Cadet Rankings
European Leagues: Kobenhavns BTK leader in both Danish leagues
10/01/2012 – In the quarterfinal of the Women’s European Superleague SKST CSAD Hodonin will meet Szekszard AC. The winners of this match will meet Austria’s SVS Str 10/01/2012 – In the quarterfinal of the Women’s European Superleague SKST CSAD Hodonin will meet Szekszard AC. The winners of this match will meet Austria’s SVS Str
National Express Coach named in Andrew BAGGALEY?s honour
10/01/2012 – Andrew BAGGALEY England’s leading Table Tennis Medallist of all time at the Commonwealth Games will be honoured with a National Express Coach named in his honour as recognition for his achievements in the sport and as part of a s
12th Austrian Linz AG Youth Championships & 5th Youth Challenge Trophy
06/01/2012 – 12th Austrian Linz AG (LINDE) Youth Championships & 5th Linz Ag Youth Challenge Trophy will be held from 6th to 9th April. This is a tournament for young players and it is open for National Teams Regional Teams and Club Teams. The 06/01/2012 – 12th Austrian Linz AG (LINDE) Youth Championships & 5th Linz Ag Youth Challenge Trophy will be held from 6th to 9th April. This is a tournament for young players and it is open for National Teams Regional Teams and Club Teams. The game system with the combination of Championships and Challenge Trophy is equally interesting for top players as well as for some weaker players. In the Team Event all positions will be played. “We expect many participants from all parts of Europe as well as from other continents. Please send your application as soon as possible the only way we can guarantee the desired hotel accommodation. We look forward to receiving your application – but still one request: Give them Invitation to friendly clubs and associations continue “said G
Europe Top-12: Lyon-Villeurbanne 2012 is ready
05/01/2012 – The European Top 12 for the fourth time will be staged in France. After Rennes (2005) Dijon (1995) and Nantes (1982) the 42nd edition of Event will take place in Villeurbanne on 4th and 5th February. It will also be the first time afte 05/01/2012 – The European Top 12 for the fourth time will be staged in France. After Rennes (2005) Dijon (1995) and Nantes (1982) the 42nd edition of Event will take place in Villeurbanne on 4th and 5th February. It will also be the first time after 2011 that the Rh
Liam PITCHFORD is table tennis Olympic Athlete of the Year by BOA
03/01/2012 – Liam PITCHFORD has won the table tennis Olympic Athlete of the Year award for the second successive year. The award was introduced in 2005 to mark the British Olympic Association’s centenary year and the success of London being aw https://www.ettu.org 03/01/2012 – Liam PITCHFORD has won the table tennis Olympic Athlete of the Year award for the second successive year. The award was introduced in 2005 to mark the British Olympic Association’s centenary year and the success of London being awarded the 2012 Games. Previous table tennis winners include Paul DRINKHALL (twice) and Kelly SIBLEY in 2009. After winning in 2010 PITCHFORD is joined in the 2011 awards by athletes such as Keri-Anne PAYNE (Aquatics) Mo FARAH (Athletics) and Andy MURRAY (Tennis).Pitchford’s award success is no surprise this year after his astonishing progress over the last 12 months. The 18-year-old’s progress came in tandem with his training at German Bundesliga side TTF LLIEBHERR Ochsenhausen – a European Champions League team including Portugal’s Tiago APOLONIA where Pitchford now applies his trade. PITCHFORD acknowledges this has helped him greatly over the last year. He said: “I have been getting more different practice out in Germany. Next year I’m hoping to play quite a few league matches – I’ll probably be away quite a lot.”He added: “Hopefully I’ll get a bit more experience. Obviously playing better players helps but sometimes you need to play against a lower standard of player so you know you can play well against them.” His 2011 began with his world ranking at 269 but he began well at the English Open in January where he signaled his intent with a 4-3 victory over Austrian Stephen Fegerl after trailing 2-0 at one stage. Things got better in March for the star from Derbyshire when he became the Under-21s National Champion after beating DRINKHALL 3-1 in the final in Sheffield. During the tournament he also reached the doubles final with DRINKHALL and the semi-final of the mens’ singles. He showed this form again in July when he helped the Junior Boys team to the semi-finals of the European Youth Championships in Russia before they lost to the host nation while he also reached the quarter-finals of the singles event. However despite all this he was still ranked 275 in the world and second in England in the August rankings – and then one tournament changed everything. In October he hit the headlines with victories over Vladimir SAMSONOV (9) Alexey SMIRNOV (20) and Dmitrij PROKOPCOV (51) among other scalps which catapulted the teenager into the limelight at the European Championships in Poland. PITCHFORD said his victory over SAMSONOV didn’t feel any different or special despite the incredible result: “To be honest I didn’t feel that I was playing that well. It was my first game of the tournament and I didn’t feel amazing. “However he knows this experience can help him next year with the added confidence he has grown. He said: “I’m hoping to do as well as I can in all the tournaments I can play in and hopefully qualify for the Olympics. I have proved I can beat the top 20 players if I play well so I don’t see why not.” He followed his success in Poland with more in Bahrain when he reached the quarter-finals of the World Junior Championships. He beat Chinese player Jiaji Wu 4-2 en-route while also reaching the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles with his partner Petrissa SOLJA. His run of excellent results propelled him up 104 places in the world to 171st in the December rankings as well as becoming the new English number one and the world number 14 Under-18 player. What lies ahead for the youngster in 2012 is anyone’s guess but we can expect more fireworks from this prestigious talent in the coming year and perhaps a shock or two if he is selected for the Olympic Games in the summer. (by Russell MOORE courtesy ETTA) Photo: Liem PITCHFORD (Photo Roscher) Photo: Liem PITCHFORD (Photo Roscher)
