England’s players won three more medals on the final day of action at the Commonwealth Championships with the overall haul rising to five (three silver, two bronze) from New Delhi, India. Although the players missed out on the gold medals they so desperat, England’s players won three more medals on the final day of action at the Commonwealth Championships with the overall haul rising to five (three silver, two bronze) from New Delhi, India. Although the players missed out on the gold medals they so desperately craved, there was plenty of optimism following another two final appearances on Friday. In the Men’s Doubles Sam WALKER and Chris DORAN shocked the host nation’s top seeds Sharath Kamal ACHANTA and Subhajit SAHA in an absorbing five-game encounter to make a surprise final. The respective world no. 502 and 506 then met the world no. 26 and 108 in the last stage, however, they couldn’t quite match their prestigious opponents has they had to settle for a silver medal. The story was a similar one in the Women’s Doubles where Joanna PARKER and Kelly SIBLEY defeated Indian hopes Madhurika PATKAR and Neha AGGARWAL before falling to Singaporean adversaries in the final hurdle. After winning a tight semi-final, the English duo met FENG Tianwei (4) and YU Mengyu (27) in what looked a difficult tie, which proved the case. Although the English girls managed to win the opening game, they were finally overpowered by their Asian opponents as they had to settle for a silver medal.  

Japan’s Kenta TAZOE emerged as the surprise winner of the Junior Boys’ Singles event at the Spanish Junior and Cadet Open Platja d’Aro. Occupying the sixth seeded position in the draw, at the latter stages he caused Korea pain by delivering a series of st, Japan’s Kenta TAZOE emerged as the surprise winner of the Junior Boys’ Singles event at the Spanish Junior and Cadet Open Platja d’Aro. Occupying the sixth seeded position in the draw, at the latter stages he caused Korea pain by delivering a series of stunning performances. At the quarter-final stage he recovered from a three games to one deficit to beat JANG Woojin, the top seed, before overcoming PARK Jeongwoo, the no.11 seed in the semi-finals and KIM Minhyeok, the no.2 seed in the final. Success in the Junior Boys’ Singles event for Kenta TAZOE and also there was success in the Junior Boys’ Doubles competition, where he partnered Kose HIRANO to gold. The pair overcame the Portuguese combination of Diogo CHEN and Jorge COSTA in the final having overcome Korea’s KANG Jihoon and PARK Jeongwoo in the semi-finals. Diogo CHEN and Jorge COSTA had beaten Korea’s JANG Woojin and KIM Minhyeok, the no.1 seeds, in the third round, before overcoming Hungary’s Nandor ECSEKI and Adam SZUDI, the no.3 seeds in the quarter-finals and the Belgian pairing of Martin ALLEGRO and Florent LAMBIET in the semi-finals. Japan’s Eka SO collected her second career ITTF Junior Circuit Girls’ Singles title, when she emerged successful in Platja d’Aro. Occupying the no.1 seeded position in the draw and thus the favourite to capture the title; she justified her top billing by overcoming Korea’s KIM Byeolnim, the no.2 seed, at the final hurdle in six games.

England’s players assured themselves of three more medals at the Commonwealth Championships with superb team play in the doubles events. The pairings of Sam WALKER/Chris DORAN, Andrew BAGGALEY/Daniel REED and Joanna PARKER/Kelly SIBLEY all managed to reac, England’s players assured themselves of three more medals at the Commonwealth Championships with superb team play in the doubles events. The pairings of Sam WALKER/Chris DORAN, Andrew BAGGALEY/Daniel REED and Joanna PARKER/Kelly SIBLEY all managed to reach the semi-finals, meaning tomorrow they will play off for the chance to win a gold medal. PARKER and SIBLEY appear to have the best opportunity with the Indian pair of Madhurika PATKAR and Neha AGGARWAL in their way. The players’ respective singles campaigns, however, were cut short with only Andrew BAGGALEY and Joanna PARKER able to make the quarter-final stage and, in the process, still missing out on the chance of a third piece of silverware. The 30-year-old BAGGALEY was the closest to reaching the semi-final stage with a superb performance against world no. 26 ZHAN Jian, which was not merited with a victory. He took the Singaporean top seed to the deciding seventh game in their match – only to miss out 11-5 as his opponent took control.

Two in-form teenagers are looking to make it big at the LIEBHERR 2013 World Table Tennis Championships in Paris (13-20th May). Liam PITCHFORD, 19 years old from Chesterfield, and Sam WALKER, 17 from Worksop, have been setting the benchmarks for English ta, Two in-form teenagers are looking to make it big at the LIEBHERR 2013 World Table Tennis Championships in Paris (13-20th May). Liam PITCHFORD, 19 years old from Chesterfield, and Sam WALKER, 17 from Worksop, have been setting the benchmarks for English table tennis in 2013 and both hope to make a big impact in Paris next week. The pair have already been busy this week, albeit in very different causes. English no. 1 PITCHFORD helped his side TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen to reach the final of the Bundesliga play-offs, while WALKER helped to guide England’s men’s team to a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Championships in India. For the former, the year has been shaped by an incredible breakthrough season in the Bundesliga, the strongest European table tennis league, where he has beaten world class players such as Koki NIWA (JPN, 22), Patrick BAUM (GER, 29) and Christian SUSS (GER, 40). PITCHFORD said: “It’s been a great year for the club so far, we are unbeaten during the second half of the year. It’s been brilliant being able to play, train and be around Ryu Seungmin (KOR, 20), he’s not only an amazing player but also a great guy! I think that it’s been a major step for me in these last few months that I have been able to consistently perform well, I won my last three matches in the Bundesliga season and I will go to the Worlds confident that I can continue my form. It won’t be easy at the World Championships, which is one of table tennis’ most prestigious events alongside the Olympic Games, as the might of Asia descends upon Europe once again.” With Chinese superstars likely to dominate in Paris, the European contingent await their own hero that can break the Asian stranglehold. At the previous individual championships in Rotterdam 2011 PITCHFORD was beaten by Koki NIWA, whom the Englishman has since beaten in the domestic campaign this year. With the youngster’s fresh belief, it seems a possibility that he can repeat the dosage next week. He explained: “Koki has obviously not performed well in the German league this year so I think it would be a tighter game if we were to play in Paris but I believe I have made a lot of progress since Rotterdam. I hope that I can play well enough to string some performances together and then we will see where that takes me. I hope to go further that last time (last 128) as my first goal. After the Worlds I hope I can break into the world top 100 by at least the end of the year.” For WALKER it’s been a baptism of fire into the senior England squad after impressive domestic and international performances in the winter earned him his call-up. After winning the Under-21 title and reaching the Men’s Singles semi-final at the National Championships in March, he went onto win the Malta Junior Open in Cottonera, in the process moving himself up to third in the Global Junior Circuit rankings. Finally he got his chance with the seniors where he has travelled to the Commonwealth Championships in India and has since won a team bronze medal on his debut. The Commonwealths finish in New Delhi on Friday before the squad rush back to Paris for the Worlds, but WALKER explained why this wouldn’t affect him: “I don’t see it as an excuse to not be fully prepared. As a professional player you have to deal with these sorts of things and I still think I will be fully prepared for the tournament. It’s a great opportunity and experience for me. I want to make the first round of the main draw and anything further would be nice.” It’s not the first time the 17-year-old has been in the limelight this month as he recently appeared on the football chat show, Soccer AM, in which he challenged former Bolton Manager Owen COYLE to a match on the table. WALKER beamed: “That was really cool, the show is awesome! I haven’t actually seen it yet so I don’t know how I looked, but I didn’t feel that nervous as all the crew there were so relaxed and made me feel welcome.It was a great experience and I’d love to do it again sometime!” England squads for World Table Tennis Championships (Paris, France 13-20th May 2012) Men: Paul DRINKHALL, Liam PITCHFORD and Sam WALKER Women: Joanna PARKER, Kelly SIBLEY and Karina Le FEVRE Coaches: Jia Yi LIU, Alan COOKE and Nick JARVIS

Led by FENG Tianwei with YU Mengyu and ZHOU Yihan in support, Singapore won the Women’s Team event at the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi, beating the English trio of Kelly SIBLEY, Joanna PARKER and HO Tin Tin in the final.It is the seventh time t, Led by FENG Tianwei with YU Mengyu and ZHOU Yihan in support, Singapore won the Women’s Team event at the Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi, beating the English trio of Kelly SIBLEY, Joanna PARKER and HO Tin Tin in the final.It is the seventh time that Singapore has clinched the title and the seventh in succession. They won in 1997 in Glasgow, in 2000 on home soil; in 2001 in New Delhi they retained the top prize before succeeding in Kuala Lumpur in 2004, Jaipur in 2007 and one again in Glasgow in 2009. FENG Tianwei beat Joanna PARKER (11-6, 9-11, 11-9, 11-7), YU Mengyu overcame Kelly SIBLEY (12-12, 16-14. 8-11, 11-9), with ZHOU Yihan bringing matters to a conclusion.She overcame HO Tin Tin (11-4, 12-10, 11-8). Malaysia and India, who had been beaten by Singapore and England respectively on the previous day, were the bronze medallists. Fifth place went to Australia with Wales in sixth spot ahead of Scotland and Sri Lanka. Australia secured fifth place by overcoming the Welsh trio of Charlotte CAREY, Angharad PHILLIPS and Chloe THOMAS by three matches one. Meanwhile by the same margin the Scottish outfit of Gillian EDWARDS, Lynda FLAWS and Corinna WHITTAKER beat the Sri Lanka to secure seventh place. Canada finished in ninth place in the Women’s Team event followed by Nigeria, South Africa, New Zealand and the Maldives. Singapore clinched the title in men’s Team’s Event. They beat India. Scotland and England concluded the competition at the position. no. three. Australia beat Wales in the match for 5th position and Malaysia beat Ireland in the match for 7th place.

The media representatives had the opportunity to meet all players from the French team selected for the World Championships and to talk with them in INSEP at the eve of the big Event scheduled for 13th to 20th May in Paris Bercy.  In the team will play Ad, The media representatives had the opportunity to meet all players from the French team selected for the World Championships and to talk with them in INSEP at the eve of the big Event scheduled for 13th to 20th May in Paris Bercy.  In the team will play Adrien MATTENET, Emmanuel LEBESSON, Simon GAUZY, Quentin ROBINOT, Damien ELOI and Christophe LEGOUT, Abdel-Kader SALIFOU. Girls: XIAN Yi Fang, Carole GRUNDISCH, Alice ABBAT, Marina BERHO, Laura GASNIER, Emmanuelle LENNON, Marie MIGOT. Recently Simon GAUZY clinched the title in the French Championships. “Despite the title, I am not under pressure. Currently Adrien MATTENET is the best French player at the Worlds rankings. I know that I am labeled as a “French hope”, and that expectations are high…I just hope we will receive the same support from the crowd as we had in 2003.” Adrien MATTENET is full of optimism:” Whenever I play for France, I have tears in my eyes and it forces me to go beyond my limits. I am feeling good, my shape is at high level and I have faith in our team.” Experienced Damien ELOI admitted: “I did everything to qualify for the World Championships. I played at a lot of Opens. In 2003, I went out in the first round, this time I want to do better and finish my career in best possible way. “ Quentin ROBINOT: “I have the World Cup in mind for a long time. Maybe it also explains my poor performance at the Championships of France, but it is important to me to do well in Bercy. I had the flu, thus I had not the ideal preparation but I’m ready. “ Christophe LEGOUT: “I take these World Championships as a” bonus “, perhaps it is the last one for me. It is a pleasure to be in Bercy ten years later, and a chance to maybe finish my career on a high note. “ In French team Marie MIGOT is the youngest; Marie is also the youngest European in Bercy and third youngest participant of the World Championships. She has been born on May 19th 1998. In Bercy will play Kinal CHODRI born October 1st 1999 and Tina Lin born on August 17th 1998.  “I’m excited; this is a very big event. For a first time I am in senior national team, and I will play at the World Championships, it’s huge. I want to prove myself and justify my place in the team. “ XIAN Yi Fang: “Unfortunately, injuries disturbed me. Still, I try to stay positive and make up for lost time. I adapt my program to get in shape. And as they say, when you gotta go, you gotta go! “

Matters went according to seeding in the final stage of affairs in the Men’s Team event at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. In the ultimate stage of the event, India the no.2 seeds will meet top seeds Singapore. Previously Singapore beat the no. 4 see, Matters went according to seeding in the final stage of affairs in the Men’s Team event at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. In the ultimate stage of the event, India the no.2 seeds will meet top seeds Singapore. Previously Singapore beat the no. 4 seeds Scotland, whilst India prevailed against no. 3 seeds England. Wales will meet Australia in the duel for the fifth position, whilst Northern Ireland will play against Malaysia. England’s Sam WALKER, Danny REED and Andrew BAGGALAEY lost their semi final encounter after having 2:1 advantage, whilst Singapore prevailed much easier, after four matches against Sean DOHERTY, Craig HOWIESON and Gavin RUMGAY. In Women’s teams Event England progressed to the final. Joanna PARKER, Hannah HICKS, Kelly SIBLEY and HO Tin-Tin will meet team of Singapore. After full distance duel England overcame India in the semi final. Wales will play for the position no. 5 and Scotland will meet Sri Lanka in the match for place no. 7.

The traditional meeting between German press and table tennis stars took place in Rotenburg (an der Fulda) and Düsseldorf where the national team finalizing the preparation for the forthcoming LIEBHERR World Championships which will take place in Palais O, The traditional meeting between German press and table tennis stars took place in Rotenburg (an der Fulda) and Düsseldorf where the national team finalizing the preparation for the forthcoming LIEBHERR World Championships which will take place in Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy from 13th until 20th May. DTTB sports Director Dirk SCHIMMELPFENNIG reminded everyone how difficult the Championship it is. “It is much harder than at Olympics. There will be full squads of Asian representatives – seven in each team. This is the first major event in new Olympic cycle and it is big question how other nations will compose their teams,“ said Director Dirk SCHIMMELPFENNIG. Ladies completed their last official preparation course in the German Table Tennis Centre (DTTZ) in Düsseldorf, the men prepared, traditionally, in Rotenburg an der Fulda. Only Steffen MENGEL will play the qualifications in Paris. The other will be in main draw. Timo BOLL and Dimitrij OVTCHAROV will be among top 8 seeds. ”I am satisfied with the shape of the players. They are fit, there are no injuries. I expect they can beat few good players and reach at least quarterfinal, even more. Overall, I expect at this World Championships a few surprises. My players will go into the tournament with the feeling of having done everything, to play a good World Cup,” said Jörg ROSSKOPF. “Unlike the Olympics, at the World Championships seven Chinese players will play, plus many other Asians…However, best Europe can offer is in our team. I see currently no other European players who may be dangerous to the Chinese.” Timo BOLL had not played lately on tournaments. “In 2012 I had no holidays and I needed the break. I played at World Championships, Olympic Games and European Championships. I had no chance to practice a lot with such heavy schedule, so I had to build again my base. I had to build my physical strength, even at the risk that I have to cancel events.” German press draw very interesting parallel: OVTCHAROV lost during preparation tournament before the Olympics against Robert GARDOS, then took bronze in singles in London and succeeded in Champions League final against Chartres. Last week Dima lost again against GARDOS… “Now I feel better (laughs). True, I’m a superstitious. But in the end what really matters is that you prepared well and to be able to say that you could not have done better,” said OVTCHAROV. “In Paris, I’ll be drawn for the first time in the top eight. Four years ago, I was already in a good shape, but I had to play against MA Long, two years ago I had Timo in the second round. A good draw will therefore be extremely important.”