German magazine “Tischtennis” published the interview with ETTU President Stefano BOSI. We are presenting the English version of the interview written by René ADLER. In the report on the ETTU website you make the global financial crisis responsible for th,
Timo BOLL targets Rio 2016
The most crowned European player, 31 year old Timo BOLL still believes that he can fulfill his biggest dream: to reach individual Olympic medal. He was stopped three times in Round of 16 (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, London 2012) and one time in quarter fin,
France and Russia opening WECL quarters
The first leg of the quarterfinal of the Women’s ETTU Cup will start earlier for four clubs. On Friday Metz TT will meet Fenerbahce Sport Külübü and day after Evromost Kuban will host KTS Zamek Tarnobrzeg. French Metz will welcome Fenerbahce Sport Kulubu,
Rahel ASCHWANDEN beat the odds in Almeria
The highest ranked player in the qualification of the Men’s Singles of the Spanish Open, Euro Africa Challenge Series Jon person of Sweden, successfully commenced his run in Almeira. In the opening match Swede beat Jorge COSTA of Portugal in straight game,
Second season of Euro-Africa Circuit starts in Almeria
The host nation’s 50 year-old HE Zhiwen is the top seed at the Spanish Open in Almeria which commences tomorrow. Next on the list is 43 year old Jean-Michel SAIVE of Belgium; both are unquestionably major contenders for honors at the Euro-Africa tournamen,
Borussia comes, high demand for tickets
Booking of tickets for the European Champions League’s quarter final against Borussia has begun at Werder Bremen. Host club is confident that full hall will expect Timo BOLL & Company on February 3rd (15h00 CET) in third out of four battles between th,
B-Batt Pavilion kept British title campaign on course
In the semi final of the European Super League in Champions Play-off Praha Nino will meet Penzügyör in Prague, whilst on the first leg Dr. CASL will meet Celldömölk in Zagreb. Previously Praha Nino concluded the Group phase of the competition at the top o,
European MD Champs in Buzau once again
European Mixed Doubles Championships, once again, will be held in Romania. Buzau will host the Event and the date is 14th to 16th June. Last year Elizabeta SAMARA and Andrei FILIMON won the title and in this season they will try to make hat trick, since t,
Helen (Elliott) HAMILTON passed away
It is with great sadness that the death of Helen HAMILTON (nee ELLIOTT) is announced. Honorary President of the Scottish Table Tennis Association, she passed away on Saturday 12th January 2013, sadly eight days before what would have been her 86th birthda, It is with great sadness that the death of Helen HAMILTON (nee ELLIOTT) is announced. Honorary President of the Scottish Table Tennis Association, she passed away on Saturday 12th January 2013, sadly eight days before what would have been her 86th birthday. She was born in Edinburgh on Thursday 20th January 1927. Helen did not take up table tennis until she was 16 when she played for Dalry First Aid Post before moving on to Murrayfield. She then had a long association along with Bert KERR at the Gambit Club. Only three years after taking up the sport, 1946 was the year everything took off when she won her first of 13 consecutive Women’s Singles Titles at the Scottish Open. She also won the Irish Open Women’s Singles Title in 1946. Helen gained her first Scottish cap in 1947 appearing in the World Championships in Paris where to her credit she reached the quarter finals of the women’s singles. In the 1948 World Championships held at Wembley in London, Helen again reached the quarter finals in the women’s singles. Incredibly, partnered by Dora BEREGI of England, she also reached the final of the women’s doubles only to lose to Mrs V. THOMAS and Miss M. FRANKS of England. In Stockholm, Sweden, in 1949 Helen had a new experienced partner at the 16th World Championships in Gizelle FARKAS of Hungary. Helen became the first Scot to win a world title as she and Gizelle took the World Women’s Doubles Title (W.J. Pope Trophy). Again Helen made it to the quarter finals of the singles. In 1950 Helen travelled to Budapest, Hungary and played with previous partner Dora BEREGI and retained her World Doubles Title. Helen also reached the quarter finals of the singles for the 4th consecutive year. The World University Games in 1955 took place in Warsaw, Poland where Helen teamed up with another World Champion Angelica ROZEANU to win the Women’s Doubles Title. Both Helen and Angelica contested the Women’s Singles final with 6 times World Champion Angelica coming out as the winner. Thirteen is said to be unlucky for some but not for Helen in 1958 as she won her 13th consecutive Scottish Open Women’s Singles Title. During her playing career Helen coached at Butlins Holiday Camps during the summer months alongside Johnny LEACH. Skegness, Pithelli, Clacton, Bognor and Ayr were the holiday camps where they unearthed future table tennis talent between 1955 and 1973. CAREER HISTORY World Championships Women’s Doubles – Winner: Stockholm 1949, Budapest 1950 Finalist: Wembley 1948. Semi-final: Bombay 1952 Quarter-final: Utrecht 1955 Women’s Singles: Quarter-final: Paris 1947, Wembley 1948, Stockholm 1949, Budapest 1950, Bombay 1952 Mixed Doubles. Finalist: Utrecht 1955 Semi-final: Stockholm 1957. Quarter-final: Budapest 1950 Consolation Singles: Finalist Stockholm 1957 World University Games Women’s Doubles: Winner Warsaw 1955 with Angelica Rozeanu Women’s Singles Finalist Warsaw 1955 European Championships Women’s Singles: Quarter-final Budapest 1958 Women’s Doubles: Quarter-final Budapest 1958 Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships (Inaugural Event) Women’s Doubles: Quarter-final Singapore 1971 International Opens Women’s Singles – Winner: Irish Open 1946, Welsh Open 1951, German Open 1955, Belgium Open 1957. Final: Irish Open 1947, Belgian Open 1946. SF: Welsh Open 1947 & 1954, Belgian Open 1958 Women’s Doubles – Winner: Belgian Open 1957 & 1958, Austrian Open 1958. Final: Irish Open 1947, Welsh Open 1947 Mixed Doubles – Winner: German Open 1955. Final: Irish Open 1947, Welsh Open 1947 & 1954, Belgium Open 1957 English Open – At the time was second in importance to the World Championships. The English Open was held at Wembley every year except 1953 and 1956 where they were held in Manchester. Women’s Singles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles Winner 1949, 1950, 1958 1950, 1953 1950 (Victor BARNA), 1955 (Aubrey SIMONS) SF 1953, 1955, 1957 1949 1949, 1953 QF 1956 1957, 1958 1957, 1958 English Open Tournament Titles Event Women’s Singles Women’s Doubles Mixed Doubles Lancashire Open 1946,1949 1946,1949 1946 Empire News 1946 Merseyside Open 1947-1948 1953-1954 1948,1954 1948,1953 1954 Yorkshire Open 1948,1954 1954 1954 Home Counties Open 1953 1953 Birmingham Open 1954 1954,1956 South of England Open 1954,1956 1956 Gwent Open 1954 1955 1954 East Suburban Open 1955 Sussex Open 1955 Kent Open 1956 1956 1956 Midlands Open 1956 North East England Open 1956 1956 1956 East of England Open 1956 1956 North of England Open 1956 1956 1954,1956 Buckinghamshire Open 1956 1956 Essex Open 1957 1957 Scottish Events Open Singles Titles: Midlands Open 1947, EoS Open 1948 , NoS Open Open Doubles Title: EoS Open – 1949 with Bert KERR Women’s Singles Titles: EoS Open 1954, 1971, Lanarkshire Open 1954, WoS Open 1954 Women’s Doubles Titles: West of Scotland Open 1954, Meadowbank Open 1971 (Pat Ker) East of Scotland Open 1971 Mixed Doubles Titles West of Scotland Open 1954, Meadowbank Open 1971 Scottish Open 13 consecutive Women’s Singles Titles – 1945 to 1958 9 Women’s Doubles Titles: 6 with Elizabeth PITHIE, 3 with Helen HOULISTON 6 Mixed Doubles Titles: 5 with Bert KERR, 1 with Johnny MILLER Scottish National Championships (Closed) Women’s Singles Titles 1954 – 1956 – 1957 – 1958 – 1961 Women’s Doubles Titles 1954 – 1956 – 1957 – 1958 – 1961 4 with Helen Houliston – 1 with M. JULINS Mixed Doubles Titles 1954, 1957, 1958, 1961, 3 with Bert KERR – 1 with Ian BARCLAY On many other occasions Helen reached the latter stages of all these events listed and are far too many to record here. Helen was nominated President of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation twice in 1997 and 2008 (courtesy Scottish Table Tennis Association) Photo: Helen Elliott HAMILTON
Greece welcomed New Year in great style
The guests from various fields of the sport, officials from politics scene and sports life and many good friends, such as the President of European Table Tennis Union Stefano BOSI, were present at the Greek Table Tennis Federation great celebration on Tue, The guests from various fields of the sport, officials from politics scene and sports life and many good friends, such as the President of European Table Tennis Union Stefano BOSI, were present at the Greek Table Tennis Federation great celebration on Tuesday evening in the hall STAG Stadium of Peace and Friendship. Hosts and guests welcomed 2013 with a smile and optimism and urged all members of the family of sport to continue with the same determination and faith to keep the Greek table tennis strong despite huge financial difficulties. “The world of Greek table tennis stood and stands united. We will continue fight with dignity, with strength and faith despite the very difficult time”, said the president of the Greek federation Manolis KOLYMPADIS. The H.T.T.F awarded the winning team of last year’s Teams Championships and presented five special awards. Among the awarded was the president of ETTU Stefano BOSI. The Italian president was special guest of the event and was awarded for great help to the Federation (in collaboration with the Austrian Federation and organizers). The help that came from ETTU made possible for Greek players to participate at the last year’s European Junior Championships in Austria. In addition ETTU enabled the training seminars with foreign experts in Greece. Stefano BOSI with old teammates recalled the years of their active career, met current members of the Greek national team and experienced board members of the federation. “In a very difficult period for our country we found the way, thanks to the support of Stefano BOSI, thanks to this act of solidarity and humanity, to send our children to the European Championships in Austria and they have performed well. This action made us feel that we are not alone, that table tennis is a big family “, said the friend of Stefano BOSI, Manolis KOLYMPADIS. ETTU President greeted the event and his words touched the audience. Having studied ancient Greek in high school BOSI used Greek mythology to eloquently explain his point of view. “I cannot imagine Europe without Greece and European championships without the participation of your national team. I had to show friendship, solidarity, unity and we took the initiative, and we are glad that we helped to educate the Greeks coaches”. In addition, Stefano BOSI announced that ETTU would provide complete material for three pitches with tables, net, table referees, screen etc… The awards for their achievements received a total of 25 clubs. Among the awarded was former Secretary of Sports Panagiotis BITSAXIS, 30 years on the trustee of the H.T.T.F. Theoklitos SPANOS and athletes Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU, Laura NIKOULAE. (by Z. FAKAROS, courtesy HTTF) Photo: Stefano BOSI Manolis KOLYMPADIS