European Championships in Herning started today with the qualification rounds. In Men’s Singles Event the highest ranked player on duty in preliminary rounds, Germany’s Patrick FRANZISKA showed no mercy against Kosovo’s Linor CITAKU and overcame him in st,

Four men and three women will represent Greek at the European Championships in Denmark. Athletes Panagiotis GIONIS, Kallinikos KREANGA, Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU, Kostas LAGOGIANNIS, Katerina TOLIOU, Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Filareti EXARCHOU are the main choice, Four men and three women will represent Greek at the European Championships in Denmark. Athletes Panagiotis GIONIS, Kallinikos KREANGA, Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU, Kostas LAGOGIANNIS, Katerina TOLIOU, Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Filareti EXARCHOU are the main choice of the national coaches Kostas VATSAKLIS and George KARITSAS. President of H.T.T.F. Manolis KOLYMBADIS will lead the delegation. CLICK HERE TO CHECK MODIFIED TIME SCHEDULES AND PLAYING SYSTEM For Greece there is more of a strong desire, then a goal, for one of their aces to win another medal for the Greek table tennis at the European Championships. Panagiotis GIONIS, who is seeded no. 16, believes that if has good draw can make the dream of a medal at the European Championship. In addition, be sure that Kallinikos KREANGA is able to reach good position despite the fact he is 41 year-old. The last time Greece celebrated medal at the European Championships was in Aarhus in 2005. Coincidentally the team is again in a territory of Denmark… Seven years ago KREANGA was second in doubles and third in singles. “The first goal is to reach round of 16. After that I want to break the barrier of “16″ in singles European Championships, but as I always stresses, much depends on the draw. With a little bit of luck we can talk about the medal. The European Championship is a competition that lets aspirations for a medal, but you need a little luck. If you are in good shape, if you catch rate and star everything is possible”, said Panagiotis GIONIS. Speaking about KREANGA, GIONIS added: “He took two golds at the European Championships and many more medals in all the events. 41 years of not, do not forget that he won the Top-12 and in good day can beat any adversary. So why not go for one medal more! “ Women team of Greece will try to achieve as much as possible without stress. Three athletes will test their abilities and seek to qualify for the main round of the single. “This is a first class opportunity for us to test our team and to see where we are. We will give our best, the level is high, and as there is no pressure of a big goal I can play freely. The event will have for us the same stress as when we play as a team. I believe we can pass the qualification stages successfully,” said Filareti EXARCHOU. ETTU TV powered by LAOLA1.tv will be streaming the best of the action from table one LIVE and FREE as well as on-demand action from table one and two after the matches have been played here: http://ettu.laola1.tv (by I. FAKAROS, courtesy HTTF) Click here for further information Photo:  Greek Panagiotis GIONIS (Péhoto Roscher)

For a first time European Championships in Danish city of Herning (17 – 21 October) will be played under new format. There will be only Singles and Doubles Event on schedule. In the year when Olympic Games this decision helped eased the pressure on player,

LI Jiao cannot defend her title in Herning. She is coping with a wrist and back injury. The injury of her wrist seems pretty serious. She had a problem since the World Championships in Dortmund. Due to the full program of this season, she did not find eno, LI Jiao cannot defend her title in Herning. She is coping with a wrist and back injury. The injury of her wrist seems pretty serious. She had a problem since the World Championships in Dortmund. Due to the full program of this season, she did not find enough time to let her injury heal. She will take some rest now. Next week she will have several appointments with the doctor in the hospital in Amsterdam. LI Jiao said: “I regret that I cannot defend my title this year. People ask me if this means that I will end my career. I do not know. I first have to find out how serious my injury is. I still have the feeling that I can improve as a player and I am not ready to quit as a player. I would love to work as a trainer in the future, but not now. It’s too early, there are still too many challenges for me as a player.” (by Roelien LUIJT, courtesy of NTTB) Photo: LI Jiao (Photo Roscher)

French head coaches nominated three players each for the European Championships in Herning (17 – 21 October) and left one place open for the list to be completed after the qualifications. Captain Stéphane HUCLIEZ will lead team with Adrien MATTENET (Leval, French head coaches nominated three players each for the European Championships in Herning (17 – 21 October) and left one place open for the list to be completed after the qualifications. Captain Stéphane HUCLIEZ will lead team with Adrien MATTENET (Levallois COTC, No. 24), Emmanuel LEBESSON (Levallois COTC, No. 60), Quentin ROBINOT (Levallois COTC, No. 141) and the qualifier is Romain LORENTZ (EP Isséenne, No. 220). Tristan FLORE was also on the list, but due his injury he can not compete in Denmark. XIAN Yi Fang (Etival – Clairefontaine, n°60), LI Xue (AL CL TT Grand-Quevilly, n°64), Carole GRUNDISCH (US Kremlin Bicêtre, n°112), Anais LÉVÈQUE (Saint-Loup / Saint-Berthevin 53, n°399) are on coach’s Rozenn JACQUET-YQUEL list. Romain LORENTZ emerged victorious in a tournament five players. Only beaten by Christophe LEGOUT in the group stage, he beat Abdel-Kader SALIFOU (4/2) in the semifinals before winning the final match 11:9 against Christophe LEGOUT . ” I am very happy to have won my ticket. Chris usually beats me 4:0 or 4:1 but this time I thought long on tactics and I decided to be aggressive and attack him to his forehand. It worked,” said Romain LORENTZ “Right now I’m confident and I played well throughout the two days. Recently I won the Flandres Open at U 21 Event. I also beat Damien ELOI in League and I won last Tuesday against the Czech PROKOPCOV. “ HUCLIEZ was satisfied with the preparations. “We had excellent conditions for practice at the highest level. Adrien MATTENET who is seeded No. 6 is now experienced player. Also Emmanuel LEBESSON (No. 22) knows what to expect. “ Without FLORE pairings LEBESSON-MATTENET will fight in Denmark. “They can beat anyone … or lost on their way.” For girls the aim is to justified their rankings. Coach Rozenn JACQUET-YQUEL hopes Yi Fang can reach quarter final, whilst Xue and Carole can find their place in Round of 16 and 32. (courtesy of FFTT) Photo: Romain LORENTZ (courtesy FFTT)

Less than a week before the European Championships in Herning (17 – 21 October) team of Germany is finalizing their preparations in training center. 13 athletes, six women and seven men will travel to Denmark to compete at the Continental Championsh, Less than a week before the European Championships in Herning (17 – 21 October) team of Germany is finalizing their preparations in training center. 13 athletes, six women and seven men will travel to Denmark to compete at the Continental Championships which is shorter than usual. The team competition is held only every two years, therefore, this year it will be only held for the title in singles and doubles. The format is new, but German thirst for titles is same as ever and they are big favorites as it was the case in past few years. Timo BOLL aiming his sixth singles title, 16th overall at the European Championships. The man who will be greatest threat on his way to the throne is his teammate Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. The player who clinched two bronze medals at the Olympic Games in London is BOLL’s biggest challenger. Very dangerous for the rest of the European competitors are also German champion Bastian STEGER, as well as two times silver medalist Patrick BAUM. Women’s team is also very ambitious. Irene IVANCAN knows how to win the medal at the European Championships, as she did in Gdansk and Sopot. The German champion, WU Jiaduo is seeded at position no. two in Herning behind the Spaniard SHEN Yanfei. In 2009 “Dudu” won European singles title. “This was special year for us, with two important highlights and we succeeded in both. European championships is not our main task. From the experience we know how hard is to sustain form at high level for a long time. However we are not travelling to Denmark just for sake of traveling. We want to be successful,” said DTTB sporting director Dirk SCHIMMELPFENNIG. Only Dimitrij OVTCHAROV will play in doubles, but everybody is ready to fight in singles. “It will be hard to repeat the success from the previous years after World Championships that we had in Germany and Olympic Games in London, but the team is well prepared, has trained well, and the players are aware that they always has to present themselves in best light”, said coach Jorg ROSSKOPF. Timo BOLL talked about the new format of the European Championships, with only singles in Denmark this year. “You take it as it comes. We are accustomed to the rhythm of the tournament on the World Tour. After the hard World Championships and the Olympics we continued with the Bundesliga and Champions League. However, I am happy that the European Championship this year is not quite as long”, Said Timo BOLL. “I feel good, and I managed to preserve the shape after the Olympics. I have slightly reduced the trainings, in order to stay fresh. The motivation before the EC is high as always.” Dimitrij OVTCHAROV talked about the increased interest surrounding him after the Olympics. “I received the invitation for the tournament World vs. China for a first time. Also, media demand is unbelievable.” At the World Cup OVTCHAROV was not at his usual level. “Now I have 10 days of heavy training behind me. After the Olympics I was missing the regular training. I hope that I will regain my focus at European Championships. I am still missing the medal in singles.” Patrick BAUM admitted he had a bad start of the season.”I have not played well. I lost a lot of games in the fifth set, and it shows the problem with my confidence. “ Women’s national coach Jie SCHÖPP spoke about expectations of the players at the European Championships: “Behind us are the World Championships in Dortmund and the London Olympics. We played well at the World Cup. At the Olympics, we have fulfilled our goal, but unfortunately had no chance to succeed against an Asians. At the European Championships, we have more opportunities. The players are very motivated, and we have the goal to get medals.” Kristin SILBEREISEN, began a training in October. “At the moment she is in a good shape. She is certainly a medal candidate, in singles and doubles.” Full German squad – Men: Timo BOLL (Club: Borussia Dusseldorf, World ranking: 5) Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Fakel Gazproma Orenburg, Russia, 10) Bastian STEGER (1.FC Saarbrücken TT, 28) Patrick BAUM (Borussia Dusseldorf, 30) Christian SUSS (Borussia Dusseldorf, 34) Ruwen FILUS (TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau, 77) Patrick FRANZISKA (TTC RhönSprudel Fulda Maberzell, 87) Women: WU Jiaduo (FSV Kroppach, 16), Irene IVANCAN (ttc berlin eastside, 51), Kristin SILBEREISEN (FSV Kroppach, 56), Zhenqi BARTHEL (TTG Bingen / Münster-Sarmsheim, 70), Sabine WINTER (SSV DJK Rosenheim, 118) Petrissa SOLJA (Linz AG frog, Austria, 89) (courtesy of DTTB) Photo: Timo BOLL leading the German team in Herning (Photo Lomaev)